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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 and his brother built the house. The property has significance beyond its monetary value because it represents decades of family history and remains home to relatives.The dispute has also affected his brother, Timothy Willis, who is disabled and lives on a fixed income. In its October 26 report, Texas Metro News quoted Timothy expressing sadness about the prospect of losing the family home. For the family, therefore, the issue is not simply the sale of a property. It is the possible loss of a place connected to their family history and present living arrangements.
Why the city wants the property
The proposed acquisition is part of Rowlett’s Chiesa Road improvement plans. The city says the existing road has become too narrow to accommodate traffic flow and plans to widen it. CBS News Texas reported that the project would require the city to acquire private land and that the Willis house is among the properties affected. City council records provide further context for the wider road scheme. Rowlett’s plans call for a four-lane divided roadway within a 90-foot right-of-way along the Chiesa Road corridor between Dalrock Road and Miller Road. The city plans to acquire private land to make room for the road improvements.In a separate update published on July 31, 2026, the city outlined reconstruction work on Chiesa Road between Miller Road and State Highway 66/Rowlett Road. That work focuses on restoring the road’s original design grade and improving its condition. The city’s wider road plans and the reconstruction work provide infrastructure context, although they should not be treated as identical project phases.
The dispute over compensation
The central disagreement concerns how much the family should receive for its property. CBS News Texas reported that a final letter from the city contained an offer of $429,000, which the Willis family declined. Texas Metro News reported that the family believes the offer falls $150,000 short of the amount it is seeking. The family argues that the valuation does not adequately account for the property’s worth, pointing to development taking place nearby. Roy Willis told CBS News Texas that a major development within approximately 1,000 feet of the property should be considered when determining appropriate compensation.The family has also raised concerns about the impact of the road project on its land. According to CBS News Texas, the Willises believe the planned acquisition would cut their property in half, while the city intends to remove the house to make way for the public road expansion. However, the $150,000 difference reflects the family’s position in the compensation dispute. It should not be interpreted as an independently established shortfall in market value. Determining whether an offer is fair requires consideration of the property’s valuation and the circumstances of the acquisition.
What eminent domain means
The dispute involves eminent domain, the legal authority that allows government entities to acquire private property for public use, subject to applicable legal requirements and compensation rules. Texas Metro News quoted eminent domain attorney Clint Schumacher of Dawson & Sodd PLLC, who was not involved in the Willis case, explaining fair market value as the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller when neither is compelled to complete the transaction.That distinction is important in disputes involving compulsory acquisitions. A property owner’s attachment to a home may be profound, but compensation negotiations generally focus on legally relevant valuation considerations rather than sentimental value alone. The family can dispute the proposed compensation through the applicable legal process. The city of Rowlett said it does not comment on pending or anticipated litigation, including matters that may involve eminent domain proceedings. Texas Metro News reported that the family had been given a deadline to accept the offer and that the city council was expected to discuss in executive session whether to pursue an eminent domain lawsuit. The reports do not establish that a lawsuit has been filed or that a court has ruled on the compensation.
A road project with personal consequences
Rowlett’s plan reflects the infrastructure demands of a growing community, but for the Willis family, the proposed acquisition threatens a home built through generations of family effort. The disagreement now centres on whether the city and the family can reach an acceptable compensation agreement or whether the dispute will proceed through the legal system. For a family that has lived on the property since 1962, the proposed road expansion represents more than a change to the local landscape. It could mean leaving a home that has shaped family life for 64 years. The final outcome will depend on the negotiations and any subsequent legal proceedings.
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