92-acre parcel near W. Melissa Road and U.S. Highway 75 will create more than 400 new home sites in growing city

Astra Development is pleased to announce that an entity affiliated with its company sold 92 acres of land northwest of the intersection of W. Melissa Road and U.S. Highway 75 to home builders Taylor Morrison and NexMetro Development. The deal, which closed April 7, will create more than 400 new home sites in Melissa.

“We are proud that we were able to get this project to the finish line by creating a mixed-use project with two quality builders,” noted Justin Bono, founder and president of Astra Development. “This will add more housing options for those who desire the lifestyle that the city of Melissa has to offer. We are pleased to be able to turn this over to Taylor Morrison and NexMetro Development to make these residences a reality.”

The preliminary plat for the 92-acre parcel, named Stoneridge, has been approved and construction plans for the first phase are under review. Development is expected to begin this summer. At build out, Stoneridge will include 411 residences.

Taylor Morrison plans to build 194 single family homes on 72 acres in the Stoneridge community. Taylor Morrison prides itself on the quality of its homes, thoughtfulness of its communities, and the personal relationships it builds with homebuyers. The company’s proven track record and 100-year legacy is a testament to its strong reputation of trust with its customers. Taylor Morrison builds and develops distinctive communities from coast to coast, serving a wide array of homeowners. 

Keith Hurand, division president for Taylor Morrison, said, “Stoneridge provides the winning combination of affordably priced new homes, highly ranked schools, access to major roadways and easy access to the infrastructure provided by the northern suburbs in Collin County. Being voted as America’s Most Trusted Homebuilder for six years in a row, Taylor Morrison looks forward to bringing exceptional customer experience and expanding our market presence to the City of Melissa.”

National build-to-rent developer NexMetro Communities has purchased 20 acres of Stoneridge to build and lease approximately 217 detached homes in its Avilla Stoneridge community, a unique leased home neighborhood designed to meet the growing demand for the company's innovative luxury leased home lifestyle. Avilla Stoneridge will offer private luxury rental homes to lifestyle-conscious consumers seeking a new home experience without the burdens of home ownership. Avilla Homes neighborhoods feature single level, detached homes for lease in a gated enclave. The one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans feature private entrances, outdoor patios and private backyards, along with high-end finishes such as 10-foot ceilings, granite/quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and more. The pet-friendly communities offer the perks of neighborhood living with optional garages, resort-style pool, beautifully landscaped recreation areas, and even an electric car charging station--all maintained by a professional management company, without mortgage payments or HOA fees.

“Melissa is an ideal submarket for our Avilla luxury leased communities given the region’s key demand drivers, including job and income growth, household growth, supply demand and high occupancy rates,” said Ryan Griffis, managing director of NexMetro Communities in Dallas/Fort Worth. “Build to rent is growing nationwide faster than any other type of real estate, with the demand for these ‘best of both worlds’ neighborhoods that appeal to a diverse group of consumers – from professional millennials to baby boomers.” 

Marty Neilon and Carter Kendall of CBRE brokered the transaction with Taylor Morrison.  Steve Smith of SRI Properties brokered the transaction to NexMetro. Kimley-Horn & Associates serves as the land planner and civil engineer for the project. 

Astra Development currently owns or controls more than 2,800 acres for future residential development in various locations across Collin and Denton counties, which are expected to yield more than 12,000 lots upon development.

Astra Developmentacquires land and develops residential projects in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and other select markets.  Astra Development is committed to investing in and developing only quality projects that achieve targeted returns for the company and its investors. To contact Astra Development, please visit the company’s website.

‘Celebrating Our Past, Building Our Future’ campaign has a goal of $1 million to help non-profit serve North Texans in need.

Metrocrest Services is celebrating 50 years of unwavering dedication to the Metrocrest community and has launched a fundraising campaign, “Celebrating Our Past, Building Our Future,” to celebrate its half-century of service. The Branch Church is the presenting sponsor of the campaign, and dedicated Metrocrest volunteers Lou Sartor and Charles B. Heath have been named co-chairs to lead the initiative.

“They honor us with their time, expertise and, most importantly of all, their spirits, every time they walk in the door,” Tracy Eubanks, CEO of Metrocrest Services, said of Sartor and Heath. “If you’ve spent any time in the Metrocrest area at all, you know that having Lou and Charles on your side is a winning proposition.”

Sartor, a 15-year volunteer for Metrocrest Services and PlainsCapital Bank retiree, is a passionate and loyal advocate who joined the non-profit’s board of directors in 2005. She also is a member of the Metrocrest Services Advisory Council, holds positions on three different committees and volunteers in the food pantry. Also a member of the Metrocrest Services Advisory Council, Heath retired as CEO of Metrocrest Hospital Authority and currently serves as a member of the governing board for Dallas Medical Center.

"Metrocrest Services doesn't just give a man a fish. They teach him how to fish. That is so very important," Sartor commented. "I like it when people come up to me and say, 'Aren't you associated with Metrocrest Services?' I proudly say, 'YES! How can we help you?' because I know Metrocrest will be able to help with whatever they need." 

"Metrocrest Services helps so many people in so many different ways," Heath said. "The transparency Metrocrest leadership provides the community makes it a ‘no brainer’ to support their mission in whatever capacity is needed at the time."

In its 50^thanniversary year, the need that Metrocrest Services faces is greater than ever. Exacerbated by the pandemic and the deadly winter storm, this year finds North Texans in need in greater numbers than the non-profit agency has ever seen as it helps with rent, food, utilities, jobs and more in its mission to help end poverty and decrease inequities. The non-profit estimates that needs of its clientele have more than doubled in the past year, with the agency serving 28,066 clients in 2020, an increase of 68 percent over previous years. 

Metrocrest Services begins its 50^thanniversary celebration with its 16^thAnnual Keyholder Breakfast, which will be held virtually April 8, from 8 to 9 a.m., broadcast live from The BranchChurch and hosted by TV personality FOX 4’s Mike Doocy. Individual tickets are $35, with the funds helping to assist Metrocrest Services help a community in need. Other events throughout the year will celebrate volunteers and highlight the mission of this important organization.

Metrocrest Services, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs for individuals, families, and seniors that lead to self-sufficiency and foster independence. Programs include rent and utility bill assistance, financial and budgeting assistance, food pantry, employment counseling, and transportation, minor home repairs, and home-delivered meals to benefit seniors. Additionally, Metrocrest provides programs focused on children including holiday gifts, summer food, and school supplies. For more information, visit www.metrocrestservices.org.

Non-profit offers care to help battle pandemic, help women disproportionately affected 

When Annie’s Place opened in November 2020, it was the first drop-in childcare facility to offer safe, loving childcare to the children of parents of children battling a health crisis, free of charge. Now, through a special grant from The Moody Foundation, that care will also be available to children of people getting a COVID-19 vaccine, those volunteering for vaccine clinics, and first responders on the front line of the pandemic.

“Our mission is to provide childcare, community and compassion to parents or other caregivers facing a health crisis,” said Natalie Boyle, founder and CEO of Mommies In Need, the non-profit organization that operates Annie’s Place. “We were thrilled that our generous partners in philanthropy also recognized that people on the front lines of this pandemic were also in need and could be helped through an organization like ours.”

Annie’s Place, the first drop-in childcare center from Mommies In Need, is located on the campus of Parkland Hospital. Annie’s Place can care for up to 36 children per day (a number well under capacity to create appropriate distancing precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic), allowing their moms, dads or other legal guardians to receive treatment or to help battle the pandemic. The 4,200-square-foot facility offers care on both a licensed and exempt basis under State of Texas laws, allowing the specially-trained teachers and staff to also provide care for children of first responders, including fire, police, EMS and front-line clinical staff; as well as for people volunteering at a vaccine clinic or going to receive a vaccine themselves. Care is available on a reservation-only basis, and can be accessed by visiting www.MommiesInNeed.org.

“So many are battling this pandemic, and we’re honored to be able to help by offering care in a dedicated facility with specially-trained teachers,” Boyle added. “Because we know that this pandemic disproportionately affects women--particularly moms--it’s important that we offer this care to do our part to help.”

Studies have found that lack of quality childcare is the number-one reason that most women miss important medical appointments. Many moms will delay or forego treatment entirely when faced with finding a safe place to keep their child. Since its founding in 2014, Mommies In Need has provided thousands of hours of in-home care, virtual baby-sitting and now in-person care through a licensed facility with the opening of Annie’s Place in November 2020.

Annie’s Place is staffed by teachers who receive special training, including trauma-informed care, to provide for the needs of a child whose parent is experiencing a health crisis. Ongoing training for teachers and staff happens on a monthly basis, with additional modules on hospice care, stress management and play therapy, caring for children with special needs and personal professional development skills as part of the ongoing curriculum. Teachers and staff have also completed COVID-specific training through the State of Texas to be prepared to create a safe and supportive environment for children during the pandemic. In addition, the strict infection prevention procedures that were already in place for the facility were taken to new levels in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mommies In Need is a non-profit organization that relies on the generous support of compassionate individuals, foundations and businesses that recognize the value of the services Mommies In Need provides to families. Among its many supporters are The Moody Foundaiton, The Crystal Charity Ball, The Simmons Sisters Fund at the Dallas Foundation, The Constantin Foundation, Hamon Charitable Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, The Moody Foundation and Perot Foundation, as well as in-kind partners The Beck Group and Winstead PC.

More information about Mommies In Need is available on its website and through its Facebook and Instagram. 

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