What began as open fields east of Houston is slowly taking shape as a new hometown: Riceland, a sprawling 1,500-acre community in Mont Belvieu, TX, is underway—and its backers say it will offer 4,500 homes, 30 miles of trails, lakes, parks and a full town center once completed.
The development, according to Realty News Report, is located along Eagle Drive near FM 565 and is being led by Riceland Holdings and The Woodlands-based McGrath Real Estate Partners. Organizers say the project is designed to function as a self-contained community rather than a traditional subdivision.
Early phases include single-family neighborhoods, walking and biking trails, and water features intended to anchor the layout of the community. One of the project’s signature elements is The Millhouse, a 16,956-square-foot building intended to anchor Riceland’s “town center” district. Developers describe it as a civic and social hub—part event space, part community gathering point—with food, retail, and outdoor programming planned around it.
“The Millhouse represents our commitment to work with the City of Mont Belvieu and their vision to return a ‘town center to the community,'” Barrett Kirk, McGrath’s chief investment officer, said. “The Riceland Town Center will deliver thoughtful commercial amenities that elevate daily life for residents while also attracting regional visitors.”
City officials say the project is part of a larger village-center concept that includes commercial parcels, greenspace, and walkable streets…