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Mid-Century David Braden Home On OOCCL Fall Tour

David Braden, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, was one of a whole generation of gifted architects in Dallas during the middle part of the last century, gifted enough so that George Dahl chose his firm into which to merge his own when he was ready to step back from running his own firm.  Although much of Braden’s work has been non-residential, you will have the opportunity to tour Braden’s very own house during this year’s Old Oak Cliff Conservation League Fall Home Tour, October 10 and 11.  It is said that the cantilevered deck was one of the first in Dallas–caught on pretty well, I’d say.

Casa View Oaks

I’m back–temporarily–to help Candy out as she takes care of family business.

I’m always amazed at how many tucked-away neighborhoods there are in Dallas that I’ve never heard of.  With really good architecture.

Just drove over to an area that I guess might be called Casa View Oaks, in an area of east Dallas that can only appreciate, near Ferguson and Oates.  There’s quite a pocket of Cliff May-designed houses over there that are crying out for young families to come on in, buy a house for next to nothing, do some restoration work, and end up with affordable architectural significance.

Cliff May, who is sometimes referred to as the Father of the California Ranch House, practiced throughout the mid century (20th, right).  His houses were notable for their close connection between interior and exterior spaces, which tends not to be the case with the ranch houses we all grew up in.  The houses over in Casa View Oaks clearly have it.  One current listing, 2651 Andrea Lane, is on the market for $146,000 and has been a hot topic over at livemodern.com.   Take a look at the photos.

It’s Move-In Day For The Bushes

This sign in a yard at one of the homes on Daria Place greeted the former president and his wife, Laura. The entire street is now blocked off by police. Earlier today, a Mayflower moving van was spotted coming into the cul de sac along with a large storage truck.

On Market, Not In MLS

That would be Tim Eller’s Lakeside lot, 4500 Lakeside Drive,  that was once the home of the Bright family. Now listed by Ben Jones, the Ben Jones Group at Allie Beth Allman, who is quickly rising to the top of the creme de la creme of local  luxury Real Estate brokers. (Ben even has listings in Beverly Hills. Very cool.) The market is reportedly down, but high end lots still rule — the corner of Park Lane and Hollow Way just sold lickety split, my old digs. Meantime, this Lakeside puppy has three swimming, three survey requests, not even in MLS. Can Ben pull off a sale and keep Lakeside out of MLS? Is the sky blue? Stay tuned.

House Porn: Snow White on McCommas

This Snow White ranch on McCommas Boulevard has 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, new open kitchen, limestone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, new master suite with air jetted tub to knead away plunging market aches, dark hardwoods, gorgeous yard in the Lakewood Elementary Blue Ribbon School District. Current price: $549,000. Scott Carlson Real Estate, Inc.

Stoneleigh Heritage Gets Help From P.O’B Montgomery

P. O’B Montgomery & Company, a respected Dallas real estate and development firm, is now working with the Prescott-Apollo partnership that owns the on-hold Stoneleigh-Heritage Residences. (Or whatever they are now called.)  Mission: figure out what to do with that sad residence shell looming behind the Maple Avenue hotel. Early December, Prescott brought Montgomery into the picture to study all market options as an advisor, not investor. Apollo and Prescott have sought financing for the Stoneleigh project since their credit source ran dry in the fall due to the Wall Street financial meltdown.

“We are looking at doing whatever makes sense,” Phil Montgomery told me today, when asked if the residences would resume construction. “The market has clearly changed.”

Prescott’s Jud Pankey says the garage is complete and open, and construction attention will now focus on the courtyard. This month’s Architectural Digest feature on the hotel and colorful designer, Carleton Varney and his mentor, Dorothy Draper, has generated national interest in the project; Varney is coming back to Dallas in the spring to create more buzz.

If another developer were going to be engaged for this project, the most likely time would be when construction financing is being negotiated, said Pankey by email.

“Phil Montgomery introduced me to Apollo almost ten years ago, and we all try and assist each other when faced with a challenge,” wrote Pankey.

What we are doing, said Montgomery, is fairly routine.

According to sources, Al Coker is no longer handling marketing for The Stoneleigh Heritage Residences; Cynthia Pharr is handling media relations.

The Texas Governor’s Mansion — Lost By Arson, Not To Be Rebuilt?

Oh no, this cannot be true. I know Austin’s new home sales and closings are cooling, but come on folks, the governor’s mansion is Texas history.

Maybe a former president who lived there will come to the rescue?

Dallas Home Tour: Hollywood Heights Coming Up

I know it is not even Valentine’s Day, but get out your April calendars and write on April 25 and 26 in a big sharpie: Hollywood Heights Home Tour!

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