Stewart and Knight had told council that the development team is eyeing a summer groundbreaking for the first phase, which appears headed for the intersection of Spanish Oaks and Texas 71. The developing plans call for Hill Country stone-and-stucco structures that are architecturally sensitive to the environment, which the Austin area so fervently protects.

The office site is part of some 980 acres that Porter had bought in 1998, according to previously published reports. At that time, he had said the development would boast an 18-hole golf course, 140 townhouses and 307 single-family dwellings, intertwined with 14 miles of walking trails. Florida's Bobby Weed has been hired to design the golf course, which is under construction and is hoped to open Labor Day weekend.

CCNG's Matt Whalen also had appeared before council, detailing single- and multifamily residential development for a 49-acre tract in the mixed-use project. According to the council record, a multifamily project would get under way in conjunction with the office development and represent a "potential investment of $5 million." San Antonio's Overland Partners are to be designing a three-story multifamily structure and integral parking garage for that component.

Porter, in the previously published article, had maintained that 60% of his 980-acre holding would remain undeveloped. That plan apparently has changed with time since council records also make mention of a retail component as well as office development for the hilltop scenic community that serves as Austin's gateway to the famed Hill Country.