Travis Stone has been named president of Aliana Development Co., which is developing the 2,000-acre Aliana master-planned community in Fort Bend County. 

Stone brings 25 years of community development experience to Aliana, including (23) 24 years with the Houston division of Newland Communities. After serving in several positions at Newland, Stone ended his career with the company as senior vice president, overseeing development, sales and operations for the company’s four Houston area communities, which together encompass over 12,000 acres and accounted for approximately 1,700 new-home sales in 2009. 

 
Throughout his real estate career, Stone has been involved in the acquisition, startup and development of several of Fort Bend County’s most successful real estate developments, including Sugar Mill, Greatwood and Telfair, the latter which opened in 2006 and was the nation’s fourth best-selling new-home community in 2009. Stone has also had primary development experience for additional master-planned communities in Katy and Austin. 

 
Stone envisions a bright future for Aliana, which offers new homes priced from the $170,00s to over $1 million and amenities including miles of waterways, greenbelt trails and The Club at Aliana, a $5 million multipurpose complex with a Texas-Tuscan style clubhouse.

 
Aliana is located between the Grand Parkway and FM 1464, with frontage along the north and south sides of W. Airport Blvd., where its main entrance is located. The community is adjacent to the Shadow Hawk Golf Club and The Houstonian Golf & Country Club, which Stone describes as “impressive and complementary neighbors to Aliana.”

 
“As a true mixed-use community with a commitment to sustainable master-planning, Aliana will flourish in tandem with The Houstonian, Shadow Hawk and other nearby developments, to make a major contribution to the quality of life and economic growth of Fort Bend County,” he said. “Aliana is proud to be at the forefront of a new generation of development that will help Fort Bend maintain its standing as one of the nation’s top-selling areas for new-home sales.”
 

A graduate of Texas A & M University, Stone holds a Bachelor of Science degree in building construction. He is a member of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council and serves on the advisory board of the University of Houston System at Sugar Land. He is also an advisory board member of the East Carolina University Construction Management Department.
 

For more information about Aliana, visit www.alianahouston.com.

If you think Firethorne’s tennis coach is just an ace on the tennis court, you couldn’t be more wrong.   Resident athlete/sports coach Chris Dante didn’t even take up the sport until he was 30, after excelling in baseball (in 1988 he made it as far as the Olympic Trials), basketball (City University of New York team captain) and football, as well as boxing and Taekwondo (he has a black belt)! 

      “But after one too many broken noses, I turned to something less brutal -- tennis,” said Dante, who helped launch Firethorne’s premiere tennis program this spring.  With the new Women’s Tennis League and beginner tennis clinics now in full swing, Firethorne continues to demonstrate the Katy/Fulshear community’s commitment to fitness and competitive sports, through its hike and bike trails, swimming and running (Katy Triathlon at Firethorne), regulation lacrosse fields and personal training at the on-site exercise facility.   

      According to Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett, the fact that Chris lives and coaches in Firethorne further illustrates the true spirit of community at Firethorne.  “He’s more than a coach, he’s a neighbor and mentor and he is deeply committed to instilling in children the values of honor and virtue in sports competition.”

Del Webb, the leading builder of active adult communities in the nation, announced today a timeline for the grand opening of the first Del Webb in Houston.

The community, targeted toward residents age 55 and older who are looking for a resort-style community, will be one of more than 50 Del Webb active adult communities currently for sale across the country. Del Webb began with the first Sun City community in Phoenix, Arizona, which opened in 1960. 

A new sales pavilion is expected to begin construction by early fall 2010, with a grand opening date of early 2011. First residents are expected to move into the community in summer 2011.

“We are extremely excited about finally being able to set a clear timeline to launch this highly-anticipated community,” said Jim Rorison, division president of the Houston operations for Del Webb. “There continues to be strong interest and demand for a Del Webb community in the greater Houston area ever since we first introduced the community in 2007. After a full evaluation of market conditions, we believe the timing is appropriate to move forward with our goal to deliver quality homes, superior facilities, unsurpassed lifestyle coordination and the legendary Del Webb experience.”

“Caldwell Companies is thankful for the opportunity to partner with Del Webb to create its first community in Houston,” said Fred Caldwell, president and chief executive officer of Caldwell Companies.  “Del Webb and its parent company, PulteGroup have a tremendous reputation in the homebuilding industry. And, we are excited about our role to create an unparalleled lifestyle for active adults in Richmond, Texas.”

“We are pleased to bring this project to market in partnership with the developer, Caldwell Companies who has been working diligently over the past several months to prepare the site for construction,” added Rorison.

Del Webb in Houston: a place to love life to the fullest

Del Webb in Houston, which is located in the city of Richmond about 25 miles south of downtown Houston, will include approximately 1,500 homes on more than 500 acres, with a much-anticipated multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art amenity center with indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, new walking trails, outdoor pavilion with fishing pier, and other amenities. 

The community shares a boundary with the Fort Bend Country Club to the north and features 50 acres of water on site including Rabb's Bayou. The rolling topography also creates beautiful country-like views of the area with plenty of opportunities to view wildlife in its natural habitat.

“This Del Webb community has all the ingredients to be a great home for active adults – as we like to say – to love life to the fullest,” said Kimberly Paulus, vice president of sales of the Houston operations for Del Webb.  “From fishing and bird watching, to swimming and tennis, to just about any outdoor activity you can think of, this community is the ultimate setting for the Del Webb lifestyle. Plus, when you consider that Baby Boomers show no signs of slowing down, the community’s close proximity to the Houston area and the baby boomer population projections for the next 25 years, we’re expecting a tremendous demand here.”

The amenity center is planned to include many of the resort-style amenities Del Webb communities are known for across America:

• A fully staffed, state-of-the-art recreation and fitness center, approximately 20,000 square feet
• Indoor swimming pool
• Variety of sport courts, tennis courts, resort pool, pavilion area and fishing
• Extensive community walking trails and nature areas
• Extensive health and fitness programming, such as yoga, pilates and Zumba
• Social clubs, countless community activities

According to Paulus, this new community mirrors a growing trend among active adults, Baby Boomers and empty nesters who seek the vibrant, facilitated lifestyle choices that Del Webb provides, but who prefer to stay within close proximity of family and friends.  These “in-place” buyers equate to approximately 50 percent of all Del Webb homebuyers nationwide, and want the facilitated lifestyle in the area they grew up where they are near their doctors, churches, children and grandchildren.

Texas is a hot retirement destination

Its robust and growing economy, sunny weather, low taxes and Southern hospitality make Houston, Texas a great place to live up the golden years. Del Webb has long seen Texas as a viable option for Baby Boomers looking to retire - ever since it opened its first Del Webb community in Texas in 1995.  More than one-third of Baby Boomers plan on moving when they retire, according to the recently released 2010 Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey.

Homebuyers are expected to travel from as far as away as Hawaii, from the typical Sun Belt states of Arizona and Florida, and as close as the nearby and charming downtown of Richmond to shop and tour their future home in retirement.

The active adult numbers speak for themselves.  According to the U.S. Census, more Americans have moved to Texas since the recession began in 2008 than any other state. Additionally, Texas saw substantial gains due to a stronger labor market and immigrant growth with Houston ranking second among metros with the most numerical gain.

The addition of Del Webb in Houston rounds out Del Webb’s other active adult community offerings in the state of Texas, including Frisco Lakes near Dallas-Ft. Worth, Sun City Texas near Austin, and Hill Country Retreat in San Antonio.

To join the growing VIP list and to learn more about and for more information about Del Webb in Houston, visit www.delwebb.com/houston or call 866-232-6072.

About Caldwell

Caldwell Companies is a fully-integrated real estate services and development firm providing commercial and residential development; brokerage; and property management for the past twenty years.  The firm is committed to the practice of doing business with a true sense of purpose – building community that enriches lives. To find out more about Caldwell Companies visit www.caldwellcos.com or call 713-690-0000.

About Del Webb

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, award-winning Del Webb active adult communities provide a vibrant, enriched lifestyle for those ages 55 and older, creating an unmatched experience for “retirement.” Del Webb communities began with the original Sun City which opened outside Phoenix, Arizona in 1960 and have grown to include more than 50 communities currently open for new home sales in 21 states. Del Webb is the best-known brand of active adult communities in America and draws on its 50 years of experience of providing residents an engaging life which fulfills their creative, physical, mental, and social needs. For more information on Del Webb, see www.delwebb.com.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is America’s premier home building company with operations in 67 markets, 29 states and the District of Columbia. Celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2010, the Company has an unmatched capacity to meet the needs of all buyer segments through its brand portfolio that includes Pulte Homes, Centex Homes and Del Webb.  In 2009, PulteGroup brands received more top rankings than any other homebuilder in the annual J.D. Power and Associates 2009 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study^sm. 

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, see www.pultegroup.com; www.pultehomes.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com. 

Bridgeland hopes to score a touchdown with its latest public class — a football camp for second- through sixth-graders led by Cypress Ranch High School’s head football coach Gene Johnson. 

The Skills and Drills Camp will be open to second- and third-grade students July 22 and 23 from 5:45-7:45 p.m. in Oak Meadow Park. Cost is $30 for Bridgeland residents and $50 for non-residents. Registration and payment are due July 20. 

Fourth-, fifth- and six-graders can participate in a three-day camp from 5:45-8:15 p.m. July 26 through 28. Cost is $50 for Bridgeland residents and $75 for non-residents. Registration and payment are due no later than July 22. 

Minimum participation in each class is 15 players. 

During the class, the young players will learn two-point and three-point stances, how to receive a hand-off and how to punt, pass and kick. Participants also will practice footwork and more in various agility drills. 

Johnson, a Bridgeland resident, has nine years of experience overseeing 5A football programs comprising 250 to 300 athletes. He is beginning his third year as the head football coach at Cypress Ranch High School, which begins its first season of varsity football this year. Previously, he built a 37-11 record in four seasons as head football coach at Klein Forest High School and guided the Hightower Hurricanes to the state quarterfinals and a 24-13 record in three seasons. Cypress Ranch football coaches will assist Johnson during the Bridgeland camps. 

This is just one of several camps and classes that Bridgeland has opened to the public this year, with self-defense, organic gardening, soccer, drama and cooking still ongoing. For more information, visit www.bridgelandlife.com or www.bridgeland.com/events/calendar.  

About Bridgeland

The Bridgeland community is a development of General Growth Properties, Inc., the second-largest U.S.-based publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) in the nation. As owner of Bridgeland and majority owner of The Woodlands, General Growth Properties is one of the largest master-planned community developers in the Houston area. For more information, visit www.bridgeland.com.  

Brighton Homes is now offering low-maintenance townhomes priced from $119,950 in Summerwood, and buyers who contract to purchase a new townhome in this wooded community by June 30, 2010 will receive a free washer, dryer, refrigerator and two-inch blinds on all operable windows. 

Brighton plans to open its decorated townhome models in Summerwood in July, and pre-opening sales information is available by visiting Brighton’s new single-family model in the Summerwood Model Home Village.

 
Brighton currently offers three two-story townhome plans, all featuring two-car garages and Energy Star features such as 14 SEER air conditioning systems and double-paned windows.
 

Prices start at $119,950 for the Amarillo, a three-bedroom townhome with 1,652 square feet. Highlights include a family room, dining room, a two-story foyer and a covered back porch. The Amarillo has 2-½ baths, including a master bath with a walk-in closet. 

 
The Fort Worth offers four bedrooms in a 1,932-square-foot plan priced from $129,950. The master suite has two walk-in closets, and other noteworthy features include 2-½ baths and a covered back porch. A townhome plan with a downstairs master suite is also offered. 

Brighton’s townhomes  are conveniently located near the main entry of this 1,500-acre community and are within walking distance to a brand new H-E-B store planned to open in Fall, 2010. A neighborhood park offers residents an inviting place to relax, and a walking trail connects to miles of additional greenbelt trails and an overall 200 acres of recreational amenities in Summerwood.

 
Brighton has also just opened its new single-family model in the Summerwood Model Home Village, showcasing a collection of plans priced from the $230,000s and ranging from 2,694 to over 3,823 square feet.

 
For more information on Brighton townhomes and single-family homes in Summerwood, click here or call sales consultant Cliann Herring at 281-458-4939.

Riverstone families are getting into the patriotic swing of things for a spirited Fourth of July, one of several upcoming events orchestrated by the community’s lifestyle director. 

“There will be a full day of activities and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water on the Fourth of July, with a fishing contest for the kids and a pool party for everyone,” said Melanie Rushe, who has been hosting activities at the Fort Bend community since January. 

Adding to the fun during the pool party will be a disc jockey and free hot dogs and snow cones. 

Coming in August is a “Kayak Extravaganza,” where residents will be able to explore the many waterways of Riverstone. KO Sailing will bring in kayaks for the resident-only event, slated for Aug. 21. 

Residents and the public are invited to the Riverstone Heart and Sole 5K, benefitting Second Mile Mission, a Fort Bend-based organization serving those in need. In addition to its food pantry, Second Mile Mission operates the largest clothing closet in Fort Bend County, provides household items for people trying to re-establish a home, gives financial assistance to those in crisis situations and offers dental and health care to the uninsured. 

The benefit run will be held in Riverstone Saturday, Sept. 25. For more information, contact Rushe at 281.499.8722. 

Riverstone, ranked fifth among the 10 top-selling Houston communities by housing consultant Metrostudy, is conveniently located at Highway 6, three miles south of U.S. 59, and offers easy access to several major thoroughfares, including the Fort Bend Parkway. Abundant dining and shopping choices are just minutes away, including First Colony’s booming Town Center. 

Within Riverstone, residents enjoy a wealth of amenities, such as swimming complexes, tennis courts, hike-and-bike trails, a fishing pier and bark park. Home prices are from the $200,000s to the millions. 

For more information on Riverstone, visit www.riverstone.com.

 
About Riverstone

Riverstone is a 3,700-acre master-planned community near U.S. 59 and Highway 6, The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road and Texas 288. Well-known production and custom builders are featured in the community, which is designed for 6,000 homes during the next eight years, 250 acres of lakes, 20 miles of hike-and-bike trails and 500 acres of open spaces and park lands. Housing styles range from townhomes, patio homes and single-family homes to multi-million-dollar homes on homesites as large as a half-acre. The Johnson Development Corp. is the developer of the community, which offers a premier Fort Bend location and homes with a coveted Sugar Land address. To learn more about the amenity-rich neighborhoods of Riverstone, visit www.Riverstone.com. 

About The Johnson Development Corp.

The Johnson Development Corp. is an award-winning residential and commercial land development company involved in premier projects including master-planned communities such as Sienna Plantation, Fall Creek, Riverstone, Woodforest, Tuscan Lakes, Edgewater, Imperial Sugar and Silverlake in Houston, Texas, and Towne Lake, BridgeMill and Lake Arrowhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1975, known for innovative master planning and today one of the largest and most successful land developers in both Houston and Atlanta, The Johnson Development Corp. has cultivated a strong reputation for vibrant, responsible development, with impeccably designed communities. For more information, visit www.johnsondevelopment.com.

Good times we had by all at the Houston Relocation Professionals event in June at the Astros game.  

Lots of friends and business connections coupled with a great venue and an Astros victory made the day a huge success!

Pictured on top of Union Station at Minute Maid Park: 

Mike Blalock, Publisher of Post Oak Publishing, Inc. and 2007 Houston Relocation Professionals President and Stephen Buttram, Buttram and Associates.