The Dallas Architecture Forum, on their 25th anniversary, highlighted eight architects in an informative and insightful way. The program at the Dallas Museum of Art was presented in two panels. One was led by Kate Aoki, AIA, who now designs the DMA exhibits, and Kelly Mitchell, AIA, who is a talented architect and who many…
Anchor Neighborhoods are Threatened by Shifting Dallas Downtown Density
Anchor neighborhoods zoned MF2, made up of architecturally significant modern townhouses, condominiums, attached single-family, and single-family homes, are being threatened by the shifting downtown Dallas density and proposed mid-rise and high-rise zoning. Downtown Dallas Density Keeps Moving Towards Our MF2 Anchor Neighborhoods Downtown Dallas keeps creeping away from the original Central Business District on Main…
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Short-Term Rentals are Assault on Homeownership and Single-Family Zoning
Why do single-family occupied homes matter and need to be protected? Homeowners are the heart and soul of the city. When homeowners start leaving a neighborhood, the neighborhood declines. When homeowners have confidence in the future of a neighborhood, they buy a home in that neighborhood or reinvest in the home they already own in…
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Homeowner’s Greatest Property Right is Single-Family Zoning
Some Confuse a Homeowner’s Greatest Property Right With How Many Uses the Homeowner can Utilize for Their Home A homeowner’s greatest property right is not how many uses a homeowner can use their home, in addition to that as a home, such as a tavern, rooming house, short term rentals (STRs), office suites, pharmaceutical production…
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Fair Park First – Single Family Neighborhood Homes Last
Fair Park First Might Prompt 21st Century Urban Renewal Wiping Out Neighborhoods Recently, exciting plans for Fair Park were unveiled at an architectural forum by Fair Park First, the nonprofit selected to transform and manage Fair Park’s transformation. The elements of the proposed transformation are ambitious and have great potential for Fair Park, the surrounding…
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Each STR Will Cause Decline in Home Values Across Dallas
Everyone knows that a single-family home loses value if an STR (short-term rental) opens up next door. Homebuyers will pass over the STR-compromised home for other comparable homes desired by homeowners. And another thing happens. Dallas is losing population and, even more important, losing homeowners. An STR opening on a block might be so disturbing…
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City Manager Ward System Form of Government Needs Reform
The City Manager form of government always seemed to give Dallas an advantage. It seemed to prevent a Chicago Mayor style form of ward system government, creating a political machine ripe for corruption. Now Dallas has something even worse than a Chicago Mayor ward system form of government. Dallas has a City Manager ward system…
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4908 Lakeside Drive is Demolished – Start Saving Homes Now
4908 Lakeside Drive, Highland Park, Texas, should be the wakeup call that we should start saving homes now. “Start Saving Homes” should be the public cry. There is an understandable consternation when there is an onslaught of homes being torn down across the country, particularly one that has the significance of 4908 Lakeside Drive in…
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Organic Urbanism is the Cure for New Urbanism
New Urbanism is Like a Virus New Urbanism is a virus that keeps coming back in mutated forms – Organic Urbanism is the cure – Douglas Newby Why Does New Urbanism Need a Cure? New Urbanism is like a virus. For 50 year it keeps coming back in mutated forms. It needs a cure. First,…
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Five Preservation Steps to Saving Historic and Architecturally Significant Homes in Highland Park and Across Country
From time to time, we hear of the demolition of an historic or architecturally significant home in the news. Inevitably there’s an outcry. Members of the community are understandably upset. Community leaders agree that “something must be done.” But what? Shaming a Buyer Who Tears Down a Home Has Never Saved a Home. These Five…
Saving Homes – Preservation Step Two
In my last article I proposed five steps for saving homes that were historic from demolition, with a deep dive into the first step: identifying and illuminating historic and architecturally significant homes. In this post, I’ll take a closer look at Step Two of the next four proactive preservation steps that will save homes. Recap…
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Preservation Step Three and Four for Saving Homes is a Gamechanger
Preservation Step Three comes after identifying and illuminating historic and architecturally significant homes and contacting and cultivating the homeowners like the owners of the David Williams designed home. Preservation Step Three is a gamechanger. Architects and interior designers can create a vision for a renovated home. Inspectors, contractors and appraisers can determine the cost and…
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Preservation Step Five – Implementing Architectural Deed Restrictions Guarantee Saving Homes
Historic and architecturally significant homes will be saved with each of the first four steps. But preservation Step Five is the most powerful step. It will guarantee that the historic or architecturally significant home will be spared from being torn down. This final preservation step perpetuates the life of a historic or architecturally significant home…
Why There Is an Acceleration of Highland Park Homes Being Torn Down
For decades, Highland Park homes have been torn down, however, this year this activity has accelerated . Perhaps new residents have had an impact. For instance, the great influx of home buyers from California to Dallas has created many benefits for Dallas and has exacerbated some problems. The greatest negative effect on our urban landscape…
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Sorority Home Saved at SMU
It never occurred to me until now that a sorority house is also a sorority home, and many times an historic home contributes to a campus or town. Homes are historic because of their architectural value or the residents that inhabited them or both. Sorority houses like this one, SMU’s Alpha Xi of Gamma Phi…
