Residential Development

Rockdale is ready for new neighborhoods. Jobs are on the way, the utilities have room to grow, and the City and MDD partner with developers to get projects built.

42,000Potential new residents if the former Alcoa site builds out, per The Perryman Group
19,800New homes that growth would need
750,000Gallons per day of available water capacity

Demand Is on the Way

Billions in new manufacturing are going up around Rockdale, and one of the largest new employers is in Rockdale itself. The Perryman Group projects that if the campus at the former Alcoa site develops as planned, Rockdale could gain about 42,000 residents and need roughly 19,800 new homes.

1,800Jobs planned at T1 Energy’s Rockdale solar cell plant
10%+Sales tax growth last year, rising every year since 2021
$93.9BEconomy of Milam County and its seven neighboring counties

See the Regional Economy →

Proven by a National Builder

New single-story homes with sold signs and more homes under construction in Cornerstone — Cornerstone by D.R. Horton.

Cornerstone by D.R. HortonA 672-lot neighborhood with more than 500 lots still available for new homes.
Millerton LandingA new subdivision in planning that will add about 400 more lots.

See Workforce Housing →

What the Market Needs

Quality market-rate apartments

Rockdale has no quality, market-rate apartment communities today. As new employers hire, workers who aren’t ready to buy will need somewhere to live. That’s an open opportunity for a multifamily developer.

New single-family neighborhoods are needed too, alongside Cornerstone and Millerton Landing.

How We Partner on Residential Development

The City of Rockdale and the Rockdale MDD help finance the infrastructure that makes new neighborhoods possible. For Cornerstone, they combined two tools, and they expect to use a similar approach at Millerton Landing.

Public Improvement District (PID)Pays for streets, water, sewer, and drainage through assessments on the new lots, so the developer doesn’t carry the full cost up front.

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ)Reinvests part of the new property tax growth in the project, helping pay for the public improvements that serve it.

See Incentives & Financing →

Ready to Build

Water and wastewater750,000 gallons per day of water and 800,000 gallons per day of wastewater capacity available.Available Utilities →

Fast permitsBuilding permits average 10 business days.

A plan for growthThe City’s Comprehensive Plan sets out how Rockdale’s neighborhoods should grow.Neighborhoods & Housing (PDF) ↗
All planning documents →

Schools Families Can Count On

Rockdale ISD graduated 100% of its Class of 2023 in four years, and 75% of Rockdale High graduates earn an industry-based certification, more than twice the Texas rate. A $5.25 million federal investment is expanding the district’s College & Career Academy.

Visit Rockdale ISD ↗

Planning a residential project in Rockdale? Let’s talk.