eat and probably see somebody you know, but at the same time you’re able to be in Dallas in about 30 minutes.” The numbers tell a dramatic story of transformation. Crandall’s population has surged 46.3% since 2020, with annual growth rates of 6.76%. The median household income of $105,556 points to an affluent community, largely composed of Dallas commuters seeking space and affordability. “We have a lot of people here that moved out of larger communities looking for that smaller, quieter, simple community to raise their families in,” Mayor Lindsey says.“I think that mind frame and that idea has become really part of what we are.” The challenge now involves managing explosive residential demand while preserving community identity. Developers plan to add 30,000 homes county-wide by decade’s end. Mayor Lindsey acknowledges the inevitable tension: “The day’s going to come when I’m not going to continually see people I know when I go out in the community, it’s just going to be too big.” DEVELOPER RELATIONS AND HOUSING STRATEGY Crandall has attracted major national builders including D.R. Horton, Lennar, and Meredith Homes through a strategic partnership approach that benefits both parties. The city has approved five large developments in recent years, each containing hundreds of residential lots. “One thing we’ve tried to do in each one of these negotiations with these developers is try to get an agreement in place where everybody feels like they’ve come out with a good deal,” Mayor Lindsey explains. “We try to have good partnerships with our developers because we just feel like overall that will benefit the city working with them, not against them.” The development process typically involves master developers who secure land, obtain approvals, and install infrastructure before selling individual lots to major builders. Deputy City Manager David Sanchez describes how the city ensures housing diversity: “Out of the five big developments that we have going on in the city, a lot of those developments have starter homes that are priced more affordably 95 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 CRANDALL, TX
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