The proposed neighborhood, located at Westcoat Drive and West McDonwell School Road, will feature a 55-lot gated community.

COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Luxury homebuilder Calais Custom Homes is developing a high-end neighborhood on a roughly 50-acre site in Colleyville, one of the last substantial parcels in the area. As land becomes more and more scarce in northeast Tarrant County, luxury homebuilders are having to get more creative.

“The biggest challenge for our market is just availability of land and availability of lots,” said Paul Rostron, co-owner and managing partner at Calais Custom Homes.

Calais is developing the site in partnership with Maykus Homes and Neighborhoods. The proposed neighborhood, located at Westcoat Drive and West McDonwell School Road, will feature a 55-lot gated community.

Customers seeking luxury homes aren’t as interest rate-sensitive, but they are location-sensitive. Calais Custom Homes has continued to see significant demand for its product despite the slowdown in the overall housing market. While not quite as high as a year ago, Rostron said, the volume of calls from clients is still high.

“There’s only one big 50-acre parcel that’s left in Colleyville, and this is it,” he said.

Calais Custom Homes is a high-end custom homebuilder that primarily operates in northeast Tarrant submarkets, including Southlake, Westlake and Colleyville. The firm also builds homes in places like the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Argyle and Flower Mound.

“We’ve done several homes down in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow, but we’re so busy out here that we haven’t really ventured down there as much lately, " he said.

Because the firm builds custom homes, the price of its product varies, but typically starts at around $300 a foot, not including the land cost. The firm is building homes that run up to $600 a foot in some communities.

The firm has seen its business grow dramatically over the past few years.

Five years ago, the firm was building about $30 million worth of new homes a year. Last year, it was close to $80 million.

Customers for these types of homes typically seek amenity rich environments and prized school districts. Premium locations are a must, but communities in northeast Tarrant are quickly becoming more and more built-out. Calais entered the lot development business to stay ahead.

City governments are adopting philosophies of minimal growth, and it’s becoming more difficult to get through the entitlement process. Land values have gone through the roof and the cost of infrastructure is up as well.

The idea of a teardown used to be something that happened more prevalently in submarkets like Preston Hollow and Highland Park. Over the past few years, they’ve become more commonplace in northeast Tarrant communities, such as Southlake and Westlake.

Calais Custom Homes currently has several tear downs it’s working through.

“The land values are getting high enough that it’s a good alternative when you have no new land available to build on,” Rostron said.

The firm is having to work harder to secure land. While it has entered into lot development out of necessity, it’s only developed a few small neighborhoods. The northeast Tarrant submarkets are quickly approaching the point of being completely built-out, he said.

In Southlake, there are only two materially significant parcels left, both of which are owned by families who aren’t interested in developing them. In Colleyville, there are only a handful of sites left that could host significant development.

“It’s all about quality. It’s all about being in the right place with the best land to be able to build the best homes out there in the marketplace,” he said.

This story originally appeared in the Dallas Business Journal, click here to visit.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- During the offseason, Bobby Witt Jr. reached out to Alan McDougal, his former head coach at Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas. The Royals’ star shortstop was gearing up for Spring Training, but he wanted to do something for his high school baseball team and needed information from McDougal.

Shoe sizes.

Because Witt is an Under Armour-sponsored athlete, he was able to buy cleats for Colleyville’s entire baseball team to get them ready for the 2023 season. He also bought shoes and jackets for the coaching staff.

Got to keep the guys looking good in @UnderArmour Good luck to y’all this season! @CHHS_baseballs https://t.co/Q4DT9l2yPv

— Bobby Witt Jr (@BwittJr) February 23, 2023

“In high school, we would all wear the same cleats, and now that I have the opportunity with Under Armour, I was able to give back to them,” Witt said. “I’m always using the field, doing this and that there, so it’s cool to be able to give back and see them representing the brand. It’s the least I could do. It’s my home. I still live there. They deserve it.”

• Box score: Royals 6, Rangers 5

At 22 years old, Witt is about to embark on his second season in the Majors. First, he’ll compete for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on a star-studded roster. Witt wants to soak up the experience of sharing a clubhouse and field with stars like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Nolan Arenado.

But Witt belongs there, too.

“Everybody is talking about Bobby,” Royals infield coach José Alguacil, who came over from the Nationals’ organization. “Not just in Kansas City.”

After the WBC, Witt will open the Royals’ season as their starting shortstop, a face of the franchise and a young leader in a young clubhouse. He spent the offseason watching Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead his team to a second Super Bowl victory and earn his second NFL MVP Award. Mahomes and Witt are connected by more than just the city they play in -- they’ve worked out with the same trainer and are both fueled by the drive to compete and win.

Witt wants to bring Kansas City more of what the Chiefs have in the past five years.

“It’s just incredible to see because I can see behind the scenes, the work ethic Mahomes puts in,” Witt said. “He’s truly a role model for me. So, I’m really trying to follow in his footsteps now. That’s definitely the goal. It’s motivation for us. It’s our job to step up.”

Witt took something else from the Super Bowl a few weeks ago, though. A quote from losing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts stuck with Witt.

“You either win or you learn.”

After his rookie year, Witt could relate. The Royals lost 97 games in 2022, leading to changes in the offseason. Under first-year general manager J.J. Picollo, Kansas City brought in several new coaches, including manager Matt Quatraro. The club traded away veteran players in the past year to make room for the young core the Royals view as key to their next contending team.

At the center of that core is Witt, and his rookie year saw flashes of success and struggles. He hit 20 homers and stole 30 bases, while slashing .254/.294/.428.

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“It was a lot of learning last year,” Witt said. “This year, hopefully we can change it to the winning side.”

Stitched onto Witt’s glove this year is the word “Simple.” He used to write it on his bats as a reminder of his approach at the plate. He occasionally wrote it on his glove last year.

This year, it’s permanent.

“It’s a mantra for me,” Witt said. “This world is crazy with all the stuff going on. If you keep things simple, go out there and have fun, that’s the best way to live life. Last year at times, I was getting caught up in a lot. But I know for me to be my best, I need to be me and be simple.”

Part of Witt’s learning process last year was realizing how quickly the game speeds up in the big leagues, both at the plate and in the field. Witt relishes the big moment, but he’s also acknowledged he can make the moment bigger than it is by trying to prove too much.

There is a comfort that surrounds Witt this spring. No longer just trying to make the team, Witt is in a clubhouse full of his friends, teammates he grew up with in the Minor Leagues. He knows more about what it takes and what his body needs to play a full MLB season.

And by keeping it simple, he’s letting his talent play.

“As time went on last year, I think you saw Bobby get more comfortable,” hitting coach Alec Zumwalt said. “He’s more prepared now than he’s ever been. To me, now, the real chess match begins with Bobby and the league. He’s smart enough that he’s going to stay a step ahead."

The Cajun Market at Bourbon Street is now open in Bedford and The Colony.

BEDFORD, Texas — The Cajun Market, the Colleyville restaurant that closed in October due to the "pandemic and the current economy," reopened under a new brand just in time for Mardi Gras celebrations.

"You’re not coming into my restaurant, you’re coming into my house," owner Phil Tullis said. "That’s how I want you to feel."

WFAA first told you about The Cajun Market in February 2021 when they donated hot meals to Ellery Arbor Memory Care when the facility had no power, heat or hot water.

But then, a little over two years after Tullis and his wife, Deborah, opened the Colleyville restaurant, the couple closed its doors, citing the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We want to be transparent. We want people to know the struggles we've been through because if we all help one another, we all succeed,” Tullis told WFAA in October. “That's the bottom line.”

Enter Dirk Kelcher, a “regular” at The Cajun Market before it closed.

“I’ve always loved Cajun food,” Kelcher said. “We have family friends that were from Louisiana growing up and they would always do crawfish boils in their backyard. And ever since I was probably 8 years old or so, I fell in love with crawfish and Cajun food."

Kelcher and his brother are behind Kelcher Entertainment Group and own 12 bars and restaurants, including two locations of Bourbon Street Bar & Grill in Bedford and The Colony.

“We found out pretty quick that we didn’t have the culinary side that we really needed,” Kelcher said.

So when Kelcher heard about The Cajun Market closing, he gave Tullis a call.

“What I didn’t have, they had,” Tullis said of Bourbon Street Bar & Grill’s bar, restaurant space and parking.

“He had what I don’t have, which was the food side and the authentic Cajun food, which he was already well known for,” Kelcher said.

The newly branded Cajun Market at Bourbon Street was born.

“We’ve definitely got the right partnership together now,” Kelcher said. “I think we’ve got everything together to make this a home run.”

Two Louisiana restaurants teaming up to succeed in North Texas: Now that’s something to celebrate.

“They can expect the old Cajun Market,” Tullis said. “Cajun and Mardi Gras, it’s not just the food. It’s the culture. And the culture’s all about fun and food.”

Here are four businesses that recently opened or relocated in Grapevine.

1. Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center in Grapevine opened Jan. 2 at 1400 W. Northwest Hwy., Ste. 100. Fyzical Grapevine offers services for auto and work injuries, concussion and vestibular therapy, chronic back pain, fitness and wellness, occupational therapy, sports rehabilitation, and more.

Owner Alan Rex said clients receive a therapy program specifically designed for them. Achieving optimal health and wellness is a focus for the physical therapy treatments, which he said are done during one-on-one sessions. 817-438-7214. www.fyzical.com/grapevine-tx

2. Harbor Freight Tools opened its location at 1250 William D. Tate Ave., Ste. 100, Grapevine, on Jan. 24. Harbor Freight is a tool and equipment company with items for welding, plumbing, electrical, automotive and more.

817-527-5787. www.harborfreight.com

3. Talking Animals Books, Grapevine’s first independent bookstore, held its grand opening Feb. 7.

Founder and co-owner Katy Lemieux said she came up with the idea in the summer to open an independent bookstore. Lemieux and co-owner Valerie Walizadeh raised the money within a few weeks through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

The store is an “indie,” or independent, bookstore, meaning it is owned by an individual rather than a corporation. She said the store will not only sells books, but also hosts events, book readings and other opportunities to engage with books. Talking Animals Books is located at 103 W. Worth St., Grapevine. 682-223-1311. www.talkinganimalsbooks.com

4. Camille La Vie relocated inside Grapevine Mills in December and is now at 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Ste. 312, Grapevine. It was previously located at Ste. 247. Camille La Vie offers prom, homecoming, quinceanera, wedding and bridesmaid dresses. It has two locations in Texas with the other in Houston. 469-630-7421. https://camillelavie.com

Mary Katherine joined Community Impact Newspaper as a Multi-platform journalist in November 2022. She graduated with a degree in English and journalism from the University of Arkansas in May 2021. She curates daily newsletters for readers in Dallas-Fort Worth and writes sponsored content as part of the CI Storytelling team. Prior to CI, she worked as a marketing coordinator for an independent bookstore in Georgia. When she is not writing, she is reading a good book.

WICHITA, Kan. — Jarrett Brannen (JR/Bakersfield, Calif.) and Jarrett Gable (SR/Colleyville, Texas), both of Kansas Wesleyan University, have earned the KCAC Baseball Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from Feb. 13-19 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by Equity Bank.

Pitcher of the Week

Jarrett Brannen – Kansas Wesleyan University

5-11 | Jr. | RHP/3B | Bakersfield, Calif.

Brannen had an excellent outing as KWU blanked Dakota Wesleyan 8-0 on Saturday. He went the distance, holding DWU to only two hits for the game, while striking out seven against just two walks.

Player of the Week

Jarrett Gable – Kansas Wesleyan University

6-2 | Sr. | SS | Colleyville, Texas

It was a solid week for Gable. He really lit it up on Sunday, driving in 8 of KWU’s 15 runs in the game, hitting a 3-run homer and a grand slam, his first ever at any level of baseball. Gable hit .500 for the week, and had a 1.083 SLG.

Kansas Wesleyan is 9-5 on the season and hosts a weekend series with Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday and Sunday at Dean Evans Stadium.

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