DallasDirt » The Arts District

Dallas Urban Real Estate: Playroom at The House

Candy Evans — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:19:38 +0000

Major trend in urban living. You don’t have rolling meadows, so the residents have to have a romper room. Like playroom at the The House, furnished with plenty of toys for big boys.

Dallas Real Estate Urban Living: Pool Side Vanity at The House

Candy Evans — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:50:26 +0000

Spectacular pool area so great I have an idea for the Germans: sell three-month pool memberships to non-residents. But make them submit vanity photos with the application.

The House: Decked Out for a King and Queen

Candy Evans — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:30:41 +0000

“King and Queen” chairs on the fifth floor resident’s room at The House. Right off this room is the pool deck. I presume one players checks or backgammon only while sitting on these thrones.

Dallas Real Estate: Postman Always Rings Twice at The House

Candy Evans — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:57:21 +0000

These are the post and Yoo boxes for residents at The House, kind of a signature Starck silly-ism, almost a take-off of high school lockers with those feet. That’s David Griffin checking the mail box.

The House: In Case You Decide To Cook At Home

Candy Evans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:17:49 +0000

Very sleek kitchens with high-end appliances, Jenn-Aire if memory serves, Wolf ranges. I wonder if the folks who live in these units —The House, The W, One Arts Plaza – actually ever cook because they are within walking distance of so many great restaurants. The Hard Rock Cafe is now open across from The House, and when I was there last week, it was hopping. The best part besides the great food: $15 on lunch doesn’t exactly break the wallet.

When I lived in NYC, I hated schlepping groceries from the store up to my apartment, so we ate out much more often. Of course, we didn’t have concierge service. But then, when you downsize and it’s just one or two in The House, who needs a Sam’s closet?

Dallas Real Estate: Cool Pool At The House

Candy Evans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:56:58 +0000

The pool at The House, on the fifth floor overlooking everything. HOA’s at The House are .47 per square foot of space you own, that includes water and a blanket insurance policy. You will have to pay your own electricity. There is 24 hour valet and security, two concierge on staff in the day, one at night. Premier Communities is the condo manager. David Griffin says financing has been arranged through Wells Fargo at market rates. The units are non-warrant-able like all condos: Fannie Mae guidelines prohibit them from buying mortgages (on the secondary market) from condos that do not have 51% of the units sold but Fannie Mae buys only conforming mortgages — that is, mortgages at or below $417,000. That would make the only units at The House eligible for Fannie Mae the one bedroom units priced at $399,000.

The House By Starck And Yoo, Ctd: Inside Living

Candy Evans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:33:31 +0000

Here’s a sample of living inside the House and what your home might look like day and night. The beauty of high-rise living is, of course, having that dramatic backdrop of glittering lights come sundown. Each unit also has generous balconies.

D Sale Of The Week: This House Is Ready To Rock And Roll And Deal

Candy Evans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:25 +0000

At last, the long-awaited The House by Starck and Yoo at Victory Park is complete and ready for move-in. This is Victory’s final and most dramatic chapter, at least for a while. Yes, it’s another high-rise condo—with 28 stories of units to sell—but this one boasts the whimsical influence of Philippe Starck, including a white-draped lobby with a huge, gleaming, silver mailbox cluster that is reminiscent of school lockers, but the whole unit is on legs. Plus, the pool deck is one of the most glorious I’ve seen. This is going to be what we called a “meat market” when I was single. You won’t dare appear up here without plenty of lipo, though the broad lounge cushions may camo the cellulite. But here’s the best part: broker David Griffin says the Germans mean business. (The German real estate fund US Treuhand has taken the reins of Victory and hence is selling these units.) They are ready to cut a deal, which means you can own a house at The House for less than $400,000—one bedroom, one-and-a-half bath, about 1,000 square feet—with an impressive finish-out with a European feel and generous closets. The building amentities will spoil, from the work-out room to the apartment for overnight guests. As for financing, well, just how deep are those pockets? Let’s make a deal.

Lucy Billingsley: Who Wants Bank Financing Right Now, Job and Population Growth Projected For Dallas

Candy Evans — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:07:40 +0000

So Billingsley told our buddies to the west. Her project, One Arts Plaza, is the only downtown Dallas mixed-use 24 story high rise condominium.

Ray Washburne is on a Commercial Real Estate Shopping Spree

Candy Evans — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:23:57 +0000

First Highland Park Village, then this. I’ve got to check on those stained glass windows in Westminister Presbyterian. I recall designer to the rich and famous Trisha Wilson telling me that one of her very first jobs, besides selling furniture at Titches Department Store, was designing stained glass windows for local architect Harry Hoover. Westminister was designed by architect Herbert Miller Greene. Wonder if they ever traded windows?

Bridges And Shoes Are Good For Dallas Property Values

Candy Evans — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:04:32 +0000

Tim already has all this on Frontburner, but I just want to add two things: one, this is the second news of the day that is going to keep our property values nice and shooting upwards come the next boom and two, a lady at last night’s event noted that “Calatrava has more expensive shoes than I do.” I am DYING to know if his shoes are more expensive than my Choos Todds Manolos.

A Stimulus That Will Stimulate Property Values In Downtown Dallas

Candy Evans — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:09:49 +0000

16.7 million in federal stimulus funds going to Woodall Rogers Park, our city’s first real urban park, and a move all but guaranteed to bolster the values of those downtown condos. (Nice to have our tax dollars in our own backyard, too: great work, Linda Owen!) Which reminds me: shopping for a Ritz residence? You’ve now got 95 even more mind-blowing choices –where to begin? Card-Smart elevators, highest end fixtures, wine tasting and storage room, personal concierge, move me in:

THE TOWER RESIDENCES AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, DALLAS PREPARE FOR

2009 OPENING AS CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS SOARS

DALLAS, TEXAS. March 25, 2009 — Project advancements at The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas point to an earlier-than-anticipated completion date, with a target opening of the finished 23-story high-rise now anticipated for summer 2009. The 95-home luxury residential structure designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects offers among the few new top-end high-rise Residences to be completed in Dallas before 2011.

A construction staff of between 300 and 400 is currently working The Tower Residences site, with six 10-hour days per week not unusual for the tradesmen involved. The property’s private swimming pool is built, hardscape/landscape activities have begun, heating and cooling systems are operating, mechanical systems are running and interior finish-out has begun.

“We are gratified that our team of designers, architects, engineers, Manhattan Construction and other outstanding contractors, and hundreds of project workers have created what will be the finest high-rise residences in Texas,” said Steve Farmer, Sales Manager for the project owned by Crescent Real Estate Equities, L.L.C. “Sales continue to be robust as homebuyers recognize there will be a scarcity of such homes in Uptown Dallas for at least the next three years.”

The Tower Residences represent the second phase of residential development in Uptown Dallas’ prestigious Ritz-Carlton neighborhood, providing a Ritz-Carlton-branded, concierge-serviced lifestyle available nowhere else in Texas. The neighborhood’s first phase of 70 Residences, located directly above The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, was fully pre-sold before the building’s opening in August, 2007. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas was recently named the nation’s top large hotel by Zagat Survey 2009, while its Fearing’s Restaurant was ranked the top hotel restaurant in the U.S. by the same prestigious ratings organization. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, its restaurant and spa also hold coveted spots on Cond Nast Traveler magazine’s influential Hot List.

The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Construction Highlights:

• Exterior skin (masonry, pre-cast, cast stone, windows) is 95% complete and will be 100% complete by the end of March.

• Level 2 and 3 Residences will be complete and ready for architect/Crescent punch beginning this month.

• The exterior hoist will be removed this spring.

• Stone floors and oak plank wood floors are now being installed in Residences up to levels 10 and 11.

Building Amenities:

• Wine cellar and private wine tasting room /dining room

• Private fitness center

• Outdoor swimming pool

• Underground parking garage with minimum two spaces per home

• Private concierge team

• Private air-conditioned skywalk joining the Tower Residences to The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.

Home Interior Highlights:

• Stone and hardwood floors throughout the first level and in all homes

• Kohler and Kallista plumbing fixtures in kitchen, bathroom(s) and powder room(s)

• Large low E, 1-inch, double-pane insulated glass windows offering Dallas views from every Residence

• Destination-based elevators free of call or floor buttons. Residences swipe their security card/fob or input their security code, and the elevator automatically knows which level to go to.

• Maple paneling in the lobby and on the first level

• Crown molding in all main rooms of Residences

• Light fixtures designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects

• Chef’s kitchens with granite countertops, limestone backsplash, Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, Wolf range and hood, Viking warming drawer, Asko dishwasher, wine cooler, microwave oven and Wolf conventional and convection oven

• Bathrooms featuring polished marble, whirlpool bath, and frameless glass shower

Of the 95 Tower residences introduced for sale 16 months ago, 30 homes remain available, all in the 1,400 to 2,900-square-foot range, at prices from $795,000 to $3 million. The largest units offered, now all sold, extend to 5,700 square feet in size and reached $6 million in price.

For additional information on The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, please visit www.TheResidencesDallas.com or call The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Marketing Center at 214.855.2020

Dallas Center For The Performing Arts

Candy Evans — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:10:05 +0000

I have such bad manners — I invited myself to a hard-hat D staff tour of the under-construction Dallas Center For The Performing Arts, then didn’t show. I ended up 25 miles west at a sports real estate tour in Arlington, those pics will be up shortly. If I couldn’t be in two places at the same time, I knew my collegaues would get you all the scoop on the Winspear and Wyly. (Kyle Kearbey video forthcoming.) Does this place not look awesome? What a boost for living in the Dallas Arts District!

Museum Tower Has A Sales Director

Candy Evans — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:49:32 +0000

And it is Bobby Dhillon, who you may recall seeing not too long ago selling off The Residences at The Ritz Carlton. Dhillon returns to Dallas from Atlanta where he helped launch The Residences at The Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta. Jump for the press release and expected ground-breaking date of Museum Tower.

MUSEUM TOWER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF

BOBBY DHILLON AS DIRECTOR OF SALES

Future Residents Can View Striking New Icon of the Dallas Skyline

in the Heart of the Arts District

DALLAS, (March 6, 2009) – The developers of Museum Tower are pleased to announce the selection of Bobby Dhillon as director of sales for the luxury residential high-rise project. Dhillon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the residential high-rise market, especially in Dallas, to the Museum Tower sales team.

“Bobby is a world-class sales professional with strong connections to the Dallas market,” said co-developer John Sughrue. “Museum Tower is going to change the Dallas skyline and there is no better person to lead the charge.”

Most recently, Dhillon served as director of sales for Tivoli Realty Services where he was responsible for launching The Residences at the Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta in addition to managing five other real estate projects in the Atlanta area. Prior to that, as an account executive with Traditions Management, Dhillon led the company in sales of the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas project.

“I am excited to return to Dallas to lead the Museum Tower sales force,” said Bobby Dhillon, “It’s a transformative project in a class by itself that defines sophisticated urban living.”

“Mr. Dhillon knows Dallas and knows what high-rise residents are looking for,” said co-developer Dan Boeckman. “We are pleased that Bobby will lead our team of stellar sales professionals”

Dhillon is a graduate of The Citadel-The Military College of South Carolina. Prior to joining the real estate industry, Dhillon specialized in software sales.

For more information, please contact the Museum Tower Sales Gallery at 214.954.1234, or visit www.museumtowerdallas.com. The Sales Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00pm.

Museum Tower is a 42-story luxury residential high-rise located in the true heart of the Dallas Arts District between the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Meyerson Symphony Center, offering its owners the rare distinction of living among the works of four Pritzker Prize-winning architects. Designed by renowned architect Scott Johnson of Johnson Fain, the contemporary tower will offer a collection of 122 residences in nine floorplans, ranging from an intimate 1,450-square-foot pied-à-terre to a sprawling 8,700-square-foot penthouse with 14-foot-high ceilings. The dramatic one-, two- and three-bedroom interiors-created by Dallas-based Bodron+Fruit and Booziotis & Company Architects-will feature floor-to-ceiling glass, direct-access elevators, outdoor terraces, and state-of-the-art Miele kitchen appliances. Offering unobstructed views of Dallas and fronting Woodall Rodgers Park, Museum Tower will provide an exceptional array of services and amenities, including a wellness center, outdoor pool, gallery, private gardens, as well as concierge and wellness services. Scheduled to break ground in 2009, Museum Tower (www.museumtowerdallas.com) is being developed by Brook Partners, Inc. and Turtle Creek Holdings, Inc.

Museum Tower Sales Gallery: The Sales Gallery, located at 2112 Flora Street at Olive Street, is open Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 12:00-5:00pm. For more information, please contact the Sales Gallery at 214-954-1234 or visit www.museumtowerdallas.com.

City Council Approves Form Based Zoning

Candy Evans — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:54:21 +0000

Signed, sealed, delivered — what do you think?

Dallas City Council Approves Developer-Neighborhood Recommendations for Form Based Zoning

The Real Estate Council Partners with Neighborhood Groups to Reach Compromise

Dallas, Texas (February 25, 2009) – Today, the Dallas City Council unanimously approved the Developer-Neighborhood compromise for the Form Based Zoning ordinance. The Real Estate Council (TREC) has worked for almost two years with city staff and members of the Dallas Homeowners League, Preservation Dallas, the North Dallas Neighborhood Alliance and the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League on the city-appointed forwardDallas! Development Code Advisory Committee to craft a balanced and favorable compromise.

A significant objective of the Form Based Code is to provide a usable tool to help create more walkable urban neighborhoods, thereby reducing automobile dependency. TREC worked to ensure that the ordinance was well balanced between developer and neighborhood interests.

Included in the Developer-Neighborhood compromise are several key issues that were critical to the development community. Among these key issues include reasonable and flexible open space requirements and parking reductions for projects located within close proximity to transit stations.

“The passage of this compromise is a testimony to what can happen when groups often on opposite sides of the fence work together for a common goal,” said Neal Sleeper, president of Cityplace Company and chairman of TREC’s Government Affairs Committee. “This ordinance is the result of great cooperation between the development community and Dallas neighborhood groups. Because each party was willing to give and take, we were able to strike a balance that satisfies everyone.”

About TREC and TREC Foundation
Founded in 1990, The Real Estate Council is comprised of 1,600 commercial real estate professionals representing more than 500 companies in the Dallas area and 10,000 employees. Through The Real Estate Council Foundation, grants and professional assistance are provided to local organizations focused on community revitalization and affordable housing. With a grant of $1.5 million, TREC is currently spearheading efforts to build a deck park over Woodall Rodgers Freeway. TREC Foundation has also been instrumental in creating the Urban Land Bank, providing $250,000 in funding and $6.3 million in pro bono legal and title services. TREC’s Government Affairs Board assists with advocacy efforts on local and statewide public policy issues. Learn more about TREC and how to join at www.recouncil.com or by calling (214) 692.3600.

# # #