In the 1920s, Northern Hills was described by the McNeny brothers much like I described the Northern Hills neighborhood in the 1986 book I wrote on the older neighborhoods in Dallas and in my 2020 video on Northern Hills. Regardless of where Northern Hills was in its evolution, in its infancy in the 1920s, re-emerging…
Inclusive Urban Growth: Dilute the Strong or Fortify the Weak Neighborhoods
As cities increasingly become enclaves for the rich and reservations for the poor, the debate rages on how to create inclusive urban growth to make cities less economically segregated and more vibrant. In Dallas, the Trinity River gives a geographic definition to the high income and low-income neighborhoods, dividing the historically prosperous northern half of…
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Tax On Aesthetics – Architect-Designed Homes
Who would think low-taxed Texas would have tax on aesthetics, curtailing the construction of architect-designed homes? There are many unintended consequences of high taxes such as impeding economic growth or high tax rates reducing tax revenue collected (i.e., New Jersey and Connecticut). Only now do I realize that Texas’ high property taxes impede the building…
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Dallas Super High-End Homes—Boom or Bust?
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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Patchwork Quilt of Backyards is Dallas’ Central Park
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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Backyard Rental House/Granny Flat Zoning Threatens Trees, Breezes, Birds and Neighborhoods
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…
Architect Frank Welch Lived Young, January 28, 1927 – June 22, 2017
Thinking about the profound influence of architect Frank Welch on Dallas, architects, and architecture.
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Architect E.G. Hamilton, Death Now Destruction
The death of E.G. Hamilton precedes the looming destruction of an architecturally significant home he designed.
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Future Owner of Crespi Hicks Estate
The future owner of the Crespi Hicks Estate home is identified and has the resources to further enhance and maintain a home of the magnitude and architectural significance of the Crespi Hicks Estate home.
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Why Are Early 20th Century Homes More Modern Than 21st Century Builder Modern Homes?
See how early 20th century modern homes built in the 1900s are more modern than 21st century modern homes that invoke a Victorian sensibility.
Popular Greenway Parks Surges Again
Find Out Why Greenway Parks Has Always Been a Very Popular Dallas Neighborhood and Now is Receiving a Whole New Wave of Interest by the Smart Money and Culturally Committed.
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Trinity River Toll Road is So 20th Century
Driverless Cars Change Everything! Planners Last Century Thought Toll Roads Essential for City to Grow. Now Toll Roads are Evacuation Routes, strangling the city.
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An Estate Home Even Modern Architects Love
Architect Maurice Fatio studied under Karl Moser, Godfather of Modernism. This influence or innate sense of perfect proportions appeals to modernists.
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Celebrating the First Home Architect Gary Cunningham Designed
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the first home Gary Cunningham designed received an AIA award. Twenty-five years later it still holds appeal.
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Best of Dallas Home Tours
Home tours in Dallas have proliferated, however, the AIA modern tour stands out or its juried collection of great houses.
