By Eleni Himaras
reporter@ltview.com
After years of planning and speculation, Lakeway saw the ground breaking of what will be its first ever retirement community, Tuscan Village.
“This community fills a special need in Lakeway, identified quite a long time ago,” outgoing Mayor Steve Swan said. “Another piece of the future of Lakeway is fitting neatly into place.”

The Mayor and his pastor, Ron Kelley, couldn’t resist the puns of the afternoon as the first called the event his “Swan song” and the latter remarked, “That was the lamest introduction I’ve ever had, but what can you expect from a lame duck mayor?”
The mayor temporarily turned the podium over to Jon Champeny, a member of the original Independent Living Study Group formed to investigate the possibility of a retirement community in the city six years ago. He detailed the history of the project, which initially focused on American Retirement Corporation that built Summit Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing just up the street. That project hit bumps and opposition, as many residents feared what the then-planned multi-story development would do to their property values.
The project went defunct in 2007 and Haythem Dawlett swooped in to save it at the request of city officials.
The festivities focused on thanking those in attendance who had made the project a reality including all of the former mayors and council members in attendance, the members of the committee who had began the study on bringing a retirement community to Lakeway, several other city notables in attendance.
“Life over 55, over 65 or even over 75, for most of us, is like a new beginning. I can be the most exciting, most active, most adventurous years of our lives,” Swan said. “The last six years have been challenging years for all of us involved. Haythem Dawlett rescued the project and went through a lot of agony to make it a better project.”
He called the development a dream come true for Lakeway and especially thanked Dawlett for donating the land for the Lake Travis Community Library.
“Haythem, thank you for being here when we’ve needed you,” Swan said. “And we’ve needed you.
Dawlett reciprocated the thank you to the mayor and citizens, “If you hall hadn’t given back, I can’t give out.”
Joined by his two sons, he took the help of a massive tractor to dig up the first plot of dirt at the Lohman’s Crossing location.
The 42-acre development will boast more than 280 homes, with architecture inspired by Tuscany and the Texas Hill Country. Residences will includes villas, townhomes and condominiums featuring spacious floor plans, inviting outdoor spaces, high-end finishes and customization options. The initial offering of homes ranges in size from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet with prices starting in the $250’s.
For more information on Tuscan Village, including a complimentary information packet and ongoing updates, visit www.TuscanVillage.com or call 327-1200 or toll-free (877) 374-1117.
(Editors note: This article includes information provided by Tuscan Village, Lakeway.)