Developer Nabs 117 Acres To Expand Master-Planned Community In Small Fort Bend Town

Johnson Development Services purchased 117.2 acres to extend Candela, a master-planned community, in Richmond.

Claudia Wright with R&W Real Estate brokered the purchase, which was previously land from two unnamed owners. The new Candela expansion will add 346 homes, a community lake, a 2.3-acre park and a dog park. Houses will begin to sell in 2023, and Coventry Homes, Perry Homes and Westin Homes, which built the houses currently available in Candela, will build the new stock. Prices haven't been set yet, but existing houses in Candela start in the mid-$300K range.

“This is a prime property in a growing area of Fort Bend County,” Johnson Development Services President Michael Cox said in a release. “With Candela so close and having such a strong brand identity that has rapidly drawn home buyers, it’s natural for us to continue the name. This property will be developed in the same manner as Candela.”

Candela houses first began to sell in 2020, and the area has the Axis Amenity Center along with other community amenities. The initial community is 460 acres.

“Demand continues to rise for homes in Candela,” Cox said in the release. “Our sales total is double this year from what it was at this time last year, thanks to our builder partners.”

Fort Bend County, which includes Richmond, is growing fast as the bulk of Houston population growth sequesters in the suburbs. Richmond has two designated opportunity zones, which local leaders hope will spur continued growth in the town of less than 12,000 residents. Fulshear is also growing quickly, Bisnow reported previously. Fort Bend is set to reach 1 million residents by 2026, the county said last year, and added its GDP and commercial value is climbing.