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Texas family faces losing 64-year home to road project, says offer $150k short

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The city offered $429,000 to acquire the property, but the Willis family rejected the proposal because they want an additional $150,000 for their land. The home has housed four generations since 1962 and was originally built by Roy Willis, his father, and his brother. Today, the household includes Roy's disabled brother, Timothy, who relies on a fixed income. Roy Willis contends the municipal appraisal overlooks a major commercial or residential development located about 1,000 feet away.

Key points

  • The family rejected the buyout because their requested valuation exceeds the city's offer…: The family rejected the buyout because their requested valuation exceeds the city's offer by $150,000.
  • Completing the municipal infrastructure project will split the family parcel in half and…: Completing the municipal infrastructure project will split the family parcel in half and require tearing down the house.
  • The property owner argues the appraisal ignored substantial real estate development locat…: The property owner argues the appraisal ignored substantial real estate development located approximately 1,000 feet away.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A home that has remained in a family for generations is now at the centre of a property dispute in Rowlett, Texas, as the city seeks to acquire it for a road improvement project. The Willis family moved to the area in 1962, when the surrounding land was largely farmland. More than six decades later, the family says the city's compensation offer does not reflect the value of the property it is being asked to leave. A CBS News Texas report published on October 27, 2026, said the city's final offer was $429,000, which the family rejected. The dispute centres on the planned widening of Chiesa Road and the city's use of eminent domain to obtain land for public infrastructure.

A family home dating back to 1962

Roy Willis told CBS News Texas that his family moved to the property when the surrounding area was undeveloped, with cotton fields and cornfields occupying much of the land. The home, near Lake Ray Hubbard and Chiesa Road, has since become a longstanding family residence spanning four generations. Willis said he, his father…

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