Leftover land, where houses will stand

A parcel of land originally set aside for commercial development is taking shape as a gated enclave called Grand Ridge Crossing in the Katy area.

Newmark Homes, which purchased the site from an investment group in 2014, plans to build 86 houses on 25.5 acres at the northwest corner of Peek Road and Westpark Tollway.

So far, it has sold four homes in the development, which is surrounded by the larger communities of Grand Lakes, Cinco Ranch and Lakes of Bella Terra. Home prices start around $310,000 and range in size from 2,093 to 3,912 square feet. A model home is under construction.

Grand Ridge Crossing is one of eight so-called “suburban infill” projects the builder has developed or participated in over the last decade. The projects are usually in or next to master-planned communities where Newmark builds, such as Greatwood, Kelliwood, Gleannloch Farms and Riverstone.

“Leftover property in a highly desirable area like this is often too expensive for residential use, or the property has characteristics and conditions that make it difficult to develop,” Mike Moody, president of Newmark Homes, said in an email.

The land was originally planned for apartments or retail development. Newmark negotiated a price from a “motivated seller” that made the economics work for a singlefamily home development, Moody said.