Growing Gosling: Developers eye ‘last corridor’ for retail, homes in The Woodlands area

Work began on a number of residential and commercial developments along Gosling Road in late 2022 from Panther Creek Drive to the Grand Parkway. Some of the bigger developments include:

• A 60-acre oil and gas development owned by GeoSouthern Development
• Gosling Oaks: a 55-acre residential and retail development
• South Gosling Park: 208-acre township amenity

“Gosling has become more and more advantageous as the residential homes have become developed and built over the last several years, [and] new retail developments along Gosling,” Knagg said. “Retail typically follows rooftops.”

These projects along Gosling Road exist just outside the boundaries of The Woodlands Township and within Harris County. Township officials said the township and Montgomery County therefore have minimal ability to manage development opportunities along the borders of The Woodlands.

Some Creekside Park residents have expressed dissatisfaction due to the loss of trees and increase in noise pollution as a result of development. Marcus Allen, who lives alongside the GeoSouthern development, went before the township board on several occasions in June regarding the issue, which prompted the township to plant additional trees protecting current homes in the area.

A closer look

Gosling Oaks, a major residential development effort east of Gosling Road near West Rayford Road belongs to Nate Newman, CEO of Newman Commercial Real Estate. The 55-acre parcel will provide retail, restaurant and residential properties next to each other to create a full-service style community, he said.

“This will be a true mixed-use development with an emphasis on experiential placemaking,” Newman said. “This development will be a major regional draw and will serve as a vibrant anchor.”

Newman said he expects the retail development area to serve as a major draw for the area, a sentiment shared by Knagg, who said commercial properties along Gosling have been areas of high activity.

“It’s positioned to be a retail corridor. The majority of commercial development has been retail focused,” Knagg said.

Alongside the commercial and retail development on Gosling Road rests land for a new park planned within The Woodlands. The 208-acre tract of land was donated to The Woodlands Township in July by real estate development company Howard Hughes as part of the agreement which gave the township full control of The Woodlands Waterway.

Township Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes said the township is waiting on Harris County to complete a review of the topographic studies, which were completed in February. Until then, no development can proceed.

South Gosling Park plans include:

• 208 acres: The largest township park area
• $338,000: Spent so far on studies
• $4 million: Potential park development cost

In their words

“Gosling is the next kind of best spot that’s tough to get into. ... They want a premium," said Jascha Patton, co-founder of Cornerstone Development Group.

“[Gosling Oaks] is a true Class A development in harmony with nature that would be a gathering place for families," said Nate Newman, CEO with Newman CRE.

“[South Gosling Park] will be ... the largest park in the system, and have opportunities for passive and active recreation," said Chris Nunes, chief operating officer of The Woodlands Township.

“[Gosling Road] is a major thoroughfare ... [for] either retail or medical ... development," said Matt Knagg, associate advisor with J. Beard Real Estate.

What else?

With the incoming retail development and build-out of homes in Creekside Park, population growth in the Gosling Road area has continually increased, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. To keep up with increased traffic, the Montgomery County Precinct 3 and Harris County Precinct 3 commissioner offices completed an $8.2 million widening project on the Gosling bridge over Spring Creek in December. In 2016, traffic counts from the Texas Department of Transportation on along Gosling at Lake Woodlands Drive and Spring Creek showed annual average daily traffic totaling around 24,000 vehicles at each point. Each intersection saw a decrease in the 2021 report. An increase was not recorded in 2016 at Flintridge Drive and Gosling Road, but it grew to over 21,000 as of 2021, according to TxDOT.

While the new developments may increase traffic and population around the southern boundary of The Woodlands, residents have raised concerns regarding development near the residential parts of Creekside Park and Indian Springs.

“There’s been a clear-cutting of trees and the elimination of an actual barrier between the village and the new development,” Allen said.

The GeoSouthern development was temporarily halted due to issues with permitting in Harris County but has since resumed, according to Harris County Appraisal District. The details of the project were not available as of press time.

Editor's note: This story and chart was updated from the print version to show that the annual average daily traffic count of 21,323 occurred at Flintridge and Gosling Road in 2021 rather than in 2016.