A four-story, 272-unit apartment complex is taking shape just off West Outer Loop in Celina, marking one of the first major multi-family developments to land in a Texas suburb that has spent years building almost nothing but single-family homes. Site preparation for the project, called Topaz at Light Farms Way, is nearly complete, and vertical construction is expected to begin soon, with the first residents slated to move in during the summer of 2027.
The development sits at 2515 Knox Street near West Outer Loop, directly adjacent to Light Farms, the 1,070-acre master-planned community developed by Republic Property Group, according to a press release detailed by Bisnow. Light Farms includes 3,059 single-family lots, 240 acres of green space, 25 miles of trails, five pools and an 11-acre lake, and the community began development in 2012 with full buildout expected around 2027. The apartment project is being developed by Cedarwood Companies, an Ohio-based firm founded in 1972 by Tony Petrarca that now operates four integrated divisions covering development, architecture, construction and property management, and has built more than 20 million square feet nationwide.
Studios to Two-Bedrooms With Resort-Style Extras
Topaz at Light Farms Way will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans featuring 9-foot ceilings, open-concept layouts, walk-in closets, generous balconies, in-home washers and dryers, and chef-inspired kitchens with modern appliances and finishes, per the same account from Bisnow. Community amenities are expected to include a resort-style pool with a firepit, a grand clubhouse with a cybercafé, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dog park with a pet spa, a playground, a car care center, and walking trails, greenspaces and outdoor gathering areas.
Construction is being managed by Tri-C Construction, Cedarwood's in-house general contractor and a nationally recognized residential and commercial contracting firm, the release notes. Once complete, leasing and day-to-day property management will fall to Riverview Management, Cedarwood's in-house management division, which handles operations across the company's national portfolio according to the Topaz at Light Farms Way website. Cedarwood describes itself as a fully integrated real estate development, investment, construction and property management firm that invests in growing markets where quality housing is in high demand, and says it is committed to creating distinctive neighborhoods with thoughtful design and resort-inspired amenities.
Landing in the Nation's Fastest-Growing City
The timing is hard to miss. U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released in May put Celina at the top of the list of fastest-growing U.S. cities with a population over 20,000, showing the city expanded 24.6% between July 2024 and July 2025 to reach 64,427 residents — up from just 16,739 at the 2020 Census. According to Census data reported by CBS News, Celina added 12,700 residents in that one-year span, a bigger net gain than major cities like Houston or Seattle posted.
That surge has translated into relentless building activity across the city. In June, Celina's Development Services department issued 287 single-family home construction permits, a 32% jump from May, along with 11 new commercial construction permits, according to Prosper-Celina Journal. Topaz will provide residents access to employment opportunities, shopping, dining and recreation throughout North Texas, per the Bisnow release, arriving in a suburb where multi-family housing has historically been the exception rather than the rule.
Schools and Big-Box Retail Fill In Around the New Complex
Light Farms falls within Prosper Independent School District boundaries, which include two on-site elementary schools — including Light Farms Elementary — and proximity to Prosper High School, a draw that has long pulled families into northern Collin County. Commercial infrastructure is also racing to keep pace with the residential boom. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings reported by an earlier Hoodline report detailed an $18.5 million, 158,000-square-foot Costco warehouse under construction at 3445 South Preston Road in Celina.
Young renters are part of what's fueling demand for projects like Topaz. A U-Haul midyear migration report published in July ranked the Dallas-Fort Worth region No. 1 nationally for net-gain Millennial moves and No. 2 for Gen Z moves between July 2025 and June 2026, a trend Hoodline previously covered in its look at the region becoming a magnet for younger movers heading to outer suburbs like Celina. Cedarwood Companies is expanding its multifamily and retail commercial portfolio across the country, and says it will share project updates and leasing information ahead of Topaz's anticipated opening.
