Housing profile
The master-planned Sienna Plantation is nearing its 20th anniversary. Learn about its past and what’s projected for the future.
As Sienna Plantation approaches its 20th anniversary, the masterplanned community continues to be a popular choice for house hunters in Fort Bend County.
Larry Johnson, president and CEO of the Johnson Development Corp, pieced land for the 10,500acre community together in the 1970s, general manager Alvin San Miguel said.
“Larry Johnson saw a need and envisioned a large community on the southwest side as Houston continued to grow,” San Miguel said.
The first homes were sold in 1997. Now, there are more than 7,000, and building continues.
New houses are available in Avalon, a gated portion of the community, and Sawmill Lake, the community’s newest village, where a new amenity center will open in 2017.
Commercial development plans call for a regional lifestyle and entertainment center with restaurants and retail.
San Miguel said that there are another 3,000 acres to develop.
“Based on the market pace, we feel there’s another 12 years to get through the remainder of the development,” he said. Water park a catalyst
San Miguel said that the community made a splash when it opened its resortstyle adventure water park in 2001.
“It created a sense of place in the community,” he said. “It was successful in making Sienna Plantation a destination.”
In 2014, Sienna Plantation updated the water playscape, which remains one of the largest private adventure waterparks in the South, containing 200 feet of water slides, as well as diving wells.
Another draw is the community’s location.
“It’s close to the (Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road),” San Miguel said. “And you’re right in the middle of all the medical businesses. We’re out in the suburbs, but still close to the city with all of its job centers.”
The range of houses has attracted a variety of buyers. “We have everything from low-maintenance patio and town homes up to high-end estate homes,” San Miguel said.
The community boasts a multipurpose sports complex featuring five fields for baseball, three for softball, five for soccer and two multipurpose fields.
The Sienna Stables, a private equestrian center for horseback riding instruction and kids camps, was added soon after the sports complex opened.
A waterfront amphitheater can accommodate 5,000 guests and has heated competition swimming pools.
The community fitness center was expanded in 2015.
“There was just such a demand from residents for the fitness center,” San Miguel said.
He said a resort-style pool under construction will feature palm trees and water slides.
Sienna Plantation was one of the first masterplanned communities in the nation to form a community services foundation. The organization has funded more than $5.2 million in community activities and improvements, technology enhancements, education, conservation efforts and health and wellness programs. Schools a draw
San Miguel said that having quality schools in the community — three onsite elementary schools, one middle school and Ridgepoint High School — has helped Sienna Plantation grow.
A fourth elementary school is scheduled to open in 2017, and a second middle school is slated to open the following year.
The community also is home to the two-story Sienna Branch Library of Fort Bend County Libraries, which opened in 2010.
The community’s proximity to the toll road makes for a 15-minute drive to the Texas Medical Center, said Kunal Seth of the Seth Brothers real estate team.
“If you want to live in the suburbs, the fastest commute time to the Medical Center is Sienna Plantation — period,” he said. “A lot of medical professionals move to Sienna for that reason.”
Homebuyers like having various price options, Seth said.
“Sienna Plantation caters to all price points,” he said. “You name the price — and you can find the home.”
The price range for homes goes from the $280,000s to $1 million.
Seth said another advantage is the subdivision’s location in Missouri City, which was recently ranked as one of the safest in the country by the publishing company Congressional Quarterly.
“There are a lot of master-planned communities in Missouri City, but Sienna Plantation is the landmark development,” he said.