As PV14 Nears Completion, Thoughts Turn To Preserving Views of White Rock Lake

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PV14 facing Peavy Road (Photo: M Gooden Design/PV14House.com)

If there’s one thing that the discussion regarding the proposed restaurant at Boy Scout Hill has done it is galvanize a movement to preserve White Rock Lake. I suppose, depending on your viewpoint, this could be both positive and negative, as preservation often means ex-nay on any kind of development (or even re-development, for that matter).

Which brings us to one of the most interesting structures going up around the lake right now, the modern shipping container home on Peavy Road in Old Lake Highlands called PV14. The home, designed by M Gooden Design and constructed by Herman Darden Custom Homes, has sweeping views of White Rock Lake and downtown Dallas, thanks to its unique build and rooftop deck. This is definitely one of those homes that will be featured on the White Rock Home Tour when it’s done.

The kitchen and dining areas inside PV14's second floor. (Photo: M Gooden Design/PV14House.com)

The kitchen and dining areas inside PV14’s second floor. (Photo: M Gooden Design/PV14House.com)

But what does it mean to preserve the views that make this home so interesting? Does it mean that we should eschew all commercial development surrounding the lake? Does it mean that the Dreyfuss Club, which burned down a few years ago, should never be rebuilt? Does it mean that the move toward organic and pesticide-free maintenance be embraced across the lake?

That’s what many homeowners and activists would prefer, including those that have rallied around the virtual campfire of Facebook, building new networks and enlivening discussions on what stewardship of public resources actually looks like in action, and whether flying a kite is a more worthy use of our precious few acres of public space than having a margarita at sunset from the deck of a restaurant atop one of the most scenic spots in Dallas.

The view from PV14. (Photo: M Gooden Design/PV14House.com)

The view from PV14. (Photo: M Gooden Design/PV14House.com)

The big question is, will development negatively impact home values, and will it no longer become attractive to build innovative properties such as PV14 if developers are allowed to winnow away at the lake’s few open areas?

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

5 Comments

  1. Candy Evans on May 20, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    One thing for sure: Dallas is changing, growing, and every neighborhood seems to be experienceing growing pains.

  2. ccryder on May 21, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    White Rock Lake was built for ALL the citizens of Dallas to enjoy back in 1910: it isn’t a private lake just for those living nearby. In fact, when built, most of the housing around it was not there at all. Certainly, none of the ”neighbors.’ Any changes to the lake and the park area around it should be decided by ALL the citizens of DALLAS — not a few extremists who just ‘happen’ to live close to the amenity. In fact, they ruin much of the enjoyment of the area for others — which, it seems, is their goal.

    • FURD BURPHLE on May 22, 2014 at 8:56 am

      If it weren’t for the neighborhood residents, the lake would be akin to the State Fair and the wildflower areas would be concrete parking lots serving political friends “for profit” private interests such as running venues, restaurants and the biggest joke in Dallas—–The Arboretum and its $40 per head kiddie park. You sound like a “for profit” ringer who destroys the ambiance of this lake every weekend with your over-parked, loud annoying events.

      • ccryder on May 22, 2014 at 3:11 pm

        Ignorance is not bliss, nor helpful. The Arboretum is owned by the city of Dallas – thus by it’s CITIZENS. So, therefore, it is NOT for profit. As is ALL of White Rock park. Many, like you, need to study Dallas history.
        For example: those ‘wildflowers’ you love so much — were ‘planted- by ‘fill’ dirt – and are not long-time native-to-White Rock grasses and wildflowers. The Parks Dept has a book on this history — and guides. There IS a native black-prairie area – but, I’m guessing you don’t know where it is; few do.
        The Parks Dept WANTS the restaurant, as users of the park have no park resource for water, food, etc. And, like Klyde Warren Park, this revenue would go back to the park. Makes lots of sense to me.

  3. G Russo on May 21, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Personally I’m not swayed by an argument that we should preventing projects that could provide benefits for the wider the community, just so that a few homeowners can build expensive houses on their lots and have views of the lake and downtown. I think that there are probably many good reasons that they should not develop Boy Scout Hill, but that is certainly not one of them.

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