The City of Alvin and W Land Development Unveil Preservation Creek

ALVIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2025--

The City of Alvin in partnership with W Land Development, a residential real estate development pioneer, officially broke ground on Preservation Creek —a 2,900-acre master-planned community poised to shape the next generation of growth along the west-end of Alvin in the new economic initiative zone called Austin Bayou District.

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“Preservation Creek, and ultimately, the Austin Bayou District, reflects our shared commitment to preserving the natural beauty of our region while opening new doors for families, businesses, and opportunity,” said Gabe Adame, City of Alvin Mayor. “We are proud to partner with W Land Development to bring this vision to life in the heart of our proud and historic city.”

The City of Alvin’s Austin Bayou District is the flagship project for the city’s economic growth initiatives and the groundbreaking marks the first phase in a sweeping westward expansion that is designating more than 14,000 acres of new residential and commercial opportunities in this fast-growing segment of Houston. With the support and forward-looking resolve of the Alvin City Council, this long anticipated project is launching with incredible momentum.

Preservation Creek will offer single family homes with a Texas-chic style, using a mix of masonry and stone exterior elevations to create a consistent street scape that enhances the community’s appeal. Builder partners that will be a part of the community include Smith Douglas Homes, K. Hovnanian, Imagination Homes, New Home Co., Kendall Homes and Brightland Homes.

“Preservation Creek is more than a neighborhood—it’s a promise,” said Lisa Clark, Senior Consultant for W Land Development. “A promise that growth can be thoughtful. That open skies, tree-lined paths, and backyard barbecues still matter. That this little corner of Texas can grow and feel like home. We’re proud to lead the effort and are thankful to have the trust from the City of Alvin.”

Located off Highway 288, Preservation Creek utilizes the natural green belt to its environmental advantage along the Austin Bayou and features more than 1,100 acres of protected parks, trails, waterways, and green space.

Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Alvin City Council and their work to nurture the Austin Bayou District, this region is poised to become one of the most vibrant, connected, and enduring places to live in Southeast Texas.

About W Land Development

W Land Development is a vertically integrated residential real estate development firm focused on the acquisition, planning, and execution of high-quality residential communities throughout Texas. The firm manages every phase of the development process from strategic land planning and MUD district creation to platting, permitting, infrastructure construction, and community amenity delivery. W Land also oversees builder relations, marketing efforts, and Realtor engagement to ensure long-term community success and market relevance.

By targeting locations with optimal access to major employment centers, strong school districts, and sought-after amenities, W Land creates purpose-driven neighborhoods designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s families and to deliver lasting value to investors and stakeholders.

Learn more at www.wlanddevelopment.com.

To learn more about Preservation Creek visit www.preservationcreek.com.

From left to right: Paul Horn, Former Alvin Mayor; Tim Haas, Star State Land; Jim Russ, EHRA; Lisa Clark, W Land Development; Gabe Adame, City of Alvin Mayor; Kent Milson, Meta Planning & Design

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)