More and more, I am hearing people compare Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear to Cinco Ranch in Katy. Both kicked off as fast growing, upscale subdivisions and are zoned to Katy ISD schools.
Located about five miles west of the Grand Parkway and the Westpark Tollway, Cross Creek Ranch is a 3,200-acre master planned community that is expected to see tremendous growth in the next few years.
Cross Creek, a Trendmaker Development, heavily touts Katy ISD on its Web site and there are big signs as you approach the development promoting the school district.
Schools zoned there are Katy ISD’s Stan Stanley Elementary, WoodCreek Junior High and Seven Lakes High. I’ve read that a small portion of later phases in Cross Creek will be served by Lamar Consolidated ISD but I could not find mention of that on the Web site.
Cinco Ranch, located close to Interstate-10 and can be accessed from Grand Parkway, is a well established 7,600 acre master planned community developed by Newland Communities. It has been around since 1991. There are 11 Katy ISD schools located within the development as well as a University of Houston System campus.
Development is still steady in Cinco Ranch despite the downturn in the economy. Homebuyers can pick from about 18 different homebuilders and view their styles in about 40 model homes in the development.
Cinco Ranch, considered by some as the “premier” subdivision in Katy, has a thriving retail center with developments such as LaCenterra and Villagio as well as a Fort Bend County Library branch and the Katy Area YMCA Fitness Center. Home prices range from the $200’s to more than $1 million.
Cross Creek has a “ranch inspired, resort-style” architectural flair and many elements of natural physical beauty with a small-town ambiance. There are more than 25 miles of trails, a large water park, lots of open space and several hundred acres of lakes. An outstanding feature is a restored Flewellen Creek, one of the centerpieces of the community.
Builders in Cross Creek include including Ashton Woods Homes, David Weekley Homes, Kickerillo Homes, Perry Homes, Trendmaker Homes, and Village Builders. Homes prices start in the $200’s and exceed the $1 million mark. Ashton Woods Homes are on the low end while Trendmaker and Kickerillo are on the high end
If you were just moving to Katy and your choices were Cinco Ranch and Cross Creek, which would you choose?
Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments are subject to the site's terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of the Houston Chronicle.
Comments
As usual the developers are shouting out that children in these
As usual the developers are shouting out that children in these new communities will use Katy ISD schools and the signs are posted. Has anyone at the ESC asked the developer about setting aside land for the schools they will no doubt want built in their new 3200 acre resort?
You can rest assured there will be set asides for everything but a school and if the developer is "saving" some land for the ISD it will be sold for top dollar when the time comes. Come on folks, let's get in front of this for a change. Let's put up some signs telling would be homeowners that unless there is a deal with the developer we will be BUSING their children to other neighborhoods and they will be in "T" shacks.
Since there are no big numbers of students there yet, we won't be hurting anyone if we take proactive action.
COME ON BOARD STAND UP FOR US!!
Yep Ross its just like in our other discussion where I mentioned
Yep Ross its just like in our other discussion where I mentioned that the developers are using the schools that we have to fork over heavy tax money as incentives to sell thier resort homes and reaping all the benefits while giving nothing back. Sorry I don't think donating a parcel of land is enough and thier contribution to these schools that will be need should be much higher.
I remember back in 97 Cinco had a lot of property around us that was supposed to be for single homesites and schools only. Well when Cinco boomed all that changed and while they built Creech on one portion all the rest has been or being sold to strip malls, etc.
I wish all of these hot heads screaming about the rezoning would start screaming at the developers and the board for allowing this to continue to happen what with all the newer properties coming up.
But hey just tax us more to build more schools and line the developers pocketbooks.
There is certainly plenty of land around Cross Creek - nice area
There is certainly plenty of land around Cross Creek - nice area if you like it quiet - away from the hustle and bustle. Another nice thing is that the homes aren't so cookie cutter.
Inside Katy
my taxes are $1100 per year now, if i were to move to katy, they
my taxes are $1100 per year now, if i were to move to katy, they would be 3 times that much. no thanks. the Cross Creek Rach Cowboys, lol. Cinco Ranch won't know how to act, there may not be enough room in katy for two multi-billion dollar kids on the same block. something has got to give. mr.b...your last line says it all and they will take your advice
I will go you one better. Check out this article on the "other"
I will go you one better. Check out this article on the "other" newspaper and see what qualifies for debt ELIMINATION of our KISD indebtedness. Between existing debt and what we will be called upon to fork over we really need to get a firm grip on things.
I agree giving the land is not enough but we don't even bargain for what we pay for it. I reference the last land purchase when we paid about $100K/acre for raw land so we could build the school the developer wants and NEEDS.
I supported an effort to get land donation and seed money for construction in the past and I still favor it going forward.
http://www.katytimes.com/articles/2010/02/25/news/doc4b84a7e5b4637569452...
http://www.katytimes.com/articles/2010/02/25/news/doc4b84a7e5b46
http://www.katytimes.com/articles/2010/02/25/news/doc4b84a7e5b4637569452...
The link got cut short.
It's the Good 'Ole Boy System
Ross,
If you remember over in the old blogs (which I liked better), we had some discussions about this. The developers know that Katy ISD just pays for the land without any negotiations. So why give the land to them (us)?
Years ago the developers did give land to the school systems...but now it is the Good 'Ole Boy System!
Post new comment