Stevens Park Estates Colonial Comes With a Backyard Oasis

If you look up any source for information on Stevens Park Estates, you find the same phrase reiterated: “One of the finest residential subdivisions in Oak Cliff.” The intent of developer Dr. John H. Stevens, one of the first physicians in Dallas, was to create the most architecturally cohesive and scenic neighborhood in the hills overlooking downtown Dallas.

He succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations.

The manager of Stevens Park Estates, S.P. Cimmiotti, began a beautification program in 1930 that planted shrubbery at every intersection, while owners Annie and Walter Stevens worked with architects and developers such as W.E. White and Carsey & Linskie to create a neighborhood deed restriction that would ensure architectural cohesiveness. This deed restriction plotted the neighborhood into separate districts for two-story, story-and-a-half, and one-story houses and even mandated certain building materials. For example, only two-story brick or stone houses could be built on Colorado Boulevard and Plymouth Road, as well as on all corner lots on the interior streets. Such architectural regulations created a sense of cohesiveness that attracted early homebuyers.

Preservation Dallas

That foresight and emphasis on scenery has made this neighborhood one of the most coveted in Dallas. Where else do you find actual hills, not to mention proximity to a golf course? Neighbors tend to stay put, so it’s exciting when we see an original home for sale, and this 1938 W. Colorado Blvd. Colonial is a real find.

And Now For a Little House History

The Reverend Hugh M. Riley, minister of the Oak Cliff Christian Church and president of the Dallas Christian Pastors Association, lived here for some time and performed several weddings in this beautiful two-story home. Can’t you just imagine vows being exchanged in front of the fireplace?

In 1963 John Stolly’s father and mother bought the home, and he spent his youth growing up in what is now the second-floor principal bedroom.

“I am a big fan of visiting houses I lived in before,” Stolly said. “When it was for sale in 2011, I took my mom and dad to the open house, and I went back as soon as I saw it was once again for sale. It’s always fun to see what’s been done. It’s like time travel!”

Cheryl Aukeman was the lucky buyer. Auckeman knew she wanted to live in Oak Cliff years before she moved here.

“My sister and her husband were in Winnetka Heights, so I became familiar with the area and loved the hills and the mature trees,” she said. “As soon as the kids graduated from high school, I started looking for a house in Oak Cliff.”

When she found this Colonial in Stevens Park Estates, the open floor plan and the potential to create an absolute oasis in the large backyard sealed the deal for her.

Before moving into the house in 2011, Auckeman enlisted the help and expertise of her friend and interior designer Erin Sisson.

“We resurfaced every wall, redid the lighting, added hardwood where it did not yet exist, and refinished the existing hardwood to match,” Auckeman said. “We also redid part of the kitchen and, in 2018, did a second remodel to the kitchen that included adding Taj Mahal quartzite countertops. I love the craftsmanship in this home. I love that this is a vintage house but updated. It’s an inviting home with great molding and original glass French doors. It’s stood for 85 years, and there is not a crack in any wall.”

This Stevens Park Estates Colonial now has 3,296 square feet with three bedrooms. The original principal is on the first floor, with another on the second. The most significant change to the home was the backyard that Auckeman tackled the second year she was there.

A Backyard Oasis in Stevens Park Estates

“It’s been an oasis that I use every month of the year,” she said. “There are water features and fountains, and the pool is heated and cooled. It has a pump that allows the air and water to circulate and cools the water overnight,” Auckeman said.

While finding an outstanding, move-in-ready home is always difficult, so is finding a neighborhood like Stevens Park Estates.

“Within a year of moving in, I knew more people than I knew from 20 years of living in Plano,” Auckeman said. “We have first Friday gatherings, block parties, and new membership parties, to name a few. There is always a reason to celebrate. I’ve held many parties in this house and fundraisers for our councilman, Chad West. This is a perfect home for entertaining.”

A perfect home in a perfect neighborhood. What more could you ask for?

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate InTown listing agent Joanna Robben has 1915 W. Colorado Blvd. offered at $1.379 million.