Greg Abbott Says New EPIC City ‘Will Never See Light of Day'
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said the planned “EPIC City” in Texas “will never see the light of day.”
In 2024, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) announced plans to build a new Muslim community, dubbed EPIC City, on a 402-acre site spanning parts of Collin and Hunt counties. Abbott fiercely opposed the idea and directed state agencies to investigate and challenge it.
On Thursday, a Travis County District Court ordered the Texas Workforce Commission to comply with a September 2025 fair-housing agreement made with developers of the city, which has since rebranded as the Meadow. Developers have suggested that this clears an obstacle and paves the way for the project to move forward.
But writing on X, Abbott said: “Texas has ALREADY appealed & halted this flawed ruling. The Meadow (Epic City) is also subject to other legal action by the state. And, there are active investigations by State agencies and by the federal government. This development will never see the light of day.”
Newsweek reached out to Abbott’s office via email for comment.
What Is EPIC City?
Preliminary plans for EPIC City reported last year showed more than 1,000 houses in a 402-acre community, along with a mosque, a faith-based school, and a community college near Josephine, Texas. The plan was overseen by Community Capital Partners, which was created by the East Plano Islamic Center for this purpose.
In a February 2025 update, East Plano Islamic Center resident scholar Yasir Qadhi said the plan was to create a “Muslim neighborhood” which would be “well integrated” into the wider community.
What Did the Ruling Say?
Under the September 2025 fair-housing agreement, Community Capital Partners and the Texas Workforce Commission agreed to work on a plan to develop fair housing procedures. Community Capital Partners had sued the body, which is responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act in Texas, alleging it had failed to advance the policies it had submitted.
“This ruling confirms what we have maintained from the beginning – that Community Capital Partners has been willing, ready, and committed to following Texas law at every step,” said Imran Chaudhary, the company’s president, in a statement. “We have done nothing wrong, and this decision reflects that.”
The Texas branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement following the ruling: "This court ruling is a powerful affirmation that the rule of law prevails over Islamophobic witch hunts and politically driven regulatory harassment. For over a year, state leaders have abused their authority in a bigoted attempt to deny Texas Muslims their constitutional right to develop an inclusive, family-oriented community.
“Through our ongoing statewide educational outreach and direct legislative advocacy, we continually fight against these types of targeted abuses of power. We applaud the court for holding state agencies accountable and recognizing that the law applies equally to everyone, including the State of Texas."
Does The Ruling Mean EPIC City Can Go Ahead?
The ruling does not grant EPIC City approval to proceed with construction, but it requires the Texas Workforce Commission to honor a previously signed fair‑housing settlement with the developers, preventing the state from indefinitely delaying review of housing policies.
The project still lacks local zoning and subdivision approvals, even after counties rejected the preliminary plans. Courts have frozen the municipal utility district meant to provide infrastructure. The state has appealed the fair‑housing ruling, while separate lawsuits and investigations-along with unresolved permits-continue to block construction.
What Has Abbott Previously Said About EPIC City?
In March 2025, Abbott wrote on X, “The proposed EPIC compound in Collin Co. has serious legal issues. A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas.”
It has faced multiple state investigations and lawsuits, and Abbott has repeatedly said the project would be blocked
EPIC officials have repeatedly denied claims that the town would violate state law or operate under Islamic legal systems.
What Happens Next
The project will take years to complete if it goes ahead. The Texas Workforce Commission told Dallas’s KERA News it planned to appeal the court’s ruling.
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM.