New builders join the lineup at Tuscan Lakes

Hammer time: New builders are lining up to enter the Tuscan Lakes development in League City in a year that the industry is reporting “cautious optimism.”

D.R. Horton, KB Home, Harwood Homes and CastleRock Communities are joining the lineup, offering new plans, new models and new pricing ranging from the low $130,000s to $300,000s.

Those prices would appeal to first-time buyers and those seeking to move up, Bob Douglas, general manager of the development, said.

The builders join Newmark Homes, Meritage Homes and Coventry Homes at the mixed-use development on 870 acres at state Highway 96 and FM 270.

Some home prices are north of $700,000 in the development. There are 592 homes on the ground in Tuscan Lakes. The masterplan calls for 1,659 single-family homes when it’s built out.

Upbeat: About 55,000 builders, remodelers and other members of the home-building industry attended the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show, which ended its four-day run Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

After a couple of rough years, the mood was upbeat and some builders said they were moving ahead with cautious optimism, officials reported.

Pray tell: That massive land-clearing — at least 20 acres — from Delany Road to Interstate 45 South in La Marque has residents, business owners and city officials abuzz about its meaning.

The prime parcel belongs to Abundant Life Christian Center, 601 Delany Road. Abundant Life officials were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

But city officials said church officials told them that all the clearing was to make the place of worship more visible from Interstate 45.

Center of attention: Meanwhile, look for The Gulf Coast Center, the mental health authority for Galveston and Brazoria counties, to open administrative offices in 5,100-square-foot space at Gulfway Plaza in La Marque, 14001 Delany Road.

Andy Walsh of Herndon, Va.-based Sugar Oak Corp., which owns the 176,259-square-foot center, expects The Gulf Coast Center to complete its build-out and move in by April. Stay tuned.

Burger bummer: Crews took the Fuddruckers sign down on Tuesday. And Wednesday, after months of silence on the subject, officials with Landry’s Restaurants, which owns the franchise, confirmed it would not reopen the eatery at 111 23rd St. in the island’s downtown.

They did not elaborate about not reopening the restaurant closed since Hurricane Ike and best known for hamburgers.

Want to talk about it? The discussion still is going at Buzz Blog, galvnews.com.

Hog heaven: The island, which lures thousands of motorcyclists each year with the Lone Star Rally, continues to get more biker friendly.

The latest to offer services to bikers is Tony’s International Car Care, 1328 Postoffice St. downtown.

At the end of February or early March, owner Tony Claunch will launch Chaotic Custom Cycles in the same building as his car repair service, which has been in business for 17 years and specializes in repairing European automobiles.

Claunch is bringing in a certified Harley-Davidson mechanic in the venture, he said. Chaotic Custom Cycles plans to carve a niche with quick service, Claunch said.

Name change: The island’s Mind-Bodyworkers is changing its name to Mind-Body Center for Alternative Medicine and Massage, reports Dr. Thom Pfeil, who along with business partners opened the 4920-D Seawall Blvd. practice in 2007.

“The name change represents a new beginning for us and better reflects the services we provide, including biofeedback, neurofeedback, acupuncture, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and massage,” Pfeil said.