The Buckner House is Gone. Could it Have Been Saved? We’re Digging Up Answers
Share News:
When the Buckner House went on the market, we lauded this Casa Linda Mediterranean’s history. We also worried the new buyer might not keep the home intact. We took to our social media channels to report the iconic East Dallas home at 1425 N. Buckner Blvd. was torn down Friday, and now we want to know what went wrong.
When the bulldozers arrived, our intrepid Executive Editor Joanna England hopped in her car and raced to get photos and film footage to publish a story. We were all in shock because we knew a bit more than the public about who was interested in restoring the home and really thought it would be saved. Yes, it had some water damage, and yes, it was neglected. Was it a teardown? Absolutely not.
So, what went wrong?
Multiple things. First, the home was vacant for over 15 years, meaning only the most dedicated preservation-minded buyer would understand the historical value.
Second, it was wildly overpriced and I cannot imagine it would have ever appraised at the original list price of $3.45 million.
DCAD puts the land value at $450,000 and “improvements” at $712,830, which is amusing considering the Buckner House has been vacant for over a decade. So, the total value in DCAD’s eyes was $1.16 million. Alright. We know DCAD is often wrong and that market value is no reflection of their value, but seriously, I think even the selling price of $2.89 million was out of whack with reality.
Third, there were multiple offers over the years, but none were at a price the seller felt acceptable, or the potential buyer could not get the zoning changed. At one point, Generation Homes made an offer for the land with plans to build a large multi-family project. The home is zoned single-family, and the zoning code is R10. That means each lot has to be a minimum of 10,000 square feet, basically the same size as most of the homes in Casa Linda Estates. As it did not fit the character of the neighborhood, they withdrew their offer.
We Can Now Reveal
The most gut-wrenching part of this saga is what we knew and could not tell until now. A buyer was waiting in the wings to do the right thing for the Buckner House, and it was someone known for her expertise in renovating and restoring historic homes.
Tam Pham of Steel Toe Stiletto has made a name for herself as someone who goes above and beyond to keep the integrity of a historic home intact. She has won four historic preservation awards from Preservation Dallas for her heroic restorations.
Tam is a true custom builder. What makes her unique is that she goes into these dilapidated properties and makes them gorgeous.
Gia Marshello- Allie Beth Allman & Associates
Pham also does her due diligence. The first thing she and partner Shawn Thomas, also an award-winning preservation-minded developer in his home state of South Carolina, did was pull the title.
“Part of the issue was the owner wanted a price that was not reasonable,” Pham said. “Then there was a deed restriction written in 1983 that was not completely clear. We talked to six different attorneys and two title companies about it. No one could offer a definitive answer. We were about to call SMU’s Law School to see if someone there could give us advice when the next thing we knew, the bulldozers had arrived.”
The demolition permit was pulled on Dec. 18, and the home came down on Dec. 22. There was no salvage arranged. The beautiful clay tile roof, the one-of-a-kind carved faces, and the amazing tile inside were all lost to a rubble pile.
But Who Tore It Down?
And where does that leave the land? Here are some things to keep in mind before rumors start flying on social media. According to our knowledge, a buyer cannot pull a demolition permit until the transaction is complete. The property is still showing under contract and not closed. However, please remember that it’s a holiday, so updating databases is not a high priority.
So, that means the seller must have demolished the home. Why? It changes the game. You are selling land with zero that anyone else has to raze. That can appear much more appealing to a buyer who intends to build a new home.
For those of you worried about developers, remember developers cannot get funding without zoning in place. Developers don’t expose themselves any more than they have to. They get their zoning and permits done before they close. We have already visited that scenario. The odds of this ever being a multi-family area are minuscule if that.
So, what is the most likely scenario now that the Buckner House at 1425 N. Buckner is gone? Replatting to build multiple single-family homes is my bet. That would go to the City Plan Commission with a public hearing. It makes the most sense in a situation that makes little sense.
Side Note From the Builder’s Son
Last night, I was lucky enough to receive a call from Tom Loving, whom I reached out to when he popped up on social media recently to correct DCAD’s listed build date of 1925. “My father, Tom Loving Sr., built this house in 1939,” he said. Loving Sr. grew up in Garland and went into the wholesale oil and gas industry. When a well in the Spindletop field struck oil, it ushered the United States into the oil age and made Loving quite a bit of money. He built the house for $25,000. At that time, it had a swimming pool and a double tennis court. Loving sold it in 1942. The first time Tom Jr. ever entered the gates was a few months ago.
It breaks my heart to see these beautiful structures taken down. I have to trust the people involved did this as a last resort. It’s a single-family area and should be retained as such.
Paula Blackmon— District 9 City Council Member
22 Comments
Leave a Comment
Emotion is powerful. It pushes opinions. Love, hate and everything in between is what makes us human.
This particular subject can sometimes heighten emotions to the point where rational and logical thinking is overcome by what feels good in the short term, which is where many of us firm up those emotions into opinions which then become decisions and part of our fact based beliefs.
I realize this site prefers to preserve rather than progess, and that’s great! But the reality is that most things change and evolve. Some like, or even need those changes and believe that looking forward is the better “feeling”.
Redevelopment of our existing communities is emotional. On a personal note, the 1800’s home I grew up in has been sold. While it’s unknown to me, the home is most likely headed towards demolition. Is my hope that someone would renovate the grand old lady? Not really. It’s time has passed. Money can’t even solve its problems. The house lived a good life, but the economics, location and design can no longer justify renovation. The result would no longer fit within the current character of the current community. This may sound harsh, but like your Buckner home, chances are pretty good that 5, 10, 20 years from now few will remember or care about what sat there before. Time has a funny way of healing our wounds and giving us the emotional strength to keep moving….forward. Museums are where we put the stuff we feel should be preserved for future generations to see….rightly or wrongly. They’re the only vehicle we’ve created to date.
PS. Zoning laws are the only thing that can stop, or start redevelopment and that debate comes with a whole new set opinions and concerns. All worth discussing.
Keep up your fight! As you know, it’s a battle.
Thanks again,
Brian
Well, Brian, I have to take you to task here on a couple of things. First, we are not a site that prefers to preserve rather than progress. We report weekly on terrific new construction. When that new construction comes at a historic cost, you bet we will bring the heat. We write one column a week on preservation because it’s important. We write far more on other topics. So, to your way of thinking, it seems we should not preserve anything. Museums do not offer a city a living identity. It’s not what brought Oliver Stone here to film. The fact Dealey Plaza was untouched, did. Movie crews regularly shoot in Junius Heights and Munger Place because they are preserved neighborhoods. Ask any Realtor. Many people flock to historic neighborhoods because they are historic. Do you think people go to Paris or London, or for that matter, Washington, Palm Springs, and New York, and not expect, and indeed delight, to see some of the oldest buildings and homes in our country? Historic architecture is a major part of the allure. Should the DeGolyer mansion have been razed for multi-family development? Should we tear down Old Red and build a high-rise? I think not. Emotion belongs in the narrative. Without it, we lose our regard for what came before. We lose our honor. We lose our humanity. History matters, and preserving iconic structures, commercial and residential matters.
I dont know about preservation or new building but I know one thing my heart hurts to know that the house is gone. I also know that years from now I will not miss the old house because time does heal. I also think that the demolition was done dirty and there should have been the ability for those to save parts of the past. Shame on those who took that away. If the house had to go ok but don’t take the opportunity to take away part of the past to those who want it.
Tharon,
Agree 100%. We used to see local companies whose business was to come into homes like Buckner and auction off everything, I mean mean everything. Window treatments, stairway banisters, molding, flooring, cabinets – everything. I’m not sure whether it’s still a thing, but I don’t hear much about it anymore? Hopefully, this seller or buyer either kept or sold the treasures from this historic home.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian, we often write about estate sales. This home had little left inside. It is our understanding that the owners removed the stained glass, but no salvage happened. That is gutting when you realize what those clay tiles on the roof cost.
Well said. I feel historical does keep memories alive and fresh as well for those connected to our grown up with, personally. But I’m just an average citizen that enjoys these things to still view physically not just mentally. For they can sometimes lift spirits and motivation to a different height to experience right there in person, ya know?
Well said. I feel historical does keep memories alive and fresh as well for those connected to our growing up over the years with, personally. But I’m just an average citizen that enjoys these things to still view physically not just mentally. For they can sometimes lift one’s spirits and motivation to a different heighth in an experience of being right there in person, ya know?
Such a shame to loose this historic beauty! My husband and I would drive by and dream of what we could do to that place. My hope is we will get some sort of architecturally pleasing property in it’s place.
I am personally very sad, I drove by the house on Thursday twice on way to and from doctor’s appointment. Before I drive by I always feel a sense of excitement. It would have been nice to have a chance to go inside the house and say goodbye.
It looks like the home was large enough to renovate it into an upscale duplex. That would have preserved the home.
LOL and probably made the city council happy!
My ex-brother in law was the minister for the Buckner Baptist Children’s home in the 80’s. We would visit and I wondered who owned that lovely home. The Buckner’s had strong ties to the town of McKinney in the 1840’s as well.
Les, The Buckner Baptist Children’s Home closed its doors in 2022. There is no longer a residential campus situation in Dallas.
Such a shame the house was lost. So much history and at one time beauty. And now it’s gone
Apartment developers are the greediest people on the planet. I am so glad it did not become apartments. Still it is sad to see the Clyde barrow home, this house, and other “local landmarks” become torn down to break into smaller pieces and profit.
I grew up in this area, my ex-wife lived right down Buckner from this home. This was back in the 70’s and the place was still well maintained. Loved the home for its style and presence on Buckner Blvd.. Her grandparents were the cox fence company owners, they put the chain link fence around the back lawn as well as the tennis courts in the 60’s. Their home in Forest Hills on San Fernando Way was styled very similar to this and is still standing after several restorations/renovations. It’s unfortunate that the previous owner could not see the value in allowing it to be sold for a price that would have allowed for restoration. I feel this way based on knowing that the most recent owners were heirs and had control of the property and no real skin or feelings in the game. The entire situation is maddening as well as sad. Karma is tough so hopefully the decisions the seller made will be revisited for them time and again. Yes, I said what I said.
Who gets to decide if a house is worth saving? Shouldn’t there be a government historical commission or such?
Totally agree about Paris, etc., but in our community there are historical areas where demolition is prohibited. I don’t live in Dallas, but I am assuming this house was not in Swiss Avenue or other similar area?
Yes, Chris, that’s correct. Historic and conservation districts would never allow this. The issue is we don’t have enough protection for homes that are not in historic areas and are worthy of preservation. I think the best-case scenario is that owners should be educated to understand the importance of their homes. We have an Office of Historic Preservation and Preservation Dallas. A great way to handle these things, in my opinion, would be a have a fund established so preservation societies could purchase homes that deserve to be saved. This happens in some cities but not yet in Dallas.
Well it at one time could have been my home due to the fact I was orphaned in 1943 . Sad it’s gone .
Hi Bertha, I think you might be thinking of the Buckner Children’s Home, which was in a different place. This was a private residence. We called it the Buckner House because of the location.
Dallas has a history of tearing down older houses, and Swiss Avenue is an exception. I was at Buckner Home 1958 and graduated in 1960, and I often asked why everything in Dallas looked new. A long-time Dallas resident (at Trew Home) said Dallas never valued older homes and tore them down as quickly as they could. Everything from Buckner Home that was there back in 1960 has been demolished and anyone “new” to the area would never know there was a campus that housed 650 kids. I’m sorry this old house if gone. When my wife and I moved to Ohio to take care of her mom for a while, we purchased a house that was built in 1848 and then added to in 1864. We spent the next 7 years (plus $$$) to refurbish that old brick house (2 stories and about 4200 sq ft). The house is still here, and the new owners just love how we kept the original styling (inside and out) as much as we could. Old houses have a charm that can never be duplicated by a new house, and although we lost money on that Ohio house, we are still glad we paid tribute (and $$$) to that house. Too bad this one won’t have the same chance, and it’s too bad that greed was the reason. We retired to the “hills” of central Arkansas and are happy to see that tradition is still honored around here. I don’t miss Dallas one bit.
Hi, Old Ranger. This is not the Buckner Children’s Home. We dubbed it the Buckner house as it was a large mansion on Buckner. But yes, you are absolutely correct that Dallas, in general, does not value older homes.