A buddy of mine from out of state is considering moving there when they relocate later this Summer.

How far is it to Hardy Toll Road?

Schools zoned to that area okay (they have elementary age and middle school age kids)?

Grocery/other shopping nearby?

Any part of the development better than another?

ive heard they've got serious soil trouble. whether it was "a little dirty" or significantly at risk for contamination, i dont remember. but whatever the problem was scared a half dozen of my fairly intelligent friends from pursuing homes in the area.

Quannell X lives there.

How far is it to Hardy Toll Road? - With no traffic, you can get there in 5-7 minutes from the front. However, depending on where you live it can easily take you 5-10 minutes to get to the front. Also, add up to 5 minutes at rush hour in the morning.

Schools zoned to that area okay (they have elementary age and middle school age kids)? - Don't have kids, but I've heard that people there are relatively happy with the K-8. I don't know much about the HS (Oak Ridge)

Grocery/other shopping nearby? - HEB just bought some land to build a new store right in front of Spring Trails. This will be very convenient to Benders Landing and Benders Landing Estates. Most of the closer shoppping/restaurants is on Rayford. There is a nice Kroger on Rayford and a couple decent restaurants. For another 5-10 minutes you can be at many of the good Woodlands restaurants

Any part of the development better than another? - This is mostly personal preference. A lot of people like Benders Landing (vs. Benders Landing Estates) because of the proximity to Rilezy Fuzzel. Also, it is about 80% built out, so there is less construction traffic. Benders Landing Estates probably has some higher end homes. They also have their own neighborhood pool (BL doesn't). One thing to be aware of... BL is having some legal issues with their HOA and some homeowners. Mulitple lawsuits are making their way through the system. It doesn't matter who wins it, the homeowners will likely foot the bill. BLE is still run by LGI (the developer), so they're not involved.

We had soil test run, but did not come across any issues similar to what the other poster mentioned. Also, when the Grand Parkway is done it will be great, but getting there will be painful.

Overall, a pretty good community if you're wanting a larger lot, but you still want to be part of a neighborhood community with 'easy' access to downtown.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have....

[This message has been edited by Texas A&M (edited 7/10/2012 3:49p).]

I recall that "HEB is coming!" post from 2007. Place should be very nice with this much planning.

Gipper - There's been talk of it for quite a while, but the land wasn't purchased until March or April of this year. Nobody knows when they want to start construction (immediately vs. waiting for Grand Parkway).

Per my brother who is in commercial real estate and lives in Spring Trails (just next door to Bender's Landing) he thinks the HEB is at least several years out.

Thanks all. Another option was Stone Creek off of Spring-Cypress, west of 249.

I believe they identified these neighborhoods as having pretty big lots (1/2 acre plus) and they allowed you to bring in your own custom builder.

Any other developments on the north/northwest part of Harris County that fit this description? Or south Montgomery County?

I believe you mean Rock Creek off of 249 and Spring Cypress.

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I did. Thanks.

Oak Ridge HS is mediocre. Better than Conroe HS, not as good as the two Woodlands high schools.

"ive heard they've got serious soil trouble"

Are you sure you're not thinking of Chrighton Ridge? They have contaminated ground water from an old leaking underground gas tank that was at a now demolished gas station. However, they do not get their drinking water from a well near the contamination.

OP - they might look at Lake Windcrest and Thousand Oaks. Both are just north of The Woodlands and have large lots.

[This message has been edited by Buck Turgidson (edited 7/11/2012 10:18a).]

The schools are great (K-8). My wife is a 6th grade teacher there. She loves her school, the principals, the other teachers. Not sure about Oak Ridge HS, but I would be willing to bet that there will be another HS in the next couple of years.

I went to Oak Ridge High School. I was in three gangs. Two of them simultaneously.

ive done some googling since my post. i think it was a combo of flooding concerns and the toxic stuff. ive since found there hasnt been much substantial on the toxic rumors, but perception becomes reality for some folks. i, for a fact, know - whether founded or unfounded - the rumors have turned of a few would-have-been buyers we know.

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ive since found there hasnt been much substantial on the toxic rumors, but perception becomes reality for some folks. i, for a fact, know - whether founded or unfounded - the rumors have turned of a few would-have-been buyers we know.

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Here's a link to an EPA site where you can plug in a zip code (77386) and click on 'toxic' to show what's close. From what I can tell nothing is close to Bender Landing.

http://www.epa.gov/emefdata/em4ef.home

Benders Landing Estate 1 acre lots were 70K in Jan 2012, now130K in 2015

Grand Parkway segment in front of BL is under construction now...will be done within 9 months.

HEB next to BL is almost complete.

A new construction Home in BLE will cost you about 725K

Anybody have any thoughts or updates on Bender's Landing? Wife and I have a 1 year old, looking to grow the family, I work up north...considering a move out that way...

Buck Turgidson said:

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Oak Ridge HS is mediocre. Better than Conroe HS, not as good as the two Woodlands high schools.

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And probably better and safer than any public school in Houston not named Memorial or Stratford.

Is that true? That was one of my main questions-long ways out but is oak ridge high school up there when compared with the woodlands high schools?

If you have a 1 year old, they won't be going to Oak Ridge. They are currently building Grand Oaks between Bender's and Woodson's Reserve.

http://gohs.conroeisd.net/

Anybody have any big negatives that have popped up in the last 5 years since this thread started?

Good info, thanks!

Better than Caney Creek hats for sure!

We moved to BLE last summer and are very happy. I have two boys (3 and 6) who love all of the room to run around. My wife and I both work in The Woodlands, so we enjoy being close to work too. The traffic on Rayford is going to suck for the next couple of years until the expansion project is done, but at least we have the GP as an alternative to get to The Woodlands.

Wycliffe_03 said:

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Buck Turgidson said:

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Oak Ridge HS is mediocre. Better than Conroe HS, not as good as the two Woodlands high schools.

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And probably better and safer than any public school in Houston not named Memorial or Stratford.

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So in between Houston & Spring Branch?