Urban Reserve

Modern, Sustainable Living in Dallas

Dallas’ cool-factor is amped up with the Urban Reserve neighborhood.

Located near Central Expressway, White Rock Trail, and the Dart Light Rail, this environmentally friendly development of 50 architecturally stunning homes is centrally positioned in the heart of everything.

Urban Reserve’s 13 acres of land consists of two ponds and lush greenery. It’s a scenic gem in the center of the city. The exquisite houses, flanked with stone, designed with solar panels, and filled with natural light extends brings artful living to life.

Aside from an esteemed collection of architects who designed the homes including Max Levy, Russell Buchanan and Lionel Morrison, the Urban Reserve neighborhood is environmentally friendly. In fact, every house is required to have LEED-H certification. Additionally, every home built must be modern, green, and approved by developer Diane Cheatham and Urban Reserve’s architectural review board.

Cheatham explains her vision was to develop a neighborhood with a focus on green building and a modern aesthetic in a natural setting — there’s a serene pond upon entrance and a common outdoor area for residents to share.

“In the early 2000’s, before green was cool, many people told me that sustainability would add a lot of costs with no benefit,” she says. “It did take longer to design, approve and build it. However, sustainability has proved a key element for the people who want homes in Urban Reserve.”

To ensure the neighborhood continues to thrive according to the developers’ vision, there is a strict set of guidelines for architects to follow. From materials and colors of the exterior, Urban Reserve homes maintain impeccable design.

Planner and Landscape Architect Kevin Sloan of the Kevin Sloan Studio designed the landscape of the neighborhood. He explains, “[It] is designed to operate as a social and environmental filter.” There’s a methodical system as to how it all works — from the catchment of rainwater to the pavement slope, there’s an environmental and aesthetic reason Urban Reserve is so well kept.

“One of the things of which I am proudest is that seven architects have built their homes in Urban Reserve. I think that’s an unprecedented number for any neighborhood,” Cheatham boasts.

Urban Reserve is four miles from White Rock Lake and easily accessible to the White Rock Creek trails. The neighborhood is also part of the Richardson Independent School District — three out of RISD’s five high schools received medals in the U.S. News Best High Schools ranking.

Award Winning Development
• 2009 Eco-Structure Magazine —distinguished as one of 7 innovative projects
• 2007 CLIDE Award (Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence)
• 2007 Dallas AIA Excellence in Sustainable Design