Austin startup enters frenetic land development market

AUSTIN, Texas - May 19, 2014 - PRLog -- Robust growth in the Austin-MSA is leading to a housing shortage.  With a projected population increase of 54,000 to the region this year, land developers and city engineers have struggled to keep pace serving the housing and infrastructure needs caused by this influx.  As the region grows, it also struggles to maintain its unique culture that makes it so attractive to businesses and families relocating here.

Development companies unfamiliar with the region’s unique environmental and political climate are rushing to the area to fulfill the need.  Recognizing a need for engineers familiar with this region’s design challenges, Larry Hanrahan and Andy Carter pooled their talents to form CivilE, LLC specializing in subdivision planning, site development, utilities and floodplain management.

“Out of the gate business has been strong,”  stated founding partner Larry Hanrahan.  “Just in our shop, we are working on over 800 multifamily units and 1,400 single family lots in various stages of development.”

A recent Peter Zandan Poll  of Austinites indicates a generational split in opinions about the Austin metro area’s growth.  Millennials are more optimistic, while older generations fear the growth is changing the character of the Austin area.  Preserving the best of Austin, while accommodating newcomers, requires a careful balance in development planning, engineering and architecture.

“The trick is to develop projects in a manner that fulfills the housing needs, but also preserves the character of our community,”  said Andy Carter, co-founder of CivilE, LLC.  “We see a real deficit of firms with roots in Austin familiar with this region’s unique needs, and hope that CivilE can be one of a handful of engineering companies that can assist with designing projects that appropriately integrate into this region.”