Circle C Ranch

Circle C Ranch
Master-planned community

Map of Circle C Ranch in Southwest Austin
Circle C Ranch

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 30°11′15″N 97°53′27″W / 30.18750°N 97.89083°W / 30.18750; -97.89083
Country United States
State Texas
County Travis
City Austin
Developed 1983
Founded by Gary Bradley
Area
  Total 7.244 sq mi (18.76 km2)
Population
  Total 13,230
  Density 1,826/sq mi (705/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC−06:00)
  Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−05:00)
Zip code 78739
Area code 512
Website www.circlecranch.com

Circle C Ranch (also known as Circle C) is a large master-planned community in southwest Austin, Texas, USA. Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982, with the first homes in the community in built in 1986. During development, the subdivision was featured prominently in a long and contentious environmental legal battle regarding urban development in the vicinity of Barton Springs and over Edwards Aquifer. The controversy surrounding its development and later annexation by the city of Austin was a landmark in municipal annexation rights in Texas.

Today, Circle C Ranch includes more than 4,800 homes. Amenities include an 18-hole golf course called the Grey Rock Golf Club, tennis club, three swim centers, a fire station, and more than 500 acres (2.0 km2) of dedicated parkland. The Circle C Swim Center has a year-round, outdoor, Olympic-size heated pool. A second, family oriented swimming pool complex, with office space and meeting rooms, was finished at the end of January 2012.

History

View of Lady Johnson Wildflower Center, located in the eastern portions of Circle C Ranch

Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982 when Gary Bradley, at the time a part-owner of the Schlotzsky's restaurant chain, and his development partners began to earn development permits and acquire land in southwest Austin, Texas. However, several local environmentalist groups including the Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS) were strongly opposed to the development due to the subdivision's planned location over the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer. Despite the strong opposition, the first homes in Circle C were built in 1986. In 1988, the Save Barton Creek Association filed a lawsuit against the Texas Highway Department in order to stop the extension of Texas State Highway Loop 1 into southwest Austin and to halt further development of Circle C Ranch. However, the subdivision's homeowner association was able to defend its rights to the land, and thus development continued.[1]

By 1990, Circle C Ranch was considered the top selling subdivision in Central Texas. However, in the same year, the Gibraltar Savings and Loan bank based in California failed to pay off its debts, and all of its assets were transferred; at the time, this was one of the largest insolvencies in American history. Since the savings and loan company was the source for much of the money and resources involved in the development of Circle C Ranch, the subdivision went bankrupt and entered Chapter 11 reorganization status; reorganization was completed in 1992. Over the following years, several ordinances and lawsuits were filed in relation to Circle C Ranch and its environmental implications, resulting in the creation of the Southwest Travis County Water and Reclamation District in 1996 and the Slaughter Creek Water Protection Zone the following year. However, both the water district and protection zone were found unconstitutional. On December 18, 1997, Circle C Ranch was involuntarily annexed by the City of Austin after roughly 15 years of development.[1]

Schools

School Type Established Principal Students Coordinates Notes
Bowie High Public 1988 Stephen Kane 2,877 30°11′13.44″N 97°51′31.44″W / 30.1870667°N 97.8587333°W / 30.1870667; -97.8587333
Clayton Elementary Public 2006 Dru McGovern-Robbinett 876 30°11′42.24″N 97°54′23.51″W / 30.1950667°N 97.9065306°W / 30.1950667; -97.9065306 [2][3][4]
Gorzycki Middle Public 2009 Cathryn Mitchell 964 30°12′51.84″N 97°53′30.86″W / 30.2144000°N 97.8919056°W / 30.2144000; -97.8919056
Kiker Elementary Public 1992 Lori Schneider 933 30°11′29.59″N 97°52′53.49″W / 30.1915528°N 97.8815250°W / 30.1915528; -97.8815250 [5][6]
Mills Elementary Public 1997 Patricia "Pat" Butler 934 30°12′39.52″N 97°52′41.62″W / 30.2109778°N 97.8782278°W / 30.2109778; -97.8782278

Real Estate Trends

Median housing values have been steadily increasing in Circle C Ranch since the second quarter of 2011. As of February 2013 the current median value of homes in Circle C was $335,000, a 9.7% increase over the previous 12-month period. Distressed sales, those that are sold as foreclosure or short sale, have remained below 5% of the total number of sales.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Fontenot, Kelli (September 27, 2012). "Circle C Ranch". Community Impact. Austin, Texas. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. "Clayton Elementary School". AISD Elementary Schools. Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. May 24, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. Clayton Elementary School. "Clayton History". Clayton Elementary School. Austin, Texas: School in Sites. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. SchoolDigger. "Clayton Elementary School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. "Kiker Elementary School". AISD Elementary Schools. Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. May 24, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. SchoolDigger. "Kiker Elementary School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  7. "Circle C Housing Market Report". Real Estate Appraisals Austin. Retrieved 17 February 2013.

Sources

External links

Coordinates: 30°11′49″N 97°54′14″W / 30.197°N 97.904°W / 30.197; -97.904

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