Featured on the Houston Business Journal website • By Fauzeya Rahman • Posted April 9, 2018, 8:11am CDT
In Balmoral, a master-planned community named after a castle in Scotland, residents will soon have access to a 2-acre manmade lagoon with clear blue water and white sand beaches that will look more akin to a tropical destination rather than a subdivision northeast of Houston.
To get that precise look, Jeff Sheehan, amenity development manager of Land Tejas Cos., is considering sourcing white sand from Mexico or Arkansas, rather than local sand that has a darker hue.
“We want this sand to look like sugar,” Sheehan said. Houston-based developer Land Tejas Cos. plans to unveil Crystal Lagoon for the residents of the 580- acre community Balmoral by summer 2018, according to Tim Johnson, the company’s director of community sales and marketing. In 2017, Land Tejas bought the technology from Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp. to create the first Crystal Lagoons in the Houston area. The locations for future Land Tejas Crystal Lagoonprojects haven’t been finalized.
Unlike traditional swimming pools that use chlorine to treat water, Crystal Lagoons use special EPA approved chemical diffusers, an ultrasonic filtration system and underwater vacuums to keep the water crystal clear. The company has 2,000 patents earned or pending in 190 countries around the world.
While there are several other Crystal Lagoons around the world, the Balmoral iteration may be a little different, Johnson said. Instead of the beach slanting all the way into the water, the ground will slope from the beach to a flat area where people can stand in shallow water, that will be separated from the eight-foot deep section by buoys.
“People like to enjoy water differently,” Johnson said.
On a recent tour of the $13 million lagoon and amenity center, construction crews were busy cutting the roads that will lead to the destination, working on the clubhouse and entrance and smoothing out the concrete that will serve as the bottom of the lagoon.
Residents can expect zero-entry beaches, tropical landscaping with palm trees, a 7,500-square-foot clubhouse, kayak rentals, a serenity beach, a grotto, lawn and event space and a resort-style “oasis” pool with a sun shelf, an infinity edge waterfall and cabanas.
Johnson envisions Houston’s first Crystal Lagoon as a multipurpose gathering place for residents to swim, kayak, relax in a hammock or do a photoshoot. Land Tejas is also constructing a 12-foot wide trail system called GreenBoLT for golf carts, bicycles, strollers and pedestrians to get around the subdivision without having to cross any intersections.
Land Tejas worked with Florida-based Heidt Design LLC and Houston-based KGA/Deforest Design LLC. The contractor was D.L. Meacham Construction LP.
Featured on the chron.com • By Kaila Contreras, [email protected] • Updated 7:48 am, Monday, April 9, 2018
Construction is on schedule at the first Crystal Lagoon in the Greater Houston area. It will be located at Balmoral, a Land Tejas Community near the Summerwood and Fall Creek areas when it is completed this summer.
The Crystal Lagoon will be right in the center of Balmoral’s “Amenity Village,” an 8-acre area that will also have a 7,500 square foot clubhouse, fitness center, volleyball court, splash pad, playground, walking path, food truck area and a resort style pool with infinity edge.
The lagoon itself is 2 acres of land, which will be surrounded by white sand, and goes as deep as 8 feet, allowing residents to enjoy not only swimming but use kayaks and paddle boards.
“Land Tejas always strives to be on the cutting edge of offering our residents fun amenities, fun lifestyles,” said Tim Johnson, Land Tejas Director of Community Sales and Marketing. “When Crystal Lagoons came to us and presented us with this idea, the look, the feel, the touch, They took some of the Land Tejas team to (a lagoon) in Cabo that’s already in place. And after we saw it, it was a no brainer.”
Another feature Land Tejas is working on bringing to Balmoral residents are GreenBoLT golf carts they can use to traverse their community. Residents can use these electric golf carts on the 12-foot trail that is divided into lanes. Jeff Sheehan, Land Tejas Director of Community Affairs, said the amenity village is a $13 million project.
“The landscape will have a tropical feel to it. The deeper the water, the bluer the water becomes,” Sheehan said. “The next phase after these retaining walls are finished, we’ll come in move the liner and once the liner goes in, it’s white, we start putting water in it.”
According to the Crystal Lagoon’s website, their technology applies a pulse-based disinfection system that allows up to 100 times less chemicals to be used than in a swimming pool.
All of the lagoons using Crystal Lagoon technology worldwide are monitored, controlled and operated remotely through the Crystal Lagoons’ Control Center, in Florida.
Mechanical and hydraulic systems in the lagoons are also activated and controlled from the control center, for constant monitoring and operation of the lagoons to ensure excellent water quality.
Sheehan said they will get the water to fill the lagoon from the City of Humble, and Crystal Lagoon representatives will come out to Balmoral in a couple of weeks to test the water in the lagoon and put their chemicals in to make sure it’s up to their standards.
“We’re excited about the Crystal Lagoon project,” Johnson said. “We’re seeing how this one goes and we hope that we can bring more to Houston.”
Every year, the Houston Business Journal announces its list of projects it considers game changers in the field of residential real estate. This year, Land Tejas’ Balmoral community was included on that revered list.
The groundbreaking of a crystal clear lagoon in Balmoral was named one of eight finalists in the publication’s “2017 Deals of the Year: Residential Real Estate.” The project was picked because Land Tejas was the first Houston-area developer to ink the deal with Crystal Lagoons U.S. Corp. and the lagoon will be the first in the nation to open within a fully completed amenity center when the Balmoral crystal clear lagoon opens summer 2018.
Balmoral Amenities
The 2-acre Balmoral lagoon broke ground in October and will feature a Kid’s Cove and two beaches — a Family Beach with cabanas and lounge chairs, and a Serenity Beach for adults. The lagoon will anchor the development’s 8-acre, $10 million Amenity Village that includes an infinity-edge pool overlooking the lagoon, a food truck courtyard, hammock park, sand volleyball court, playground and splash pad. A 12-foot wide GreenBoLT trail system will enable residents to walk, bike or take electric golf carts and Segways to Balmoral amenities and points of interest.
Construction of Balmoral’s crystal clear lagoon is proceeding on schedule, with the filling of the lagoon anticipated to start spring 2018. Home sales in the community have been strong, reflecting the excitement surrounding the lagoon, which will be the first in Texas when it opens. Pricing in Balmoral is from the $190,000s.
Santa and snow are taking over Balmoral on Saturday, Dec. 9, and it’s going to be brrrr-illiant! The jolly old elf himself will be on hand from 10 a.m.-noon with 30,000 pounds of snow, an ice sculpting team, hot cocoa and more.
Bundle up the family and join us at 11930 Talman Run Dr. for some snow action and a holiday event with all the trimmings. In addition to cocoa, we will have a s’mores bar, cookie decorating and lots of festive crafts. DLG Ice Factory will be on hand demonstrating what it takes to turn a block of ice into cool art. Kids can take pictures with their favorite celebrity — Santa Claus — then drop off their holiday letter in his special mailbox (just as a follow up to their conversation). There will even be toys for all the girls and boys!
Don’t forget to take time out to warm up with tours of our five beautiful model homes. Our builders have decked their halls and have lots of holiday activities planned, including Christmas carolers to serenade you as you explore our unique community. The event is free, but those attending are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots.
Come chill with Santa all day and kick off a season of fun at Balmoral!
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the momentous groundbreaking of Houston’s 1st Crystal Lagoon Groundbreaking. VIPs, representatives of Land Tejas and Crystal Lagoons, Houston’s top homebuilders and many community leaders gathered in Balmoral on Oct 5. to kick off what will become Houston’s premier amenity. Everyone enjoyed a dynamic presentation, followed by a tour through Balmoral’s new Community Information Center and five beautiful new model homes. If you attended, thank you for diving in! If not, dive in now!
