Two new developments set for Central Texas—Lakeway and West Hwy. 71

“Right now we are about to develop Phase 1 [of three phases],” he said. “If for whatever reason the market pushes us in some direction, we have the ability to modify our plan to accommodate that.”

Hayes said the company’s interest in the Horseshoe Bay site stems from its “key components.”

“Having a hospital nearby is very important,” he said. “Having the right demographics—Lakeway is pretty affluent, and Horseshoe Bay is pretty affluent, especially for the level of homes we want to build. If you go to Sun City, you get [a home] in the $100,000s but you are getting a tract home that has the minimum features.

"The fact that Horseshoe Bay Resort is close by with all of the amenities—the four golf courses—[constructing] a golf community helps.”

Lakeway City Center

Legend Communities founder and CEO Haythem Dawlett told Lakeway City Council on Feb. 14 his company’s proposal for a planned development district encompassing Lakeway’s last large land tract will include walkable residential and commercial areas centered around a village green with possibly a performing arts center.

The company is under contract to purchase a 78-acre tract of land—bordered by RR 620, Lohmans Crossing and Rolling Green Drive—from the Lakeway Municipal Utility District.

The project’s village green will serve as its “community heart,” said Thomas Kopf, director of planning for DTJ Design, the developer’s community design consultant.

“[The project] is not about cars; it’s about people,” he said. “Everyday life happens on the street, and that’s how we make these places come alive.”

The development will have a range of housing price points, said Bill Hayes, chief operating officer at Legend Communities.

“The concept for the name, Lakeway City Center, has more of that cosmopolitan, urban feel to it," he said.

The city has performed studies on the viability of a performing arts center, and Hayes said Legend will be undertaking research to understand what the center can do to contribute to the project’s overall viability.

“We told Lakeway people they would have input as to whether they would want [a performing arts center], so maybe, in your market research, you could find out if people want this [center],” Lakeway City Council Member Ron Massa said to Hayes. “And they may not because of traffic issues.”