HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Bold Fox Development, a new land-development firm led by Alex Kamkar, has broken ground on its first community.
What did the developer decide to avoid? A golf course.
“Yesterday’s master-planned communities were typically centered on golf courses,” said Alex Kamkar, Managing Shareholder of Bold Fox Development. “Playgrounds with big yellow slides and traditional playground equipment were typical amenities. We’re taking a look at what lifestyle looks like right now.”
Bold Fox’s approach emphasizes outdoor experiences, encouraging residents to connect with nature — whether on solitary walks or casual gatherings with neighbors.
“We want to use innovative land planning that will create the canvas for the American dream,” Kamkar added.
The company’s inaugural project, Venetian Pines in Conroe, will feature walking trails and a lake to promote outdoor activity.
“Since COVID-19, more people are leaving the house and trying to find nature,” Kamkar said. “We want to encourage that with our amenities.”
Kamkar is not alone in moving away from golf-focused development.
Houston housing consultant David Jarvis criticized golf-centered communities in a 2017 interview with Realty News Report. “You couldn’t give me a home in a golf course community,” Jarvis said. “It’s interesting. We have an aging population, yet people don’t want to play golf. It’s an interesting demographic shift.”
Hundreds of golf courses across the country have closed in recent years as participation and interest have declined, particularly among younger generations.
A study by Florida Atlantic University points out that residents, developers and municipal officials are increasingly deciding whether to repurpose underperforming golf properties for housing or to maintain them as traditional golfing communities.
Despite the pandemic, Bold Fox is moving forward with Venetian Pines and expects the first homes to begin construction early next year. The 45-acre community will include roughly 200 homesites, each on 40-foot lots, and is located near Airport Road and Loop 336.
Bold Fox is also planning a second, smaller project in Tomball, farther from Houston’s urban core.
The shift in development focus aligns with broader trends accelerated by the pandemic: people are leaving dense urban areas and seeking suburban or rural locations with natural amenities.
“People are leaving congested areas and looking for places in more rural and suburban areas that have natural features,” Kamkar said.
July 24, 2020 Realty News Report Copyright 2020
Photo credit: Ralph Bivins, Realty News Report. Copyright 2020
File: Developer Starts First Community. File 2: Bold Fox: Developer Starts First Community
