Celina set for more multi-family housing

Construction for a $35 million apartment community is slated to begin this year in Celina, adding to a mix of development projects north of downtown.

According to records filed with the state on Dec. 19, the multi-family project led by a Denton-based developer is adjacent to Uptown Celina, formerly known as Northside at Rollertown Phase I. Construction could begin in September and take about two years.

Uptown Celina, a Rockhill Capital & Investments development located north of downtown Celina between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road, will have four single-family communities located on more than 675 acres – The Ranch at Uptown Celina, The Heights at Uptown Celina, La Terra at Uptown Celina and North Square at Uptown Celina. Site work for The Ranch at Uptown Celina kicked off last year.

Utility work for The Heights at Uptown Celina has started, and paving new roads will begin within the next few months, according to city planners.

The Heights of Uptown Celina will have about 400 single-family and paired homes, according to Ryan Griffin, managing partner of Rockhill Capital & Investments.

“Infrastructure construction is slated throughout 2024, and new home construction is tentatively expected to begin in 2025,” Griffin said.

Celina Mayor Ryan Tubbs said the development will expand growth of the historic downtown area.

“The Heights at Uptown Celina will give more families access to our incredible downtown arts and entertainment areas and provide amplified support for our local downtown businesses,” Tubbs said.

According to an Uptown Celina website, amenities will include a pool, athletic fields, playground, park and dog park, trails, walking paths and open spaces.

Jonathan Pollard, senior planner for the city of Celina, said one of the tracts of land northwest of downtown is 564 acres, with 20% of that going to open space.

“We’re looking at around 100 to 120 acres of open space. That’s a fantastic amount,” said Pollard. “They’re going to provide trails all throughout, connecting residents to our downtown, giving them an actual 12-foot-wide trail to either walk or ride golf carts on.”

Pollard said the development will use about 17 acres for multi-family housing.

“We’re still going through plan revisions, but what they’re anticipating getting is roughly 500 units,” Pollard said.

Dusty McAfee, Celina’s executive director of development services, said Uptown Celina is an urban neighborhood that will serve as a northern extension of downtown.

“It offers a mix of housing options, expands the master trail system, and extends Oklahoma Drive throughout the community back over to Preston Road,” McAfee said. “This is a unique addition to downtown located across the street from the Entertainment District.”