Carving out a place for Goodwater

One of the most ambitious residential developments in the queue, the 600-acre Goodwater project has seen a few tweaks here and there as work has progressed, but the overarching vision remains the same. "There's been a lot of push and shove, give and take between architects and engineers," said developer David Singleton, president of Leander-based Southwest Land Services Inc.

Goodwater could have anywhere from 5,000 to 7,500 residents and is being built just outside Georgetown's city limits.

The project will include more than 2,500 units, retail, a hotel, churches and a school. Goodwater is shaped like a giant triangle, just east of Sun City Texas, and Texas 195 and County roads 147 and 234 establish the perimeter. In addition to homes, Goodwater will have other housing options, such as lofts above stores.

"It will be the only thing like it in all of centeral Texas," said Tom Yantis, assistant city manager. "It has the potential to have a huge impact on the city."

Mr. Yantis said thae city intends to annex the development when it is completed.

"It is setting the standard for the kind of development we would like to see more of," Mr. Yantis said.

Goodwater will be like a second downtown, Mr. Singleton said.

"Goodwater is being designed and built almost as a satellite to downtown Georgetown," Mr. Singleton said, "not in a competitive sort of way, but in a complementary sort of way."

Schematics have been developed for different housing types, which will begin construction in the second half of 2010, Mr. Singleton said. By that time, the infrastructure will be completed, which is being develped now, and on schedule.

The development will have places for singles, married couples and retired people, Mr. Singleton said.

"This is a truly sustainable community," Mr. Singleton said. "You don't have to move to another neighborhood as you progress through the life cycle."

Singles could live in the lofts above some of the stores and restaurants, then marry and move into a home, Mr. Singleton said, and from there larger homes are available as the individual's income grows.

Though they are offering retirement homes, Mr. Singleton said they do not intend to compete with Sun City.

"The environment we are creating is very different from Sun City," Mr. Singleton said. "It's much more dense, urban and it will appeal to a different kind of person."

Formed from nine smaller bays, a lake will wind around the development, Mr. Singleton said. In the past year, the lake was expanded from 40 acres to 50 acres to provide drainage for the entire site, protecting residents from floods. Each bay is separated by a small dam to control the water flow. Because the lake is spread out so far, even after heavy rains it would only rise and fall by inches rather than feet. Roughly a mile long, varying in width from 50 feet to several hundred feet, the lake is designed as a recreational amenity to offer canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming.

Mr. Singleton said they have now done two years of excavation; he expects another six before the lake and bays are finished.

"We have the top two and a half bays carved," he said. "Our lowest bay has continued to expand. The other bays we will sculpt as we continue down the lake."

As he shapes the lake, Mr. Singleton said he will use all the material dug up to help build his neighborhood.

"We make 100 percent of the construction aggregate necessary for the development of the site," he said.