DallasDirt » history

Bush Gate Taking Longer

Candy Evans — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:35:59 +0000

I went to TREC “Young Guns” tonight at The Tower Club and learned so much. Like when I heard that the Bushes are looking at a re-design of the gate they ordered for Daria Drive — seems the first design priced out too high, and since they are footing the bill for the gate (which is so nice of them!) they wanted to go back for something a little less simpler. Tell you what, I’ll bet they are just shocked by how high building prices are.

Stoneleigh Heritage Gets Help From P.O’B Montgomery

Candy Evans — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:53:14 +0000

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.

Turn Up The Radio Dial: The George Bush Legacy, A BBC Perspective

Candy Evans — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:38:07 +0000

Last month, BBC’s delightful Neal Razzell flew to Dallas to investigate the home turf of former president George W. Bush. He even drove to Crawford. Here is the first part of the series that ran last Tuesday, the day Bush turned over the office to President Barack Obama. Later today, part two, with a look at the home Bush bought in Dallas.

Obama Inauguration, Washington, D.C.

Candy Evans — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:41:25 +0000

My daughter’s friend Brannon was at the history-making Inauguration of America’s 44th president yesterday, and I am living vicariously through her. She sent photos and word that even with silver tickets, there were waits but in general, an exhilarating experience:

“It was a remarkable weekend. We went to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial, a special art showing in Georgetown, Jay-Z’s concert, and the swearing-in. I had “silver” tickets to the Inauguration. We walked about 45 minutes to get there, waited about 45 minutes to get past the gates (I’ve heard some horror stories, but we didn’t have many problems), and then watched the swearing-in from our standing-room viewing area south of the reflecting pool. There was so much energy and excitement in the crowd. It was amazing and I was so fortunate to be there!”