The Blair Pogue profile by Sarah Hepola in the Dallas Morning News was actually a profile of Dallas. High Profile has always been a favorite section of mine because I understand Dallas better when I know more about the people who contribute to Dallas and make it an interesting and great city.
High Profile Feature Lets Us Know More About Two People: Blair Pogue and Sarah Hepola
Every High Profile feature is interesting because it is more than just information about a person. The person becomes a lens through which one can look at Dallas or maybe Dallas becomes the lens to look at the person. No one has done a better job with High Profile than Sarah Hepola. She grew up in Highland Park and has worked and lived in many interesting places, giving her a perspective of Highland Park and Dallas few people have. Without ever realizing she has done it, the reader inevitably finishes one of her features thinking how much more interesting Dallas is. The immensely successful and privileged are humanized and the hidden gems of the city are elevated.
Dallas is a Booming Elegant and Eccentric City
Some think Austin is a quaint, laidback, non-judgmental city. Others, like me, think it is a one-note town with big city traffic. Dallas, on the other hand, is a big, thriving city with a small town feel and a warm and open nature. Elegant, yes – Dallas is still benefiting from Neiman Marcus, Stanley Marcus and descendants like photographer Allison V. Smith, who have made an aesthetic impact on Dallas. Wealthy, yes – Dallas keeps coming back as a financial center of Texas and is now emerging as a financial center of the country. The Dallas region is booming because of the courage, vision and drive of its developers. This is the reason Dallas has the best collection of 20th and 21st century architect-designed homes in the country, a wonderful collection of architecturally significant downtown buildings and even the best apartment development.
Dallas is a Magnet for Attracting People with a Vision – Those Like Blair Pogue are the Magnet
Dallas is a magnet for attracting people with a vision. It is the people in Dallas like Blair Pogue and his family who are the magnet that make others want to join Dallas. Blair’s father, Mack Pogue, started Lincoln Properties, one of the most successful development companies in the country. Mack Pogue and Lincoln Properties created the Village Apartments, the only apartment community that I have seen that, rather than being depreciated and abandoned, has become better and more vibrant every year. Blair Pogue grew up at the knee of his father learning about quality and development and as result has become the best home developer in Highland Park.
A Great Guy Makes Good
Working with Blair Pogue, I have seen how he navigates every situation with experience, talent, and generosity. When Blair Pogue set out to develop an estate home in Highland Park he did not want to build an expensive spec home. He wanted to develop a home on the best site in Highland Park, a home that would elevate the architectural landscape, draw from the architectural heritage of Highland Park, and encompass a timeless, fresh modernity. Blair Pogue succeeded with his vision of this home sited on nearly one acre at 4400 Belfort Place that is just being completed. It is hard to imagine a prettier location surrounded by nature than the corner of Armstrong Parkway and Belfort Place.
Selecting architect Larry Boerder to design the home furthered the Highland Park Spanish Revival authenticity. Larry Boerder also was the architect who designed the expansion and renovation of the 100-year-old Highland Park Spanish Revival style Town Hall. Blair Pogue’s inspired selection of celebrated landscape architect Harold Leidner contributed to this Spanish Revival estate home to look like it has been in the neighborhood for 100 years. Harold Leidner accentuated the architecture with his precise layering of landscape and patterns that brought out the design of the home rather than overpower it. The exemplary marble, tile and wood finishes are beautifully orchestrated to create a sense of continuity throughout each room of this open home. Margaret Chambers did the interior design.
Intimate Knowledge of Highland Park and Troubled Areas on the Other Side of the World
Blair Pogue benefits from his knowledge of growing up around the corner from 4400 Belfort Place. He knows the neighborhood, the architecture and what Highland Park homeowners desire in a home. He was also raised by a generous family, one that recently donated $100 million to Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center. For over 15 years, Blair Pogue has been involved with Orphan Outreach. His contribution has been not just monetary, but every year he has made extensive trips to Latvia, Ukraine and other places to visit and mentor the children raised by Orphan Outreach. I have seen some of these children, now grown, who have come to Dallas. It is inspiring to see their start as street urchins and now see their affection and appreciation for Blair as they have become wonderful adults who are devoted to helping others. I have seen incredible philanthropy and generosity in Dallas. The quiet under-the-radar commitment and contribution of Blair and others shows the heart of Dallas and the people in it.
Dallas is a Mosaic of Greatness
Dallas has great writers like Sarah Hepola, who can discover or rediscover great people. Dallas also has great people like Blair Pogue who many people know and this High Profile feature allows many more people to know him. Thank you, Sarah. Thank you, Blair.
