Guess Who Was Invited to Be a Preservation Dallas Board Member?

Our publisher, Candy Evans joins the board of Preservation Dallas this year. As we celebrated this honor at CandysDirt.com, I thought our readers might enjoy learning about the board and the new members.

Donovan Westover, events and development director at Preservation Dallas, gave me some insight.

“We have a board development committee that collects information on who would be a good fit,” he said. “We try to maintain people from seven distinct business sectors contributing to preservation. That includes architects, real estate agents, lawyers, and people working directly in preservation. This approach allows us to turn to the most appropriate person on our board with a particular issue.”

Board members serve for three years, so you don’t see a lot of annual turnover. However, this year, five new members joined the team of 29. The seven-member Executive Committee is part of the entire board. That committee meets monthly, and the full board meets every other month.

David Griffin, president of David Griffin & Company Realtors, is a current board member who is deeply involved in the preservation community. He and his partner, James, chaired the Preservation Dallas 50th Anniversary Gala along with Shawn Todd of Todd Interests and his wife, Cheryl. Todd Interests you may recall has been a strong preservation partner to Dallas with their restoration of the National and the East Quarter.

“As board members, we are charged with helping to build the case in the community for understanding we do have a past, and it is often hidden on the street that is seldom seen,” Griffin said. “We are an advocate for the built environment. It’s important to honor the past, and our board members feel that. When people build extraordinary things, they are a part of the fabric of who we were, where we’ve been, and the dreams of the people of that era. There has to be a steward and a voice for acknowledging and advocating for what is worth preserving, especially in a city that is one of the fastest developing in the country. Aren’t we fortunate, for instance, that the DeGolyer House and the Camp House at the Arboretum were saved and the venues in Bishop Arts?”

Candy attended the new board member orientation last week, and as much as she already knows about preservation, learned some surprising new information.

“I had not known the extent to which preservation tax credits are available,” Evans said. “This really made me realize that tax credits will be a huge way to engage our city leaders in encouraging more preservation because, in the end, money always talks and helps move mountains. Considering what a builder recently told me about the price of wood makes preservation even more logical. I also think we are seeing a change in what attracts buyers and that Millennials and Gen Xers will be much more preservation-oriented than their parents were. They don’t want the big houses. They want homes with character, with a story. Preservation creates jobs, enhances tourism, and benefits smaller entrepreneurs. Whole cottage industries spring up to service these homes. It’s evident that preservation is very good for Dallas, and I’m excited to share what I will learn during my term as a board member. I also thank Karen for her diligence and enthusiasm on preservation — she is a true steward!”

Vision Statement

Inspired by a profound respect and passion for our city, Preservation Dallas is the premier organization to collaborate, educate, and advocate for the history and culture of the built environment in the North Texas region.

Candy joins an exciting group of newbies this year.

Russ Anderson – Russ is the President of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty and leads the brokerage’s many day-to-day functions, including sales, marketing, relocation services, finance, technology, and operations. He has more than 30 years of experience in finance, banking, and sales management, including president and CEO roles. 

Noelle Brisson – Noelle has worked in the real estate, finance, and planning sectors for over 30 years. She has an urban planning background and has worked around the world on projects. Noelle currently works in cyber risk management for smart buildings and smart cities. She has been a great participant on the Preservation Issues Committee at Preservation Dallas for many years. 

Candy Evans – Candy is the founder of the wildly popular Candy’s Dirt, which is all about everything real estate in the Dallas area. In 2010, she left D Magazine and started CandysDirt.com, which has become an award-winning real estate news site for the truly real-estate obsessed in Dallas and North Texas. Candy’s Dirt has been a big supporter of Preservation Dallas and preservation in Dallas through numerous articles and postings about historic houses and preservation. In 2021, Candy’s Dirt won the Preservation Education Award from Preservation Dallas.

Dale Sellers – Dale is the founder of Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, and you have seen their great work across the Dallas area and Texas. His company has worked on many award-winning preservation projects such as the Hall of State (several times), Dealey Plaza, Sharrock Niblo Cabin, and more. Phoenix 1 has also helped Preservation Dallas with projects, including the fabrication and installation of markers denoting the buildings around Main Street Garden and Ferris Plaza and the installation of the tribute statue in honor of Virginia Savage McAlester in the Aldredge House Garden.

Edward Stone – Edward is a native Texan (4th generation) and a longtime Dallasite. His education is in journalism, and he has worked in marketing for over 40 years for big companies and led his own marketing company from 1976 to 2006. In his retirement, he has served on the Dallas Landmark Commission and is currently on the Preservation Issues and Education Committees of Preservation Dallas.

Mission Statement

Preservation Dallas collaborates, educates, and advocates for the Preservation and revitalization of the city’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and sites.