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Colony Ridge: Growth, Challenges and Change

What’s happening in Liberty County?

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Colony Ridge is a collection of six subdivisions in a housing development 40 miles northeast of Houston. The area is home to a largely Latino, non-U.S. citizen population who came to the development in search of the American Dream through homeownership.

Overview
Immigration
Education
Our investigations
Government action
Community

Overview

What is Colony Ridge?

A community in unincorporated Liberty County that spans 33,000 acres and is home to more than 75,000 residents who live, work and attend school in the area.

Reported by

Céilí Doyle | Staff writer
Monroe Trombly | Staff writer
Angelica Perez | Staff writer
Danya Pérez | Staff writer
Paul Cobler | Staff writer

Photography by

Marie D. De Jesús | Director of photography
Antranik Tavitian | Staff photographer

Edited by

Giselle Rodriguez Greenwood | Lead Editor
John Tedesco | Contributing Editor

Designed by

Annie Stuckey | Web designer
Emily Datsko | Web designer

Translated by

Teresa Frontado | Translator

Aug. 29, 2024

Everything you need to know about Colony Ridge

Houston Landing has spent the past year digging into Colony Ridge, from fact-checking far-right rhetoric to investigating predatory lending practices. We also have documented how the development’s rapid growth impacts the local school district.

by Angelica Perez and Monroe Trombly

Read now
JulY 18, 2024

Watch the Liberty County development’s population growth from 2016 to now

The 33,000-acre housing development was built on rural rice fields and forested land formerly leased to deer hunters. Now, it’s home to tens of thousands of residents.

by Céilí Doyle and Adriana Rezal

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Our Investigations

March 31, 2025

Colony Ridge pushes conflict of interest boundaries with multimillion-dollar contracts, experts say

Public records reveal that Colony Ridge controls a taxing district that has approved $22.5 million in contracts for one of its subsidiaries.

by Céilí Doyle and Monroe Trombly

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Dec. 14, 2023

Colony Ridge sold over 35,000 properties. Nearly half ended up back in its hands.

A Houston Landing investigation found the developer reacquired 45 percent of the 35,000-plus properties it has sold since 2012. A Landing analysis of county records found residents returned 15,759 properties to Colony Ridge over the last decade, reflecting how thousands of people have had their dreams of homeownership stripped away from them.

by Céilí Doyle, Monroe Trombly, Angelica Perez, Danya Pérez and Marie D. De Jesús

Read now

“Luché y luché … I fought and I fought. It was my leg or my property.”

— Carlos Mauricio Jarquin 

“When I hear a high foreclosure rate, they’re not in the business of lending money. They’re in the business of foreclosure so they can take the asset back and recycle it.”

— Real estate attorney Ronald Rohde

Following our investigation

Dec. 20, 2023

Government action

DOJ sues Colony Ridge, calling it a ‘bait-and-switch’ sales scheme targeting Latino buyers

Illustration of Colony Ridge and the federal lawsuit against the developer.
Feb. 7, 2024

Will Colony Ridge residents who lost everything in Liberty County ever receive justice?

Residents who say they were duped into buying land from Colony Ridge hope to be compensated for their losses.

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An overhead view of the Colony Ridge development near Houston, Texas
Feb. 27, 2024

Texas officials were warned by Colony Ridge residents for years but took no meaningful action

Before the Liberty County development became a fixation of right-wing media, records show at least three state agencies were warned of potential problems concerning the developer’s business practices.

Read Now
March 14, 2024

Government action

‘A foreclosure mill’: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues developers of Colony Ridge

May 29, 2024

Colony Ridge developer sentenced to 45 days in Walker County jail for drunk driving

The jail sentence came at a time when Harris' company is facing legal scrutiny.

Read Now
Sep. 4, 2024

A Texas sheriff cut a Colony Ridge developer’s jail term. Others haven’t been so fortunate.

The sheriff of Walker County gave an unusual reprieve to William “Trey” Harris III, allowing him to serve half of his sentence on DUI charges.

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Our initial coverage on Colony Ridge

Oct. 2, 2023

Abbott, lawmakers may target Liberty County housing development during special session

Responding to weeks of reports in conservative media that portrayed Colony Ridge as a magnet for illegal immigrants, Gov. Greg Abbott promised the development would be addressed during a special legislative session.

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A sign advertises new homes for sale in the Santa Fe subdivision within the Colony Ridge development which has undergone significant growth over the last 10 years in Liberty County. The development has recently drawn a spotlight from conservative media who say the area is a hotbed for cartel activity, which local officials dispute.
Oct. 5, 2023

Abbott raises alarm on Colony Ridge, but residents, local officials offer differing accounts

State lawmakers who toured the development at the invitation of co-owners John and William “Trey” Harris told news outlets they did not find anything that raised alarm bells.

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Liberty County Sheriff's Cpl. Robert Whitesel patrols the Colony Ridge development Sept. 3.
Oct. 5, 2023

Backed by data, Liberty County sheriff disputes GOP claims about Colony Ridge crime

Contrary to rhetoric from far-right websites and some politicians, county statistics show violent crime is no more prevalent in Colony Ridge than it is in other parts of Houston and Texas.

Read Now
Nov. 10, 2023

Texas lawmakers all talk, no action on Colony Ridge, despite leaders’ inflammatory rhetoric

Following at least three legislative committee hearings dedicated to the topic, the Texas Legislature did not pass any legislation related to Colony Ridge during a 30-day special session last year.

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Immigration

MAR. 3, 2025

‘It’s a lie’: Colony Ridge wife defends detained husband, neighbors after ICE raids community

Erik Payán Ibarra was arrested in Colony Ridge during a targeted immigration raid in February. His wife says he has no criminal record.

by Eileen Grench and Céilí Doyle

Read now
Jan. 10, 2025

State Rep. Janis Holt says Trump administration will ‘attack’ immigration in Colony Ridge

In a Facebook post, state Rep.-elect Janis Holt said her office would coordinate with incoming Border Czar Tom Homan “and attack this issue head on.”

by Paul Cobler, Céilí Doyle, Eileen Grench and Monroe Trombly

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Full immigration coverage in Colony Ridge

Jan. 10, 2025

State Rep. Janis Holt says Trump administration will ‘attack’ immigration in Colony Ridge

Immigrant families in Colony Ridge are grappling with fear and uncertainty amid rising immigration enforcement under Trump.

Read Now
Jan. 27, 2025

In Colony Ridge, fear of ICE raids alters daily life and threatens local businesses

The Texas Department of Public Safety is assisting U.S. Department of Homeland Security with the operation Abbott said had been planned for months.

Read Now
Feb. 24, 2025

Immigration enforcement operation, arrests shutter businesses, stoke fear in Colony Ridge

The Texas Department of Public Safety is assisting U.S. Department of Homeland Security with the operation Abbott said had been planned for months.

Read Now
Feb. 25, 2025

ICE says 118 people were arrested in Colony Ridge operation, but offers few details

ICE’s social media post said those arrested were charged with an array of crimes, including criminal sexual conduct, homicide, theft and drug offenses.

Read Now

Education

Aug. 29, 2024

How is the Colony Ridge development affecting Cleveland ISD?

Over the past decade, Cleveland ISD enrollment has quadrupled from about 3,300 in May 2013 to over 12,000 in May 2024. That exponential growth has caused the school district a series of challenges administrators are battling and students are reeling from.

by Céilí Doyle and Danya Pérez

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Impact on local school district

July 3, 2024

Cleveland ISD board looks to oust superintendent, potentially costing district $800,000 

Cleveland ISD’s board of trustees scheduled a special meeting to “reconsider” Superintendent Stephen McCanless’ contract — calling the longtime administrator’s leadership into question.

Read Now
July 30, 2024

Cleveland ISD board keeps superintendent, saves $1.6M in costs after public outcry

After hours of public outcry, Cleveland ISD’s board of trustees agreed not to buy out Superintendent Stephen McCanless’ contract.

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Government Action

Dec. 20, 2023

DOJ sues Colony Ridge, calling it a ‘bait-and-switch’ sales scheme targeting Latino buyers

The lawsuit echoes many of the Landing’s findings and marks the first time in the Department of Justice’s 154-year history that it has brought a predatory mortgage lending case.

by Paul Cobler, Céilí Doyle, Angelica Perez and Danya Pérez

Read now

Colony Ridge disputes the lawsuit that alleges the developer violated four federal laws:

“Discrimination in lending harms families and neighborhoods for generations, it is wrong, and it has no place in our country.”

— Attorney General Merrick B. Garland

1

Equal Credit Opportunity Act

2

Fair Housing Act

3

Consumer Financial Protection Act

4

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act

What is Reverse Redlining?

The practice of offering loans or credit to historically disadvantaged communities, but at inflated interest rates and with faulty products.

Our coverage of lawsuits

A sign outside the Colony Ridge development on Oct. 10, 2023, in New Caney, Texas.
April 2, 2024

Feds rely on novel legal argument in Colony Ridge lawsuit, claiming ‘reverse redlining’

By advertising almost exclusively in Spanish and charging above-average interest rates, Colony Ridge singles out Latino buyers for unfair treatment, prosecutors argue.

Read Now
Homes and businesses line the streets of the Colony Ridge area of Liberty County on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.
March 14, 2024

A ‘foreclosure mill’: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues developers of Colony Ridge

The state’s top law enforcement official said in a lawsuit that Colony Ridge’s business model is built around trying to get as many people as possible to default on their loans so the developer can foreclose on their property.

by Paul Cobler, Céilí Doyle and Alejandro Serrano

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Paxton accuses Colony Ridge of using deceptive sales, marketing and lending practices that allowed its sprawling housing development to flourish.

John Harris, presidente y director ejecutivo de Colony Ridge, el 9 de noviembre en New Caney. Harris dijo que la mayoría de sus clientes son latinos.

“​​They’re following the same line as the Department of Justice, there’s no creativity in Paxton’s words and we’re ready to defend this suit.”

— John Harris, president and CEO of Colony Ridge

Community

May 1, 2024

‘Trust in yourself’: Colony Ridge residents rely on business savvy to establish life in U.S.

Colony Ridge is home to thousands of industrious entrepreneurs from Panama to New Orleans who moved to the housing development for a chance to own homes and businesses.

by Angelica Perez and Céilí Doyle

Read now
Oct. 21, 2024

Colony Ridge’s rapid growth forces volunteer fire department to adapt, rebrand

As Colony Ridge expands, a Liberty County volunteer fire department struggles with limited resources and high demand. Its financial future rests in a partnership with the development.

by Céilí Doyle

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Sugar Grill Caffe

Daniela Roachford, 47, can be found behind the counter of Sugar Grill Caffe, sporting an orange apron and a hair wrap, taking customers’ orders.

The idea of opening a restaurant was years in the making for Daniela.

Learn more about Sugar Grill Caffe:

Johnathan Bladez Men’s Hair Care

Johnathan Johnson, 31, opened his own barber shop two years ago in Colony Ridge when he moved to the area.

A New Orleans native said his clients are ‘like my brothers.’

Operating out of his garage, he hopes the shop becomes a staple o in the community.

Learn more about Johnathan Bladez Men’s Hair Care:

Tlayudas House

Irving Aragon Ramos, 45, strives to share the food of his home state of Oaxaca, Mexico through each dish at Tlayudas House.

The main dish at the food truck is the Tlayudas Oaxaquena, a dish that Ramos says people can’t replicate.

Learn more about Tlayudas House:

Leo’s Beer Barn

Leo’s Beer Barn, a bright red barn on the corner of County Road 5000 in Colony Ridge’s Montebello subdivision, is Susana Cazares’ latest business venture established by the 49-year-old and her husband.

Being a businesswoman has always been part of her story.

Learn more about Leo’s Beer Barn:

Barbacoa El Maguey

Luis Lorenzo, 38, and his family developed Barbacoa El Maguey into the restaurant that stands today in the development’s Santa Fe subdivision.

Twenty-two years ago, he left his home country at 15-years-old with hope for a better future, but never could have imagined where he would wind up.

Learn more about Barbacoa El Maguey:

We want to hear from you

As part of our ongoing coverage, we want to speak with people who have lived or still live in Colony Ridge.

Share your story