A new Mesquite master-planned community that broke ground in early 2023 will feature a number of sustainability features when it opens for home sales in 2024.  

The 612-acre Talia is integrating green living concepts such as rain gardens and butterfly gardens into its master plan that will not only manage stormwater responsibly but also enhance biodiversity and add educational spaces, said Robert Kembel, President of The Nehemiah Company, developer of Talia. 

“Sustainability is at the forefront of what we are creating in Talia,” Kembel said. “But beyond that, we want Talia to be a place where families can thrive harmoniously with nature and are combining those two mandates wherever we can. 

 “For instance, our playgrounds will have educational features so children can learn about nature and build a respect for it as they play,” he said. 

Water management features significantly in the sustainability efforts, not only with the rain and butterfly gardens, but also with the planting of native landscaping for an efficient use of water. The development team is also pursuing grants to fund a rain harvesting system that would capture rainwater for non-potable uses. 

“This would reduce demand on the municipal supply,” Kembel said. “We are also talking to builders about offering rain collection systems at each home.” 

Kembel said his company has received generous support from Mesquite city officials and they have plans to collaborate with Keep Mesquite Beautiful to support its mission of educating the community on the importance of recycling, reducing litter and more. 

“We envision workshops to give residents information about sustainable practices that they can employ at home and within the community,” he said.   

Fostering the community aspect of sustainable living will be parks, playgrounds and centralized community hubs that encourage resident interaction. 

“A truly sustainable community is one that not only protects the environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and togetherness among its residents,” Kembel said. “We want to do that in Talia.”  

Talia Master-planned community map

Community lakes, yoga lawn, hammock grove, pool and more than 30 miles of trails — including nearly 3 miles of unpaved trails — will encourage residents to spend time in nature.  

Talia is located along FM 2757 south of Interstate 20. Model home construction is expected to start in February or March of 2024, with some builders starting pre-sales at that time. Home construction should begin by summer. 

Builders Cadence Homes, Chesmar Homes, David Weekley Homes, Drees Custom Homes, and Highland Homes will offer floor plans ranging from townhomes through a selection of diverse homesites.  

Other projects of The Nehemiah Company include Karis, a 565-acre community in Crowley, 2,000-acre Viridian in Arlington and the luxury apartment community of Arlington Commons in Arlington.  

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About The Nehemiah Company 

The Nehemiah Company partners with local city and county governments in development of substantial, infill locations primarily focusing on housing — master-planned communities, multifamily developments and single-family rental communities. We design communities that carefully merge public pathways and private residences, as well as build parks and common spaces that foster pedestrian identity, resident engagement, and minimize automobile impact. Our goal is to assist cities and counties in building the most diverse and highest quality environments for their people in the United States, without gates. We consider it a privilege and are grateful the cities and counties trust us with this crucial role. The Nehemiah Company is developing the luxury apartment community, Arlington Commons, and manages the Audubon International Certified Gold Signature Sanctuary master-planned community, Viridian, both in Arlington, in addition to multiple single-family rental communities across DFW and San Antonio. Learn more about award-winning developer, The Nehemiah Company at https://www.thenehemiahcompany.com.