2,700 New Homes Coming to Forney: Welcome to Meraki — Your Closest Gym Is Already Here
Forney keeps growing — and the latest addition to the city’s landscape is one of its most ambitious yet.
Meraki is a new master-planned community coming to Forney, TX, developed by Tellus Group on 1,079 acres of land. When fully built out, Meraki will add 2,700 new homes to Kaufman County — bringing thousands of new residents, families, and neighbors to the Forney area over the next decade.
If you’re moving to Meraki, planning to move there, or just curious about what’s happening in your own backyard — here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Meraki?
Meraki is a master-planned community, which means it’s not just houses — it’s a designed neighborhood with amenities, open space, schools, and services planned from the ground up.
Key facts:
- 1,079 acres total development area
- 2,700 planned homes at full build-out
- Developer: Tellus Group
- Phase 1: 406 homes, launched spring 2025
- Full build-out target: 2035
The name “Meraki” (a Greek word meaning putting your soul into something you care about) reflects the developer’s intent to build a community with character, not just square footage.
What’s Coming to Meraki
Master-planned communities of this scale typically include a significant mix of amenities alongside housing. Meraki’s plans include:
Open Space and Parks
300+ acres of open space are designated within the development — that’s roughly 28% of the total land area. For a suburban development, that’s a substantial commitment to greenspace, walking trails, and outdoor amenity space.
Elementary School
An on-site elementary school is planned as part of the community, which is a major selling point for families. Having a neighborhood school within walking distance changes the quality of life calculus significantly for families with young kids.
Community Amenities
Full details are still emerging as the development progresses, but master-planned communities of this scale typically include pools, sport courts, playgrounds, and community centers. Check with Tellus Group directly for the latest amenity plans.
The Forney Context: Why Meraki Makes Sense Here
Forney’s growth has been remarkable — the city’s population has hit 45,902 residents (2026) and is growing at roughly 8.68% annually, with a 91% increase since 2020. The city has become one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Texas.
The reasons are straightforward: relative affordability compared to the Dallas core, good schools, a strong sense of community, and improving access along the US-80 corridor. New developments like Meraki are betting that this trajectory continues — and given the demand numbers, that’s a reasonable bet.
Meraki adds to an already impressive list of growth happening in and around Forney:
- The US-80 expansion to 10 lanes (improving commute access)
- The Village at Gateway retail development (H-E-B, Home Depot, Costco, and more)
- Continued new neighborhood development across the city
If You’re Moving to Meraki: What You’ll Need to Know
Nearest Grocery and Retail
The Village at Gateway development off US-80 is bringing H-E-B (early 2026), Costco (fuel already open), Home Depot (opened November 2025), BJ’s Wholesale (early 2026), and a growing list of other retailers. Most of these will be a short drive from Meraki.
Schools
Forney ISD is the local school district. The planned on-site elementary school is a future addition — check with Forney ISD for current school assignments if you’re moving in early phases.
Commuting
US-80 is your primary connection to the Dallas area. The ongoing 10-lane expansion project will improve capacity significantly, with the FM 460 to Lawson Road section targeting completion in Summer 2026 and the FM 548 section completing in March 2027.
The Gym
This is where we come in.
TX Fitness is the closest full-service gym to Meraki — located at 127 E US Highway 80, Forney, TX 75126, right on the corridor you’ll already be using to get everywhere else.
We’re not a national chain. We’re locally owned and have been part of Forney since 2001 — long before the growth wave hit. We know this community because we’ve been in it for over two decades.
What we offer:
- Full weight room — free weights, machines, cables, power racks
- Cardio equipment — treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, rowers
- Kids Zone — supervised childcare area so parents can actually work out
- $19 biweekly membership — one of the most affordable in the area
- No contracts required
For families moving to Meraki with kids in tow, the Kids Zone alone is worth the drive. You shouldn’t have to choose between your workout and your children’s schedule.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
To everyone moving into Meraki — welcome to Forney. You’ve picked a great time to be here.
The city is growing, the infrastructure is improving, and the retail amenities that make everyday life convenient are finally arriving. And if you need a gym that’s been here through it all, we’re easy to find.