April 12th, 2018

Austin-Area Development Wins for Community Design, Clubhouse and Unique Feature

The Homebuilders Association of Greater Austin (HBA) has recognized the new Headwaters community with three Sales and Marketing (MAX) Excellence Awards. Hosted by the HBA’s Sales and Marketing Council, the annual MAX Awards honor builder, developer, remodeler and associate members for achievements during the previous year.

Headwaters, in Dripping Springs, Texas (west of Austin) is the 1,035-acre community with 1,000 lots under development by Freehold Communities. It includes broad expanses of greenbelts and five protected hilltops, plus resort-style split-level pool, Wi-Fi café, and eight miles of trails.

The HBA awarded Headwaters for its naturalistic approach to land planning (including preserved open space) and for its advanced amenities. Both are hallmarks of all Freehold Communities across the U.S.

“Our goal prior to opening last year was for Headwaters to offer some of the most extraordinary amenities among masterplans anywhere,” said Freehold Communities Texas Marketing Manager Savannah Carter. “So it’s wonderful to be recognized for this by the HBA’s industry professionals, just as the home-buying market is responding positively as well.”

The three Headwaters MAX awards are:

• Best Design for a Community. The HBA judges recognized Headwaters’ enlightened, preservation-development approach. Headwaters’ awards-submission statement reads: “Working with the original owners of the land and the surrounding community, the design for Headwaters was carefully crafted to preserve the natural landscape, protect the Barton Creek watershed and provide for the well-being of the people who call it home. We preserved over 1,000 acres for parks and open space with miles of trails to explore, designed the land plan to have each home back-up to open space, preserved the hilltops for magnificent views, strictly limited impervious cover and limited the number of homes to 1,000. Forward-thinking stormwater management, the use of native species and thoughtful design guidelines all serve to respect the history and natural resources of the property.”
• Best Clubhouse for a Community. The design statement from Headwaters exemplifies Freehold Communities’ commitment to providing excellent amenities from the first day of opening: “HW Central, the clubhouse for Headwaters, is a carefully placed cluster of amenities on a ridge overlooking the hill country. The clubhouse is built around a coffee bar but also houses offices for the activity director, a meeting room and a lounge, all with an expansive 270-degree view of the hill country. Connected to this clubhouse with a covered walkway is a state-of-the-art fitness center with a glass wall that looks over the pool beyond to a beautiful hill-country view. A luxurious pavilion with a fireplace, televisions and grills sits adjacent to the clubhouse and fitness buildings to form a community plaza space ideal for gatherings.”
• Best Unique Feature for a Community. Headwaters’ Star-Gazing Amphitheater – part of its Homestead Park – is one of the most distinctive amenities of a masterplanned community anywhere in the U.S. The design statement reads: “Perched atop what is now a protected hilltop in the center of Headwaters is Homestead Park. Here, the remnants of the original ranch home of the Townes family built in the last century have been carefully deconstructed, revealing stone masonry handiwork no longer seen today. Now it sits as a focal point of a new community park to be enjoyed by residents of Headwaters. The park features a shaded picnic lawn, gardens within the walls of the old home, a perfect setting for events, and a spectacular Star-Gazing Amphitheater with protected hill country views. An additional nod to the past is the preserved croquet lawn from the original homestead.”

As the first Dark Sky Community in Texas and a member of the International Dark-Sky Association, Dripping Springs requires smart lighting solutions that reduce glare and sky-glow to protect the night sky. Headwaters has carefully chosen lighting options that comply with stringent light pollution-reducing guidelines without sacrificing the community aesthetic.