Transforming Texas
Major development aims to transform I-35 corridor north of San Antonio
A new development could transform the I-35 corridor north of San Antonio. Trace, the first mixed-use development of its kind for San Marcos, is bringing 420 acres of residential, commercial, and business space to the city over the next few years.
The $475 million master-planned community, conveniently located between San Antonio and Austin at the intersection of I-35 and Posey Road (south of the outlet malls), comes from California-based Highpointe Communities.
"Our vision is to create a live-work-play environment that will transform this part of town into a vibrant, bustling community," says Steve Vliss, president of Highpointe Communities, in a release.
Trace will offer roughly 1,000 single-family homes and 850 multi-family residences. Two commercial sites near the I-35 corridor will provide a total of 13 acres for businesses, in addition to a 9-acre site within the neighborhood. The development also has sectioned off an additional 43 acres to accommodate a business park or corporate campus along the highway.
A large park, The Presidio, will feature an amenity center with a resort-style pool, covered pavilions, grilling area, and playgrounds. The master plan also calls for 76 acres of open space, three miles of trails, a fire station, and a 12-acre site with a San Marcos Consolidated ISD elementary school.
"Trace fits perfectly into our strategy of cultivating quality of life for our residents by providing them with diverse, quality jobs that offer competitive wages, training, benefits, and opportunities to advance," says San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero in the release.
Construction is slated to start in early 2017, Vliss tells CultureMap. The first phase will focus on residences, and the first round of residents could move in as early as the third quarter of 2017. The entire project, commercial properties and all, will take four to six years to complete.