A testament to his vision, Mitchell's original plan for The Woodlands continued to be implemented even after he sold it in the late 1990s. He intentionally left a 1,000-acre parcel near the entrance of The Woodlands for a commercial district. Others recognized the value. "Many developers would have developed that first because it was closest to the highway and most accessible," Galatas said. "But George saw a bigger picture and he saw a town center that would serve not only The Woodlands but all of north Houston."