Central allandale By Jackie Potts

River Place

River Place on Lake Austin, one of the few areas left in the city in which homebuyers can purchase lots with direct access to Lake Austin, is one of the city's most naturally beautiful master-planned communities. The rough boundaries of this waterfront/country club community include FM 2222 to the north, the Balcones Canyon Lands Preserve to the west and Westminster/Glen Lake to the east. In other words, the development can be reached by heading west on FM 2222 and taking a left (before you reach Highway 620), into the main entrance on River Place Boulevard.

Just a twenty-minute drive from downtown Austin, River Place appeals to both urban dwellers and nature lovers alike. Of the 1,440 acres owned by the homeowners association, half is dedicated to preserved land never to be developed. The natural beauty of the unspoiled land, bass fishing, swimming and boating, a marina with private slips for non-waterfront residents, rare preserve home sites situated along the hills overlooking Lake Austin, a park with youth soccer fields, tennis courts, fifty acres of nature trails and a fishing pond, century-old pecan trees, close proximity to River Place Country Club featuring Tom Kite Golf Course, nearby shopping, and a supportive, active neighborhood association make River Place an estate community that seems to have it all.

Construction began in 1990 when a Houston development team bought the acreage from the government. Fourteen years later, River Place is comprised of 1,200 to 1,250 single-family homes including 100 to120 lots that have yet to be developed. Prices run from $330,000 to well over $1,000,000 with mandatory membership to the homeowners association, River Place Residential Community Association, Inc. Resa Watson, association manager, noted that the population of the area runs the gamut from "newly-marrieds to empty-nesters. The community includes a diverse group of active people who are drawn to the wide spread of price ranges and home and lot sizes that River Place offers." Illustrating Watson's description of River Place as a "nice community made up of concerned people who eagerly participate in the schools and the neighborhood", events hosted by the association and the River Place Municipal Utility District include an annual Easter egg hunt ("about a thousand people showed up this year," she says), Fourth of July parade and barbeque, and a fall hoedown.

In addition to the residential aspect of the community, River Place includes an office park. River Place Pointe, a business/technology office campus, takes up 47.9 of the 1,440 acres and houses seven buildings right next door to River Place Country Club. Further, an upscale shopping center is scheduled for construction at the River Place entrance sometime next year.

Utilities are partly served by the City of Austin, partly by the River Place MUD. The Municipal Utility District handles the water and wastewater services for newer homes as well as two expansive parks and the nature trail, while the City of Austin takes care of the rest. Austin Energy supplies River Place with its electricity. The development is under the Leander Independent School District so children attend either Laura Bush or Steiner Ranch Elementary Schools, Cedar Park Middle School or Cedar Park High School.

Zone: N
MLS Area: RN

Zip Code 78730

Woodlands Park includes 3 youth soccer fields, 2 tennis courts, hike and bike trails, picnic areas, and a fishing pond.

World-class golf, shopping, entertainment and dining all located just minutes away from each home site

On-premise boating, fishing and skiing

Just nearly 2 miles away from River Place Country Club featuring (Tom Kite Golf Course, swimming, tennis, fitness and dining facilities).