Project InFocus: Sundance Cove

EHRA Engineering began working on Sundance Cove as early as 2014. For one reason or another, the project took almost seven years to get off the ground. However, in 2021 Clay Road 628 Development and Meritage Homes bought out the project—both of which worked with EHRA to jump start the project and bring new life into the development. 

Located in Northeast Houston, the project underwent a jurisdictional change between 2014 and 2021, initiated by the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. This led to a major change in scope and design. In the original design plans, excess water would drain directly into Lake Houston, requiring no need for detention. Given the new parameters, full detention then needed to be incorporated. This was just one of the many hurdles/challenges that led up to the project coming to life. Construction of the first phase came with their own set of challenges.

When dealing with a heavily wooded parcel of land like Sundance, one of the first construction tasks is clearing all the trees and brush so that the initial phases of infrastructure construction can get started. For Sundance Cove, EHRA adhered to a tight schedule to deliver lots and model homes. Through collaboration with the home builders, EHRA identified certain portions of the project to be ready in advance for model home construction and sales purposes. To accomplish this, EHRA designed a multi-phased clearing sequence and schedule. The project was bid and awarded to the low bidder, and construction began in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Unfortunately, the construction of a clearing job of this magnitude ran into its fair share of setbacks and progressed slowly during the wet and cold season. Due to these circumstances, the contract was ultimately rebid. Collaborating closely with the new contractor, the project successfully recovered lost time, allowing the developer to meet their commitments with the home builders. In an effort to minimize downtime, EHRA promptly initiated the next construction contract as soon as the initial areas were cleared. To accelerate project delivery, the excavation contractor commenced work early, even before the clearing contractor had completed half of their clearing tasks. Simultaneously, construction of the initial phases of streets and utilities began as soon as more areas were cleared, while the clearing contractor steadily made progress in clearing the heavily wooded acres that remained.

With no water or wastewater service available for the project, the water district had both a water well and wastewater treatment plant concurrently designed and under construction alongside the subdivision infrastructure. This strategic move ensured that the home sites would have access to essential services as soon as the earliest homeowners moved in. After analyzing timelines, the EHRA Construction Team recognized the need for an alternative water source to facilitate initial water line testing and temporary domestic service for the model homes. In response, EHRA facilitated an offsite temporary water service connection from an adjacent water district to supply construction water and temporary irrigation for the model homes.

The Sundance Cove site has not been without its challenges, but working together with all the disciplines, the developer and homebuilders we continue to forge ahead. Prospective home buyers are met with green grass and an aesthetic first impression thus achieving the team’s objectives. ­­The residential community will ultimately be roughly 580 acres and about 1,800 lots. The initial homeowners at Sundance Cove are expected to move in before the end of 2023.