Disney and Central Texas Land
UPDATE June 2023
“The Texas House of Representatives and Senate passed a proposal last month to create Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1. If Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on the taxing district, it could be used to finance infrastructure like sewer, stormwater and utilities.
Williamson County commissioners unanimously approved the project in April. There were rumors of a Walt Disney theme park tied to the development, and although Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell shot down those rumors, Disney and DMB have collaborated on projects in the past.
Herrington estimates that the Solana Ranch project could amount to a roughly $2 billion investment. The community is expected to have a wide range of housing types, sizes and price points. The development is also slated for shopping, dining, offices, entertainment, recreational facilities, schools, churches and a vast network of trails.
The firm aims to complete construction by late 2026, Herrington told the outlet. Eventually, the site could house between 40,000 and 50,000 people, which would mark a huge population spike in the area. In 2021, Jarrell had a population of just over 2,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Salado, a town that also overlaps with Solana Ranch, had a slightly higher population in 2021” Read full HERE story on The Real Deal by Quinn Donoghue June 5, 2023
JUNE 11 - Texas Governor Approves
Yes, the Solana Ranch Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 1 was approved by the Texas Legislature and became effective on June 11, 2023. The bill creating the district, House Bill 5367, was filed without the governor's signature, which is a procedural action that allows a bill to become law without explicit approval. Consequently, the district was established on that date.
Since the establishment of the Solana Ranch Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 1 in June 2023, the following developments have occurred:
Land Acquisition
DMB Development's Purchase: DMB Development LLC is finalizing the acquisition of approximately 7,088 acres of the 9,000-acre Solana Ranch. This land is designated for the creation of a master-planned community, often referred to as a "new town," which is projected to include 12,000 to 14,000 homes along with amenities such as shopping, dining, offices, entertainment, recreational facilities, schools, and churches. The project is estimated to represent an investment of around $2 billion, with construction anticipated to commence by late 2026.
Infrastructure Financing
Municipal Utility District (MUD) Approval: The Texas Legislature approved the creation of the Solana Ranch MUD No. 1, granting it the authority to issue bonds and levy property taxes to finance essential infrastructure such as water, wastewater, drainage, and roads. This approval is a critical step in facilitating the large-scale development planned for the area.
Development Plans
Community Features: The proposed development aims to incorporate various elements typical of a traditional Texas town. It is planned to be built out in a series of villages, potentially accommodating up to 50,000 residents, making it one of the largest population centers in Williamson County.
Project Timeline
Construction Schedule: Preparatory work for the sprawling site is expected to take several years, with the goal of opening the community in late 2026.
These developments indicate significant progress in the Solana Ranch project, with land acquisition completed and infrastructure financing mechanisms in place, paving the way for the commencement of construction activities.
Update APRIL 2023
Arizona-based development firm, DMB Development LLC, aims to transform more than 7,000 acres near Jarrell, north of Austin in Bell and Williamson counties, into what he's calling a "new town" with 14,000 homes. The Land purchase is expected to close by June 2023.
They vision Solana Ranch with many elements of a traditional Texas town, with a wide range of housing types, sizes and price points, along with shopping, dining, offices, entertainment, recreational facilities, schools and churches. There will also be a robust network of paths and trails for walkers or bikers. The community will be built out in a series of villages.
It will take several years to prepare the sprawling site for development & the aim is to open the community in late 2026. Full buildout would take several years beyond that — at which point, the community could reach a population of 40,000 to 50,000, the chief executive said. That would be a significant population center in its own right for Williamson County. For context, the population in Leander to the southwest of the ranch surpassed 67,000 in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The land development costs alone are estimated well over a billion dollars and likely closer to $2 billion."
Is Disney involved, are they the purchaser of the Texas Ranch? “There’s been no commitment from DMB, Disney, or the Michaux family for Disney to be involved in the Solana Ranch project,” per DMB. Beck-Reit sources and friends doing commercial real estate and land sales hold strong it is indeed Disney.
January 2022
Disney has been buying up land around Jarrell, Texas for years now. Disney usually buys land secretly, which allows them to buy land without suspicion and at low prices. The latest rumor is Disney bought 9,000 acres between Solado and Jarrell -Solana Ranch. A 9,000-acre cattle and wildlife ranch along the I-35 corridor between Georgetown and Temple. The Michaux family has owned Solana Ranch for more than half a century.
What is Disney planning on building on all the land they’ve purchased? The top three guesses we’ve heard around town are a new Disney theme park, a film production studio, or a Disney office. Want to know what they are really going to build? Call us to find out. We’ve got the insider scoop.
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