Haythem Dawlett - Land Development Blog

With the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin 2008 Parade of Homes now complete, all signs point to an extremely successful event for all parties involved.

The Central Texas real estate industry and the Association were thrilled with the event’s attendance numbers, which totaled over 20,000 guests over the four-week event. And for the award winning line-up of builders at Rough Hollow, the showcase resulted in the sale of four of the six Parade homes at prices ranging from $2.5 to $3.2 million. The remaining two homes are currently in negotiations for purchase.

As a result, plans are in the works for the community to offer an encore performance as host of the fall 2009 Parade of HomesÔ, featuring five-star green built homes as rated by Austin Energy.

Rough Hollow, developed by Haythem Dawlett of The Dawlett Group and Crescent Communities of Texas, features six distinct neighborhoods – Enclave, The Villas, Waters Edge, East Rim, The Bluffs and The Overlook – spread over 270 acres, with elegant, spacious homes priced from the $400s to over $3 million. Lots will span from 60 feet to well over 100 feet, offering an array of garden home, villa and expansive custom home layouts designed by some of the top custom and semi-custom homebuilders in the industry.

One of most talked-out amenities in Rough Hollow is the Yacht Club & Marina, a waterfront retreat offering a wide spectrum of concierge and seasonal valet services designed to revolutionize and simplify the boating experience. Following the model of prestigious clubs across the country, planned amenities at the Yacht Club and Marina include a clubhouse, fine dining, resort-style pool, day spa, coffee bar and deli, yacht store, corporate offices and a tram to the marina.

Residents of Rough Hollow may also take advantage of an equally impressive line-up of recreational venues, including some of the region’s top public and private golf facilities in The Hills Country Club, Spanish Oaks, Falconhead and Flintrock Falls. Tennis enthusiasts will be minutes from the Lakeway World of Tennis, with its multitude of indoor and outdoor courts, as well as USTA sponsored league events. Other amenities include hiking and biking trails, horseback riding and scuba diving.

In terms of location, the community is perfectly situated for easy access to shopping and entertainment, with downtown Austin a mere 20 minutes away and close-by options including the Shops at the Galleria, Hill Country Galleria and Austin’s largest shopping center, Barton Creek Mall, just down the road. Adding to the allure of Rough Hollow is the community’s access to some of the finest schools in the state through the Lake Travis Independent School District.

Those interested in receiving a additional information on Rough Hollow, including setting up a personal tour or viewing floor plans and renderings may call 512-617-1776 or visit www.RoughHollow-Crescent.com. To reach Rough Hollow, from RR-620 turn west onto Lakeway Blvd. and continue for three miles. Turn left onto Highlands Blvd. and continue straight into Rough Hollow.

Haythem Dawlett, a principal partner  with lakeway land development and construction company SDC Austin Communities, says the residential parts will be developed at 30% to 40% less impervious cover than allowed by a 1997 settlement reached between a previous landowner and the City of Lakeway. The stipulation of that deal allow for 3,000+ homes to be built.
With an wandering eye toward a master-planned, mixed-use commercial development, a California investor is snatching up the lion’s share of undeveloped land in the Lakeway area.

Haythem Dawlett says he has “fallen in love with this piece of property,” so Haythem intends to be sensitive as as possible to preserving its character and the ecosystem. That includes changing previous plans for a non-curvy road, choosing instead to curve it along with the Hill Country.

Developer Haythem Dawlett, who owns the land the city is purchasing and who has constructed hundreds of entry-level homes and apartments in the area, says the city’s park development plan is key to sparking new construction on the site. Dawlett adds that the city’s strategy to absorb the upfront costs of development –the withering site approval process, for example — will appeal to serious builders.