LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) --- The Amherst Group, a Texas-based real estate investment, development and operating platform, announced it will construct a new community in Lockhart. The community, named "Firefly," will bring 145 homes to the area. Amherst said it will create these homes through its StudioBuilt modular construction process, which is where a building is constructed off-site but in about half the time. Lockhart business program keeping women inmates from returning to prison Modular construction The company said modular construction removes barriers like weather, trade delays and supply chain issues. StudioBuilt homes are made at Amherst’s housing studio in Cuero, which is southeast of San Antonio. The homes will then be installed on site in Lockhart. Amherst said these homes can be built about 50% faster than traditional homes. Amherst Head of Commercial Real Estate David Schwarz said in some cases they can build a home in under four months. Amherst said it will feature three and four-bedroom homes in the Lockhart development. (Photo: Amherst)Amherst said it will feature three and four-bedroom homes in the Lockhart development. (Photo: Amherst)Amherst said it will feature three and four-bedroom homes in the Lockhart development. (Photo: Amherst)Amherst said it will feature three and four-bedroom homes in the Lockhart development. (Photo: Amherst) RELATED COVERAGE: Company aimed at tackling housing crisis and global warming brings demo house to Texas Schwarz said 80% of the home is built in a controlled environment. "We can use this to deliver homes faster to a region that desperately needs that."David Schwarz, Head of Commercial Real Estate at Amherst Amherst chose Lockhart because of where its positioned near State Highway 130. "With this new toll road, there's so many new jobs and so many new corporations that are coming to the area," Schwarz said. Another contributing factor was all the major companies in Central Texas, like Tesla and Samsung. "For every one of those jobs, there's a multiplier of about six times of other jobs that are getting created in the area," Schwarz said. Addressing a housing need Up For Growth, a nonprofit organization addressing the housing shortage and affordability crisis, released a recent analysis that details housing underproduction across the nation. According to the analysis, Texas is second to California in housing underproduction. The report showed Texas fell short of 306,000 homes needed in 2023. Austin’s housing market: How quickly are homes selling, and for how much? In response to that, Amherst said it is increasing the housing supply in key metropolitan areas across the state, like Lockhart. The company said those projects will all use Amherst’s StudioBuilt business. Lockhart's growth The Texas Demographic Center recently released updated population estimates. The report showed Lockhart had a population of 17,146 at the start of 2024. ‘It’s alive down here’: Construction on Lockhart’s downtown revitalization project could start in 2024 According to the center, the city experienced a 19.2% population increase in the last four years. “As Lockhart continues to experience expansive job and population growth, it’s crucial that we have innovative building partners that are able to generate housing supply for new and existing Lockhart residents,” said Lew White, Mayor of Lockhart. “We are thrilled to welcome StudioBuilt homes into our community.” Lockhart Planning Director David Fowler said this new community adds to a growing number of housing developments in the area. "We've seen a lot of residential growth, mostly single family," Fowler said. "We're starting to get a little bit of multi-family too." While these new homes help keep people in the area, Fowler said it is the city's character that's bringing them there. "We have a really strong community that's already here," Fowler said. "Very vibrant downtown, live music, entertainment, great restaurants."