Westlake is in the middle of a building cycle. Hillwood's 44-acre Front 44 project at Circle T Ranch, with a 150-room hotel, restaurants and an office building, is slated to break ground in 2026 and finish in 2027. Entrada keeps adding homes, and the town reported $102.5 million in permitted construction value at its Oct. 20, 2026, council meeting. For a town known for quiet, large-lot living, this is a lot of change at once.
What is Front 44?
Hillwood announced Front 44 on Feb. 2, 2026. The name refers to the front-most 44 acres of the 2,500-acre Circle T Ranch, facing the highways between the Charles Schwab offices and the fork of State Highways 170 and 114. According to Hillwood, the plan includes:
- Retail and restaurants, with roughly 70% to 80% of the remaining space aimed at food and beverage and the rest at health and wellness.
- An upscale hotel with 150 rooms.
- A 54,000-square-foot office building.
- Parking concentrated on the outer edge of the site to keep the interior walkable.
Hillwood said it was in active talks with potential tenants for about half the project, including a steakhouse, and that the concept responds to requests from Charles Schwab executives for nearby dining and hotel options. Groundbreaking was planned for 2026, with completion in 2027.
Is this the same project discussed in 2024?
Related, at minimum. Community Impact reported in April 2024 that Hillwood and Howard Hughes Corporation received site plan approval for a mixed-use development in front of the Schwab headquarters, with a new road connecting to Schwab Way. Front 44 is Hillwood's current branding and program for the frontage there.
What is happening in Entrada?
Entrada, the Spanish-village-style development off State Highway 114 and FM 1938, has been under construction in phases for more than a decade. Community Impact's original 2013 coverage described an 85-acre plan with homes, retail, a hotel and plazas. A New Year's message published in Stroll Westlake as 2026 began summarized recent progress:
- More than 20 single-family homes under construction.
- Groundbreakings at La Cima de Entrada (18 luxury townhomes) and Ventanas of Entrada (a 53-home gated subdivision).
- A Hilton Garden Inn and a b1 Bank branch and office building under way.
- Cortez Condominiums nearing completion.
The same message noted that two planned restaurant concepts did not move forward and the town was working with the developer on other uses for those spaces. In September 2025, the council approved amendments to Entrada's planned development and design guidelines to unify architecture and landscape standards.
How much is actually being built?
The town's Oct. 20, 2026, council recap gives a useful snapshot. Westlake issued 313 permits covering 633,600 square feet with a combined valuation of $102.5 million. That included:
- 25 new single-family homes totaling about 208,000 square feet and $62.5 million in value.
- Five commercial permits totaling $47 million.
The council also approved a development agreement with Ocean Equities for an office project on about 1.33 acres at 1550 Solana Boulevard, and funded street replacement on Carlyle Court along with sidewalk, trail and intersection repairs. Westlake Academy's Arts and Sciences expansion reached a visible milestone as well: the construction crane arrived on site.
For buyers, 25 new custom homes in a town of Westlake's size is a meaningful number. Our agents at The Agency Dallas who work Westlake see new construction setting a reference point for what buyers expect in finishes, systems and outdoor living, which in turn shapes how resale homes are priced.
What does growth mean for Westlake taxes?
So far, the pattern has favored residents. Westlake set its tax rate at 18.5 cents per $100 for FY 2025-26, according to the town's September 2025 recap. For FY 2026-27, Northeast News reported on Sept. 16, 2026, that the council adopted a rate $0.021222 below the no-new-revenue rate, with the average homeowner expected to see a $442 decrease in the tax bill.
The town's fourth-quarter report showed revenue projected at $45 million for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, well above the $35 million originally budgeted, driven by sales tax, utility fees and interest. Commercial growth like Front 44, Entrada's hotel and new office space adds to that base.
Are there trade-offs?
Yes. More commercial activity brings more traffic near the highway interchanges and more debate about the town's character. In the October 2025 council recap, the town noted plans to discuss bicycle restrictions and congestion on Ottinger Road and proposed a full traffic study. Some residents have also pushed back on infrastructure such as a proposed elevated water tower, according to the Oct. 20, 2026, recap.
What should buyers and sellers in Westlake keep in mind?
A few points our agents at The Agency Dallas share with clients:
- Proximity cuts both ways. Being near new dining is a plus for many buyers. Being directly beside a construction zone for a year or two is not.
- Check the school path. School options differ across Westlake addresses, including Westlake Academy and neighboring public districts. Confirm enrollment rules and zoning for each specific address before making an offer.
- Watch the agenda. Westlake's council and planning commission publish recaps after each meeting. They are the best early signal of what is coming to a given corner of town.
For more on neighborhoods across both towns, see our Southlake and Westlake page. Owners curious about how new construction nearby affects their home's value can start with our home valuation tool.
Westlake turns 70 on Dec. 27, 2026, according to the town. It arrives at that milestone with more construction under way than at almost any point in its history, and with a tax picture that has so far moved in residents' favor.
Frequently asked questions
When will Front 44 open in Westlake?
Hillwood announced in February 2026 that Front 44 would break ground in 2026 and be completed in 2027. The 44-acre project sits within Circle T Ranch between the Charles Schwab offices and the fork of State Highways 170 and 114. Tenants had not been publicly confirmed, though Hillwood said it was in talks for about half the space.
What will be in Front 44?
Plans call for restaurants and retail, a 150-room upscale hotel and a 54,000-square-foot office building. Hillwood said most of the remaining space would go to food and beverage, with the rest for health and wellness uses. Parking is planned around the outer edge so the interior of the site can be more pedestrian friendly.
How many new homes are being built in Westlake?
The town's Oct. 20, 2026, council recap reported 25 new single-family home permits totaling about 208,000 square feet and $62.5 million in value, part of 313 total permits worth $102.5 million. In Entrada, recent groundbreakings included La Cima de Entrada with 18 townhomes and Ventanas of Entrada with 53 gated homes.
Did Westlake property taxes go up this year?
Northeast News reported that for FY 2026-27 the council adopted a rate below the no-new-revenue rate and that the average homeowner should see a $442 decrease in the town portion of the bill. The town's share is a small part of a total tax statement, so school, county and other rates also matter.
Is the Westlake Academy expansion under construction?
Yes. The town's Oct. 20, 2026, council recap reported that the crane for the Westlake Academy Arts and Sciences expansion had arrived on site. The recap noted a brief steel delay tied to a national recall, though the project's own steel was not affected. The addition is funded in part by a long-standing gift from the Lee Estate.
Sources
- Hillwood, New development in Westlake will bring retail, restaurants to the Circle T Ranch (Feb. 2, 2026)
- Community Impact, New mixed-use development to bring retail, office space, hotel to Westlake (April 18, 2024)
- Stroll Westlake, New Year's message
- Community Impact, Westlake approves $500 million European village near Solana office park (May 13, 2013)
- Town of Westlake, Town Council Recap (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Town of Westlake, Town Council Recap (Sept. 16, 2025)
- Town of Westlake, Town Council Recap (Oct. 21, 2025)
- Northeast News, Westlake Town Council adopts 2026-27 budget (Sept. 16, 2026)
