What constitutes “super high-end homes” in the Dallas area? Recently Steve Brown reported in the Dallas Morning News that one part of the D/FW market that shows no sign of a slowdown is the super high-end homes. However, that depends on how you define super high-end homes. Three years ago I wrote that there was at least a…
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In 1990, when Dallas was going through its great economic depression, it actually had a chance to have more than just backyards and trees. It had a chance to have a version of New York’s Central Park. Southland Corporation had assembled 200 acres one small lot at a time. After the devastating economic downturn, this…
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Density is the Holy Grail of New Urbanism, from creating new zoning for granny flats, rooming houses, townhouses, duplexes, fourplexes and backyard two-story rental houses in established neighborhoods to encouraging dense mixed use development on undeveloped or redeveloped land. The advantage of urban density and the idyllic effect of density has been the battle cry…
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Many think preservation deed restrictions and easements diminish the value of a property. In many cases in Dallas neighborhoods the opposite is true. The historic and architecturally significant homes I have sold with preservation deed restrictions and facade easements implemented by the seller have protected the homes and helped the homes sell for more than…
The Dallas Morning News editorial, A Blow to Affordable Housing, illuminates the opposition to the affordable housing apartment complex by the historically Black neighborhood, Hamilton Park. They are joined by the ethnically diverse neighborhood area of Stults Road in their opposition to this proposed apartment complex named Cypress Creek at Forest Lane. The Dallas Morning News…
Max Levy, FAIA, helped save an architecturally significant home, the Stretto house designed by New York architect Steven Holl, from being torn down. This architecturally significant home built in 1991 was offered for sale for less than its 1.5 acre Preston Hollow land was valued. The house was headed for destruction. Its demise kept inching…
The Dallas city manager and housing director are proposing a devastating blanket zoning change: allowing ADUs (additional dwelling units), better known as granny flats, actually backyard rental houses, in single-family zoned neighborhoods. This change would allow a 44-foot wide by 30-foot tall rental house to be built on the back of a standard 50‑foot wide…
Which city will Amazon select for their second headquarters? It is easy to understand that Trinity Groves and Dallas surpass other cities in Amazon’s corporate requirements for Amazon HQ2. More important to Amazon employees, Trinity Groves surpasses the high expectations and anticipation they have for their Amazon HQ2 location. One of five favorite reasons that Amazon will select Trinity Groves…
Architects’ work pushes modern design forward on AIA Dallas home tour 2017.
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Meet architects, see architecture, explore emerging and established neighborhoods on AIA Dallas home tour.
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Thinking about the profound influence of architect Frank Welch on Dallas, architects, and architecture.
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The death of E.G. Hamilton precedes the looming destruction of an architecturally significant home he designed.
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Everyone has a favorite day, maybe Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, but my favorite day is April 21, Margaret Milam McDermott Day. Margaret McDermott Day represents the best of all holidays. For example, Margaret McDermott represents the generous Christmas spirit of giving. She is a sophisticated philanthropist who gives more than money, she provides ideas,…
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Consider This Highland Park Home Free If the alternative is sending three children to private academies, at $1,595,000 this Highland Park home for sale is free A family facing the $100,000 cost of sending three children to one of the better private schools has the same annual cost as purchasing 4541 S. Versailles with a…
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Who would think property rights and preservation are compatible. Mayor Robert Folsom, a developer and strongest proponent of free enterprise and property rights was also Dallas’ strongest preservation mayor. Mayor Folsom opposed the city planners multi-family mixed used plan and supported the property owners’ single-family rezoning plan for a multi-family area of apartments.
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