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 15,197
  Density 1,826/sq mi (705/km2)
Time zone UTC−06:00 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC−05:00 (CDT)
Zip code 78739
Area code 512
Website www.circlecranch.info

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 6,400 homes. Amenities include an 18-hole golf course called the Grey Rock Golf Club, tennis club, four 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. The third pool in the Avana section of Circle C was built in 2014 and opened in 2015. The fourth pool located in the GreyRock section of Circle C opened in 2017.

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]

On March 15, 2018, the Circle C HOA sued Circle C residents Melinda and Robert McKenna, and their entity AustinReps, LLC, alleging that they engaged in the "unauthorized and illegal use of the Circle C Ranch trademark, domain, and intellectual property for their personal business gain." Central to the lawsuit is the McKennas' use of circlecranch.com as a business website for their real estate firm. The McKennas contend that the Circle C HOA previous agreed to, or at least acquiesced in, their business use of this site and the Circle C Ranch identity.

Schools

School Type Established Principal Students Coordinates Notes
Bowie High Public 1988 Mark Robinson 2,867 30°11′13.44″N 97°51′31.44″W / 30.1870667°N 97.8587333°W / 30.1870667; -97.8587333 [2]
Clayton Elementary Public 2006 Amy Gonzales 837 30°11′42.24″N 97°54′23.51″W / 30.1950667°N 97.9065306°W / 30.1950667; -97.9065306 [3][4][5]
Gorzycki Middle Public 2009 Cathryn Mitchell 1,275 30°12′51.84″N 97°53′30.86″W / 30.2144000°N 97.8919056°W / 30.2144000; -97.8919056 [6]
Kiker Elementary Public 1992 David Crissey 1,109 30°11′29.59″N 97°52′53.49″W / 30.1915528°N 97.8815250°W / 30.1915528; -97.8815250 [7][8]
Mills Elementary Public 1997 Lalla Beachum 852 30°12′39.52″N 97°52′41.62″W / 30.2109778°N 97.8782278°W / 30.2109778; -97.8782278 [9]

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.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 Fontenot, Kelli (September 27, 2012). "Circle C Ranch". Community Impact. Austin, Texas. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. Bowie High School (6 February 2017). "Bowie High School". Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  3. "Clayton Elementary School". AISD Elementary Schools. Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. May 24, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. Clayton Elementary School. "Clayton History". Clayton Elementary School. Austin, Texas: School in Sites. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. SchoolDigger. "Clayton Elementary School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. Gorzycki Middle School (6 February 2017). "Gorzycki Middle School". Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  7. "Kiker Elementary School". AISD Elementary Schools. Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. May 24, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. SchoolDigger. "Kiker Elementary School". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. Mills Elementary School (6 February 2017). "Mills Elementary School". Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  10. "Circle C Housing Market Report". Real Estate Appraisals Austin. Retrieved 17 February 2013.

Sources

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

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