\u201cI really like the drive coming out here,\u201d said Revard, who plans to move into her home with her husband and three young daughters in February. \u201cIt just quiets my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her isolation won\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 10 years this will be a city in itself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Construction on the initial phase of homes<\/a> began in April. Eight families have already moved into their homes, and more than 60 other properties are under contract. Dozens of other lots have been cleared, and up to 120 families are expected to call Walsh home by spring, said Bexie Nobles, Walsh spokeswoman.<\/p>\n The neighborhood won\u2019t reach 50,000 residents overnight. Full build-out of the area likely will take at least a couple of decades, Nobles said.<\/p>\n But, as Fort Worth prepares for an influx of new residents \u2014 with today\u2019s population of about 850,000 expected to swell to nearly 1.5 million by 2040 \u2014 Walsh is expected to be a bell cow for neighborhoods wishing to lure upper-middle income and wealthy residents.<\/p>\n The initial construction includes 587 single-family lots, on hilly streets that were designed to preserve the rolling hill feel of the area, which is just northeast of the Interstate 20\/Interstate 30 merge, about a 15-minute drive west of downtown Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did everything we could to keep the topography,\u201d Nobles said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to denigrate the land.\u201d<\/p>\n The project includes at least nine builders, each of whom can only build a few houses per block in an effort to ensure each street has a diverse architectural look. Price vary dramatically, from the upper $200,000s to nearly $800,000. And then there are the $1 million-plus custom homes that are planned in a separate phase for a hillside nearby.<\/p>\n Revard\u2019s two-story home is being built in American Craftsman style, with overhangs and a covered porch. David Weekley Homes is the builder, and offers that model starting at $387,990.<\/p>\n Revard is a residential real estate agent, although she has no involvement in the Walsh project other than being a buyer. She works at League Real Estate in Fort Worth\u2019s West 7th area.<\/p>\n She said she was struck by the \u201cintentionality\u201d of Walsh \u2014 the attention to detail incorporated in the sprawling development to give it a sense of place.<\/p>\n The land was originally part of the Walsh Ranch that has been in the area for decades.<\/p>\n Roughly one-third of the 1,700-plus acres in the initial development is reserved for green space. Every home is within a five-minute walk of a park, and each park has restrooms.<\/p>\n Although the first phase of Walsh is almost all residential \u2014 commercial development south of I-30 is planned for a future phase \u2014 the developers opened a convenience store on Walsh Avenue to serve the spur-of-the-moment needs of the residents who move into the area.<\/p>\n The store, Walsh Village Market, has gas, grab-and-go meals, a variety of organic groceries, containers of fresh hummus and even Figgy Pops organic energy snacks.<\/p>\n The nearest full-size supermarket, a Brookshire\u2019s in Aledo, is about five miles west. Fort Worth\u2019s Central Market near I-30 and Hulen Street is about 12 miles to the east.<\/p>\n Although Walsh isn\u2019t a gated community, it will feature several offerings<\/a> typically found in neighborhoods with a closed perimeter. Among them are a fitness center, swimming pool and \u201clagoon\u201d for fishing and paddle-boating that are scheduled to open next year.<\/p>\n Next to the fitness center, a \u201cmakerspace\u201d will offer activities such as Legos for young children and robotics for older youths and adults.<\/p>\n The entire area is being wired for 2 gigabit Internet speed \u2014 faster than surrounding areas \u2014 and residents and businesses will have an option to tap into 10 gigabit service, Nobles said. A company known as Frog (no relation to TCU\u2019s mascot) is installing the fiber optics.<\/p>\n The area, which is in the Aledo school district, will eventually have its own middle and high schools. Walsh Elementary School opened in August, and it houses a handful children whose parents have bought property in the area as well as students from other nearby parts of the district.<\/p>\n Walsh is being built in a cooperative effort that involves the Walsh Family, which still lives in the area and owns ranch land, and Republic Property Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n Republic also developed Frisco\u2019s Phillips Creek Ranch<\/a> and Celina\u2019s Light Farms<\/a> and is currently working on Plano\u2019s Villas at Legacy West<\/a>.<\/p>\nIntentionality<\/h5>\n
Gigabits and other amenities<\/h5>\n