3 minute readDanny Signorelli doesn’t back off a problem. He hunts them.
We look for opportunity where there’s challenge,” Signorelli says. “Sometimes, those surface-level problems turn a lot of folks away. But if you power through them, there’s success hiding in plain sight.”
That philosophy is the backbone of The project will ultimately support 14,000 homes and 17 million square feet of commercial space. Phase One alone includes 421 single-family homes, the 1824 social hub, and more than 25 acres of parks and trails. We’re not building yesterday’s MPC,” Signorelli says. “This isn’t about cookie-cutter subdivisions. Austin Point will look and feel different. It’s a walkable, hybrid community—green space, entertainment, jobs, and homes across price points.” And it couldn’t come at a more uncertain moment. In early 2025, many large builders are pulling back from land, wary of elevated rates, rising costs, and shaky consumer sentiment. But Signorelli sees that very uncertainty as a sign to go bigger. You can’t build 10,000 homes looking at short-term cycles. We don’t make investment decisions based on a quarter or two. We’re betting on Texas—on Fort Bend County’s demographics, diversity, and long-term growth,” he says. The project’s first phase drew enthusiastic interest from more than 20 homebuilders. Ultimately, nine signed on, including Perry Homes, Westin, David Weekley, Ashton Woods, Drees, and CastleRock. This is the first subdivision in my 30-year career where we took lots to the builder market and every single one said yes,” Signorelli says. “We’ve got price points from the $300s to over $800,000, alley-loaded homes and front-loaded estates, all tied together by parks and green space.” This product mix is no accident. Signorelli has long advocated for housing diversity to match life-stage and income diversity. We want a seat for every person that wants to live in Fort Bend County. And we want you to walk out your door and feel like your neighborhood belongs to you.” Austin Point’s scale also enables an ambitious commercial vision. The innovation district will target employers across healthcare, tech, life sciences, and education. Most people spend more time at work than with their families,” Signorelli says. “If we can shorten the commute, or better yet bring the workplace to the neighborhood, we unlock quality of life. That’s the future.” He’s betting that businesses will want in. With $1 billion in public infrastructure improvements surrounding the site and shovel-ready commercial parcels, the timing may prove right. Our tenants love Valley Ranch because it works,” he says. “The same formula—intentional mix, long-term ownership, reinvestment—applies here.” What sets The Signorelli Company apart is its model. Unlike developers who exit once land is entitled, Signorelli holds and operates its communities long-term. This is our capital. We’re not beholden to short IRR targets. We think in ROE over decades,” he says. “We own the retail, build the multifamily, manage the land. That patience lets us make smarter decisions.” That approach enabled Valley Ranch to evolve into a regional destination, with 12 million annual visitors and another 800,000 square feet of retail coming. Austin Point is designed to scale similarly. The connective thread between Signorelli’s early work in Valley Ranch in New Caney, TX, and his latest in Fort Bend is vision turned reality through persistence. I like to think big, but even I didn’t imagine Valley Ranch becoming what it is. Austin Point is Valley Ranch on steroids,” he says. That mindset was influenced by one of Texas development’s most revered figures. We feel like we’re following in the footsteps of leaders like [Johnson Development founder] Larry Johnson,” Signorelli says. “He understood that a master-planned community wasn’t just about rooftops—it was about jobs, schools, and long-term value for everyone.” In 25 years, Signorelli hopes to see 12 million square feet of commercial development, thousands of homes, schools, parks, and “a place that fuels regional progress.” We may be long gone by then, but the decisions we’re making today are building something that lasts,” he says. “That’s what legacy means.”Builder Partnerships and Product Diversity
Commercial Innovation and Live-Work Synergy
A Lesson in Long-Term Ownership
From Valley Ranch to Austin Point
![Image source: AustinPoint.com The project will ultimately support 14,000 homes and 17 million square feet of commercial space. Phase One alone includes 421 single-family homes, the 1824 social hub, and more than 25 acres of parks and trails. We’re not building yesterday’s MPC,” Signorelli says. “This isn’t about cookie-cutter subdivisions. Austin Point will look and feel different. It’s a walkable, hybrid community—green space, entertainment, jobs, and homes across price points.” And it couldn’t come at a more uncertain moment. In early 2025, many large builders are pulling back from land, wary of elevated rates, rising costs, and shaky consumer sentiment. But Signorelli sees that very uncertainty as a sign to go bigger. You can’t build 10,000 homes looking at short-term cycles. We don’t make investment decisions based on a quarter or two. We’re betting on Texas—on Fort Bend County’s demographics, diversity, and long-term growth,” he says. Builder Partnerships and Product Diversity The project’s first phase drew enthusiastic interest from more than 20 homebuilders. Ultimately, nine signed on, including Perry Homes, Westin, David Weekley, Ashton Woods, Drees, and CastleRock. This is the first subdivision in my 30-year career where we took lots to the builder market and every single one said yes,” Signorelli says. “We’ve got price points from the $300s to over $800,000, alley-loaded homes and front-loaded estates, all tied together by parks and green space.” This product mix is no accident. Signorelli has long advocated for housing diversity to match life-stage and income diversity. We want a seat for every person that wants to live in Fort Bend County. And we want you to walk out your door and feel like your neighborhood belongs to you.” Commercial Innovation and Live-Work Synergy Austin Point’s scale also enables an ambitious commercial vision. The innovation district will target employers across healthcare, tech, life sciences, and education. Most people spend more time at work than with their families,” Signorelli says. “If we can shorten the commute, or better yet bring the workplace to the neighborhood, we unlock quality of life. That’s the future.” He’s betting that businesses will want in. With $1 billion in public infrastructure improvements surrounding the site and shovel-ready commercial parcels, the timing may prove right. Our tenants love Valley Ranch because it works,” he says. “The same formula—intentional mix, long-term ownership, reinvestment—applies here.” A Lesson in Long-Term Ownership What sets The Signorelli Company apart is its model. Unlike developers who exit once land is entitled, Signorelli holds and operates its communities long-term. This is our capital. We’re not beholden to short IRR targets. We think in ROE over decades,” he says. “We own the retail, build the multifamily, manage the land. That patience lets us make smarter decisions.” That approach enabled Valley Ranch to evolve into a regional destination, with 12 million annual visitors and another 800,000 square feet of retail coming. Austin Point is designed to scale similarly. From Valley Ranch to Austin Point The connective thread between Signorelli’s early work in Valley Ranch in New Caney, TX, and his latest in Fort Bend is vision turned reality through persistence. I like to think big, but even I didn’t imagine Valley Ranch becoming what it is. Austin Point is Valley Ranch on steroids,” he says. That mindset was influenced by one of Texas development’s most revered figures. We feel like we’re following in the footsteps of leaders like [Johnson Development founder] Larry Johnson,” Signorelli says. “He understood that a master-planned community wasn’t just about rooftops—it was about jobs, schools, and long-term value for everyone.” In 25 years, Signorelli hopes to see 12 million square feet of commercial development, thousands of homes, schools, parks, and “a place that fuels regional progress.” We may be long gone by then, but the decisions we’re making today are building something that lasts,” he says. “That’s what legacy means.” Related](https://develop.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/size/w2400/2025/05/image-2.png 2400w){kind=link}