Master-Planned Perfection: Welcome to Lantana

[Alyx Davidson]

“It started with a vision. A desire to create a place so master-fully planned it would surpass any other.” That’s quite an introduction to the history of a community. A quick glance at the property today, however, would reveal the incredible achievement and continued growth of that original vision. In just over a decade of existence, the community of Lantana has transitioned from a mere idea to a reality that exceeds all traditional expectations for an area of residential development.

With the purchase of the property in 1999, the Dallas-based residential development company Republic Property Group, in conjunction with its financial partner Forestar Real Estate Group, began the initial planning process. With a team of notable planners, builders, and designers, RPG initiated construction on homes and community facilities. The first home was sold in 2001 and the first on-site elementary school opened the next year. The 18-hole golf course, designed by Jay Morrish, is a central feature of the upscale community.

Located on 1,780 acres just 8 miles south of Denton, Texas, Lantana features a Hill Country theme reminiscent of developments in Austin as well as the German countryside. Three hundred of those acres are reserved for trails and greenspace. Lantana is comprised of 14 neighborhoods and each new lot owner can choose from a list of 8 building companies through which to construct a home. Though a community of affluence, Lantana appeals to a variety of homeowners by offering properties from a range of prices (from a low of about $180,000 to well over $1 million). The community boasts two amenity centers, multiple neighborhood pools, a private golf club and immaculate landscaping. Numerous community events are held throughout the year as well. Residents are members of the Lantana Community Association (Lantana’s HOA) and contribute to the Lantana Education and Charitable Foundation with the purchase of each property.

Today, the population is just under 9,000 residents. RPG has planned to continue construction on the hike and bike trail and expand to 4,000 single-family homes. Lantana has won 4 Community of the Year Awards and was named People’s Choice Community for the past 2 years. Residents are kept up-to-date with local news through the Lantana Live newsletter, Lantana Live website, and the Windmill Blog.

Lantana is an intriguing garden suburb-style plan in the ever-expanding sprawl of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. It is the opposite of the garden city strategy, which incorporates industry and agriculture in addition to residential property. The Lantana Plan style (a master-planned, amenity-ample residential community located outside an established city) seems to be the favored method for contemporary development. Texans love their suburbs and appreciate landscaping features as well as community structure. They don’t seem to mind separating home from work; commuting is the accepted sacrifice for an upscale, recreation-friendly lifestyle at home. Because of this trend and the recent achievements of Lantana, I think master-planned residential communities will continue to emerge in North Texas regardless of the opposition to urban sprawl. In fact, RPG has already begun developing another residential community in Frisco called Phillips Creek Ranch, and a smaller one in Celina called Light Farms following the same general design as Lantana. As long as families are willing to forego some privacy in favor of social perks, to pay a little extra for neighborhood beautification, and to drive a distance farther for work and necessities, planned residential communities will continue to flourish. That is, as long as we don’t start seeing Stepford Wives…

 

Sources: www.lantanatexas.com; www.republicpropertygroup.com