A new development being built into the North Texas landscape is taking shape in Denton County.
The green pastureland punctuated by soft sloping hills covered in blackjack oaks will soon be home to the latest and largest commercial and residential development from Ross Perot Jr.’s Hillwood Company.
The 3,200 acre “Landmark by Hillwood” development in southern Denton County gets its name from its proximity to Pilot Knob — a slope that was used as a wayfinding point by Native tribal communities and European settlers as they moved west into what is now North Texas.
Hillwood celebrated the development Thursday during a ceremony to unveil the 6,000 home project. Model homes in the first phase of 747 homes are expected to open in the spring.
The first phase is northwest of Interstate 35W and Robson Ranch Road, and will include the first of two H-E-B grocery stores in Denton County. Landmark is just north of Hillwood developments Harvest and Pecan Square.
The project will also be home roughly 3,000 apartment units, 900 acres of commercial space, and 1,100 acres of green space protected by a conservation easement to preserve the area’s natural beauty.
Hillwood’s goal with Landmark is to connect residents with the surrounding natural environment.
The development is being built in a way to make residents, office-goers and shoppers feel like they’re a part of the surrounding natural environment, said Kimberly Cole, Hillwood vice president of development.
“We have this amazing piece of property. We just don’t want to screw it up,” she said.
Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy 35 miles of bike and hiking trails, and there will be a 300 -acre park at the center of the development surrounding Pilot Knob and a pair of nearby hillsides.
Hillwood’s newest development will have 35 miles of trails for residents to enjoy.
Hillwood also hopes this new development will open the floodgates for southwest Denton County.
The project is bringing in new sewer and water pipes that were not previously needed when the land’s primary use was cattle grazing.
The project new water and sewer pipes that could pave way for more development.
There’s still plenty of cattle roaming around the property, but having dedicated water and sewer pipes will make it easier develop what Hillwood vice president Andrew Piper described at the last untapped quadrant of the Dallas-Fort Worth region.. He called the area a major opportunity for the next 20 years.
Nine home building companies have purchased lots to begin offering a variety of products ranging from 40 feet wide lots to 70 feet wide lots, Piper said.
Piper estimated prices would range from $450,000 to $1 million.
In nearby Denton, there’s a need for executive housing for university professors, hospital doctors and business leaders, so this development could help with that, Piper said.
The development sits about seven miles as the crow flies southwest of Denton Town Square. Hillwood wants to bring the unique creative community of Denton into the community, Piper said.
The developer is in talks with local artists about creating work for the new community and has partnered with Denton County Brewing Company to create a “Landmark” Beer named after the development, he said.
A rendering of the pool amenity at new Landmark by Hillwood development.
A rendering of the entrance to the amenity center for the new Landmark by Hillwood development.
In the over 35 years Hillwood’s been in business, the company’s developments along I-35W between Loop 820 and Texas 114 have generated billions of dollars of economic impact for the Metroplex, Hillwood President Mike Berry said speaking at the Nov. 13 unveiling ceremony.
The area between Texas 114 and Denton will have the same impact, Berry said.