Move-In Ready: Merion at Midtown Park Gets Its First Residents

If Greenville Avenue hadn’t been closed on the way back from the White Rock dog park, Glenna and Justin Lafitte may never have bought their new home inside Merion at Midtown Park.

It was a day like any other — the couple took their miniature pinscher to the ever-popular dog park near the Mockingbird Lane bridge that traverses the narrow side of White Rock Lake’s northeast shores. They were cutting across east Dallas to their unit at the Paradiso in North Dallas, just off North Central Expressway when they had to reroute — Greenville Avenue was closed heading north. So they made their way up to Walnut Hill.

It was just luck that the two had been looking for a single-family home in the area. It had been a less-than-stellar search thus far — everything that they wanted in the neighborhood was older than they preferred or on the pricey side. “We looked at a community by PSW and it was in the $750s,” he said, “way outside our price range.”

So it really was just a happy accident that they found Hines’ brand new development.  

“We happened across Merion and toured a model that day,” Justin recalled. It was a perfect chance to see how the homes would work in real life, as they had Pee Wee, their dog, tagging along. They loved the two-story Coventry Homes model, replete with 20-foot ceilings, plenty of light, and a tidy bit of outdoor space for their beloved little guy — a change from condo living, for sure, outside of sheer size.

“I love the living room,” Glenna said. She especially loved the lofty space — “this feels huge to us,” she added.

Add in all of the amenities — a dog park of their own once Phase 2 is fully underway and a state-of-the-art, resort-style pool with cabanas — and they couldn’t find any reasons not to put a contract on one of the spec homes just a week after they first saw it. 

“When you look at comparable places closer to downtown,” there was no competition, Glenna said. 

Their particular property backs up to the adjacent Royal Oaks Country Club offering the Lafittes great views from their covered back porch, which has turf installed — a huge bonus for this pet-loving household. (Full disclosure: The Lafittes have an adorable long-haired cat, but Pee Wee really stole the show during our interview.)

And to think, if Greenville Ave. hadn’t been closed … actually, let’s talk about how secluded-yet-accessible Merion is. Justin, who works with Snap! Raise, an internet fundraising company, works all around the North and Northeast Dallas area. Glenna works at Neiman Marcus downtown. This development, which has easy access to both 635 and North Central Expressway, makes for an easy commute for both Lafittes. And yet, when you turn off of Rambler Road to cross through the gates, the community is quiet and private feeling.

Justin and Glenna say they don’t hurt for shopping or dining options, either. They’re always at Preston Hollow Village — Trader Joe’s is a favorite of Justin’s — and there’s plenty to explore just down Greenville Ave. 

Who would have thought that a detour would net this pair the perfect house? Not us!