$2 billion mixed-use development coming to North Austin's tech corridor

The burgeoning technology corridor in northwest Austin is gaining a massive development filled with office space, shops, two hotels and thousands of residences. Developers broke ground this week, and the project is expected to have a value of more than $2 billion once finished.

Dubbed Pearson Ranch, the mixed-use development is 156 acres at the northeast corner of State Highway 45 and West Parmer Lane, just two miles from Apple’s new campus. Local officials welcomed the space being developed by Austin-based Inspire Development and architecture from globally-renowned Urban Design Associates.

“Located in the new premier hub for major technology companies, Pearson Ranch will provide needed access to office space for employers, generating new jobs and providing on-site access to retail, housing and park space for Central Texas,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said.

Pearson Ranch will have public plazas once completed. (Inspire Development)

Developers boast nearly 50 acres of land for a corporate campus, nudging at tech employers like Dell, PayPal, Amazon, Visa and others.

It’s estimated the development will take about 10-15 years to complete, with the first phase involving 41 acres used for about 600,000 square feet of office space, three apartment communities and retail shops.

The site is expected to offer expansive parks, public plazas and hike-and-bike trails. And developers say it will have easy connectivity with four entrance points and a frontage road from SH 45. Visitors and patrons will also be able to access CapMetro’s Lakeline Station that runs from Leander to Downtown Austin as part of the MetroRail Red Line.

Austin-based developers say the site will feature parks and trails. (Inspire Development)

“This property has such an inherent natural beauty and rich heritage, yet is juxtaposed with incredible proximity to major tech employers and workers that define the future in so many ways,” Brett Ames, Inspire Managing Principal said. “We worked very closely with our team to create a plan that tightly knits the past, present and future into the most compelling land plan possible. Frankly, we feel a true sense of obligation to get it fully right.”