Risland Homes announced today it has broken ground on two model homes within its 300-acre single family community located on Prosper Trail, just west of the Dallas North Tollway and 2 miles north of Hwy 380.  As developer and builder for Legacy Gardens, Risland will deliver 134 homes in Phase I with prices starting in the high $400s. Home buyers can select from 80 foot and larger home sites.  Floorplans range from 2,800 square feet to well over 5,000 square feet.

“Legacy Gardens’ location in North Texas’ most desirable school district, easy access and close proximity to employment centers, and our commitment to quality development appeal to home buyers,” said Patrick Vedra, managing director of homebuilding for Risland Homes. “This upscale development will showcase a larger than life style in a small, exclusive setting. We’ve made the focus a healthy, peaceful lifestyle and really think our residents will enjoy coming home to rejuvenate and refresh.”

The development features more amenities than other communities of its size. The Legacy Gardens Neighborhood Center will feature stunning modern architecture on 4 acres at the heart of the community.  It is already under construction and will include an infinity-edged resort pool, a fitness studio, yoga lawn, coffee station, co-working space, conference room, children's indoor and outdoor play areas, a community lake and lushly landscaped open space.  Trails will run throughout the neighborhood and planned community events will keep friends and neighbors connected. Students living in Legacy Gardens will attend the highly rated schools in Prosper ISD. 

“As our first residential development in DFW, we aim to raise the bar on the home buying and lifestyle experience,” said Michael Hanschen, senior managing director, Risland US Holdings LLC Dallas Division. “We offer high design standards, extreme quality, a high level of personal service, attention to detail and a distinct community culture.” 

Legacy Gardens is expected to attract relocating executive families, move-up buyers and discerning empty nesters.  Homeowners will enjoy living close to world class amenities in Collin County and the DFW Metroplex.  Risland offers home buyers personalized floorplan and design options. Home sites are larger and competitively priced compared to similar sized homes on smaller lots.  Homesite reservations begin mid-May.  The Risland models are set to open mid-July 2019.  The Amenity Center will open Fall 2019 and on time for new residents to enjoy. 

Risland Homes, a subsidiary of Risland US Holdings, is a builder and developer with both local and global strengths and sensibilities offering a level of personal service not typically found in a single-family residential community.  Risland is committed to creating an exceptional family lifestyle, serving homeowners, connecting neighbors and fostering lifelong friendships.  For more information about Risland Homes and Risland US, please visit www.rislandhomes.comand www.rislandus.comor call 214.214.8888.

Taurus Investment Group and the City of Keller announced today the groundbreaking for the City’s first hotel.  The $18.5 million Keller Town Center Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton is located on a 3.1-acre parcel of land at the corner of Bear Creek Parkway and Rufe Snow Drive behind Tom Thumb. The 69,000 square-foot hotel will feature 110 rooms on three levels including a meeting room and fitness center.

“Keller Town Center is the civic focal point of the City and Keller residents are very proud of it,” said Douglas Gilliland, president of Taurus of Texas. “I give Mayor Pat McGrail, the city council members and City Manager Mark Hafner a great deal of the credit for sticking to their community vision to bring a quality hotel to their residents. The citizens of Keller have been asking for a hotel for a number of years. Taurus Investment Group is proud to be a part of fulfilling this vision. This hotel is one of the finishing touches to the Town Center Plan.”

As a key piece of the Town Center, the hotel meets the same strict architectural standards of the Town Center District, and is very convenient to restaurants, pedestrian trails, lakes, entertainment, and recreational activities such as golf, activity fields, tennis and swimming venues and a fitness center. It is within a mile of the new Bowden Wedding and Events Center and near the Westlake Corporate Campus. 

“Keller has been working to attract significant commercial growth inside the city limits including a quality hotel for many years,” Keller Mayor Pat McGrail said.  “With its location inside Keller Town Center and the close proximity to other venues, this hotel is the perfect addition to our City at just the right time.”

The City partnered with Taurus on a tax incentive package that was approved in 2016. MW Builders is the general contractor for the hotel and KPS is the architect. The project is expected to be complete in early 2020. 

State Representative Giovanni Capriglione and the Keller Chamber of Commerce will join Taurus and the City for a Groundbreaking Ceremony at 11 am on Tuesday, November 27 at 200 Town Center Lane in Keller.

At Home Group Inc. (NYSE: HOME), one of the fastest growing retailers in the nation, today announced a new partnership with Shanty 2 Chic which will feature the sisters’ exclusive designs. The modern farmhouse furniture and décor line debuts almost 100 pieces in stores across the country in January 2018 and features everything from headboards and bedroom furniture to dining and coffee tables to modular bookcases. The Shanty 2 Chic line complements At Homes’ endless possibilities through its huge selection and unbeatable prices for every room, style and budget.

“This influencer-designed collaboration is the first of this scale for At Home,” said Alissa M. Ahlman, Chief Merchandising Officer for At Home.  “The Shanty 2 Chic sisters are experts in farmhouse style and we worked with them very closely to ensure great quality and continuity in the materials and finishes, creating a truly curated collection. Shoppers are getting the same great furniture designs in our stores that have made Shanty 2 Chic so popular.”                                                                                                                     

Shanty 2 Chic is made up of sister entrepreneurs Ashley Turner and Whitney Gainer from Fort Worth, Texas.  

“This is such a great opportunity to take our designs that you won’t see anywhere else and feature them in At Home’s stores,” said Turner. “Our designs marry form and function. They serve a purpose while making a space beautiful. The pieces at At Home are perfect for those wanting unique home décor but who don’t have the time or the tools to build it on their own,” said Gainer. 

The siblings are self-taught carpenters and have been rebuilding and designing furniture for about nine years, including as hosts of their own DIY TV show. With millions of views on YouTube, the Shanty 2 Chic sisters inspire their large community of followers to create beautiful homes at an affordable price. 

For more information and inspiration on At Home’s Shanty 2 Chic line, please go to: https://www.athome.com/shanty-2-chic.

Keller-based Christ’s Haven for Children, a children’s home for abused, neglected and abandoned children, has debuted a brand new home for its campus.  The land and construction costs for the $300,000 home were donated by Hanover Property Company and local builders First Texas Homes, History Maker Homes, Bloomfield Homes and Gehan Homes.

"Christ's Haven has been rescuing at-risk, neglected and displaced children for over 60 years,” said Christ’s Haven Executive Director, Dwight Robarts.  “The gift of this house not only provides permanent on-campus living quarters for the Director of Children's Service as required by our license, but allows us to renovate another house so that we might better serve our kids and take care of more children in the future."

The 2,400 square-foot home has four bedrooms and three baths.  Derek Kester, Director of Children’s Services and his wife, Liz will be living in the home.

“This blessing of a new home is indescribable and honestly, quite surreal,” said Ms. Kester.  “Christ's Haven isn't just a job for us. This is our home. We both feel very strongly that God calls us to be compassionate, loving, and protective of children. The most unexpected aspect of this process is how everyone has treated our ministry throughout our time together. Valuing the kids at every step, valuing our mission, valuing Derek and me. This was an investment of so many talents, so much time, and so much generosity. We feel very undeserving but very grateful.”  

Dick LeBlanc, President of Hanover Property Company said, ”Christ’s Haven has worked with over 5,000 kids in at-risk households. They are investing time and energy into the lives of these vulnerable children and we are delighted to participate and walk alongside them in this way. There is prosperity in the market and this is the way we as developers and builders can give back.”

The builder group was led by Keith Hardesty, Division President at First Texas Homes.

“We have gotten so busy in our day-to-day lives that we sometimes become oblivious to the issues that are affecting people, especially children, right in our back yard,” said Hardesty.  “This was our chance to pay it forward and do some good for others that have been dealt unfavorable situations. There was an incredible outpouring of support from our contractors and vendors. Many gave discounts and several donated all of their product or services.”

Nelson Mitchell, CEO of HISTORYMAKER Homes has a personal connection with Christ’s Haven.  His great-grandfather was on the board at Christ’s Haven in the 1960s and helped build several homes in the ministry’s early years when they were first getting started.

“It feels incredibly gratifying for me personally to be able to help Christ’s Haven once again after all these years,” said Mitchell.  “This ministry has a history with our family and our company, so we are so excited to see the home complete. It was an easy decision for us because we have been active in the Keller community as a new homebuilder for decades.  We have built thousands of homes in this area and we love to give back to an organization that is helping children and families.”

John Winniford, CEO of Gehan Homes said, “Part of Gehan Homes’ culture is to support causes and charities in the communities in which we build.  Being involved in the Christ’s Haven project was another way for us to give back to the neighborhoods in which we live and work.  We are honored to come together with the developers, builders, and trade partners to complete this house and know Christ's Haven will make it a home.

Bloomfield Homes president Don Dykstra said his company is committed to giving back to the communities in which they build homes.  “This was a good fit for us because the Steadman Farms neighborhood was originally part of Christ's Haven,” said Dykstra.  “This type of project is at the intersection of our Christian faith, day-to-day business, and commitment to be involved in our local community.”

Contractors and vendors who donated their services to the project include Electrolux Appliances, L&S Mechanical, Johnson Supply/ Armstrong Air, Delta Faucets, Allied Stone, Suncoast, Shaw Flooring, First Floors, Texas Plywood and Home Pro.

The Christ's Haven for Children campus is located on 58 beautiful acres in Keller, TX, north of Fort Worth. Christ's Haven currently has six child-care homes; a Children’s Enrichment Center; a Life Path house, which provides transitional care for young adults who have graduated from high school; a Teen Mom house; a chapel; pavilion; workshop; barn; swimming pool; sport courts; and multiple playgrounds on its campus. Each of the child-care homes accommodates up to eight children with a set of live-in parents.

The organization cares for 40 children on campus.  The children receive medical and dental care, counseling and tutoring as needed in a warm and loving home under the care and guidance of full-time house parents with the goal of reunifying them with their families.  More information can be found at: christhaven.publishpath.com.

Founded in 1984, Hanover Property Company (hanoverproperty.com) is a Dallas-based real estate development firm which focuses on master planned residential communities, commercial/retail and multifamily developments throughout DFW. 

First Texas Homes (firsttexashomes.com) has been building on the cornerstones of exceptional quality, superior design, absolute value, and unsurpassed customer service for over a quarter-century.  As a recognized leader in the industry, First Texas Homes has established a proven track record of putting the needs of customers first and takes great pride in ensuring total customer satisfaction by involving buyers in every step of the building process.

Launched in 1949 and a fourth-generation family-owned business, HISTORYMAKER Homes is one of the largest builders in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company has built its success on its ability to meet the changing needs of homebuyers. Along with sister companies Rendition Homes and Rendition LUXURY Homes, the company is well-positioned to serve entry-level, move-up and luxury buyers. Learn more at HISTORYMAKER.com, RenditionHomes.com and RenditionLUXURYHomes.com.

Bloomfield Homes (bloomfieldhomes.com) is the largest new homebuilder focused exclusively on the DFW area.  Bloomfield provides custom builder designs and quality with production builder efficiencies and value in 50 neighborhoods throughout DFW priced from the $190s to $700s.

Gehan Homes, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has been building beautiful new homes at an exceptional value for over 25 years.  Known for their award-winning designs, quality craftsmanship, smarter floor plans and competitive pricing, Gehan Homes is the 12^th largest private homebuilder and the 30^th largest homebuilder in the US.  Gehan Homes has offices in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Texas and Scottsdale, Arizona.  For more information, visit www.gehanhomes.com

High Order Solutions (HOS) www.highordersolutions.com, a Frisco-based IT/IS and Project Management consulting firm that helps veterans get civilian and government jobs, announced today it is opening a new headquarters and training center in Frisco.  HOS has leased the top floor of 5566 Main Street, at the northeast corner of the Tollway and Main Street, in World Cup Plaza.  HOS will officially open its doors on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016.

As a Navy veteran and a Counter-IED Bomb Tech in Iraq with four deployments under his belt, Frisco resident Thomas Lamson took the leadership skills he learned in the field and started HOS.

“We’re helping vets by hiring vets and training vets,” said Lamson.  “Most veterans just want to work.   They appreciate everyone's support but at the end of the day they would rather have a job than a handout.”

Lamson said veterans leave the military with excellent jobs skills like discipline, the ability to meet deadlines, attention to detail.  “It translates into a great work ethic in IT consulting.  In return, veterans are receiving a consistent income in a growing industry with rewarding work.”

HOS focuses on IT and Information Services consulting, contracting, development and training.  They’ve helped organizations like Johns Hopkins University, Oracle, and even a local luxury retailer save time and money by streamlining information and processes.  Whether it is by creating a centralized information repository, Agile Project Management consulting or recommending and training staff on the best collaboration tools, they consistently save their clients at least 10 percent annually.  And, sticking to their core beliefs, have helped veterans get jobs along the way.

“We’re adding a wide-range of new training classes, many are free for veterans, and we’re partnering with local organizations to promote hiring veterans in IT,” said Lamson.  “We take pride in offering the highest caliber of services and at the same time supporting our consultants, most of whom are former active military from all branches of the Department of Defense.”

HOS is also involved in the EOD Warrior Foundation (EODWF), a non-profit that serves the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Device) community by providing financial assistance and support to active-duty and veteran wounded, injured or ill EOD warriors, families of our wounded and fallen EOD warriors.