Downtown Is the Biggest Amenity for This Texas New Urbanist Community
As a college student in New Orleans, Trace Jurica’s imagination was sparked by the city’s colorful, walkable neighborhoods. Later on, he was inspired by Mueller in Austin, South Main in Colorado, and Andres Duany’s book Suburban Nation.
In 2006, Jurica purchased a 66-acre parcel in the middle of New Braunfels, Texas, a town of 60,000 people located between San Antonio and Austin. Dallas-based Gateway Planning Group helped him achieve his vision for a New Urbanist community, Town Creek. Jurica is co-founder, and his company, Jurica Builders, is building the first homes.
“We did a full-blown charrette that involved all the neighbors and stakeholders,” he says. Construction started in 2009. Sales were initially slow, but the project gained momentum and Jurica sold out the first phase of 30 single-family homes. These “cottages” range from approximately 2,000 to 2,700 square feet and are priced from the high $200,000s to the mid-$300,000s.
“We’ve got the whole spectrum of homebuyers—everything from retirees at the one end down to young singles,” he says.
Town Creek will also offer townhouses and condominiums (a rarity in that area); a restaurant; a gym; and retail and office space. But Jurica views historic downtown New Braunfels, which is within walking distance, as the community’s biggest amenity.
Read more about Traditional Neighborhood Development in Professional Builder's feature article, "Traditional Neighborhood Development: Learning From the Past, Present, and Future."
