Riverstone, Texas Explained

Riverstone
Settlement Type:Master-Planned Community
Image Blank Emblem:Riverstone Logo.svg
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Type3:City
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Name2:Fort Bend County
Subdivision Name3:Sugar Land and Missouri City
Established Title:Construction started
Established Date:2001
Founder:Johnson Development Corporation
P2:The Villas
P1:Avalon at Riverstone
P3:Prestwick
P4:Olive Hill
P5:Alden Springs
P6:Marble Bend
P7:Whisper Rock
P8:Pecan Ridge
P9:Auburn Manor
P10:Silver Grove
P11:Waterside
P12:Vintage Trail
P13:Majestic Pointe
P14:Sanders Glen
P15:Ivy Bend
P16:Edgewood
P17:Sweetbriar
P18:Orchard
P19:Lost Creek
P20:Millwood
P21:Shadow Glenn
P22:Senova
P23:Kensington
P24:Hartford Landing
P25:Crescent View Estates
P26:Meridian Park
P27:The Island
P28:The Enclave
P29:Auburn Heights
P30:Ivory Ridge
P31:Scenic Bend
P32:Amber Creek
P33:Riverstone North
P34:Crossing Cove
P35:The Retreat
P36:Arista at Riverstone
P37:Stella at Riverstone
P38:Grand Living at Riverstone
P39:Providence
P40:The Crossing
P41:Brookside
P42:Nandina
P43:The Pointe
P44:Waters Cove
P45:The Reserve
P46:The Terrace
P47:The Grove
P48:Creekstone Village
P49:Stonebrook
Parts Type:Neighborhoods
Area Total Acre:3,700
Population Total:>18,000
Population Density Sq Mi:3113.51
Postal Code:77459 and 77479
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Coordinates:29.5485°N -95.5838°W
Blank Emblem Size:305px

Riverstone is a 3700acres upscale master-planned residential community in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States.[1] [2] Approximately 18,000 residents ultimately will live in 6,000 homes. The development is largely located in unincorporated areas that are in extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJ) of Sugar Land and Missouri City, with portions being in Missouri City proper and strips of land being in Sugar Land proper.[3] [4]

441 houses were sold in Riverstone in 2016. As of 2017, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, a company headquartered in Irvine, California, ranked Riverstone as No. 20 on its list of highest-selling Greater Houston subdivisions, and Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO) ranked Riverstone as No. 18 on its top-selling list.[5] John Burns ranked Riverstone among its top 25 in 2018.[6]

History

Riverstone's began development in 2001,[7] with development continuing until the present. It was created by the Johnson Development Corporation.[8] Riverstone's neighborhoods were developed by a series of housing companies such as Taylor Morrison and Meritage Homes.[9]

Geography

The community is mostly located in unincorporated areas, primarily in the extraterritorial jurisdictions of the cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City.[3] A portion is in Missouri City itself.[10] [11] Much of the early development (some 500 homes) was in the Missouri City ETJ portion, but about 60% of the total land area and most of the future homes will be in Sugar Land ETJ.

Riverstone stretches from State Highway 6 on the northeast to the Brazos River on the southwest. It is bounded on the north by the Bridgewater neighborhood of The Commonwealth master-planned community in Sugar Land, the Lakes of Austin Park, and Heritage Colony neighborhoods of First Colony in Sugar Land and Missouri City respectively, and Sugar Land's Maranatha Farms. To the east are First Colony's Colony Lakes neighborhood and the Sienna Village neighborhoods of Sienna, both in Missouri City, and Sugar Land's Pecan Manor is adjacent to part of the south boundary.[12]

Riverstone falls into ZIP codes 77459 and 77479, respectively served by the Missouri City and Sugar Land post offices.[13] Some of the Missouri City properties fall into the latter ZIP code, thus having Sugar Land mailing addresses.

The primary thoroughfares are University Boulevard, which connects the community with the Southwest Freeway (U.S 59/I-69) through the Avalon and Brazos Landing communities in the west and State Highway 6 in the east, LJ Parkway, which connects it to The Commonwealth and First Colony in the north and Sienna in the south, and Riverstone Boulevard in the northeast, which connects it to First Colony in the west and Highway 6 in the east. Oilfield Road is also located in the southeast, which links it with some of the Colony Lakes neighborhoods of First Colony.[14]

Economy

The area of Riverstone that borders Highway 6 and around the intersection of University Boulevard and LJ Parkway are dominated by large-scale commercial developments. The intersection around University Boulevard and LJ Parkway is home to the Stella at Riverstone, a large commercial development with strip malls, restaurants, a 100,000 square foot Kroger,[15] and other developments. Additionally, there are two strip malls adjacent to the Villas neighborhood and in the Avalon at Riverstone development. An office district is located in the northeast off of Riverstone Boulevard.

Parks and recreation

Riverstone is well known for its numerous artificial lakes, which dot its neighborhoods and cityscape. The community has well over 200acres of lakes and contains numerous waterfront homes. Parks are spread throughout Riverstone, with many having facilities such as playgrounds. Additionally, there is a 3.5acres dog park. In total, there are 500acres of recreational space, walking trails, parks, and open spaces.[16] The major recreational center at Riverstone is the Club at Riverstone, which contains a 8000ft2 clubhouse that contains a fitness center and a meeting room, eight tennis courts, a water park (which serves as the community's third pool complex), and playground.[17] Parks are planned on much of the remaining south boundary (beyond the levees protecting against high water along the Brazos River).

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Riverstone is located entirely within the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD).[3] [18] Until 2016, Riverstone had no on site schools, with the community being zoned to areas outside the community. Early plans called for the construction of three elementary schools and an additional middle school.[19]

Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School opened in Riverstone in August 2016, making it Riverstone's first school.[20] Its namesake was a firefighter who died in the Southwest Inn fire in 2013.[21] Regarding elementary schools, other sections are zoned to Austin Parkway (First Colony, Sugar Land), Commonwealth (The Commonwealth, Sugar Land), and Settlers Way (Fist Colony, Sugar Land) elementary schools.[20] Previously Schiff Elementary School in Sienna Plantation served the Stonebrook subdivision.[22] Sonal Bhuchar Elementary School opened in 2023 as Riverstone's second consecutive on site school.[23] [24]

First Colony Middle School in First Colony and Fort Settlement Middle School in Avalon serve Riverstone, with the former serving the east and the latter the west.[25] Previously Baines Middle School in Sienna served the Stonebrook subdivision.[26]

Elkins High School in Missouri City serves all of Riverstone.[27] Previously Clements High School in First Colony served some sections of Riverstone.[28]

In 2014 FBISD proposed rezoning portions of the community to First Colony Middle School from Fort Settlement Middle School, prompting some area parents to protest the plan.[29]

Colleges and universities

The designated community college for areas in Sugar Land proper and the Sugar Land extraterritorial jurisdiction is Wharton County Junior College.[30]

The Texas Legislature specifies that the Houston Community College (HCC) boundary includes "the part of the Fort Bend Independent School District that is not located in the service area of the Wharton County Junior College District and that is adjacent to the Houston Community College System District."[31] Wharton College's boundary within FBISD is defined only as the City of Sugar Land and the ETJ of Sugar Land,[30] and part of Riverstone is in Missouri City proper and Missouri City ETJ.[4] The Missouri City/Missouri City ETJ parts of Riverstone are in HCC.[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Houston real estate | houston new homes | sugar land new home builders | custom home builders . 2010-01-07 . 2009-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090206145315/http://riverstone.com/community.php . dead .
  2. "fort_bend_large.jpg ." Riverstone. Retrieved on September 20, 2011.
  3. Web site: Map. Riverstone. 2018-04-13. 2018-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20180412224813/https://www.riverstone.com/uploads/files/maps/RS_MPC_Map_Apr_2018.pdf. live. - Compare with school attendance boundaries and with the ETJ map.
  4. Web site: Fort Bend County Cities & ETJs. Fort Bend County. 2024-03-10. 2024-03-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310073343/https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/sites/default/files/document-central/document-central/engineering-documents/maps/FBCCitiesandETJs.pdf. live. - Compare with the Riverstone development map.
  5. Web site: 2017-01-25 . Riverstone ranked among nation's top again . . . 2018-04-13 . 2018-04-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043636/https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/sugarland/business/article/Riverstone-ranked-among-nation-s-top-again-10884800.php . live .
  6. Web site: Feser, Katherine . 2018-01-05 . 10 Houston master-planned communities make top-seller list . . . 2018-04-13 . 2018-04-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043643/https://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/10-Houston-master-planned-communities-make-12476521.php . live .
  7. Web site: Riverstone Homes for Sale Near Sugar Land, TX . 2022-06-03 . www.riverstone.com . en . 2022-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331011401/https://www.riverstone.com/avalon-at-riverstone . live .
  8. Web site: Riverstone Homes for Sale Near Sugar Land, TX . 2022-05-31 . www.riverstone.com . en . 2022-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531183550/https://www.riverstone.com/about-johnson-development . live .
  9. Web site: Riverstone Sugar Land - by Local Area Expert Sheila Cox . 2022-05-31 . Discover Sugar Land . en-US . 2022-07-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220705155704/https://www.sugarlandtxhome.com/index/sugar_land_neighborhoods/riverstone-sugar-land . live .
  10. http://ims.ci.mocity.tx.us/smpdf/etj11X17.pdf Missouri City ETJ map
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2018-06-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609004604/http://svrch15.sugarlandtx.gov/website/street_locator/viewer.htm . 2012-06-09 . Sugar Land ETJ map
  12. Web site: Riverstone | Master Planned Community | Sugar Land and Missouri City . 2010-01-11 . 2012-03-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302053103/http://www.riverstone.com/images/master_plan_large.jpg . dead .
  13. http://www.usnaviguide.com/zip.htm ZIP code Maps
  14. Web site: 16 July 2020 . Riverstone Marketing Map . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925172100/https://www.riverstone.com/uploads/Riverstone_Marketing_Map_07-16-20.pdf . 25 September 2020 . PDF . 30 May 2022 . Riverstone.
  15. Web site: Takahashi . Paul . 2018-08-27 . Kroger to open Sugar Land store this week . 2022-11-25 . Chron . en-US . 2022-11-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221125174837/https://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Kroger-to-open-new-Sugar-Land-store-this-week-13185721.php . live .
  16. Web site: Riverstone Homes for Sale Near Sugar Land, TX . 2022-05-31 . www.riverstone.com . en . 2022-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531183545/https://www.riverstone.com/parks-and-trails . live .
  17. Web site: Riverstone Homes for Sale Near Sugar Land, TX . 2022-05-31 . www.riverstone.com . en . 2022-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531183545/https://www.riverstone.com/the-club-at-riverstone . live .
  18. http://www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/cmf/var/tidbits/Tidbits_parentlinks_20090820_1544.pdf{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} FBISD School Zone Map
  19. Web site: 2006-04-24 . Schools . 2022-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060424002349/http://www.riverstone.com/schools.html . 24 April 2006 . dead.
  20. Web site: Elementary schools. Riverstone. 2018-04-13. Anne Sullivan Elementary School 17828 Winding Waters Lane Sugar Land, Texas 77479. 2018-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413125552/https://www.riverstone.com/elementary-schools. live.
  21. "Anne McCormick Sullivan ." Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School. Retrieved on April 7, 2018.
  22. Web site: Schools. Riverstone. 2011-10-05. 2018-04-13. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20111005184427/http://riverstone.com/schools. 2011-10-05.
  23. Web site: School in Texas to be named after Indian-American trailblazer Sonal Bhuchar. The Times of India. 2021-03-31. 2022-03-30. 2022-03-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20220331170622/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/school-in-texas-to-be-named-after-indian-american-trailblazer-sonal-bhuchar/articleshow/81782146.cms. live.
  24. News: Varma . Juhi . August 14, 2023 . Fort Bend ISD welcomes students to three new schools named for beloved community members . . August 21, 2023 . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821130450/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/fort-bend/article/fort-bend-isd-new-schools-open-2023-2024-18290509.php . live .
  25. Web site: Middle schools. Riverstone. 2018-04-13. 2018-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413125542/https://www.riverstone.com/middle-schools. live.
  26. Web site: Middle Schools. Riverstone. 2009-02-06. 2018-04-13. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206144804/http://riverstone.com/schools_middle.php. 2009-02-06.
  27. Web site: High school. Riverstone. 2018-04-13. 2018-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413125539/https://www.riverstone.com/high-school. live.
  28. Web site: Schools. Riverstone. 2008-05-15. 2018-04-13. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20080515071634/http://www.riverstone.com/schools.php. 2008-05-15.
  29. Web site: Barguiarena, Karla. Community fighting Fort Bend ISD's school rezoning plan. KTRK-TV. 2014-10-27. 2018-04-13. 2018-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043309/http://abc13.com/education/community-fighting-fort-bend-isds-school-rezoning-plan/368768/. live.
  30. Web site: Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. . 2024-03-10 . 2021-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210922180708/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm . live .
  31. Web site: Sec. 130.182. HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.. 2024-03-10. 2021-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210922180708/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm. live.
  32. Web site: HCC Single Member Districts 2023. Houston Community College. 2024-03-10. 2024-03-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310075704/https://www.hccs.edu/media/houston-community-college/district/pdf/HCC-SMD-Map-with-SA-%26-Tax-District.pdf. live. - See profile page - Compare with the Riverstone map.