Friday Five Hundred: With Some TLC, This Oak Lawn Diamond in The Rough Can Be a Real Gem

Share News:

When Erle Rawlins Jr. and his wife purchased an old laundry business on Congress Avenue, his goal was to take the building and turn it from a cavernous commercial property and into a true townhome. This was in 1934, when most people were trying to find their financial footing after the stock market crash of 1929.

Rawlins was a business-savvy man — a Realtor, natch — and he knew a thing or two about architecture. So he set out on this project with the help of Earl Hart Miller, and what they ended up with is this amazing 3,000-square-foot home around which high-rises and a bustling neighborhood was built.

Even though 3610 Congress Ave. needs a lot of work, she’s still a beauty. There are three bedrooms and two baths, but the real stunners of this property are the living areas. There you’ll find amazing textures, parquet and tile floors, gigantic windows, and high ceilings. They’re rooms where just about anything seems possible.

There’s also a good-sized pool in the backyard, which would be great for garden parties as guests can look up through the canopy of trees and see the buildings of Uptown and the sky sparkle around them.

I’ve already mentioned this, but this historic home is in a desperate state of disrepair, with leaks in the tar and gravel roof endangering some of the architectural features that make this home special. The price of 3610 Congress — a mere $599,000 — takes these conditions into account.

I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but the listing says that the zoning could allow for this home to be razed and redeveloped. I hope that a caring person will make this townhome in the heart of Oak Lawn their labor of love. It seems all too special to become rubble.

Joanna England is the Executive Editor at CandysDirt.com and covers the North Texas housing market.

No Comments

  1. Cheryl on August 17, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I had this long entry ready to post about the price needing to go down some, but low and behold, I look at the listing on Ebby's site and it says it's under contract. I would be curious as to what the final selling price is. I wish Texas would publish the selling price like other states and can't understand why this doesn't happen.

  2. Cheryl on August 17, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I had this long entry ready to post about the price needing to go down some, but low and behold, I look at the listing on Ebby's site and it says it's under contract. I would be curious as to what the final selling price is. I wish Texas would publish the selling price like other states and can't understand why this doesn't happen.

  3. Jo England on August 17, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I am always curious about selling prices! I kind of like the California model of tax appraisal, where the purchase price is the value by which taxes are assessed. I do hope the new owner restores rather than raze this amazing property!

  4. Jo England on August 17, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I am always curious about selling prices! I kind of like the California model of tax appraisal, where the purchase price is the value by which taxes are assessed. I do hope the new owner restores rather than raze this amazing property!

  5. Candy Evans on August 17, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    @Jo if our property taxes were not so darn high, we could do that, but everyone thinks by hushing sales prices their taxes will be lower. I think our legislature will keep Texas a non-disclosure state till the cows come home and turn to free-range chickens!

  6. Candy Evans on August 17, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    @Jo if our property taxes were not so darn high, we could do that, but everyone thinks by hushing sales prices their taxes will be lower. I think our legislature will keep Texas a non-disclosure state till the cows come home and turn to free-range chickens!

  7. Karen Eubank on August 17, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I'm not at all surprised this was snapped up. For someone with vision it's perfect!
    Let's hope the buyer shows us what they do!

  8. Karen Eubank on August 17, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I'm not at all surprised this was snapped up. For someone with vision it's perfect!
    Let's hope the buyer shows us what they do!

  9. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 8:24 am

    The word is Erle Rawlins is at Parkland Hospital….virus. Had also suffered from pneumonia. Good real estate broker and good family man. At the moment that is all I know.

  10. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 8:24 am

    The word is Erle Rawlins is at Parkland Hospital….virus. Had also suffered from pneumonia. Good real estate broker and good family man. At the moment that is all I know.

  11. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 9:59 am

    I need to recheck on Erle Rawlins….not at Parkland Hosp

  12. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 9:59 am

    I need to recheck on Erle Rawlins….not at Parkland Hosp

  13. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Fortunately, Erle Rawlins is now out of the Hospital and back home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Greg Pape on August 18, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Fortunately, Erle Rawlins is now out of the Hospital and back home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leave a Comment