Would You Trade Your Suburban Home to Live Right Smack in Dallas — Like, in Oak Cliff?
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I need to get in touch with assistant city manager Joey Zapata and check out his new digs in Oak Cliff. Zapata moved out of a cush suburban home and into the city, buying a 1949 vintage home in El Tivoli Place in North Oak Cliff. I read his guest column last week in the City of Dallas “10 Seeds of Change” newsletter. It caught my eye, but truth be told, Rudy Bush over at the Dallas Morning News beat to me to reporting on it. It all came full circle today when someone asked me about city noise living on Hillcrest Road. I love what Jimmy said about living in the city, and I quote him herewith:
“Living in an urban city means learning to get along in a more crowded, more diverse community. A car horn in the morning for a shared ride, or the occasional music from a nearby party. But there are also neighbors walking the neighborhood and stopping to say hello; there are brimming opportunities for shopping and dining nearby; and so much history. And so many people that understand the true value of the place we call home.”
- El Tivoli Entrance
Here’s a Hewitt and Habgood listing in El Tivoli Place at $197,000 that is awesome and a perfect future Tuesday $200k: 2526 Wedglea Drive.
1600 square feet, two bedrooms, two baths, loft-style newer construction with fabulous treed creek views. Interiors done up pretty nice, over-sized shower, granite counters, walk-in closets. Loft area overlooking 2-story living room, tons of windows, granite kitchen counters and hardwood floors. The pool is a community pool (no maintenance! yeah!) and there is a doggie park. Now this is NOT Joey’s place, but he’s sure got me wanting to go check out his new pad.
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I like Oak Cliff, and I like the idea of living in an older and well cared for neighborhood such as Kessler and Stevens. However, these are like islands surrounded by the criminal element. I have friends who live in these neighborhoods that have been burglarized on more than one occasion, or had their pets stolen. I like the eclectic nature and diversity of Oak Cliff, but sometimes there is a cost associated with that.
I live in the neighborhood and we are in the Wedglea's, not El Tivoli. But whatever. It's a great place to be! These are very well built and the neighbors are wonderful!
I like Oak Cliff, and I like the idea of living in an older and well cared for neighborhood such as Kessler and Stevens. However, these are like islands surrounded by the criminal element. I have friends who live in these neighborhoods that have been burglarized on more than one occasion, or had their pets stolen. I like the eclectic nature and diversity of Oak Cliff, but sometimes there is a cost associated with that.
I live in the neighborhood and we are in the Wedglea's, not El Tivoli. But whatever. It's a great place to be! These are very well built and the neighbors are wonderful!
Oak Cliff is no more surrounded by "the criminal element" than other parts of Dallas, or the suburbs even. Even the nicest neighborhoods are just a few blocks away from not-so-nice ones.
When we lived in Lakewood, our house was broken into, as is a rental house we own in the same area. Our house in Kessler Park has never been broken into – knock wood – nor have any of our neighbors.
I think the hardest part of moving from the suburbs to the city for most people is price per square foot. You just can't get nearly as much space in as "clean" of an area for the same amount of money.
Oak Cliff is no more surrounded by "the criminal element" than other parts of Dallas, or the suburbs even. Even the nicest neighborhoods are just a few blocks away from not-so-nice ones.
When we lived in Lakewood, our house was broken into, as is a rental house we own in the same area. Our house in Kessler Park has never been broken into – knock wood – nor have any of our neighbors.
I think the hardest part of moving from the suburbs to the city for most people is price per square foot. You just can't get nearly as much space in as "clean" of an area for the same amount of money.
When we were out in Hickory Creek yesterday at Champ d'Or (post forthcoming) I saw the horse farms and flirted, yes flirted with the thought of living out there. Something about seeing those horses and grazing cows that brings down the blood pressure. But I think you buy into the suburbs for that, then it goes away as everyone moves in. Hence my solution: a second home!
When we were out in Hickory Creek yesterday at Champ d'Or (post forthcoming) I saw the horse farms and flirted, yes flirted with the thought of living out there. Something about seeing those horses and grazing cows that brings down the blood pressure. But I think you buy into the suburbs for that, then it goes away as everyone moves in. Hence my solution: a second home!
I grew up in Oak Cliff then, as an adult, lived there in a beautiful 1920's home for 20 plus years. It is a wonderful area. The only downside is lack of basics like a decent grocery store!
I grew up in Oak Cliff then, as an adult, lived there in a beautiful 1920's home for 20 plus years. It is a wonderful area. The only downside is lack of basics like a decent grocery store!
I hear the argument about "lack of basics" all the time, but I just don't get it. We've lived in Kessler Park for many years and I've never thought that we had any less than other parts of Dallas.
The Tom Thumb on Hampton is very nice. As nice as Tom Thumbs in any other part of the city. And we've got a few others on the horizon, including Cox Farms Market at Sylvan Thirty (full disclosure: Sylvan Thirty is my client).
The Whole Foods on Lemmon & Lomo Alto is less than ten minutes away. Even quicker once the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opens and we'll have direct access to the Tollway.
When we lived in Lakewood (prior to Whole Foods new store), it took longer to get to a grocery store than it does for us now in Kessler Park. We'd have to shop at Tom Thumb at Abrams & Mockingbird or the Albertson's at Mockingbird Station. Neither were convenient.
I hear the argument about "lack of basics" all the time, but I just don't get it. We've lived in Kessler Park for many years and I've never thought that we had any less than other parts of Dallas.
The Tom Thumb on Hampton is very nice. As nice as Tom Thumbs in any other part of the city. And we've got a few others on the horizon, including Cox Farms Market at Sylvan Thirty (full disclosure: Sylvan Thirty is my client).
The Whole Foods on Lemmon & Lomo Alto is less than ten minutes away. Even quicker once the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opens and we'll have direct access to the Tollway.
When we lived in Lakewood (prior to Whole Foods new store), it took longer to get to a grocery store than it does for us now in Kessler Park. We'd have to shop at Tom Thumb at Abrams & Mockingbird or the Albertson's at Mockingbird Station. Neither were convenient.
Great story Candy! I have sold in Oak Cliff and it's a great location in terms of vicinity to downtown and for the arts. I find buyers who are looking in Lakewood, M-Streets and other areas should look into Oak Cliff!
Great story Candy! I have sold in Oak Cliff and it's a great location in terms of vicinity to downtown and for the arts. I find buyers who are looking in Lakewood, M-Streets and other areas should look into Oak Cliff!
My wife and I really had high hopes for a modest Tudor in the Kessler area when we were house-hunting in 2003, but she could not overcome the "island" mentality. It was her perception that a trip to the grocery store meant a planned excursion to the fabulous K-Roge' on Cedar Springs Road in Oaklawn. Considering that the typical area 14-2 home is about $100,000 less than their area 12-6 pre-WW2 cousins to the northeast, that old location-location-location thing strikes again. We're in a suburb now, but try to catch the OOCCL home tours when we can which I highly recommend.
My wife and I really had high hopes for a modest Tudor in the Kessler area when we were house-hunting in 2003, but she could not overcome the "island" mentality. It was her perception that a trip to the grocery store meant a planned excursion to the fabulous K-Roge' on Cedar Springs Road in Oaklawn. Considering that the typical area 14-2 home is about $100,000 less than their area 12-6 pre-WW2 cousins to the northeast, that old location-location-location thing strikes again. We're in a suburb now, but try to catch the OOCCL home tours when we can which I highly recommend.
Why yes Candy Yes we would!
Why yes Candy Yes we would!
I bought a house in El Tivoli Place in March as well… traded in my Downtown Main Street Condo for a little 1945 cottage…. it has been a great move!
I bought a house in El Tivoli Place in March as well… traded in my Downtown Main Street Condo for a little 1945 cottage…. it has been a great move!