The west side of Flower Mound is highly underserved, according to TIP Strategies, an Austin-based consulting firm tasked with creating an economic development strategic plan for the town. This is because a bulk of the amenities and services in Flower Mound exist on the east side, where its initial footprint was incorporated.
“One of the big opportunities that we have at Furst Ranch is to ‘amenitize’ the western end of Flower Mound,” Jack Furst, the land owner and master developer of the project, said.
In August, the initial phase of development kicked off for an over 1,000 acre mixed-use project on the ranch. Construction of the first homes in the development may not begin until 2027, with a buildout timeline of about 10-12 years.
The overview
The vision for Furst Ranch began to take shape back in 1991 with the purchase of 55 acres of land in Bartonville by Furst. After 28 land acquisitions over the years, the land ballooned to more than 2,300 acres, including parts of Argyle and Bartonville. Furst Ranch will have up to 3,000 single-family homes, up to 6,000 multi-family units with up to 1,000 being age-restricted dwellings, as previously reported by Community Impact. The project will also include more than 404 acres of park land, trails and open space. Upon completion, a third of the town’s park land will be in Furst Ranch.
“We’ll have a fabulous park and trail system for both walking and biking that’ll create a sense of community,” Furst said. “It’ll be a health and wellness place.”
Furst Ranch’s proposed development also includes space for corporate campuses, an elementary and middle school, retail, restaurants, entertainment, and office uses.
One of the challenges to bringing all of these services and amenities to the west side of town will be establishing the needed infrastructure to support future residents and businesses at Furst Ranch, Lexin Murphy, director of development services for the town, said in an email. In 2023, the Flower Mound Town Council approved a tax increment reinvestment zone for the west side to help pay for needed infrastructure, such as the proposed roads, sidewalks, and water and sewer lines.
Furst said it became apparent after a while that all of this land was a chance to create an “example of excellence,” particularly in west Flower Mound.
Diving deeper
Victoria Wilson, a consultant with TIP Strategies, said at an October town council meeting that Furst Ranch could boost economic development opportunities in Flower Mound.
“You have an opportunity to market Furst Ranch to employers specifically in your target sectors and professional services, for example, to occupy office space in the district and really feed that daytime traffic within the community,” Wilson said.
The town already has a robust economy, Murphy said, but the west side of town should be developed so that all residents of Flower Mound continue to enjoy the quality of life that the town is known for.
Lori Walker, president of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, said in an email that Furst Ranch is a significant opportunity for the town.
“This project will bring a dynamic mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces that will enhance the local economy, attract new businesses, and create jobs, contributing to a vibrant community life,” Walker said.
Many people who live in Flower Mound travel outside of town for work. Furst said the jobs the ranch will provide could be an opportunity to change that.
“We’re at the very front end of talking to retail clients that want to reside at Furst Ranch and we have a big initiative to accomplish that,” Furst said.
Why it matters
The east side’s close proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport has spurred growth in the area over the last few decades, Murphy said. East Flower Mound was developed first, Murphy added.
“The approved project estimated [nearly 6.7 million] square feet of retail, restaurant and office uses at full buildout will help significantly in bringing services to [west Flower Mound],” Murphy said.
Flower Mound Mayor Cheryl Moore said in an email that the town has many successful developments, but Furst Ranch will help fill needs in the west part of town.
“We hear frequently from those residents about what is lacking in their section of the town, from grocery stores to additional parks and trails,” Moore said. “The direction we are pursuing is for Furst Ranch to help fulfill those needs.”
Looking ahead
At full buildout, Furst said the ranch could generate $2 billion to $3 billion in the first 20 years with a commercial tax base of apartments, a hotel and retailers and, potentially, a hospital.
“It’s a spectacular piece of land, strategically located, that deserves terrific stewardship to bring to life a master planned community that can serve its residents and commercial tenants well to create a great place to live, work and play,” Furst said.
Furst and his team are solidifying the development’s retail plans and working with Argyle ISD to get an elementary and middle school.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of great work to leave the legacy that it deserves, but we’re going to roll up our sleeves and try to do that for sure,” Furst said.
