Chambers Creek is a new 1,265-acre residential community near Conroe, Texas, geared towards 55+ active adults. Our developer partner, Caldwell Companies, is executing a vision for this community to become the largest and most active 55+ community in Texas. The overall site is characterized by rolling hills, numerous lakes and tree-lined gulleys and highlighted by access to beautiful Lake Conroe. As new Phase One homes and amenities have begun construction, over 100 residents are already able to call Chambers Creek “home.”
Since the inception of the project, EHRA Engineering has been a trusted partner to Caldwell, working with them to achieve their goal of retaining as many of the natural features of the land as possible. The rolling terrain, multiple lakes, vistas and mature trees dictate that the Chambers Creek design and engineering solutions must care for the special site. EHRA assembled a dedicated team of planning, design and engineering professionals bringing creativity and thoughtful project input to this unique community.
Since the project is marketed towards 55+ active adults, many key placemaking components take advantage of unique aspects of the topography. These features include a 9-hole golf course, vineyard, two activity centers with breathtaking views, 20-miles of walkable trails, a chapel, community garden and large marina with access to Lake Conroe. Peter Barnhart, Caldwell Companies President and Chief Development Officer, stated that “The main amenity at Chambers Creek is going to be FUN!” The new activity center dubbed “The Summit” opened in June 2024 with a grand neighborhood party and allowed prospective residents to sample fare from the on-site café. The community’s resort style pool is scheduled to open later this summer.
Project construction was initiated back in 2019 with Phase One including the completion of roads and infrastructure, the dredging of Weir Creek to create a tie-in to Lake Conroe, construction of the the marina, installation of a large storm sewer which was roughly 17 feet deep, a lift station, detention ponds and a spillway. Throughout the design and construction phases, EHRA works with a tree preservationist to save many massive, mature pecan and oak trees. To date, six sections of homes have been released to home builders with five more sections in production.
As EHRA has continued designing new residential sections, the aesthetic and engineering solutions used are minimizing the use of retaining walls. Fewer retaining walls enhance the natural land characteristics and allow the integration of subdivision sections with panoramic views. Where walls are needed, they are formed with natural Texas stone and visually tie to the project’s perimeter fencing and Wellness Center architecture.
Throughout construction, EHRA has managed the complexity of working simultaneously with multiple contractors, additional design teams and other project contributors such as landscape architects, golf course designers, specialty contractors and the Utility District Operator. To address this challenge, Construction Phase Services Project Manager, Kara Jackson EHRA holds weekly on-site meetings to coordinate and organize the activities of each of the various overlapping contractors. Kara admits, “Every day, it’s changing,” so staying abreast of, and adjusting to, multiple project changes and redesigns requires the team to remain vigilant and flexible.
EHRA enjoys a rewarding 15-year history working with Caldwell on various communities, and therefore partnering on this important project came naturally. EHRA and Caldwell joined forces on the award-winning Towne Lake community in Cypress-Fairbanks, Texas, so both companies were thrilled to recreate the magic for Chambers Creek. Fred Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer of Caldwell Companies, shared that, “It all comes down to trust. Is EHRA a partner we can trust? The answer is yes!”
While the transformation at Chambers Creek up to this point has been achieved in an unprecedented timeframe, this project still has work ahead. As more residents move into sections which are already built or under construction, EHRA will continue providing design and engineering services until every element of Caldwell’s ultimate vision is a reality.