Stanley Marcus Home — What Can We Do To Save It? We Must Save It!
I was thinking of maybe tearing up my Neimans card in protest, but that would only make my husband happy. I have never reacted to a home tear-down like this before, either. Well, maybe one because I was standing there taking photos while the jaws of death snapped at me. And I’m a “new house gal” — I am addicted to the smell, smoothness and cleanliness of new construction much like a friend was addicted to the hormones of pregnancy and popped out 7 or 8 bambinos a few years ago. Ultimately we all have to hang up our uteruses, our very first homes, really, if you want to get all New Age-y. But if anyone were to buy the Mary Kay House on Douglas and tear it down, I’d chain myself to the pink cupola.
As for all those homes in Preston Hollow and PC that have bitten the dust, may have been charming but simply not cost-effective to save. Or add onto. You look at listings that have languished and I’ll bet you anything those are the “re-muddled” ones where each owner had added on their own two cents, usually cheaply from Home Depot. Buyers today want DSL accesss — our old vintage 1939 home on Park Lane, charming as she was (%$#@!!!**&&) had no phone wires upstairs. My kids were little, they didn’t need phones or cable TV. We were paying through the nose for private school so I told them to shut up and read. She had low ceilngs. The windows might as well been parchment paper. Translate that to marketability, you have a tear down.
But the marketability of this home and the Mary Kay Mansion is the rich history and I know I’m setting myself up for grief or maybe even a lashing or two, but I say we grab our Neimans cards and build a giant plastic fortress around this house if the jaws ever snap at 10 NoneSuch.
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Candy, what you say is so true…it’s the economy of it, right?
I’ve been ripping out sheetrock and installing walls from top to bottom just to have a WORKING phone. I feel your pain. And, when I replaced the walls/floors, R30 insullation goes into the framing. I will someday (hopefully) have a more energy efficent and functional home. Until then, I think of it like a family camping trip…
Hi Candy
As a builder and remodeler, I understand all too well that some houses can’t be saved without spending a fortune..it’s all about economics. However, I also understand there are houses of historical significance that should be saved.
We regularly gut houses in Lakewood and put them back together so they are “energy efficient” and have modern conveniences. IT CAN BE DONE!
Our remodeled houses sell for a higher price per square foot than our new construction in the same neighborhood. Some people are still looking for charm and charachter in a home….
I hope the owners of 10 Nonesuch reconsider their plans…it would be a real tragedy to our history
HK,
Do you have any houses on the mkt right now?
Only two full remodels for homeowners (not spec). All specs either sold or pending. DOM on our Lakewood projects has been 30-60 days. One new construction in Preston Hollow…. EM me offline and I can give you addresses of all