Salem Crossing Subdivision to Bring 162 More Homes to Victoria

Author: Jessica Rodrigo

New homes along Loop 463 are expected to provide some relief to Victoria's housing market squeeze.

The Salem Crossing subdivision, by Designer Homes by Rex Horst, will include many firsts for the area, said developer Rex Horst.

"It's the only subdivision outside the Loop, and the only subdivision that will connect to the Loop," he said.

The prices of homes will range from $190,000 to $500,000. Homes in Salem Crossing will fit lifestyles for young couples who want to move up and older couples who are ready to downsize, he said, with spaces as small as 1,600 square feet to 4,500 square feet.

"It'll be like building a Mercedes," Horst said. "You have your smaller Mercedes, and you have your larger models."

The location is a big part of the subdivision's attraction, he said. It will be between Salem Road and Home Depot, giving it access to the Glascow Street extension project - also known as Placido Benavides Drive - once it's underway.

"It's one of the most convenient subdivisions that is coming online in Victoria right now," Horst said, pointing to its proximity to much of Victoria's businesses as well as emergency services.

Tom Halepaska, Victoria city councilman, said the Placido Benavides Drive project will be discussed when city officials meet to go over the Capital Improvement Plan.

"The staff recommendation is to carry out the engineering for Placido Benavides Drive in the following fiscal year," Halepaska said. "It depends on budget and timing."

Drawing traffic off Navarro Street is important for the growing city, he said, and beginning the project about the same time could be a good idea.

"The key is to do what's good for everyone," Halepaska said.

He said he hopes the new subdivision will free up some of the housing pinch in the area.

"Anytime there is movement in the market, it's not linear," Halepaska said.

The ground-breaking for Salem Crossing is set for mid-September, and the first home is set to be built in November, Horst said.

There are 16 lots already sold of the 162 planned lots, he said, and once 22 lots are sold, phase 2 will start. Plans already have been approved by the city planning committee, which he said means they won't have to submit plans for the second phase.

"We can go right from one into the next," he said.

Lee Swearingen, president at Coldwell Banker The Ron Brown Company, said the news is good for Victoria.

"We need housing," he said. "We need something to recharge our inventory."

It's been about 20 years since Victoria has seen a large number of new homes being built, Swearingen said.

The new subdivision will give Victorians a new place to look at when they're looking for housing, Swearingen said.

"Any new housing, as long as it's a well-done project, is needed," he said.

Originally published on Victoria Advocate on June 10, 2014 at 10:57 p.m., updated June 11, 2014 at 8:36 a.m.