January 21, 2025
Despite a devasting storm blowing through Houston two days prior, Saturday, May 18th, Houston Habitat for Humanity hosted the grand opening of Robins Landing, our new, mixed-income community and development featuring affordable home prices and highly coveted amenities. If you were unable to make it to the party, here’s a recap of the exciting day, along with information on how to tour a model home and apply to become a homeowner in this beautifully designed neighborhood.
Located in Northeast Houston and developed by Houston Habitat for Humanity, Robins Landing is the city’s first affordable master-planned community which is also walkable and transit-friendly. Created for mixed-incomes and all generations, homeownership of these beautiful high-quality, energy efficient homes include access to essential services as well as onsite green spaces and trails. The 127-acre community of Robins Landing is planned to include over 460 single-family homes and up to 500 apartments and senior housing units.
The family-friendly grand opening had model homes open for touring, plantis for the taking, live music playing, local food trucks with delicious treats, and a resource fair for all attendees. Kids happily enjoyed the onsite playground and got their faces painted in all sorts of creative ways! This event celebrated the opening of the first section of the Robins Landing community, which is designed specifically to be affordable to people of all incomes. “This used to be nada, nothing,” said Houston Habitat’s chief executive, Allison Hay, as she led a tour of the subdivision which, until recently, was unused land filled with weeds, grasses and forest.
Work began on this Houston Habitat land in February 2022. Today, there are sidewalks, picnic tables, a pond and pavilion, and freshly laid streets which are being enjoyed by the families who have already moved into their new homes here. Currently, Habitat homes that are available at Robins Landing are single floor homes that consist of three and four bedrooms with an attached car garage and a nice fenced yard. 3 and 4-bedroom single family homes with attached two-car garages are available. Robins Landing is a project which goes beyond city of Houston requirements; designed with extensive community input and knowledge from past experiences, residents can expect capable stormwater infrastructure, a childcare center, healthcare, banking, a library and further community-supporting services. Also a resilience hub, which will be a space for residents to obtain necessary services like food assistance and community education, and to connect with resources during emergencies like extreme heat, flooding, and/or power outages.
Planning for Robins Landing features include trail connections to nearby parks, a fruit and nut orchard, a commercial-grade community kitchen for residential rental, and a branch of the Houston Public Library. These endeavors are tied to Houston Habitat’s commitment to sensibly priced commercial real estate as well as reasonably priced homes where families can flourish. Plans are underway for a bank, a health clinic, and a makerspace.
Out of the 468 single-family homes, 100 will serve those who make as little as 50% of the area median income(AMI) up to 80% AMI. Three hundred homes will be affordable to families making up to 120% AMI or up to $90,800 for a family of two. The median household income in the census tract is roughly $37,000, according to census estimates. Additionally, 68 single-family homes will be sold at market rates, which are currently around $225,000 to $330,000 for homes in area newly developed subdivisions, according to Community Builders Advisory Services, which collects data on new construction.
By carefully choosing materials and energy efficient building methods, Houston Habitat builds homes that are safe, healthy, environmentally friendly and have low costs to own and maintain. Habitat homes have nine-foot ceilings, energy-efficient appliances and a wheelchair-friendly design, such as ramps inside the garage, three-foot-wide doors and reinforced walls where homeowners could install grab bars. Further, the homes are Energy-Star certified and utilize Fortified roof standards.
Robins Landing is located on Tidwell Road, east of Mesa Drive and inside Beltway 8, nestled between the lush Harris County Greens Thicket and Houston’s newly renovated Brock Park. Associated Houston ISD Schools are North Forest High School, Forest Brook Middle School, Hilliard Elementary School, and Fonwood Early Childhood Center. Associated KIPP Schools are KIPP Legacy Preparatory School, KIPP Northeast College Preparatory, KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys, and KIPP Voyage Academy for Girls.
Houston Habitat for Humanity purchased raw land and added infrastructure for the entire project, including clearing and grading, installing sewers and utilities, and creating streets, curbs, residential building lots, and commercial pad sites. Robins Landing is designed to meet standards derived from Atlas 14, the post-Harvey rainfall study which interprets historical data to predict future rainfalls. These standards, which are implemented throughout the project’s development, exceed the City of Houston’s building code requirements, will not contribute to more flooding, and aim to help mitigate future potential flooding.
Everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home plus reasonable access to the resources needed to successfully live, work, and play throughout their life. Through Houston Habitat’s homeownership program, families obtain affordable homeownership, which creates an environment of strength, stability and independence. See if you are eligible to purchase a Houston Habitat home, learn about the steps and begin your application to become a Houston Habitat Homeowner. Your place in Robins Landing awaits!
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