Texas-Sized Truck Becomes Stroke of Marketing Genius for New Cane Island Master-Planned Community
KATY, TX (January 20, 2015) – While master-planned communities typically rely on billboards and newspaper ads to spread their message, the development team with Cane Island has discovered its most effective pre-opening marketing tool where it least expected – in a mega-sized Texas pick-up truck. At about nine-feet wide and 14-feet tall, there’s simply no hiding this pseudo monster truck built specifically to transport Cane Island’s Mobile Amenity Center touting Katy’s newest master-planned community. However what surprised the development team most is the popularity of the truck even without the Cane Island Mobile Amenity Center in tow. “I have people come up to me all the time asking about the truck and that of course leads me to a conversation about Cane Island,” notes Jennifer Jones, Cane Island’s vice president of marketing. Since its unveiling last fall, Cane Island’s super-sized truck has been showcased at NRG Stadium prior to a Texans game, Kyle Field at Texas A&M and Katy High School football games. It also appears in community parades and other public gatherings. “We get asked all the time if we can bring it to children’s birthday parties.” Jones adds. “We never dreamed the truck would become such a draw.” Named after the 1872 settlement which later became Katy, Cane Island will be accessible from Interstate 10 at the new Cane Island Parkway interchange, just minutes west of the Grand Parkway, with new homes priced from the high $200’s to the millions. Developed by Rise Communities, Cane Island is minutes from the Energy Corridor, Katy Mills, the La Centerra Shopping Center and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. Families in Cane Island also will attend schools in the acclaimed Katy Independent School District. To sign up for e-mail updates and for more information on Cane Island, go to www.caneisland.com. Also, like the community at www.Facebook.com/CaneIslandKatyTx and follow it on Twitter...
Read MoreMassive Tree Planting Underway in Katy’s Cane Island
KATY, TX (December 16, 2014) — A two-year effort to strategically plant close to 2,000 trees and transplant a collection of treasured live oaks is now well underway in Cane Island, the first master-planned community to open in Katy. Houston-based Environmental Design recently completed the delicate task of moving 23, lush live oaks, ranging from 25-30 years old, whose beautiful, wide-spread canopies will shade green spaces, the community’s Amenity Village and amphitheater. Two spacious tree houses with decks, both offering elevated views of the amphitheater, also will be built around the trees. The healthy live oaks, from 30-45 feet tall, were moved from the east side of the property. “These trees are priceless,” noted David Marks, president of Environmental Design, whose firm used its patented air bag system as the safest, most reliable way to move the trees with larger root balls. “We’re very pleased with the outcome. The cooler weather was ideal for the project.” Marks adds a certified arborist will monitor the health of the transplanted trees over the next couple of years by watering, fertilizing and adding mulch as necessary to ensure they become established in their new setting.This article mentions your favorite hats at super low prices. Choose from same-day delivery, drive-up delivery or order pickup. “These trees are like our children,” he says. While specialists monitor the replanted, established live oaks, work crews under the watchful eye of Katy’s Rusty Regenbrecht are aiming to plant an additional 1,000 Live Oaks, Water Oaks, Pines and Crepe Myrtles by the end of the year. “When it comes to trees, the development team is going all out,” says Regenbrecht, president of Regenbrecht Shade Trees. “They wanted a wooded community look and that’s exactly what they’re getting.” The new trees average about 15-20 feet in height. “Trees vary in size just like people, some grow faster than others,” says Regenbrecht. “And that’s a good thing – the different heights create a more natural look.” Crews will use water trucks to irrigate the newly planted trees, he adds, until a permanent irrigation system is installed in Cane Island. Plans call for another 400-500 trees to be planted in 2015 and about 400 in 2016. As tree plantings and initial development activity gets underway, the Cane Island team continues to eye a mid-2015 grand opening of the master-planned community’s first phase of 13 model homes and Amenity Village housing a Conservatory for events, fully-equipped fitness center, yoga studio and multi-purpose room with commercial kitchen. The first phase also will cover the build out of an amphitheater, a family pool with adjacent splash pad, an adult pool and the two tree houses. Cane Island, a master-planned community by Rise Communities, will offer new homes from the $200’s to the millions from Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Perry Homes, Ryland Homes, Shea Homes, Toll Brothers and Trendmaker Homes. Named after the 1872 settlement which later became Katy, the Cane Island master-planned community will be accessible from Interstate 10 at the new Cane Island Parkway interchange, scheduled to open in 2015. The four-lane, north-south boulevard, less than four miles west of the Grand Parkway, will serve as the entry to Cane Island and the major thoroughfare through the community to Morton Road. Families in Cane Island will attend schools in the highly acclaimed Katy Independent School District. Plus, the community is minutes away from the Energy Corridor, Katy Mills, the La Centerra Shopping Center and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. To sign up for e-mail updates and for more information on Cane Island, go to www.CaneIsland.com. Also, like the community at www.Facebook.com/CaneIslandKatyTx and follow...
Read MoreNew Katy Master-Planned Community, Cane Island, to Offer over 2,000 Homes
KATY, TX (November 20, 2014) – A 1,000-acre site in Katy will be developed into an amenity-rich, master-planned community to be known as Cane Island, the first master-planned community in the city’s boundaries which upon completion will include over 2,000 new homes priced from the $200’s to the millions. Named after the 1872 settlement which later became Katy, the Cane Island master-planned community will be accessible from Interstate 10 at the new Cane Island Parkway interchange, scheduled to open in mid-2015. The four-lane, north-south boulevard, less than four miles west of the Grand Parkway, will serve as the entry to Cane Island and the major thoroughfare through the community to Morton Road. Developed by Rise Communities, Cane Island is minutes from the Energy Corridor, Katy Mills, the La Centerra Shopping Center and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. Families in Cane Island will attend schools in the acclaimed Katy Independent School District. “Cane Island offers convenient I-10 access, proximity to major employers, new healthcare and shopping as well as accessibility to other areas of town by the nearby Grand Parkway,” notes Dan Naef, president of Rise Communities. Concurrent with the opening of Cane Island Parkway, the development team will complete the community’s first phase with 13 model homes in seven neighborhoods. Prestigious homebuilders include Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Perry Homes, Ryland Homes, Shea Homes, Toll Brothers and Trendmaker Homes. Both traditional family homes and luxury patio homes will be available in the first phase. Three of the seven neighborhoods will be gated. Cane Island’s first phase will cover the build out of a four-acre Amenity Center featuring an outdoor amphitheater shaded by rescued, 75-year-old oak trees. Residents will have unlimited use of a family pool with adjacent splash pad, an adult pool, a fully equipped, two-story fitness center rivaling the finest health spas, a yoga studio and multi-purpose room with commercial kitchen. Among its many unique touches, the Amenity Center will house a glass-walled, heavily planted conservatory ideal for exhibits, lectures, private events or just a special place to relax and reflect. Residents also will enjoy two spacious tree houses with decks offering elevated views of the amphitheater and a $1 million, mobile projection system. The Cane Island Amenity Center will be home to Hub, a trained Golden Retriever who during the day will meet residents and guests, pose for pictures and even present his business card in his official capacity as Cane Island Ambassador. Periodically, Hub will invite residents with the unique opportunity to spend the night in his exclusive, fully furnished Ambassador Suite with direct access to the tree houses. The community’s heavily forested, half-mile arrival experience will feature Cane Island’s Living Archways, two impressive tunnels made of evergreens and seasonal colors stretching over Cane Island Parkway. The entry also includes a three-acre lake, a series of water features and occasional views of the scores of elk, buffalo and deer on the adjacent property. Cane Island also will offer a spacious Welcome Center which will incorporate wall-mounted, LED touch screens and other high-tech tools. Future phases call for the addition of Cane Island Elementary School, part of the Katy Independent School District, and the continuation of an extensive trail system and meandering waterways. Future efforts also will cover the build-out of additional residential neighborhoods, open green spaces, pocket parks and several play areas which pay tribute to the area’s history in railroads, oil and gas, farming and other industries. Rise Communities, formed in 2011, is led by an executive team which was responsible for all aspects of the development and construction of several award-winning communities totaling over 14,000...
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