CELINA, Texas — This article was originally published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. You can read the original article here.
A North Texas real estate developer is adding to the building blitz in Celina with a residential community near the city’s historic downtown square.
Frisco-based Rockhill Capital & Investments LLC has teamed up with builder Olivia Clarke Homes on North Square at Uptown Celina, a 78-home community on 13 acres within the broader Uptown Celina district, located between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road. At completion, the 675-acre Uptown Celina is expected to offer about 2,500 homes.
Infrastructure construction is complete and model homes are slated to open this fall in North Square, two blocks from downtown Celina, Rockhill announced earlier this month. About a dozen homes are under construction, with sales now open. Prices start in the mid-$500,000s.
Home construction in Celina is booming with 1,700 single-family permits approved through July 31 this year. That was up 18% from 1,446 permits issued in the first seven months of last year and on pace to surpass the 2,503 permits for all of 2023. And Celina led the country in terms of estimated percentage growth of its population between 2022 and 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The North Square community centered around 101 Chestnut St. will include 78 paired homes — individual dwellings built together but designed to look like a single, larger home. Paired homes, also called twin homes, typically share a wall.
The paired homes in North Square will be up to 2,507 square feet with three bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and have the look and feel of single-family homes. Historic homes in the area influenced the exteriors, while the interiors will have modern details, ample space and windows, and smart storage solutions, according to the announcement.
"North Square at Uptown Celina is such a special project, as it is located right near downtown Celina, which is so walkable," Jennifer Johnson, founder and president of Plano-based Olivia Clarke Homes, said in a statement. "If you live in North Square, you’ll be near shops, great little lunch spots, and lots of events where people come together outside of their homes."
North Square at Uptown Celina is one of four communities in the Uptown Celina district, which includes a variety of lot sizes and home styles including single-family and multifamily in addition to the paired homes.
Ryan Griffin, managing partner at Rockhill Capital & Investments, said the company has worked hard in recent years to assemble the tract of land that is now Uptown Celina. He said he has "always believed in the future of Celina."
"Celina has a rare and sought-after downtown that continues to expand," he said. "The residents of North Square will get the unique opportunity of living in a new home just two blocks from great shops and amenities."
Rockhill has long been active in this city in fast-growth Collin County. Griffin last year described Celina as "poised to be another Frisco."
The developer teamed up with Taylor Morrison and Toll Brothers on The Ranch at Uptown Celina, a 450-home community on 150 acres between FM 455 and Celina Parkway.
