Mediterranean-Inspired Edgewater Soon to Welcome Builders

(Webster, TX – June 16, 2009)  With next month’s opening of Edgewater, the Bay Area gains a new community that offers a one-of-a-kind lifestyle.

Slated for 2,600 residents when completed, Edgewater is inspired by the Mediterranean coast, with formal gardens and lush landscaping enhancing its waterside appeal. Water Street, a grand boulevard, leads from Edgewater’s landmark bell tower at the main entrance on NASA Parkway all the way to Clear Creek, with towering palms and tropical plants creating an immediate and powerful identity for the community.

Garden spaces within neighborhoods will beckon community gatherings and the meticulously planned infrastructure — connecting streets and sidewalks throughout — is designed to support pedestrian activities, from morning jogs to evening strolls.

“Our planning was inspired by traditional neighborhood developments where all aspects of the community — homes, gardens, parks, recreational facilities, retail and more — are easily walkable,” said Bob Douglas, general manager of Edgewater. “Connectivity is a strong theme throughout Edgewater and we worked to create numerous elements that would encourage neighbors to get to know one other.”

As the Edgewater name indicates, water will feature prominently in the community. In future development, a marina will be built with direct access to Clear Creek, offering waterway access to Clear Lake, Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The marina, which will be equipped to accommodate powerboats as large as 50 feet, will be a gathering spot for residents, who can meet at the waterside clubhouse or host parties aboard their yachts.

Edgewater also will have a 35-acre nature preserve along Clear Creek, which will include boardwalks through undisturbed wetlands and offer residents abundant bird-watching opportunities.

“While the marina area will offer an urban waterfront experience, the Clear Creek preserve will tempt residents to explore the natural environment,” Douglas said.

“We are excited to bring this community to life. There really is nothing else like it in the Bay Area,” said Doug Goff, senior vice president of The Johnson Development Corp., which, in partnership with Cherokee Investment Partners, is developing Edgewater. “With its enviable location, we think Edgewater will appeal to people who are looking for quick and convenient access, thus allowing them abundant leisure time to enjoy a bay area lifestyle. We’ve had strong interest in the development and since this community has only a limited number of homesites, we anticipate brisk sales.”

Builders will soon begin selling homes in the community, with prices starting from the $275,000s. Future development plans call for semi-custom and custom homes, with buyers enjoying something a bit different — an island where owners with water access can house their boats along one of the adjacent canals.

As part of its pre-grand opening festivities, Edgewater is coordinating with Nader Photography to offer free wedding and engagement photo sessions during July, to be taken at the community’s bell tower entrance. The 50-foot carillon tower is not only an impressive structure that can be seen from various points around the Bay Area, but also the centerpiece of a formal garden, complete with a terraced reflecting pool and sparking fountains. The offer includes a free 5x7 photo. Sessions will be scheduled through the photography studio. For details, visit www.nadersphotography.com or call 281.334.1377.

Edgewater is positioned directly on NASA Parkway, the main thoroughfare leading to the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. The NASA Parkway Bypass is a 2.7-mile connector between Interstate 45 and NASA Parkway that sidesteps the traffic signal at the Interstate 45 intersection and will provide future residents with uninterrupted access to and from Edgewater.

“The bypass is the most significant project in this region since NASA came to the Bay Area,” Douglas said. “It will definitely stimulate retail and commercial growth in Webster and is a major catalyst in the development of Edgewater. Add in the fact that we’re just minutes from some of the Bay Area’s major employers, and it’s easy to see that we have a prime location.”

Also nearby are Christus St. John Hospital in Nassau Bay, affiliated with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, affiliated with Hospital Corporation of America; and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) facility in League City, now under construction. A multitude of shopping, dining and entertainment choices also are within minutes of the community.

The City of Webster and the developers received the 2006 International Economic Development Council’s Public-Private Partnership Award for the Edgewater project. When complete, Edgewater will not only bring valuable residential and commercial activity to the area, but will have provided more than $300 million in taxable value to the City of Webster, Harris County and Clear Creek Independent School District.

About Edgewater
Edgewater, a project of The Johnson Development Corporation, is a mixed-use, master-planned community along Clear Creek on 538 acres in Webster, Texas. The community will feature upscale single-family homes, private canals and a town center with retail, commercial and residential components. Boaters will have waterway access to Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. Amenities include a marina and a 35-acre nature preserve. Located on the NASA Parkway Bypass, the community is a short drive from metropolitan services and employment, shopping, dining and recreational centers. For more information, visit www.edgewaterwebster.com.

About The Johnson Development Corp.
The Johnson Development Corp. is an award-winning residential and commercial land development company involved in premier projects including master-planned communities such as Sienna Plantation, Fall Creek, Riverstone, Woodforest, Tuscan Lakes, Edgewater and Silverlake in Houston, Texas, and Towne Lake, BridgeMill and Lake Arrowhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1975, known for innovative master planning and today one of the largest and most successful land developers in both Houston and Atlanta, The Johnson Development Corp. has cultivated a strong reputation for vibrant, responsible development, with impeccably designed communities. For more information, visit www.johnsondevelopment.com.