Current plans include more than 2,300 apartments and townhomes, approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space and 700,000 square feet of office space. Washington, DC-based David M. Schwarz Architects, the firm behind Southlake Town Square and other mixed-use landmarks, is the lead planner and designer.

Northline is being developed by Northline Leander Development Company/NLDC in partnership with the city of Leander, which has committed $15 million in direct funding toward the community's roads, infrastructure and public park as well as additional reimbursements.

"There is no question that Northline has been a long time coming for the residents of Leander and the greater Williamson County region," said Alex Tynberg, founder and principal of NLDC. "I am incredibly excited to partner with Weitzman to bring a diverse mix of new and unique entertainment-focused retail, fine and casual dining options, and additional retail offerings that will soon become the centerpiece of this community."

Located between Highway 183 and 183A, Northline is situated in the center of Leander's transit-oriented development. The TOD offers major employment including the adjacent St. David's Hospital, a 52-acre medical complex and the Austin Community College San Gabriel Campus. The $60 million Austin Community College campus sits on 100 acres and currently incorporates approximately 106,000 square feet.

With growth in Austin's northwest corridor and Williamson County including Apple's new $1 billion campus, Leander is an appealing location for a development of this scale. Northline is less than an eighth of a mile from Capital Metro's Leander station, a substantial benefit to the community as a transportation option for the short 26 miles between Northline and downtown Austin. Even closer than downtown is the Domain, the metro area's largest mixed-use retail, office and residential community.

Northline celebrated the start of phase one construction at a groundbreaking ceremony on March 4. Full project buildout is expected by 2031.

Phase one includes the construction of the development's key infrastructure including streets and utilities. After substantial completion of the infrastructure, Northline will begin development of Town Square, the community's signature civic space surrounded by a retail core with planned office space, hotel and residential on the upper levels. Phase one is estimated to last 18 to 24 months.

"Now that the first phase is underway, it's generating a lot of interest from retailers and related concepts," Naumann tells GlobeSt.com. "We're currently working to finalize anchor commitments from large entertainment users and a grocer as well as fitness. Northline also offers a family-friendly walkable Town Square with a central pavilion, a park and amenities such as play fountains, which creates gathering spaces that will attract cool restaurant and other food and beverage/entertainment concepts."