The Historic Rosenfield Blue House in the Cedars Offers an Exceptional Investment Opportunity
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In the 1800s, the Cedars neighborhood was filled with spectacular homes much like those you see today on Swiss Avenue. Sadly, that is not the case today, with one exception: The Rosenfield Blue House.
It’s a spectacular Queen Anne, one of the oldest historic homes in Dallas. It was built by Neiman Marcus accountant Max Rosenfield in 1885. When Rosenfield left accounting for property development, he began buying land south of Dallas, and this is the first home he built. It’s a miracle that it not only survived but was moved, fully restored, and is now available for sale.
The home was a fixture at the corner of Griffin and Akard and eventually ended up as a halfway house, then was vacated and fell into disrepair. In 2016, Time Warner, now Spectrum, bought the Griffin St. property to provide parking for their building next door. When a bulldozer was spotted on the property, the Cedars community fell into action.
Through heroic efforts by Katherine Seale, Mark Martinek, and Jay Baker, the home was not only moved to a new location but also totally restored and updated. In 2023, the trio was honored with The Gail Thoma Patterson Award by Preservation Dallas, which recognizes an outstanding restoration project done to exacting standards. This is truly one of the most uplifting historic preservation projects to ever happen in Dallas. It shows what can happen with community determination, motivation, talent, and the right resources.
Seale was the chairwoman of the Dallas Landmark Commission at the time. She and her husband, John, bought an empty lot of Browder and Beaumont seven blocks away from its original location so the house could be moved. Once moved, Martinek and Baker took over ownership with Martinek acting as general contractor. The Rosenfield Blue House project began in 2017. It was completed in January 2023, and immediately became a successful rental property.
“It’s a great opportunity for someone who wants to own it and perhaps live in it and have a sustaining investment with the extra income,” Martinek said.
The Rosenfield Blue House is 2,921 square feet with six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms across three units, making it ideal for maximizing rental income. There is an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in the back with two separate studio units.
The Cedars, if you are unfamiliar, is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Dallas. It is minutes from Downtown Dallas, Deep Ellum, and, of course, the Cedars entertainment district.
“The property’s Opportunity Zone designation may provide investors with valuable tax advantages, while the surrounding area continues to experience significant redevelopment and growth,” Compass listing agent Luke Cuthbert said. “It’s a rare chance to own a landmark property positioned for both current cash flow and long-term appreciation in the heart of Dallas.”
The thing I was most pleased about was that we succeeded in preserving a historic, reasonably affordable residential project that so many thought could not be done. We prevailed and preserved the house. I am so pleased we got it back to where it should be and that it’s a success on all fronts.”
Cuthbert has just listed the Cedars Rosenfield Blue House at 1419 Beaumont St. for $1.195 million.
