A Hollywood Heights Pueblo Revival Rescued By A.J. Ramler and His Amazing Team

Hollywood Heights is widely regarded as having the largest collection of stone-embellished Tudor homes in America. What most people don’t know is that the neighborhood has a couple of Pueblo Revival homes, which might be the only two in Dallas. We almost lost one of them.

I have some inside dirt here because I live in Hollywood Heights. Neighbors have been concerned for years about the smaller of the two Pueblo Revival homes. It had fallen into a dreadful state, and we wanted to ensure it was not demolished. Ideas were floated about how to save it, but nothing came to fruition.

Then a sign went up. Text messages flew, and Neighborhood Nextdoor lit up. What was going to happen? I raced over. The moment I saw David Cervantes’ Elyse Build sign, I drew a huge sigh of relief and frankly shed a tear or two. Knowing this adorable Pueblo Revival would again be someone’s beloved home was what the entire neighborhood wanted. 

Cervantes is A.J. Ramlers go-to when it comes to turning a home or a building most people would consider a lost cause, into something to celebrate. Ramler is the founder of Proxy Properties, a vertically integrated real estate firm that focuses on redevelopment and adaptive reuse. In other words, he is the preservationist’s knight in shining armor. Nothing makes him happier than finding a real estate listing like this one about this sweet Pueblo Revival: 

INVESTORS ONLY. SELLING FOR LAND VALUE. This property is being sold strictly for LAND VALUE, offering a blank slate for investors to bring their vision to life.

I’m thrilled we have creative visionaries like Ramler and his team who see potential in what others deem unsalvageable. If you are a devoted reader, you know we have a bit of a Proxy Properties fan club at CandysDirt.com. They have done so much to revitalize Oak Cliff, saving historic buildings like the Madison Hotel and The Oak Cliff United Methodist Church. In fact, they rarely work outside of Oak Cliff, so it was especially exciting to find them in my neighborhood.

When friend and Compass Realtor Thani Burke sent Ramler the listing, it looked interesting in all the right ways. “I had not been doing any single-family homes at all,” Ramler said. It was a nice way to practice creativity on something that is faster-moving compared to how long it takes to do commercial projects. We don’t do fast flips or lipstick renovations. We do a down-to-the-studs complete rehaul of everything. We like to find interesting projects.”

Ramler has done thirty projects with Cervantes, so, of course, he called him to take a look at the little Pueblo Revival. “It was in bad condition,” Cervantes said. It was obvious that someone had attempted to do some work on it, but clearly, they didn’t know the proper way to restore a home like this.” For example, the house required all new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, and because it is stucco, the electrical had to be trenched in the walls.

That did not deter Cervantes. He’s seen worse and fixed buildings most of us would run screaming from. Before work began, Ramler brought in another integral associate, award-winning architect Alicia Quintans, owner of JQAQ Atelier.

“It was imperative for the exterior remodel to conform to conservation district guidelines,” she said. That is always a thorn in the side of any renovation, but Hollywood Heights looks the way it does because of those guidelines.

“We didn’t want to blow out the walls,” Ramler said. “There was an existing arch from the living room to the dining room so we recreated an arch in the opening from the dining room to the kitchen and left the layout almost identical to the original one.”

Quintans noted that the original windows had already been removed, which allowed for replacement windows, offering an immediate enhancement to the home’s character and style.

Once the renovation was completed, another of Ramler’s go-to talents stepped in. Jen Stevens, owner of Fonde Interiors, who was also integral in creating the look of The Madison Hotel, staged the home beautifully.

“We were thrilled to work on this beloved neighborhood gem,” Stevens said. “It’s the kind of unique architecture that makes Dallas special and deserves to be preserved. The details of the design were aimed to thoughtfully echo the home’s Pueblo architecture. The repetition of arched doorways and passages mirrors the building’s iconic curved forms, and details like dentil molding and unlacquered brass fixtures add historical depth. We used handmade tile and warm amber-colored marble throughout the space to create a rich materiality that honors the home’s architectural heritage.” 

This is an excellent example to anyone who thinks a property cannot be saved, especially in a conservation district. It’s always a better, and greener decision to preserve our built heritage. Never dismiss a distressed home, because you don’t know who to call. Now you do!

Burke has this unique Hollywood Heights Pueblo Revival at 6918 Lindsley Ave. available for $835,000.

Open House: Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2, 1-3 p.m.