Draw Inspiration From These Preservation Dallas Preservation Achievement Award Winners

April 17, 2025 | Karen Eubank | | Historic Preservation

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Each year, Preservation Dallas recognizes the people who have gone above and beyond in preserving our built heritage.

Whether it’s rescuing a rare Pueblo Revival from the wrecking ball, breathing new life into a neglected 1927 hotel, or gut-renovating a historic commercial building for adaptive reuse, Dallas’s historic preservation community perseveres.

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

They bring recognition to our city by continuing to preserve the buildings that define Dallas and they demonstrate the contribution of historic preservation to not only our heritage but also to sustainability and local economic development.

“For me, it is a bigger scope,” award winner Tam Pham of Steel Toe Stiletto said. “It’s not just about the individual house. It’s the continual process of doing the harder thing, which is not tearing down but preserving and showing it is valid and fruitful for an investor.”

6045 Kenwood Ave. before and after Tam Pham’s Steel Toe Stiletto renovation.

This year, Pham’s award was for 6045 Kenwood, a lovely 1941 cottage in East Dallas. Despite being a multiple award winner over the years, it did not immediately occur to her that this project would qualify for an award. After all, it was not in a conservation or historic district. But that soon became the main reason she submitted the cottage.

Tam Pham’s 6045 Kenwood Ave. renovation is a masterful example of imagination, hard work and the right attitude.

“The work qualified, and by the same token, this house is even more important because it’s in an area where homes are being demolished.” The same couple had owned it for 57 years and they were adamant they would only sell to someone that would keep it standing. “I wrote into the contract that I would not tear the house down,” Pham said. Eight months later, the house was completely renovated and under contract in less than two weeks.

“It proves the point that a historic home can be saved and sold at the asking price,” Pham said.

That is the lesson of historic preservation in a nutshell, and the Preservation Dallas awards are not just a recognition, but they also inspire and motivate us to continue our work.

On May 13, we get to see these outstanding projects honored at the Preservation Dallas 26th Annual Achievements Awards.

This year, the Achievement Awards will be presented at the iconic Longhorn Ballroom, a historic venue built in 1950 for country music legend Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. The ballroom has been given a new lease on life by owner Edwin Cabaniss, who will be honored with this year’s Stewardship Award.

Come out and celebrate these amazing historic preservation success stories.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

5:00 PM VIP Reception

6:00 PM Awards Presentation

8:00 PM Reception

Longhorn Ballroom

216 Corinth St, Dallas, TX 75207