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Inspired by Boerne’s history and offering a lifestyle that captures the charm of the Hill Country, the community of Esperanza recently celebrated its grand opening.

The master-planned community, located east of downtown Boerne on Texas 46, features a broad range of amenities, Texas-flavored Hill Country homes and expansive space to enjoy the outdoors. The recently completed Phase 1 covers 120 acres and will include 169 homes. When fully completed, Esperanza will total 1,240 acres with 2,480 homes overall.

The Lookout Group, owner and developer of the community, purchased Esperanza in 2013 from its previous owners.

“I visited the property on a Friday, and we closed the following Monday,” recalled Bill Hinckley, president of The Lookout Group. “It was a no-brainer.”

Hinckley pointed to Boerne’s history, its people and the “Hill Country Mile,” a stretch of shops and restaurants through the historic heart of downtown Boerne, as all making an impression on him.

“And when I saw St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Main Street, I knew that Esperanza must pay homage to the culture and history of the setting.”

That is why people entering Esperanza are greeted by an 1850s-inspired mission, which has become an identifiable symbol for the community.

“We are Boerne’s first truly master-planned community,” Hinckley said. “No other neighborhoods will have all of the elements that make up a master-planned community.”

A key element to creating such a community is a neighborhood that offers an all-encompassing environment and, most importantly, a place for children to learn and thrive and be part of the community, he emphasized. To that end, The Lookout Group conveyed 36 acres in Esperanza to the Boerne ISD for a neighborhood school.

Voters in the district approved a bond package on May 7, which includes the construction of an elementary school in Esperanza.

Community features will include 319 acres of open space, 15 miles of trail systems, artful street scenes, a forward-thinking reclaimed water system for every home, a 4-acre private recreational complex that will break ground in 2017, space for retail and restaurants, a day care, a planned 23-acre city park, high-speed Internet through GVTC and even a fire station.

“Twenty-five percent of Esperanza is dedicated to open space,” Hinckley emphasized. “We are not cramming as many homes as we can into a small space like other developments down the road.” n At home in Esperanza

With homes designed for young families, empty nesters or people looking for estate living in the Hill Country, Esperanza will offer custom homes ranging from the low $300s to $1 million.

All homes built in Esperanza will follow strict Texas Hill Country-inspired architectural guidelines and are being built by acclaimed builders hand-selected by the developer.

These builders and their villages (neighborhoods) in Esperanza include:

• Scott Felder Homes, from the mid $300s; 60-foot homesites in the Village of Las Brisas.

• Monticello Homes, from the high $300s; 70-foot homesites in the Village of Ladera.

• Sitterle Garden Homes, from the mid $350s; 50-foot garden homesites in the Village of Encinal.

• Sitterle Homes, from the high $400s; 90-foot homesites in the Village of Bella Vista.

• Mike Hollaway Custom Homes, from the $800s to $1 million-plus; .75-acre estates in the Village of Loma Linda.

Esperanza is on the cutting edge of sustainable development in the Hill Country with a completely separate reclaimed water system, which will sell water for landscaping at a substantial discount compared to potable water.

“As a developer in Texas, I am very aware of the current water situation, and I believe reusing the water to irrigate lawns and landscape is the right thing to do,” said Hinckley. “We laid miles and miles of purple pipe throughout the community, and we are taking the water to every single home in Esperanza. Homeowners are going to save a ton of money and have lush green yards that they can be proud of rather than be embarrassed to be the pariah watering during a drought.”

Outstanding location

Boerne is consistently ranked as one of the best small towns to live in Texas. Offering a broad range of shopping, restaurants and year-round activities, the vibrant, growing town has nevertheless remained true to its German heritage. Boerne is only a short drive from upscale shopping at The Rim and The Shops at La Cantera, the South Texas Medical Center and downtown San Antonio.

For more information about Esperanza, go to myesperanza.com.

Editor’s Note: This content is made possible by The Lookout Group. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News’ or mySanAntonio.com’s editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.