Frisco Growth Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down
FRISCO (CBS 11 NEWS) - Workers can't build the homes fast enough in Frisco -- already one of the nation's fastest growing cities.
Community leaders say the growth is picking up steam.
When one house is done, another empty lot with a sold sign is waiting.
Sonu Sharma and her family moved from Plano to Frisco three months ago because they wanted a new home. "Everywhere in Frisco is exploding. We love it. My neighborhood is very good, very friendly people. All the houses on our street are built up."
Last year, the city issued more than 2200 permits for single family homes - the highest since 2006.
Tanya Smith is the Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Landon Homes, a developer and homebuilder that took out the most permits for homes last year, including in its Richwoods development.
Smith says, "We had a record year last year."
Smith says customers have not only come from around North Texas, but from California, Illinois, and New Jersey.
"A lot of companies now allow people to work from home and if you're lucky enough to work for those companies, then you can search affordability, best places to live, greatest housing market, great schools, and Frisco pops up number one every time."
Frisco's housing boom has lasted for nearly 14 years now, and there's no sign it's letting up anytime soon.
As a result, it's the same situation for Frisco's school district.
Frisco ISD is busy building new schools for the fall.
The district just unveiled a 2014 bond proposal worth up to $775 million dollars so it can build 14 additional schools.
Educators project they'll have 66,000 students by 2020, surpassing the now larger Plano, Lewisville, and Garland ISD's, and almost catching up to Arlington ISD's student population.
If growth projections continue, Frisco ISD will become the third largest school district in North Texas, behind Dallas and Fort Worth.
The superintendent, Dr. Jeremy Lyon says school board members decided 15 to 20 years ago to build and maintain small schools.
He says parents are doing their homework. "Frisco is the place to be because we have small high schools, small middle schools, and very good neighborhood elementary schools."
Lyon says the new homes and good schools feed off each other - and continue to build on their reputation.
Permits for Single Family Homes in 2013:
| Frisco | 2,215 |
| Plano | 410 |
| McKinney | 1,834 |
| Allen | 463 |
| Prosper | 486 |
| Dallas | 1,318 |
| Fort Worth | 3,304 |
North Texas School District Enrollments:
| District | Now | 2020 |
| Frisco ISD | 45,000 | 66,000 |
| Plano ISD | 55,000 | 54,000 |
| Arlington ISD | 64,000 | 68,000 |
| Garland ISD | 58,000 | 65,000 (in the next 15-20 years) |
| Lewisville ISD | 53,000 | 54,000 |
| Fort Worth ISD | 84,000 | 89,000 (in the next 10 years) |
| Dallas ISD | 159,000 | 160,000 |