Preston Road, northbound at Royal.

6:15 a.m. Tune in to hear me talk about Dirt! Yikes that’s early! Might as well not even go to bed. Then it’s party time for another episode of PartyLine Real Estate up at Craig Ranch. CandysDirt is on the go!

I cannot believe that this home is still, STILL, on the market. The agent, Karen Luter, is one of the hardest working agents in town, a genius who has marketed her fingers to the bone for 8915 Douglas. It’s the home of a Dallas icon for Lord’s sake, and now it has been reduced AGAIN to $2,799,999 from an original high of $3,300,000, which had been lowered to $2,990,999. I mean, what gives. Brian Hagan tells me that dirt is now running at $2,500,000 per acre in the honeypot. This property backs to the Dallas North Tollway, but you are getting 1.050 acres, so who cares? Located on a delicious part of Douglas your neighbors are: Angel Rangel, Baxter Brinkman x three, Lawrence Wolfish, and EyeMart Express honcho Dr.  Douglas Barnes, who has the best-looking grass on the street. It’s fake, and I love it!

Here are the vitals:  12,115 square feet, 4 car garage, 6 bedrooms, six full and two half baths, three living areas, guest quarters, huge kitchen with breakfast area, stunning master with iconic pink Mary Kay marble tub and fixtures, marble floors, fountains, pool, cabana, pool fashioned after the pool at the famous San Simeon, the California estate of William Randolph Hearst.

Yes, it needs work, and pink may not be your thing. (Why not?) This home is reduced now enough to accommodate a remodel. Surely some high-level Mary Kay sales executive who has sold a bazillion tubes of True Dimension Wild About Pink can fork over the bucks to live in their namesake’s castle?????

Transwestern says it understand how precious this area is, the gateway to Preston Hollow, and they plan to do it justice. During the last five months they have met with more than 500 neighbors living near the proposed development, and they want to continue working with them in the months ahead.They have made numerous concessions including density reduction,  296 units to 220; height reduction from 8 stories to 6, with that tallest of the structures limited to the far corner of Preston and Northwest Highway; as I reported last week, balconies will be “false” on the entire east side so residents won’t loiter on them. Transwestern is requiring a strict PDF for the area, including 6-foot wide sidewalks when only 4-foot wide is required, green space beyond what code requires, public art, and no efficiency apartments. The smallest units will be 1,000 square feet.  All parking will be underground and meet code requirement of one space per bedroom in unit.

As for traffic, Transwestern apparently got a study from Kimlsey-Horn that concluded the development can be integrated into the surrounding roadway network with some changes to increase capacity at the turning lanes.

You know, why don’t I just let you read it for yourself!

Transwestern Zoning Case for Preston and Northwest Highway

We shot our second episode of PartyLine Real Estate tonight up in a luxury townhome at 17 Green, at Craig Ranch in McKinney, sipping wine as the sun set over the TPC. The luxury townhomes at 17 Green ALL overlook the Audubon-certified natural greens of the TPC Craig Ranch golf course. The homes feature formals, huge masters, rocking master baths, outdoor living spaces with fireplaces, and second-floor terraces that take in the beautiful view of more than 200 acres, all care-free. Prices are great — listed with Christy Berry, Briggs Freeman Sothebys. By care-free I mean that at 17 Green, everything is taken care of by the nice folks at Craig Ranch, even the perfect-sized green patches in your own backyard! Of course, what makes Craig Ranch so special is that it’s really one of the most intelligent, walkable urban planned communities set in a charming city. And one of the healthiest: my Lord there’s Cooper Fitness Center with a rock climbing wall (!) and one of the biggest lap pools in the state. There’s Playtri, the new triathlon mega-store in Craig Ranch’s Time Square building.

Probably the largest facility of it’s kind in the world, Playtri Craig Ranch includes coaching and equipment for all ages; clubs; a store that stocks the full range of triathlon gear; bike shop; sponsored races; team training; and workout recovery facilities such as cryosauna and massage therapy. Craig Ranch is really a community unto itself with in-town amenities such as retail shopping and dining, office and medical space, schools, parks, recreation and community events.

I learned a lot about McKinney tonight, too, from all the Realtors. Had no idea so many people move to Texas and tell their agents, “take me to McKinney.” Buyers do their math and they like the values they find in homes up there. Also, McKinney is the second most historic city in Texas.

Can’t wait for you to see the video — coming up this Friday! STAY TUNED!

Look at this 75-year old, never-before- seen- footage of Dallas that Dallas Morning News editor Robert Wilonsky unearthed (and I guess, bought) narrated by Mark Doty, Historic Preservation officer for the city of Dallas. 90 seconds of downtown Dallas on Kodachrome. (If you don’t know what that is, along with ice cube trays, holler at me.) Funny but not surprising to note that there were houses in downtown Dallas as far back as 1939 — single family. This was about the time, says Doty, that the Cedars ‘hood was being built. This was downtown Dallas before skyscrapers and highways. I was also enthralled with the vintage clothes and hats. I swear in 1939 every woman has as many hats as she had shoes, maybe more. Didn’t they blow away? How did women keep them on their heads? Good question for Ebby Halliday, who got her start in selling by selling ladies hats!

Sold! Another successful auction by the Concierge Auction peeps who sold off 3808 Turtle Creek late today, a 6300 square foot property last listed at $4.25 million and auctioned without reserve. Winning bid was $2.55 million, which includes the buyer’s premium. The auction happened so fast I actually walked in on the tail end!

This one was well attended, lots of Allie Beth Allman agents, including Allie Beth herself, Karen Luter, a healthy Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s contingent of Jonathan Rosen, Gene Taylor, Pogir, plus broker Rustin Smith, and a bevy of buyers. Marilyn Hoffman was also there, handing out her sales portfolio to any bidders who didn’t nab the home JUST IN CASE they were still shopping.

The buyer, a sharp man named Richard Kerr, CEO of MarketScout. (If you need insurance, check out his website: http://www.marketscout.com/) I have to say, this was one of the most heart-warming auction results I have seen. Richard was calm, happy, and posed for happy photos with his lovely daughter and special lady, an interior designer with major plans for 3808. They seem like absolutely lovely people who are thrilled with their purchase, or as Marilyn Hoffman called it, their “steal”.

Also, Richard acted as his own broker, which always makes the deal a little sweeter. Congratulations! 3808 Turtle Creek has four bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths, more than 6,300 square feet, and is a veritable jewel box of details that the discerning buyer will appreciate.

Originally built in 1925, 3808 Turtle Creek is one of the most sterling examples of English Tudor architecture from Korn, who designed several mansions in Highland Park, most notably the 1917 estate of Hugh Prather at 4700 Preston Road, one of the town’s founders. Now owned by Harlan Crow, the home received historic designation by the Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society.

When did I first tell you all about Giveback Homes, the brain-child of local boy Blake Andrews? There we go: last August, 2013. Here we are, above, in Big D last month.

Giveback Homes is a network of socially conscious real estate professionals. Here’s how it works: the agent joins up and a bio page is created for them. Membership cost is $50 a month, and includes marketing assistance. That way, clients can find Giveback Homes agents on the website, so it becomes another marketing tool. The agent can then make a direct contribution to Habitat for Humanity (Giveback Homes is a building partner) from his or her nice big fat commission check, and then target that donation to build a home for someone who doesn’t have one. The first local broker to sign on was our own Rogers Healy.

A whole lot has happened since last August. GiveBack Homes now has members in 11 different states, more than 100 members, and is enjoying growing support from the Dallas real estate community.

Ebby agents Jane and Emily Yeatmans are on board, as is Robin McMoningle from Briggs-Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, and Linda Vallala from Coldwell Banker.

Robbie Briggs funded an entire “build day” for $5000 that takes place on June 14.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about Giveback Homes:  Klick PR is on board handling PR and media, with stories planned in Fast Company. Yes, that’s the pub that says Chelsea Clinton is now in the “family business”. Also, a reporter is accompanying Blake and his wife, Tricia, on their next building trip to Nicaragua.

“It’s a marketing expense that differentiates you and your ad,” says Blake. “Agents can give as much or as little as they want — $10 or $1000. The donation you make in any amount at anytime is tax deductible and 100% goes to the Habitat of your choice straight off your bio page.”

Most home buyers don’t need another “crystal bowl” or similar housewarming gift, so clients are delighted to hear that their Realtor is donating to Habitat,  in their name, to celebrate their new home by helping someone less fortunate attain a home, often their first! The families Blake first helped in Nicaragua lived under tarps – that was the only roof they’d known all their life! In addition to helping to fund a home for a recipient, Habitat members can accompany Blake and his crew to the Habitat location where the home will be built and meet them, face to face. That’s why Blake seeks a large network of top-producing agents —  only 1000 in all of Dallas, DFW and surrounding areas. Agents are finding this is the kind of philanthropy that pays: his LA agents have already formed a Giveback Homes networking group that is driving business and referrals.

“We researched the Dallas area and focused on who we wanted to work with,” says Blake. “These are agents who want to differentiate themselves from the rest.”

Great example came as I opened my mail tonight: I got a paper card stuck inside my Preston Hollow People showing Coldwell Banker agent Linda Vallala as a “proud contributor” to Giveback Homes.

“I’m so proud to be part of such a wonderful giving network,” Linda told Blake.

Think of how much more effective and paper-saving an internet ad would be where people could connect quickly by a click? No better place than CandysDirt.com

Blake is headed to Nicaragua, this time with Giveback Homes members who will actually meet the families whose lives they will improve, in addition to building their home.

“We now have full partnerships with Habitats in New York,  Los Angeles, Dallas,  San Francisco,” says Blake. “We will soon be adding Florida, Chicago, Atlanta and Washington. Our first partner was Nicaragua, where we have already built 12 homes.”

The money is 100% for homes, says Blake; it turns your clients into humanitarians.

Blake Andrews is the son of Lana and Barry Andrews, a very generous Dallas family. Here he is with his wife, Tricia.

A few years ago, Blake, who now lives in Manhattan Beach, ventured out to work for TOMS Shoes where he was Special Projects Manager. He worked with another Blake, Blake Mycoskie, as in the Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS. The two met while playing tennis as kids right here in Dallas, then got together 19 years later on a fishing trip to Costa Rica. They were on the same boat, and instantly recognized each other’s twin names. Blake M. was the brains behind One for One, a simple giving idea which has turned into a global movement. TOMS has given over 12 million pairs of new shoes to children in need since it began in 2006, in more than 60 countries. Recently the company also expanded its business model to include TOMS Eyewear, now helping to save and restore sight for those in need.

From shoes to eyeglasses to homes. This is how you change the world: one brick at a time.

The first thing you notice about 3309 Centenary, this smooth-lined Mediterranean beauty, is the doubly huge Park Cities lot — 140 by 150, since it was two 70 by 150 lots knitted together. Knitting together lots seems to be a trend on Centenary, by the way. The huge half acre creates a splendid setting and room for a much larger home. In this case, 3309 Centenary IS a much larger home of more than 9400 square feet built in such a unique manner, you could almost, almost have two families living under one roof but in totally separate wings. Like knitting together the lots, the melded family would be living in clean, elegant lines with polished limestone, marble and wood floors, beautiful natural woods and earth tones, sea colors, sunlight.

This home is as visually soothing as grandmother’s chicken soup with home-made noodles when you have a cold.

They can even have separate kitchens — the main kitchen is genetically loaded with every designer appliance imaginable from the gas stove cooktop, ovens, microwave, warming drawers, wine cooler, Miele coffeemaker, double sinks and dishwashers. The hues are earth-toned and woodsy, and this kitchen opens to the family room. The “summer kitchen”, as it is called, opens to the outdoor living space and is equally genetically packed with the latest in kitchen accoutrements.

The entire home is C-shaped featuring walls of windows on the back all facing the outdoor living oasis of pool, spa and greens. There are even separate garages — three oversized car stalls and work-bench on one side, a single car garage on the other, both with entrance to the home.

There are even two private offices with baths, one of either side of the house.

And yes, you guessed it: two master bedrooms, two private baths.

Amazingly, this home was built in 2005, just as transitional was becoming vogue. You enter the home into an exquisite foyer flanked by a striking staircase, and the dining room. Ahead is the formal living room with fireplace. Down on the western wing is a bedroom with en suite bath, a study, powder room, the summer kitchen and attached family room.

The eastern wing contains the full kitchen, another family room, another study and bath. There are nine bedrooms in all including one on the main floor with full bath, eight on the second level. There are eight full baths, a formal powder room, a casual powder room and a pool bath. I think the pool bath is on the eastern wing, though it could be on the other. All I know is there will never, ever ever be a line of people waiting to go to the bathroom in this house.

The masters: both are upstairs, though the downstairs bedroom is certainly luxurious. One master is largest at 16 by 20 feet, with a huge master bath with separate shower, jetted tub, steam shower with body sprays, and a private balcony overlooking the backyard. The other also has a private balcony and splendid bath.

The upstairs is centered with a huge, 19 by 17 foot large media/exercise room that gazes over the pool area. There is also an enormous upstairs laundry/crafts room with two washers and a dryer. Again, no matter how marge your family, extended or immediate, this house accomodates.

Definitely Mediterranean in flavor, you can tell that the home has a California inspiration — the current owners divide their time between Dallas and CA. I think this is a perfect home for blended families, either a his and her’s situation or a May-December deal where there are younger children as well as teens or tweens. Then again, the split functionality would serve itself well to in-laws living in the home, or aging parents.

The architects and builders definitely created a beautiful, soothing environment on a great street, on two plumb lots that is truly one of the most adaptable homes I have encountered. Asking $3,550,000 with precious Lyn Williams of Allie Beth Allman.

Honestly, you could just get two families together and almost split the place!

I knew the news was hot when my nephew, who works in the film industry in LA, texted me that Toyota was moving its headquarters to Dallas. No, I texted back, they are moving to Plano. It’s a big change, he said, and also thinks California taxes and cost of living may have played a role.

Whatever, we will soon be welcoming 4,000 newcomers to North Texas.  A press release from the Japanese-based car manufacturer says the move said is “designed to better serve customers and position Toyota for sustainable, long-term growth.” According to the LA Times article James sent me, Torrance California will lose 3,000 employees to “macho” Texas and leave it’s 2 million square foot office complex in Torrance, well, empty.

Toyota will move its North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing, and corporate operations to a single, “state-of-the-art” campus in Plano over the next three years.

Auto industry analysts say Toyota feels it’s future is in the (union-light) south: it already builds the Camry and Avalon in Kentucky, the Corolla in Mississippi and the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks in San Antonio. It also has a big engine plant in Alabama. Maybe it wants to inundate the Lone Star state with more Priuses?

“They feel their future is in Dixie,” said James Rubenstein, an auto industry analyst and geography professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. “They have figured out how to build vehicles in Dixie, but they haven’t figured out how to sell them there.”

Although the company is successful at selling passenger cars in the U.S., it has never gained the traction in the truck market it has hoped for, Rubenstein said. Toyota’s sales are also too heavily weighted to women, he added.

“Texas is the most male, macho state in the country,” Rubenstein said. “Texas is where they think they can learn more about what big truck buyers want in their vehicles.”

Just a few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with Ralph Randall and Dave Perry-Miller about autos, Lexus in particular, which is made by Toyota. We have been buying Lexus from Park Place now for oh, about 15 years. Ralph tells me that Lexus is becoming “an old people’s” car, a BUICK, the ES models in particular! I panicked and did some research — just as he is spot on with his real estate listings and sales, Ralph is spot on about this. The average Lexus buyer is 61, compared with 54 for Mercedes and 49 for BMW. (I know what my next car will be.) The Lexus IS draws buyers with an average age of 50, making it particularly critical for the company. So Toyota wants to be more macho, sells more trucks, and pump some youth-juice into the Lexus buyer, 20% of it’s profit. Yeah, go for it ! Come to Texas!

The new Toyota campus will unite approximately 4,000 employees from sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing and finance who are now scattered around the country. About 2,000 employees at Toyota’s current headquarters in Torrance, Calif will be saying goodbye Surfer Girl. Another 2,000 will come in from Toyota’s engineering and manufacturing center in Erlanger, Ky and 1,000 employees land here from Toyota Financial Services, wherever that is.

The transition will begin this summer, with the company’s new, environmentally-sustainable headquarters set for completion in late 2016 or early 2017.

Developers say the automaker’s new home will be situated on a plot of undeveloped land owned by Plano-based JC Penney near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and the Sam Rayburn Tollway, southwest quadrant. Groundbreaking will begin on the environmentally-sustainable headquarters this fall.

“This is the most significant change we’ve made to our North American operations in the past 50 years, and we are excited for what the future holds,” said Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz.

A U.C. Berkeley labor  prof says that having your car headquarters in California is cool, and puts you close to all those social and cultural factors that set trends across the country. Has he never heard of Austin?

“As Toyota repositions itself as a Southern-based automaker, it could become less in touch with California consumers, and that could hurt sales, Shaiken said.

But Toyota might not think severing ties to the Golden State will have any negative effect on its business. “They already have California in its back pocket,” Rubenstein said. “Priuses are next to godliness in California.”

During the next few days, we will be asking several brokers what this move will mean for the North Texas market. Meantime, what do YOU think???

Dallas Morning News real estate editor Steve Brown is being honored by the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors with its first Industry Lifetime Service Recognition.

According to his colleague and former business editor, Cheryl Hall, it will be presented to him at the group’s Hall of Fame event Tuesday night at the Dallas Country Club. Among other things, Steve is a director with the National Association of Real Estate Editors, of which Joanna and I are members.

Three major commercial real estate names will also be honored on Tuesday: Matthews Southwest president Jack Matthews, Cornelia and Ralph Heins of Primera Companies, and Frank Mihalopoulos of Corinth Properties. They will take home the  2014 Michael McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award.

Steve is a great guy who is well respected in the real estate industry. I had no idea he covered Cowtown and the high-profile trial of Cullen Davis in Fort Worth, who was accused of trying to have his divorce judge killed, a huge news story here in North Texas when I first moved to town. Reporting on real estate was tough in the mid 80′s, and Steve feared for his life:

In 1986, Brown wrote an extensive series about the mounting inventory of speculative office space coming on stream and accurately predicted the real estate armageddon headed our way. Someone delivered a box of nails and a hammer to our office with the anonymous note: “Why don’t you just finish the coffin?”

He jokingly asked me to start his car that evening. I declined the honor, (says Cheryle Hall).

I’ve heard Steve collects antique cars, so that must have been a scary moment. Heartfelt congratulations to Steve Brown, NAREE fellow, a great reporter and a very good guy.

This month PartyLine Real Estate takes you north to Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.  McKinney’s consistently being named one of the best cities to live in and raise a family. How amazing is it that we are telling the Craig Ranch story on the heels of some of the most exciting news in North Texas history? I’m talking about Toyota moving its North American Headquarters to Plano, Texas. One single campus at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and Sam Rayburn will house Toyota’s North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing, and corporate operations. Over the course of three years, 4,000 Toyota employees will be relocating in the area. The home sales! Cha-ching!

Toyota isn’t the only motor company headed our way, nor will it be the last. Chinese-based Hisun Motors plans to make McKinney its North American headquarters, bringing about 80 new jobs to the area. Hisun Motors makes some items we see a lot of in North Texas: ATVs, UTVs, golf carts, motorcycles, and more. All of this job growth shows us why real estate is hopping in the northern environs of North Texas. Jobs are coming to Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Allen. That’s the reason why David Craig’s fantastic, early-on vision of Craig Ranch in McKinney is now in full bloom.

David is a pioneer developer who believes in creating community with a full lifestyle offering: hike and bike trails that are part of the Six Cities Trail Plan, one of the first inter-jurisdictional trail plans in Texas, a full scale fitness center designed by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, father of aerobics, a medical office park, retail, commercial, and of course a golf course that ranks among the top private golf courses in the United States. The TPC Craig Ranch course was designed by golfing legend Tom Weiskopf. Rated among the toughest golf courses in Texas, the course hosted the Web.com Tour Championship twice already, and provides 233 acres of pure beauty to the residents who live at 17 Green, and to the community.

“It’s golf, it’s fitness, and 17 Green is a maintenance free – lock and leave opportunity, with close proximity to the Metroplex,” says David Craig, “including D/FW Airport.”

Named one of the top seven master-planned communities in DFW, and 2014 McSam Award for Master Planned Community of the Year, Craig Ranch includes homes for every stage of life, spanning up to the stunning luxury residences at 17 Green and The Estates. Homes are built around the TPC Craig Ranch´s rolling hills, the PERFECT place for a PartyLine real estate party!

I had word of this transaction back in early December, when the extensive feng sui landscaping and stone work first started on this Inwood Terrace/Bluffview house. But everyone in this transaction was oh so very, “I’ve signed a confidentiality” mum about who the new owner might be. Some famous baseball player, that was the rumor. I knew Darvish, a resident at the Residences at the Ritz Carlton, was looking for bigger digs and checked out many Preston Hollow homes, as well as the new, glorious townhomes at the Ritz. 5233 Stonegate was in MLS from April 2, 2013 to November 1, 2o13. Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s fantastic Lisa Besserer was the listing agent.

Then it went off market and — silence.

Of course, I have my ways of finding things out. And though I did indeed hear, and believe, that Texas Ranger’s pitcher Yu Darvish bought this home and closed on it November 20, 2013, I wanted to be very, very sure. The way to be very, very sure is, of course, to check the tax records, which take forever.

Here it is, almost May, and I finally know for sure that Yu Farid Darvishsefat bought restaurateur Joey Palladino’s house on Stonegate.

This home was built in 2008 and has a bit of a notorious past. It’s a phenomenal combination of clean modern lines, old world accents, Hill Country charm and classic elegance. Some first denounced the way it was placed on the odd-shaped lot. Some whined it did not “fit into the neighborhood.” Well, wah. You certainly couldn’t find a better neighborhood if you tried: Bluffview is smokin’ hot. Neighbors include renown real estate star Realtor Dave Perry-Miller right across the street in a charming Cape Cod that looks as it it were air-lifted from Nantucket. There’s Len W. Allen, Jr. Senior Managing Director of U.S. Operations at Lone Star Funds and oh yes, Mack Hicks over across Inwood. And every star athlete needs an orthopedic surgeon in the neighborhood: that would be Dr. Andrew Dossett, a member of the National Football League Team Physicians and the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Organizations who serves as a spine consultant for the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, the Texas Rangers Baseball Club and the Dallas Stars Hockey Club. Talk about house calls!

In February of 2011, Joseph Palladino, one of the owners of Nick and Sams, bought 5233 Stonegate for about $1,850,000 and brought in designer to the rich and famous Trisha Wilson for a complete remodel. The results are a 38 foot grand foyer with limestone floors, Expresso-toned hardwoods, floor to ceiling windows, to-die for chandeliers, lighting and hardware through out the house — top top quality all. Trisha spent her career designing for some of the world’s richest people and creating the most luxurious hotels, from Dallas and New York to Beijing and Dubai. She’s worked for the likes of Sol Lerner, Trammell Crow and Ralph Lauren. Thus there is a stone-lined subterranean wine tasting room with amazing amenities. In fact, there are amazing amenities at every turn. This home offers Viking appliances, a three stop elevator, mahogany cabinets, and separate living quarters above the detached garage. The Master bedroom is downstairs with beautiful limestone floors that I bet you $100 are heated. There are six bedrooms in all, six full baths and three half baths. The home is 8709 square feet, with a 38 foot tall and soaring foyer.  Four car garage. There is a guest suite, a large and dramatic study, and the property is actually two lots. So plenty of room for the doggies.

I had long heard that Yu Darvish was looking for something where his dogs could enjoy a yard a bit more than they can at The Residences at the Ritz Carlton, where he owns two units. Now he has 1.10 acres for them to enjoy. One of those is for his father, who watches the dogs when the Ranger pitcher is away, which is a whole lot of the time. No wonder the front has been “feng sue’d” and a large stone fence constructed, extra security protection, alarms and enough spotlights to light up the Ballpark added. No matter how much of a fan you are of Mr. Darvish, you are not going to get in! So don’t even bother.

From the incredible interior design of his Ritz residences, we have a feeling that 5233 Stonegate is looking a bit different inside these days than it did when Joseph had it. Oh by the way: Darvish, who reportedly earns $9.5 million from the Rangers, paid around $3,730,030 for his new home. Those lucky dogs!

If you haven’t heard about the furor over a proposed luxury high rise apartment complex at the intersection of Preston and Northwest Highway, and if you haven’t seen the “No” signs proliferating all over Preston Hollow as far west as Midway, as far north as Forest Lane, then you either live south of the Trinity or north of Sam Rayburn.

Transwestern wants to build a luxury apartment on an approximately 3 acre site at the very intersection of Preston and Northwest Highway. Because the area is zoned for 3-story residential multi-family units, they have to apply for a zoning variance to make it taller. Transwestern had originally asked for an eight story tall building, but then lowered it to six. The six stories would be contained to the very corner of Preston and Northwest Highway, and the structure would slope down to three stories closer to the single family homes on Del Norte. A small park would act as further buffer between the homes.

The process: first the city staff reviews the application. I’s dotted, T’s crossed. Then they send it to the city plan commission for a vote. After that it, it goes to the Dallas City Council, which could take up to four months and put us smack in the middle of August for debate.

This is a very different proposal from the one Luke Crosland is working over south of Northwest Highway, in the heart of a very vibrant Preston Center. I asked Claire Wright Stanard, who lives Behind the Pink Wall, a bright woman and former Realtor who has attended several meetings about these properties, including Laura Miller and Steve Women’s “Secret” meeting at the Athena high rise, where Steve owns a condo, to give me a summary of the differences between the two projects because they are very different:

TRANSWESTERN PROJECT:

 

Just received word from Dallas real estate agent extraordinaire Cody Farris that he is getting a little frustrated with real estate photography services because they are so over-booked! He has a listing and the service tells him they cannot get to HIS listing for 10 days. It’s the same story with all of the services! And I have heard this from other agents, too. Sometimes you have to get a listing up and out because the homeowners want it out there on the web. They want fast! I mean, it’s spring, it’s hot. We have done such a good job of teaching agents the importance of great photography for listings, well now, seems we are all at the mercy of photography services!

Also, are the photography services taking on other business apart from Realtors which is keeping their schedules full? More than one prominent Dallas photogtrapher has queried me about getting into the real estate biz. Well, now sure well would be the time!

“I think they need to hire more photographers,” says Cody.

So this brings to mind a host of questions:

Should an agent take their own photos? Maybe take a course and invest in some solid photography equipment?

Have a photographer on staff at some of the larger brokerage houses?

And dare I ask this… maybe magazine-quality photos are just not as vital in this red-hot market as they were when the market was a bit cooler… though certainly I would want my own home beautifully, stunningly photographed…

Does having a photographer on hand give one agent an edge over another?

Inquiring minds just need to know!

Thursday, Lisa Blue Baron’s palatial Preston Road estate goes into the MLS as the Mathews-Nichols team begins their marketing blitz to sell what will be the most expensive home ON THE MLS MARKET in Dallas.

We heard today the asking price will be $37.5 million. Yes, I know that the Hicks are still marketing the Crespi Estate through Doug Newby, at least last time I looked they were, for $135 million. So yes, the Hicks estate is still the most expensive home on the market in Dallas if you include off-market listings. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive homes on the market in the entire country. Mt. Vernon is still available,too, just not in MLS for now. 4009 West Lawther is $19,000,000. 

Looking in MLS, excluding Tarrant and Travis County estates and ranches, here is the line of Dallas (and Denton) County homes listed for ten million and above as of this moment:

1851 Turbeville Road listed with Rogers Healy. This is Champ D’Or (sigh) and it’s in Hickory Creek. Asking $35,000,000. Sold at auction below $10 million. Head scratcher.

4939 Manson Court, listed with Hunter Dehn at $29, 995,000. Built by Mark Molthan, loaded, stunning in every way.

4644 Park Lane, very interesting property, listed with pending contract, stay tuned: $18,360,000. We are talking 8.4 acres and a very historical property…

9806 Inwood. Listed with Christy Berry at Briggs Freeman Sothebys International. I forgot to tell you this has been reduced from $19,500,000 to $14,999,000. and some change. (Sorry!)

3800 Beverly Drive the Hal Thompson take-your-breath-away classic listed with Erin Mathews for $14,500,000.

4906 Park Lane, you-know-who’s estate, listed with Ralph Randall of Dave Perry Miller & Associates for a cool $14,000,000. (I love birdies!)

3828 Turtle Creek, Robert Edsel of The Monument Men’s fame phenomenal home listed with Madeline Jobst of Dave Perry-Miller now reduced for quick sale to $12,900,000 from $15,900,000

9639 Hollow Way, forgot to tell you about this. We will.  Originally built by Robert and Maureen Decherd,  another Erin listing for $11,995,000

5139 Seneca, wow just seeing this, just listed April 18 with  Chad Schulin of Dave Perry-Miller and 16,000 square feet of decadence! Hello, next week’s Monday Morning Millionaire: $11,288,000

3806 University, the home that John Spano once owned, now owned by Palm Beach Tan scion Brooks Reed with it’s own pond in University Park, amazing,  listed with Allie Beth Allman at $10, 950,000

9246 Sunnybrook, Mark Cain’s (Dave Perry-Miller) 4 acre family compound that came on MLS in last April, listed for $10,600,000. Has a tennis court, pool, like a total fitness camp. We need to see.

3712 Alice Circle just hit the market May 2, looks like a perfect English manor on a three-quarter Old Highland Park lot and delicious, listed with Lindy Mahoney at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s for $10, 500,000

10660 Strait Lane, Phil Romano’s 4.67 acre spread of 14,748 square feet… Doris Jacobs listing agent with Allie Beth Allman $10,000,000…

Don’t know if you caught this, and I meant to draw this out last week, but Rudolph Bush at the Dallas Morning News is strongly supporting Transwestern’s proposal to change the zoning to build a six-story luxury apartment community at the northeast corner of Preston and Northwest Highway. You recall this project would replace the existing apartment complex of 24 units along with the 12 town homes behind it known as Townhouse Row. Word is Transwestern is paying $20 million for the three acres of land. The property is currently zoned MF-1, and allows for only three stories.To build these apartments requires “up-zoning.” In other words, go higher to get six floors at one corner. Transwestern needs a zoning change to create a planned development district. This would allow for increased height and density, as well as other details such as parks, landscaping, all designed to create something of much higher quality, according to the developer. The neighborhood is giving Transwestern resistance, wanting something new, but insisting they stay within the current zoning. But Rudolph Bush, who covers development (among a trillion other things) for the Dallas Morning News, says the City ought to let them build this apartment complex.

“Thank goodness. I can remember a stretch of years in the not too distant past when you could hear crickets chirping at City Hall because no one wanted to build anything.”

This mimics a lot of what I’m hearing: Dallas is finally moving away from an era lead by Laura Miller and Mitchell Rasansky where the only development they wanted to see in Dallas was NO DEVELOPMENT. Could that be why at every meeting with your City Councilman or woman we hear that the City of Dallas has zero money in the budget?

It’s hard not to be sympathetic with people who bought homes in an area and hoped that it would remain much as it was when they begin their lives there. But cities aren’t like that. Cities need to grow and expand.

Bush goes on to say “it would be nice for the development to have more activity with the street. Maybe ground level retail. That would probably exacerbate, rather than diminish, residents’ concerns about traffic flow in and out of the building. But it would connect the development more intimately with the area around it.” Well, I disagree about the retail. Retail would never work on the north side of Northwest Highway at this intersection. PERIOD. It would require too many cars, because people just won’t cross Northwest Highway by foot if they have a brain. Way too risky. The folks at Ebby Halliday recall many accidents and even a woman hit at that treacherous intersection. Plus I was at Hillcrest and Northwest Highway recently, and it is traffic crazy there with the new retail strip on the north-west corner. Everyone’s coming and going out of those stores, and five o’ clock is truly the traffic bewitching hour! Residential to the north, commercial to the south. While it does seem that it is natural for cities to grow and expand, such growth must be done carefully, thoughtfully. Full disclosure: I do own a condominium Behind the Pink Wall, and I would like to see development of luxury high end condominiums on these three acres. I know that more people are leasing these days, but I think private home ownership nets a pride in your home you can sometimes lose with apartments, especially as they age. Bush’s perspective is interesting, because I think it’s reflecting what the whole city is thinking: what’s wrong with you Preston Hollow peeps? You already have two tall apartments right next door!

To which I guess the reply is: It’s complicated!

Got word yesterday from City Councilwoman Jennifer Staubach Gates that she is hosting a town-hall meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at Northway Christian Church, giving homeowners a chance to learn more about the proposed luxury high-rise apartment community called Highland House that Luke Crosland wants to build in the heart of Preston Center, hear about traffic concerns, and ask questions.

As we have reported here, the Crosland Group applied for re-zoning at 8215 Westchester, which is a three-story medical building located next to HopDaddy’s. They intend to build Highland House, a luxury high rise apartment, the second residential tower in Preston Center.

The meeting will be moderated and thus far the agenda looks like this:

Agenda: 6:30 -6:35 Introduction by Councilmember Jennifer Gates

6:35- 6:45 Presentation by TXDOT
6:45- 7:15 Presentation by Crosland Group
7:15- 8:00 Speakers

8:00- 8:30 Additional clarifications and questions

If you want to get in the 45 minute speaker spot, you must register in advance. To do so, email Gates’ office with your name or question; the list is compiled in the order the emails are received.

In addition to Crosland Group’s remarks, the agenda includes a presentation by TXDOT about possible changes to the street configuration in the area, which I am so looking forward to hearing.

Apparently, non-registered speakers can approach the mic if time allows in that last time slot. I’ve been hearing from University Park residents concerned over school overcrowding and expect them to show up to voice their concerns.

And of course, if you cannot make this meeting, CandysDirt.com will be there for you.