Dare We Say the Dulaney House, Elizabeth Boulevard’s Crown Jewel, Is a Bargain?

Even on a street with several impressive Jazz Age palaces on the National Register, Elizabeth Boulevard’s crown jewel in Fort Worth is a stunning standout. My very first post for this site, 10 years ago, covered one of these abodes, so returning to home base seems an apposite way to celebrate the anniversary.

Built in 1918, the Dulaney House was likely the work of architect Wyatt C. Hedrick and builder Harry B. Friedman, who erected the estate for the then-staggering sum of $100,000 — about $2.1 million in present-day money and very near the current list price.

The duo opted for the extravagant Italian Renaissance Revival style, sparing no expense on materials — including Solomonic majolica columns and their Corinthian capitals, imported from Italy, which support the arches of the front porch and the elaborate carved entablature.

Though the home is over 5,700 square feet, the five bedrooms, three full baths, and two half-baths are surprisingly livable by modern standards with human-friendly proportions that could offer a useful template for builders today. The floor plan is actually fairly straightforward. On entering the grand marble foyer with its commanding bifurcated staircase, one encounters the traditional living room on the left and dining room on the right.

In contrast to the foyer, the living room is rather intimate in scale, dominated by the period carved stone fireplace. Adjacent is a closed-in terrace now a sun room with a charming little fountain.

The dining room handily accommodates a large dining table. Trios of arched windows appear at the street front of the foyer, living room, and dining room.

The eat-in kitchen has all of the mod-cons and top-of-the-line appliances one would expect to find in a listing of this caliber, including a large island and full-scale range topped by a custom hood which matches the cabinets and panelling.

All five bedrooms are situated on the second floor, including the primary suite with a charming attached bath. All have balconies or Juliets.

At the front is an imposing balcony overlooking the boulevard with views of the neo-Gothic church on the opposite corner.

Below is a fully finished cellar of over 730 square feet, not included in the listing, ready to be converted into a home gym, den, game room, or all three.

At the back is a timelessly stylish pool and pergola. The residence is sited on two large, corner lots which comprise the beautiful grounds. The 700 square foot guest house is finished to the high standards of the main.

I think it’s worth noting that the house is priced at $487 per square foot with the finished basement and guest house thrown in for free. Present-day construction costs for a house of this caliber would run to nearly one thousand per. Though the house can hardly be deemed a “bargain,” it does represent significant value for money.

Barbie Armenta of Magnolia Realty has listed 1001 Elizabeth Blvd. for $2.8 million.