BREAKING: Demolition Permit Pulled For Historic Lakewood Hutsell at 7226 Lakewood Blvd.
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Word comes through the grapevine that a permit has been secured to demolish the historic Clifford Hutsell-designed home at 7226 Lakewood Blvd.
The permit lists Bain & Company manager Pedro Correa and his wife, Impeccable Pig owner Jennifer Correa, as the owners of the home listed by David Bush this summer for $2.5 million. Public records also show Kyle Brinkley of Brinkley Property Group as the buyer’s representative for the home, which is on a half-acre lot on one of the most sought-after streets in Lakewood.
The news of the demolition is sure to be heartbreaking for neighborhood activist Summer Loveland, who has campaigned for the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District. The proposed expansion would have protected the historic structure — one with many original Hutsell architectural elements that haven’t been seen in years. According to the conservation district expansion campaign’s social media pages, the city attorney’s office is still working on the draft ordinance for the district’s expansion.
“One of the goals of the Conservation District expansion is to encourage renovation of historically significant homes, including the addition of square footage,” Loveland said. “Other homes in the area have proved that this can yield beautiful results, fit for a growing, modern family. One example of a historic Hutsell that has been lovingly updated will be on the Lakewood Home Tour this year at 7102 Lakewood Blvd.”
Demolishing Lakewood History
The home, lauded by preservationists as a superb example of Hutsell’s Hollywood-inspired Spanish Eclectic style, was kept intact for decades by the previous owners.
“This is the best-preserved Hutsell I’ve seen in 35 years,” historic home remodeler Carol Gantt told CandysDirt.com. “To reproduce that amount of ironwork alone at that level of artistic merit would cost over $100,000 today. This is also the best preserved elaborate painting I’ve seen. There’s likely a large mural of trees painted up the staircase wall that needs to be carefully restored.”
According to neighbors who have kept an eye on the property since it was sold, several windows and some trim work have already been removed from the property ahead of its demolition.
According to Loveland, the construction company says the demolition is set for next week and it will likely take a couple of days.
“This home is a perfect reflection of the historical significance of Lakewood as a community,” Loveland added. “As long as this area of Lakewood is not part of the Conservation District, neighbors can only hold out hope that the home that replaces it will blend in with the aesthetics, charm, and feel of our neighborhood.”
We’ve reached out to Pedro Correa but have not received a reply.
[Update: Jim Foster of Pioneers of Dallas County has started a petition to save the home at 7226 Lakewood Blvd. You can find it here.]
City of Dallas Demolition Permit And Authorization 7226 Lakewood Blvd by Jo Jemison England on Scribd
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Thank you for this – this is heartbreaking for Lakewood
I simply don’t understand how people can tear down these historically significant homes with wanton disregard for the neighborhood.
We are losing a special piece of Lakewood that has been kept in tact by special owners for the last 40+ years. Hopefully this area of Lakewood and the remaining Hutsell homes can soon be part of the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District. This is critical to retain the character & charm of our neighborhood.
http://www.love-lakewood.org
Breaks my heart. Don’t people have any compassion for history and beauty???
As a Professor Emeritus of Urban Planning and Humanitarian Studies, I simply detest to see stories of this type. Beautiful neighborhoods being blown over by the wind, as fragile as the fern fronds of the East Coast, likened to the wispy sand grains of Kandahar, we really are just dust in the Wind.
However, I don’t understand why this gorgeous house is being razed, all because a group of neighbors think it’s okay. Shouldn’t the theme be “SAVE LAKEWOOD” instead of saving a certain street. Why do we Save Tokalon, but not Lakeshore, Lakewood, Westshore, or Westlake?! Sigh, this poor, sacrificial lamb of a house, being led to the slaughter. Well done everyone. Clap clap
It’s very dismaying when people buy into a neighborhood with complete disregard for the neighborhood itself and what makes it special. Demolition of an important historical structure in the context of other existing historic homes significantly impacts the surrounding neighbors and entire neighborhood. While some might argue that it’s just one home, it is frequently the loss of just one home that becomes the impetus for further demolitions and eventually the essence of the entire neighborhood is lost forever. To purchase a home of this quality and value, and then demolish it is environmentally, historically, fiscally, and socially insensitive at best. I sincerely hope the new owners will reconsider, and there are a wealth of resources in our community whom would be thrilled to help show them how this home can be honored and still modernized to meet their needs.
I am sad. I am sick to my soft belly. It pains me to see my old neighborhood divided, but oddly enough, I’m not seeing or hearing anything positive from people off Tokalon. Where ya at, toking it up??? LOL. Let’s unite, we still have time to grab victory from the jaws of defeat!!! Super Lakewood Humans, UNITE! Shall we go streaking down the street and end it in front of the wrecking ball with a good old-fashioned sit-in?! Who’s with me?! You only get one spin around this crazy planet!
The value of existing historic materials is priceless and it is sad and maddening that the property owners are not aware of the historic significance of their investment. If demolished, this will be like a missing tooth in the neighborhood.
I love old Hutsells as much as all of us born and bred in Lakewood, but the buyers are WONDERFUL people who do so much for this community and anyone who knows them can attest to it. Y’all have no idea how many architects they consulted who told them, “There absolutely is no way this house is salvageable.” You also have no idea how much they paid to have historic pieces carefully removed only to donate them to people who asked for them. All of you who are so angry about it, why didn’t YOU buy the house? I feel like part of the beauty of Lakewood is that every house is DIFFERENT, and there is no HOA telling you what your cookie cutter house should look like. These people have amazing taste (Lakewood/long/Woodrow grad) and they won’t be building something ugly…it will look way better than the rotting, decaying, neglected mess that it is now (and yes, those are all OLD pictures). Calm down, people!!!!
I hope the new owners reconsider the demolition. The 7226 lot is huge, so I imagine it allows for sizable expansion to the south and east while keeping some of the original home. Why not preserve the existing front facade?
There are many people in this community (Candy’s Dirt and the Lakewood neighborhood) who would happily point the new homeowners in the direction of architects & interior designers that could update the property while keeping elements of the existing structure intact.
To the other commenter on this thread who said the new homeowners are “buying into” the neighborhood… we don’t know that to be true – they could already live in the area. If so, I hope they will reconsider the demolition of an architectural facade that contributes to what makes our neighborhood so unique in DFW.
Lakewood Blvd. resident for 30+ years. The lack of respect and regard towards our beautiful neighborhood is heartbreaking.
I was lucky enough to walk through that charming home with my daughter right after the sell of the property. We envisioned how fabulous it would be after some tlc. Never in a million years did we think it would be bulldozed. I can’t believe it’s not listed as a historical home.
This home has the ambiance of an elegant villa on one of Barcelona’s beautiful streets. It is a stunning building and should not be destroyed. By tearing it down, it not only removes a significant manse from Dallas, it also removes part of our collective past, a patina that helps make our city great. I hope that the current owners will see the civic and the aesthetic value in their home and not tear it down.
René Schmidt
Tearing down houses, whether historic or not, is what Dallas does…..get ready for another monstrous white box!
This is tragic and depressing. Once again, Dallas’ architectural history is being destroyed.
Preserved and *untouched* are very different, this home was very special but it had been neglected for many years. I imagine a beautiful home is to come here with complete respect and inspiration from the legacy design. The way to preserve is to purchase! Looking forward to seeing new love and life poured into this special lot.
Blair,
Those photos are NOT old. Every single photo that has been published on this house in every venue was taken in August 2023 when the house was listed. FACT. I follow closely. I know because I am one of the 48 year owners of this house. This makes me question the credibility of all of your statements. It is interesting that they did not reach out to us to see if we wanted any of the ‘donations’ of stained glass windows, tiles, historic pieces etc from the house once they decided to tear it down. This is sad news for sure. We declined entertaining offers from multiple builders in our best effort to find a buyer that would preserve this historic piece. We are disappointed to say the least.
Hutsell owner,
Fair enough. I thought they were old because the photos do not look like what I saw in person. Happy to change my statement based on your info!
Are you saying you specifically chose these particular buyers because they indicated they would try to save the house? If so, how heartbreaking.
I wish I had known they were “dispersing” elements. I live in a house by the stained glass artist, Roger D McIntosh. (That is on the National Register of Historic Places) I KNOW he made the entry light and spider gate, because I have the sister pieces in my home. I strongly suspect that the stained glass windows are his also. I find it hard to believe that that house was “beyond” saving.
WHY???
I am assuming that you as an owner cashed the check for $2.5 million (or thereabouts). And I’m assuming you didn’t put in restrictive deed or similar into the sales contract. I think it is disingenuous for people to come on this website, question motives, intent and facts as presented by others who don’t know the situation. As a former owner, you had the opportunity to influence the outcome here but instead chose a different route. Okay fine, glad you reaped the reward of owning an awesome property! But let’s not act like the new owners here had a responsibility to you beyond your contract with them.
Congratulations to the new owners. Looking forward to a beautiful new home that will be loved and taken care of for generations!
No structure is ever “beyond repair.” The new owners made the decision to destroy it. Imagine your “hello” to your new neighborhood being this. Horrific.
Tim T and all,
None of what was stated previously nor now is meant to be insulting or rude. It is an expression of disappointment and sadness about hearing it will be torn down. It is not a matter of responsibility toward us. While it would have been nice to have been given a gesture of general kindness toward the family that owned the property for 48 years to see if there was any interest ONLY if the items would have been discarded or as suggested ‘donated’, we do understand it not happening. Perhaps you can imagine the extensive memories that we all shared at this property. It is our understanding there is now intent to repurpose certain pieces and that sounds lovely.
In regards to the state of the property being a ‘neglected mess’, – we recognize it has needed extensive repairs and TLC. It is difficult to think an 80 something year old widow living there alone would have the energy to maintain and/or improve upon the property. It has been heartbreaking to watch the decline. We did hope the house would be restored and we tried to select a buyer with that goal in mind, but have understood that ultimately it is out of our hands once sold. We wish no ill will toward the new owners and will find pride in being the last family to reside in this particular Hutsell.
This is terrible! Could they not find another area in town to put up a ginormous faux-chateau?
It appears to be a pier and beam foundation – doesn’t that mean that the house doesn’t need to be torn down, as it could be moved?
This is just not good. Edit the landscaping, add to the back, leave the facade….but wow, this is not good.
I live in a neighborhood where nice old homes are disappearing and new modern black and grey homes are built. Old trees removed and we are left with a mortuary like house. They remind me of death. Why this is allowed to happen because the City of Dallas’ greed for more tax revenues. Dallas is a city that neither respects the past nor honors it’s heritage. Money, money, money. So we travel to Europe to see the old and beautiful that we destroy here.
What’s next… will Versailles be knocked down for a strip mall?
Sad. I just fear what will be built in it’s place. A giant, oversized modern, white box, with oversized windows that can be found anywhere in DFW. Granted, it will have all the high end bells and whistles with no soul. “Designer Chef’s kitchen” that will be not be cooked in or lived in because it’s too messy to cook. .Just eat out of a plastic container from ___________ restaurant.
Interesting to read the comments and input, both informed and speculative, regarding people’s intentions, motivations and deficiencies. I agree with all, and am powerless to make a difference. I can feel the sadness of the loss of the experience of the past, the beauty of the tile and ironwork craftsmanship that is moving toward unaffordable status, and the frustration that many feel is limited by their own resources or lack of commitment that we would make the “right” choice. The memory of Clifford Hutsell is not owned by anyone, save relatives and colleagues, but the appreciation of the beauty shared, even if only in books and photos, and not experienced in person, which is the only way to really experience architecture. Good luck to all aspects of this transaction.
Although I’ve lived in Maryland for the past 36 years, I owned and lived in a home in the 6500 block of Lakewood Blvd. for several years and loved the neighborhood. It breaks my hweart to see houses like this torn down, ususally (so it seems) so that someone with far more money than sense can erect a huge totem to their own self-importance in its place. Such a tragedy!