The public Grand Opening celebration takes place Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31. New home buyers are invited to tour the professionally decorated model, and meet, greet and learn design tips from the interior designers on Saturday, January 30 from 1 – 5 pm.

When completed, Toll Brothers’ enclave in Tupelo Woods will feature 30 luxurious single-family homes. The home collection showcases six elegant floor plans ranging from 3,200 to over 4,000 square feet and priced from the mid-$400’s. With hundreds of options available, each home can be personalized to reflect the homeowner’s individual taste and lifestyle.

Tupelo Woods is nestled in a serene area surrounded by mature trees, and features close proximity to walking trails, the new Creekside Forest Elementary School, Rob Fleming Park and Aquatic Center, the site of the new YMCA scheduled to open in mid-2010, and the 1,700-acre George Mitchell Nature Preserve.
Source: TWDC

The significant difference this year is the elimination of the homeowners association fees replaced with the township tax. While the association fees were debatable as being tax deductible, the township tax is definitely deductible.

The Woodlands 2010 Taxes Per $100 Valuation Village MUD # MUD Rate County Rate CISD Rate Tax Rate Township Rate Total Alden Bridge 47 .25 .67 1.285 2.205 .328 2.53 Alden Bridge   67 .32 .67 1.285 2.275 .328 2.60 Alden Bridge 46 .285 .67 1.285 2.24 .328 2.57 Cochran's Crossing 47 .25 .67 1.285 2.205 .328 2.53 Cochran's Crossing 60 .24 .67 1.285 2.195 .328 2.52 Cochran's Crossing 67 .32 .67 1.285 2.275 .328 2.60 Cochran's Crossing 7 .175 .67 1.285 2.13 .328 2.46 College Park (Harper's Landing)   39 .43 .67 1.285 2.385 .328 2.71 College Park (Grogan's Forest) 60 .24 .67 1.285 2.195 .328 2.52 College Park (Grogan's Forest E. of Grogan's Forest Drive)(2) - - .67 1.285 1.955 .3282(2) 2.28 Creekside Park(3) 386 1.15 .75(3) 1.36(3) 3.26 .328 3.59 East Shore-Sec 1(4) 6 .10 .67 1.285 2.055 .348(4) 2.40 East Shore-Sec 2-3-8(4) 60 .24 .67 1.285 2.195 .348(4) 2.54 East Shore-Sec 5,6(4) .67 .32 .67 1.285 2.275 .348(4) 2.62 Grogan's Mill 36 .10 .67 1.285 2.055 .328 2.38 Grogan's Mill 46 .285 .67 1.285 2.24 .328 2.57 Grogan's Mill 2 .23 .67 1.285 2.185 .328 2.51 Grogan's Mill 6 .10 .67 1.285 2.055 .328 2.38 Indian Springs 60 .24 .67 1.285 2.195 .328 2.52 May Valley(5) 386 1.15 .67 1.38(5) 3.20 .328 3.53 Panther Creek 40 .18 .67 1.285 2.135 .328 2.46 Panther Creek 7 .175 .67 1.285 2.13 .328 2.46 Sterling Ridge 46 .285 .67 1.285 2.24 .328 2.57 Town Center(6) 6 .10 .67 1.285 2.055 .528(6) 2.58 Windsor Hills (Active Adult Community) 67 .32 .67 1.285 2.275 .328 2.60 Windosr Lakes(7) (Active Adult Community) - - .67 1.285 1.955 .42(7) 2.375   2010 Average MUD Rate $.31 Average Combined Tax Rate $2.59   2009 Average MUD Rate $.33 Average Combined Tax Rate $2.52 (1) Residents of all areas except Creekside Park and May Valley are served by Conroe Independent School District . (2) This portion of Grogan's Forest pays no MUD tax or Township tax, but pays Shenandoah city tax ($0.3282) (3) Creekside Park pays Harris County and Tomball ISD taxes. (4) East Shore pays a Township tax ($0.328) plus Lake Woodlands Property Owners Association fee ($0.02). Annual HOA dues varies from $1,312.50 to $2,187.50.. (5) May Valley pays Magnolia ISD tax. (6) Town Center pays a Township tax ($0.328) plus Town Center Owners Association fee ($0.20). (7) Windosr Lakes, part of the City of Conroe, pays no MUD tax or Township tax. Residents pay Conroe city tax ($0.42) plus monthly HOA fee of $178.00 to $231.00. Tax rates are set by government entities and are subject to change. New homes have historically been assessed at less than the sales price. 2010 County Tax Breakdown Rates Set Fall 2009 - Payable in 2010 County Montgomery Harris Base Rate $.4838 $.3922 Hospital District .0755 .1922 College District .1101 .1101 Flood Control .7020 .0292 Port of Houston Authority .0164 Department of Education .0061 Total Rate Applicable to The Woodlands $.6694 $.7462 Appraisal Districts Montgomery Harris   936-756-3354 713-957-7800   www.MCAD-TX.org www.HCAD.org The Woodlands Township Tax includes: The Woodlands Fire Department The Woodlands Watch Program Emergency Medical Service Streetscape Maintenance Additional Sheriff's Department Deputies Streetlighting Residential Design Review and Covenant Enforcement Residential Trash Removal and Recycling Environmental and Recycling Education Recreational Programs Community-wide facilities provided and maintained by The Woodlands Community Association and The Woodlands Association assessment funds are: Parks (100) Greenbelts (1800+ acres) Swimming Pools (12) Pathways (160+ miles) Athletic Fields and Courts Use of Lake Woodlands Recycling Center Recreation Center Recreational Vehicle Storage

We are pleased to announce a first-ever guest contributor to our weblog, Tony Motto. I am sure most residents of The Woodlands have read the recent articles in the Houston Chronicle and The Villager about Tony's efforts to create awareness of the numerous outdoor sculptures in The Woodlands. His new book, "The Woodlands Outdoor Sculptures", is available online at Borders, Good Books in The Woods, and Once and Again Books. In future posts, Tony will provide information on his newly-created Support Woodlands Art Foundation and planned guided tours. Here is Tony's first post:

I just learned that on Dec. 1st, 2009, Clement Renzi, creator of the "Children At Play" sculpture located in Panther Creek Shopping Center, passed away at age 84 after a brief battle with cancer. His wife Dorothy shared with me that a beautiful slideshow of all Clem's work was presented during the service.

Clem was one of the first sculptors to support my endeavor to build awareness of the outdoor sculpture collection and I count myself lucky to have visited with him many times. "Children At Play" was the eighth sculpture to be added to The Woodlands outdoor art collection, the second bronze statue, and the second to be positioned in a shopping center.

The first bronze was "Tomorrow" by Charles Parks which was originally placed in Grogan's Mill Shopping Center and now is located at the entrance to the Home Finder's Center on Woodlands Parkway.

Please take a moment and visit Mr. Renzi's artwork in the Panther Creek Shopping Center (between Randall's and Los Cucos Restaurant) and enjoy the spirit of happiness portrayed by "Children At Play."
Tony Motto
281-467-8818
tony@sculptours.com
www.woodlandsart.com

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will hold a Town Hall Meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. The meeting is open to the public, and residents and businesses are encouraged to attend.

The Woodlands Town Hall Meeting will address 2010 initiatives and allow residents and businesses the opportunity to provide feedback to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors.

Free parking for the meeting will be available at the Town Center Garage at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The fourth floor of the garage is connected via skywalk to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

For the latest information on The Woodlands Township government, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.