Location: Allen, three miles west of I-75 on McDermott Road
Population/size: 12 (three houses complete; four under construction)
Home styles: Mediterranean, Spanish eclectic, Austin contemporary, and traditional
Builders: Steve Roberts, Bob Bobbitt, Tony Rossi, Rick Shipley, Mark Molthan, Laurie Guido
Average home price: $1,000,000 to $3,000,000
Lot value: $375,000 to $500,000 for fairway views
Lot size: Three-quarter- to one-plus-acre lots
Home association dues: $200 per month
Average home size: 8,400 to 12,000 square feet
Where to go: Watters Creek and The Village at Fairview. That’s where Gold Class Cinema chose to drop one of only two pricey Texas movie theaters for patrons who like plush suede reclining seats, ambience, top-shelf liquor, and gourmet food. Norma Hutton finds shopping logistics from Wimberley easier than anywhere she’s ever lived. “I can hit six to eight places in the morning without even going out of my way,” she says. Norma’s favorite haunts: Market Street, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Crú, Village Burger Bar, Mi Cocina, Swarovski, and Chico’s.
Why Wimberley Place: Of 44 lots created in Wimberley’s Phase I development, only 31 are left to sell. It has what upscale buyers—businessmen, professionals—want in a suburban community: great schools, terrain, unique amenities, and location. People who move here say they crave the small-town feel matched with big-city benefits. Wimberley is the only gated community in Twin Creeks, but keep in mind that Allen was recently rated as the safest community of 50,000 or more residents in the state of Texas, according to Kendall Hutton of Hillwood Development Company. With a population of 88,000, Allen is expected to max out at 120,000 by 2012. Luxury home builder Steve Roberts, one of Wimberley’s pioneering builders, says, “The lots are beautiful, super-large, and a great value. Allen has only two more areas to develop, and then the land’s all gone.”
Here, it’s small-town America but with Starbucks and stores that cater to high-net-worth individuals three miles down the road. People also come for the schools: the new Mary Evans Elementary School is rated Exemplary, as are many of the Allen ISD schools.
Addresses for sale:
504 Bristol Drive
302 Bristol Drive
414 Woodlake Drive
412 Woodlake Drive
500 Bristol Drive
Words from a local:
“The biggest draw was the terrain and the large lot sizes—so hard to find in Plano. We lived in Plano and loved it, but it was so flat. Now we have hills, ponds, and a creek in our backyard.” —Shonda Newman