Could This Lakewood Midcentury Modern Designed by Legendary Architect Thomas Scott Dean Be in Danger?

In the East Dallas neighborhood of Lakewood, few streets deserve to be considered “iconic,” and Avalon Ave. is one of them. Most Dallasites will recognize this stretch of street in the heart of Lakewood from the community’s annual Fourth of July parade. It’s lined with beautiful, mature oak trees and expansive front lawns that give way from deep setbacks to homes of all stripes, including this Thomas Scott Dean-designed Midcentury Modern.

A Home Ahead of Its Time

According to David Griffin & Company listing agent Brandon Stewart, the home has been featured in numerous publications and home tours, including the White Rock Home Tour, House & Home magazine, the Housing Hall of Fame, and in an edition of the Dallas Times Herald from November 1956. According to clips provided by Stewart, the home was ahead of its time with its flat roof and split-level floor plan.

Dean served in WWII in the Army from 1942-1943. He earned a BS at North Texas State University in 1947 and a MS there in 1949; did postgrad work at MIT 1948-1949; and got a PhD from the University of Texas in 1963. He had his own design firm for his entire career, working from Dallas TX, Austin TX, and Lawrence KS. He taught at Oklahoma State University Stillwater, 1964-1976; and at the University of Kansas Lawrence 1976-1993, where he was architectural engineering chair 1989-1993, later named Professor Emeritus. He is the author of How to Solarize Your House. He worked on construction techniques for the moon using helium balloons to offset 5/6 of human weight. Occasionally, he was referred to as Dr. Dean.

US Modernist

Stewart says the Lakewood home, replete with Midcentury Modern details, is both timeless and inviting. It strikes a great balance of original finishes and updates, too. The mosaic shower in the primary bath and yellow bathtub are charming, but I also love the closet cabinetry and the wood grain wall in the library. The terrazzo floors are stunning as well.

“Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the residence is equipped with a host of contemporary amenities designed to enhance modern living,” Stewart said. “From the convenience of turf grass to the peace of mind provided by a standby generator, every detail has been carefully considered to ensure comfort and functionality.”

If the home sounds like a smart buy, we’re sure there’s someone out there who agrees and will snatch this Thomas Scott Dean-designed Midcentury Modern, which is one of a few of his works in his native Dallas.

Dean was responsible for designing several homes in the area, including this almost completely original one on Rosser Road and one at 11116 Pinocchio that is one of the first concrete ridge frame homes built in North Texas, according to Ed Murchison. While Gordon Nichols built several Dean homes, this Avalon Ave. Midcentury Modern was built by Lloyd Smoot Jr. according to the Dallas Times Herald piece.

A Thomas Scott Dean Design at Risk?

Some in the community are cagey about this Avalon Ave. home hitting the market, and considering the frequent teardowns in Lakewood, they have good reason to be. Despite efforts on behalf of preservationists, many architecturally significant homes in Lakewood could be razed without warning, and this Thomas Scott Dean design is no exception.

“It is on the very edge of the boundary of the expansion area, so it is not currently in the conservaiton district, but would be if we can get the expansion passed,” says neighborhood advocate Summer Loveland. “Notably, all other blocks of Avalon to the west are included in the existing conservation district and we are trying to include the 6800 block now.”

However, there’s one wrinkle, according to Loveland. The majority of homeowners neighboring this architectural treasure are against the expansion, she said, and many homes have changed hands since the conservation district expansion campaign started more than two years ago.

We’d hope that, even if neighbors buck the Lakewood Conservation District expansion, the buyer of this exceptional Midcentury Modern would find a way to protect the home, but we have to acknowledge that, after the mostly original Clifford Hutsell-designed home at 7226 Lakewood Blvd. was razed, nothing is sacrosanct.

Stewart says that the home has been updated for energy efficiency with new Pella windows throughout, renovated with a beautiful modern kitchen with quartz counters and high-end appliances, and includes stunning landscaping inspired by Roberto Burle Marx.

With so much to love, we hope this Dean-designed Lakewood Midcentury Modern is treasured and preserved.

Brandon Stewart of David Griffin & Company Realtors has listed the Thomas Scott Dean Midcentury Modern at 6879 Avalon Ave. for $1.25 million.