The Townhomes at Lake Park, a 30-acre, 247-unit multifamily housing development, opened in mid-September, a major sign of progress for a $56 million project that is bringing a mix of housing and retail to Cullen Boulevard and McHard Road in Pearland.

“This is the largest multifamily tract in Houston with the lowest density,” said James Johnson, the developer behind the project.

The site, called Lake Park, has about 12 more acres to be developed for stand-alone retail—such as banks and coffee shops—which could be open for business in a year, he said.

Johnson, who also developed the Southern Trails master-planned community in Pearland, said he wants to keep the retail in line with the overall look and quality of the townhomes.

“I don’t want any monolithic strip malls stretched across the property, nothing like that,” he said.

The townhomes received financing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, but it is not subsidized, nor is it a low-income housing project, Johnson said. Rents range from $1,300 for one-bedroom units to $2,200 for three bedrooms, said Joseph Manley, a property manager with Greystar.

The property has a pavilion and plaza outside the fence line that are open to the community, he said.

“The idea is to create a walkable area that will be right alongside the retail as it comes in,” Manley said. “It’s a fun amenity for the neighborhood.”