Kessler Highlands Tudor Updates Maintain Vintage Charm, Sweet Curb Appeal

One of the most appealing areas in North Oak Cliff is Kessler Park, with gently rolling hills, historic houses, and lovely, tree-lines streets. The area is made up of multiple separate neighborhoods, each with their own personality, like Kessler Park Estates, Kessler Square, West Kessler, and Kessler Plaza.

Today’s Thursday Three Hundred takes us to Kessler Highlands, the second oldest of the Kessler Park neighborhoods, and a gorgeous Tudor Revival house at 923 Thomasson Dr.

This 3-2 has 1,610 square feet and a highly functional layout, with original touches, like a working fireplace and a charming round-top front door with large circular window. Its also just three blocks from Kidd Springs Park and Recreation Center.

It is newly listed by Crystal Gonzalez at David Griffin & Company for $349,900. Like so many of the beauties I find to profile in this column, it went under active open contract within a matter of days, so take a look before it’s off the market!

As documented by Kessler Neighbors United, the Kessler Park area of North Oak Cliff is comprised of 10 separate developments dating from 1923 to 1979. Seven of these areas are named in honor George Edward Kessler, a German-American pioneer urban planner and landscape architect hired by the city of Dallas in 1909.

The Kessler Park development date to March 19, 1923, when the Kessler Square Addition was dedicated. Kessler Highlands, where our Thursday Three Hundred is located, was dedicated in November 1923—long, rectangular blocks that run east-west and consist of masonry revival architecture bungalows, predominately Tudor Revival an Colonial Revival) on small, regularly platted lots.

Our house at 923 Thomasson Dr. is a gorgeous example of what the neighborhood offers. The curb appeal of this Kessler Highlands Tudor is friendly, from the red brick with dark green wood accents to the mature trees. Built in 1935, this house maintains all its original charm.

The front living room is entered directly from that cool front door, and those refinished hardwood carry throughout the house (except for the kitchen). The owners have repainted the interior in a palette of neutral grays, which looks modern and fresh against the original details. The living room is large for a house of this area, at 21-by-13, and the floorplan feels open because of large doorways between rooms and banks of windows which flood the rooms with natural light.

In the dining room, a contemporary pendant light anchors the space, which again is large for the era, at 13-by-13.

Huge renovations in the kitchen make the most of the space, and make it totally modern. New cabinets and countertops, stainless steel appliances, contemporary drawer pulls and handles, and a white subway tile backsplash are just a few of the changes.

A large breakfast room off the kitchen offers more space for relaxing or eating, and a nearby utility room has full-size washer-dryer hook-ups.

The three bedrooms are in great condition and it looks like previous owners added closer space, which is usually lacking in houses built in the 1930s (did they just not have big shoe collections or what?).

Love that big backyard, with landscaping and shade trees. A separate two-car garage is a great bonus.

The house is three blocks from Kidd Springs Park and Recreation Center, pictured above, as well as all the popular spots in the Bishop Arts District.

No surprise this house came on and went under contract so fast—it has a fabulous location, beautiful exterior, and lovely interior for under $400K.