Owner of Former Scientology House Has Other Vacant And Poorly Maintained Properties
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You already know that Grandwick, the former Dallas headquarters of the Church of Scientology, was reduced to ashes by a three-alarm fire Thursday. The owner, David D. Anderson, said that he was unable to obtain insurance on the property because it was vacant.
It would seem like this is a tragic, singular occurrence, but the truth is that Anderson owns several homes throughout east and southern Dallas, and many of them are vacant, overgrown, and generally eyesores.
In total, Anderson, who also owns two music stores in the area, has 23 residential properties in Dallas County according to records pulled from the Dallas County Appraisal District website. Of those 23 properties, four are rated “Unsound,” seven are rated “Poor,” and seven are rated “Fair.” Only five are rated either “Average” or “Good.” Grandwick, which is considered a commercial property, is not rated using the same system.
According to an official with DCAD, a property that is rated “Poor” often has more than a few code violations, the most common of which is peeling paint, overgrown landscaping, broken windows, as well as some structural issues. An “Unsound” property is often considered unfit for occupation, with serious structural issues, boarded up windows, along with a significant number of code violations.
A firefighter whose station responded to the blaze at Grandwick said that while they are unsure what caused the blaze that reduced the stucco-clad 1950s Spanish estate to a pile of rubble, Anderson told firefighters he suspects students from nearby Gaston Middle School. It’s a popular theory, especially considering the number of nearby residents who complain of vandalism and graffiti, as well as the previous 911 calls to Grandwick after break-ins.
So, if a property is sitting vacant and is a magnet for vandals, why not sell it to someone who could put the time and money into refurbishing it? It’s a good question, especially since vacant properties are many times more likely to be broken into and suffer catastrophic damage.
A neighbor to one of Anderson’s East Dallas homes in Forest Hills said that he visits his property at 8310 Forest Hills Blvd. regularly, but doesn’t live there. According to DCAD, this is the home Anderson uses as his primary address. The neighbor, who declined to be identified, didn’t think Anderson was acquiring all these properties just to let them rot, though. Instead, she said Anderson was amassing an estate for his daughter to inherit.
8310 Forest Hills Blvd. is rated in “Poor” condition.
It kind of makes sense, but wouldn’t his daughter benefit more from property that is properly maintained? For example, 8310 Forest Hills Blvd. is rated in “Poor” condition by DCAD. On the flip side, Anderson bought his daughter Belle Nora at 8254 Garland Road, just a few blocks from his Forest Hills Boulevard home, for her 16th birthday. Since then, though, it’s sat empty save for Christmas dinner last year.
After reports from passers by and Forest Hills residents that the property wasn’t being maintained, we asked Realtor Vicki White if she had heard anything adverse about Belle Nora. In a Jan. 28 email, White said that while Anderson wanted to move into the stately mansion overlooking White Rock Lake, he couldn’t move his parents there, who are in poor health.
“He does own several houses, and some of them are in disrepair,” White added. “I don’t think that’s the case with Belle Nora.”
However, since that date, much of the property has become overgrown, and the wrought-iron fence facing White Rock Lake has been held together with some nylon rope for months, rusting without repair. It is rated in “Average” condition by DCAD.
Is it a pattern of neglect, or is it a property owner spread too thin? As Anderson’s Forest Hills neighbor claims, he’s spending much of his time with his ailing parents, and only visits other homes. She called the fire at Grandwick “a tragedy,” too.
But for some people who have visited his Garland Road music store, they say it’s a pattern of disorganized neglect. Patrons and East Dallas residents have likened the store to a hoarder’s home, with stacks and piles of equipment and very little concern for the structure or contents.
We tried to contact Anderson for this story, but our calls were not returned before deadline. Our attempts to contact Anderson at two different nearby Zoo Music locations were not returned.
The home at 1608 Crest Ridge is considered “Unsound” by DCAD.
Great work Joanna! I am thinking of a regular feature called Real Estate Shrink! Any docs out there care to volunteer services?
Great work Joanna! I am thinking of a regular feature called Real Estate Shrink! Any docs out there care to volunteer services?
The DCAD rating system is more times wrong than right. Most DCAD Residential Appraisers have not seen a property in years if ever and have never been inside at least 99% of what they rate. I appraise residential properties regularly that DCAD rates poor that are completely remodeled or vice versa. It is usually older area like East Dallas, Fair Park or Oak Cliff but the same is true for Park Cities and other parts of Dallas. It is physically impossible for the few DCAD residential appraisers to know the condition of thousands of accounts they cover. DCAD does not have the time or man power to regularly update their property condition ratings. Here is one current example: 1118 Valencia, Dallas Per NTREIS MLS sold 5/29/2013 for $300,000 comments say built in 1935 "Updated Kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, white cabinets with glass fronts" . The interior photos more that back up the comments. Previous sale in 2007 also show it to be updated. DCAD has rated its condition as "Poor" for at least the last 20 years. There are thousands of examples of this. So to say that David Anderson has real estate in "disrepair" and quote DCAD as your source is not credible. What you are reporting here needs more research.
And we intend to do just that. The conversation and research has just begun!
David Anderson is an extreme hoarder. I’ve met his daughter, and his daughter is attracted to extreme hoarders like him. She also is a hoarder herself. I think that this habit runs in the family.
The DCAD rating system is more times wrong than right. Most DCAD Residential Appraisers have not seen a property in years if ever and have never been inside at least 99% of what they rate. I appraise residential properties regularly that DCAD rates poor that are completely remodeled or vice versa. It is usually older area like East Dallas, Fair Park or Oak Cliff but the same is true for Park Cities and other parts of Dallas. It is physically impossible for the few DCAD residential appraisers to know the condition of thousands of accounts they cover. DCAD does not have the time or man power to regularly update their property condition ratings. Here is one current example: 1118 Valencia, Dallas Per NTREIS MLS sold 5/29/2013 for $300,000 comments say built in 1935 "Updated Kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, white cabinets with glass fronts" . The interior photos more that back up the comments. Previous sale in 2007 also show it to be updated. DCAD has rated its condition as "Poor" for at least the last 20 years. There are thousands of examples of this. So to say that David Anderson has real estate in "disrepair" and quote DCAD as your source is not credible. What you are reporting here needs more research.
And we intend to do just that. The conversation and research has just begun!
thanks for bringing attention to these properties at risk.
thanks for bringing attention to these properties at risk.
Feel for his neighbors having to live near one of his neglected properties. Definitely sounds like there's some "hoarding" issues there.
Feel for his neighbors having to live near one of his neglected properties. Definitely sounds like there's some "hoarding" issues there.
This sounds very strange & like the stage for not much good to come out of it. It's really not that big of a deal to keep multi properties maintained "if one wants to". Multi owners do it all the time. Once they start to decline & aren't occupied, they start to go fast. It's a problem.
Totally agree. I also shudder to think of the liability had someone been hurt in that fire!
This is a very strange family. David Anderson is incredibly irresponsible. As terrible as this tragedy is, this is not the only strange occurrence related to this family, which is, arguably, the most dysfunctional family in Texas.
This sounds very strange & like the stage for not much good to come out of it. It's really not that big of a deal to keep multi properties maintained "if one wants to". Multi owners do it all the time. Once they start to decline & aren't occupied, they start to go fast. It's a problem.
Totally agree. I also shudder to think of the liability had someone been hurt in that fire!
Any update on this? It looks like Mr. Anderson owns maybe twice the number of properties since this article 9 years ago, and Belle Nora is now listed in Poor condition. Is there not a law about the number of homes a single owner can have for a number of years within a given area? Or at least laws on not allowing them all to rot?
What I wonder is why they don’t just give some of these homes to people who need a place to stay. As long as they can pay rent, it shouldn’t be a quandary. Additionally, as CB inquired, yes, the mansion in theory ought to be open to however can pay rent for it. There are people starving in Dallas in need of a place to reside. Frankly, I hope that those unfortunate people can reside in one of these homes.