Denton County Sees Major Development Boom

Hillwood, H-E-B and Novartis have turned Denton County into one of the busiest development corridors in North Texas, with new housing, retail and manufacturing projects moving at the same time. Denton County’s population reached an estimated 1,069,346 on July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and local officials have tied that growth to a rising need for homes, roads and commercial space. Bisnow reported on June 3 that developers are moving into Denton County across multiple sectors, from master-planned communities to industrial and office projects, as cities and the county try to keep pace with demand. County transportation officials have said the county is growing by an estimated 86 people per day, a pace that has added pressure to roads and other infrastructure. (communityimpact.com) ### Which projects best show the scale of the buildout? Hillwood’s Landmark project is the clearest example. The Dallas-Fort Worth developer broke ground on Landmark’s first phase in November 2025 on a 3,200-acre site in Denton, and the company has described the full buildout as a $10 billion master-planned community. (bisnow.com) The project is planned to include more than 6,000 single-family homes, 3,000 multifamily units, about 900 acres of commercial space and 1,000 acres of park space over a 40-year buildout, according to Community Impact. Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth said in March that roadway infrastructure and green space were being put in place before residents move in. (communityimpact.com) ### Where does H-E-B fit into the county’s growth story? H-E-B said on March 13, 2025, that it plans to open its first Denton store inside Hillwood’s Landmark development. The grocer said the store would sit on more than 20 acres at the northwest corner of Interstate 35W and Robson Ranch Road. The Denton store is expected to anchor a 45-acre retail center within Landmark, according to Community Impact. (communityimpact.com) H-E-B Managing Director of Public Affairs Mabrie Jackson said the company was targeting “a rapidly growing area” in Denton and surrounding towns. Hillwood Communities Vice President Andrew Pieper told Community Impact that population growth along Interstate 35W and U.S. 380 toward Denton is driving the need for more homes. (hillwood.com) The first phase of Landmark includes about 750 single-family homes, and city officials expect the second phase to break ground by the end of 2026. (communityimpact.com) ### Why is Novartis building a cancer-therapy plant in Denton? Novartis announced on Feb. 25, 2026, that it would build a 46,000-square-foot radioligand therapy manufacturing site in Denton, its first manufacturing facility in Texas and its fifth such site in the United States. The company said the plant is part of a broader $23 billion U.S. investment plan. (communityimpact.com) Novartis broke ground on the facility on May 7, 2026, with U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, Texas State Senator Brent Hagenbuch and Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth attending the event. The company said the plant is expected to be operational in 2028 and will create jobs in bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, quality and operations. (novartis.com) Victor Bultó, president of Novartis U.S., said at the groundbreaking that partnerships with the city and nearby universities, including the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, helped secure the project. Community Impact reported the Denton facility carries a $280 million investment figure. (novartis.com) ### What is driving developers into Denton County? U.S. Census Bureau data show Denton County added about 163,000 residents between April 2020 and July 2025, an 18% increase. North Central Texas Council of Governments estimates show Denton County added 31,635 residents in 2025 alone. Texas State Senator Brent Hagenbuch said Novartis chose Denton because of its “well-educated workforce” and access to the North Texas economy and population growth. (communityimpact.com) Pieper said housing demand is being pushed by growth along the county’s major corridors. ### What happens next on these projects? (census.gov) Novartis said construction on the Denton radioligand therapy site is now underway and that the facility is expected to begin operating in 2028. Hillwood’s second phase at Landmark is under city review, with officials expecting another groundbreaking by the end of 2026, while H-E-B has said more project details will be shared at a future groundbreaking ceremony. (novartis.com)