Houston’s first ‘agrihood’ seeing ‘fruit’ of their labor

​​FORT BEND COUNTY – Houston’s first agrihood has yet to fully bloom, but the budding concept already has cultivated plenty of homebuyers.

Johnson Development Corp. is under construction on Harvest Green, a new master-planned community that is anchored by a working farm.

The 1,300-acre community — located off the Grand Pkwy. and West Airport Blvd. in Fort Bend County — will feature up to 2,000 homes, more than 300 acres of farmland and several “ag-menities,” including a farm-to-table restaurant, greenhouse, a grove of fruit trees, a nursery, farm stands and community gardens.

Eleven home builders opened their model homes this fall. Although sales started only three months ago, home builders already have sold 85 homes in the new community.

“A lot of people are coming in because they’re interested in the farm concept,” said Shay Shafie, general manager of Harvest Green. “That’s drawn a lot of interest.”

Each of the home builders — D.R. Horton, Darling Homes, David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, Lennar, MHI Homes, Meritage Homes, Newmark Homes, Perry Homes, Trendmaker Homes and Westin Homes — will offer an edible herb landscaping and an optional ready-to-grow backyard garden.

The homes, which sit on 50-, 55-, 60-, 65- and 75-foot lots, have an average sale price of around $360,000. 

The homes offer popular new features, like open floor plans with oversized kitchens and multigenerational suites.​

Currently, there are about 90 homes under construction in the first phase of Harvest Green’s development, which will include 335 homes, a four to five-acre demonstration farm and community center with a pool, fitness center, event room and splash pad.