AUSTIN (Austin American-Statesman) – Homes and apartments will soon spring up around Southpark Meadows, a 1.6 million-square-foot shopping center being developed by Endeavor Real Estate Group LLC at I-35 and Slaughter Lane.

Lennar Homes Inc. plans to put 383 homes on its Reserve at Southpark Meadows, which will be built on 80 acres the Miami-based builder bought from Endeavor.

Preparations for streets, utilities and drainage for the first 121 lots will begin next month. Construction on the homes will start about six months later, with the first buyers expected to move in next April or May. Prices will range from $280,000 to $350,000. A second and possibly third phase would add another 260 homes in similar price ranges.

Grand Prairie–based Fairfield Residential LLC has two apartment projects totaling 670 units planned for the area. Grading work will begin soon on the first project. The 426-unit initial phase will be ready next spring, with second-phase units following shortly after. Final construction on both will wrap in late 2008.

The average-size unit in phase one — 879 square feet — will rent for about $990 a month, while the average-size unit in phase two — 926 square feet — will rent for about $1,075 a month.