InstantNewsKaty.com

Cinco Ranch has opened a nostalgia-flavored neighborhood called Park Place, complete with an esplanade-lined boulevard inspired by historic Heights Boulevard near downtown Houston.

The sprawling master-planned community has also tapped a new Houston homebuilding company, J. Kyle Homes, to build retro-styled homes complete with sprawling front porches and high-pitched rooflines.  
J. Kyle Homes was started by Jason Hammonds, who is serving as president of the company.   Hammonds is the son of veteran Houston builder Ron Hammonds, who is an investor in J. Kyle Homes.

The senior Hammonds has been involved in Houston’s homebuilding industry since 1987, founding Hammonds Homes, which become one of the nation’s top 100 homebuilding companies before being acquired by Meritage Homes Corp. in 2002.
 
J. Kyle Homes has started construction of its Cinco Ranch model home, and plans to open the model in November.  J. Kyle is now pre-selling in Park Place at Cinco Ranch, where Highland Homes already has a vintage-inspired model open.
 
J. Kyle Homes are priced from the $280,000s to $400,000s.  Ten one- and two-story plans are offered, ranging from 2,500 to 3,800 square feet.
 
Called the University Series, the J. Kyle floor plans feature architecture inspired by homes in historic Houston neighborhoods such as the Heights and West University Place.  Nostalgic features include large front porches with Craftsman-style columns, high-pitched gabled rooflines and shingled siding combined with brick and stone.  Most plans also have detached garages, another nod to retro style.
 
Designed by Austin’s Kipp Flores Architects, the plans have modern interiors, with open, flowing spaces accented by crown molding, columns and arches.
 
Planned for 120 homes, Park Place at Cinco Ranch offers an appropriately old-fashioned setting for the vintage designs. The main street is a wide, esplanade-lined boulevard with a winding walking trail, gazebo, benches and flowering trees.  
 
Homesites located along the boulevard are bordered by brick and stone retaining walls. The homesites are raised, with steps leading up the sidewalk, and some of the retaining walls have built-in benches facing the street.
 
“At Park Place, we wanted to offer home buyers the type of neighborhood and home they grew up in, or always dreamed about living in,” said Heather Gould, marketing director for Newland Communities.
 
Gould said variety is one reason why Cinco Ranch ranked as the number one community in Houston for new-home sales last year, as well as ranked number two in the nation, according to a report from RCLCO, a national real estate advisory firm.
 
Most Cinco Ranch model homes are located in the community’s central Model Home Village, but the model homes for Park Place are located within that neighborhood.