Who’d Have Thunk It: The Dallas Design District Is Becoming the Hottest New ‘Hood in Dallas for Young Urbanites…and The New York Times is WRONG!
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Andy Keye + Whitney Photography
Update, 5:02 p.m.: I am delighted to report that the New York Times was completely wrong! The Alta Lofts were NOT the first residential development in the district. Jim Lake Companies helped rezone the district back in 2005 to allow residential use, and shortly after built Trinity Loft, which was up and almost fully leased by 2007 — while PegasusAblon was still wet behind the ears, 2 years before the development. You can see the case study on the Lofts here: http://www.jimlakeco.com/services/case-studies.asp. Like I said, Jim Lake rules the DD. Thought this sounded weird, but then I am in an allergy/sinus/icky something fog today.
I covered the Design District for years at D Home, and it got me into trouble. Why? Because I was buying way too much for my home: art, furniture, gorgeous objects. It’s grittiness and wide warehouses fascinate me. But when it comes to furnishing or finish-out, the Design District spoiled me, and I still go down there when I need to shop for anything for my home.
But would I go down there to LIVE?
Maybe. According to the New York Times, there are more reasons now than finding home furnishings to go into the Dallas Design District. With the influx of seriously great restaurants and bars, the 30-something crowd is going south on Oak Lawn for both cocktails and a place to call home:
Five years ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a cocktail-craving 30-something headed to a haute bar in Dallas’s design district, a once-industrial enclave centrally situated close to the Main Street district, near downtown. But now the design district is attracting new retailers, deep-pocketed developers and plenty of shoppers, thanks to a slew of buzz-worthy restaurants, chic stores and daring art galleries opening alongside brand-new apartments and lofts.
The article quoted Michael Ablon, whose real estate development firm, PegasusAblon, snapped up 42 of the warehouses, showrooms and galleries in 2007. Prices were not exactly cheap then, and the bust had not yet settled on Dallas. In 2009, he opened the area’s first main residential complex, and the article says one-bedroom lofts (at Alta 1900, 1400 Hi Line is under construction) now go for up to $1,500 a month. Who’d have thunk it?
“It’s always had a great ethos,” said Ablon. “We thought, let’s keep that authenticity and supplement it, not replace it,” Mr. Ablon said.
Of course, the REAL real estate expert down there is Jim Lake, whose father saw the vision of the DD years ago. Jim built The Trinity Lofts (and has another residential project in the works, stay tuned) and owns about 900,000 to a million square feet down there. I’ve been to Meddlesome Moth (1621 Oak Lawn Avenue), what the article referred as the DD’s version of the Cheers bar in Boston. It was packed. I love Oak (1628 Oak Lawn Avenue), run by chef Jason Maddy, formerly of the Mansion on Turtle Creek. I had lunch with the gals from SMINK and we ooo’d and ahhhed over Plan B’s upscale design spin including fixtures from arched floor lamps to modern chandeliers, and a large media screen against the back wall with an oak tree rustling in the wind. And wait ’till I tell you about some cool new million dollar listings down in the DD…
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I love the Design District, but it'll never compare to McKinney Avenue in Uptown!
I love the Design District, but it'll never compare to McKinney Avenue in Uptown!
Love the Meddlesome Moth restaurant!
Love the Meddlesome Moth restaurant!
Trinity Loft was the first residential development in the Design District, up and leased in 2007!
Trinity Loft was the first residential development in the Design District, up and leased in 2007!
The starting price on 1400 hi line is 1500 they go up to 5k
The starting price on 1400 hi line is 1500 they go up to 5k
Jo, seriously? Do you think people will pay $5000 a month to live down there?
Jo, seriously? Do you think people will pay $5000 a month to live down there?
In time yes. The view is way better because of the way the building faces. Better priced than the Ashton or cirque and people in Dallas love to say they live in a high rise.
In time yes. The view is way better because of the way the building faces. Better priced than the Ashton or cirque and people in Dallas love to say they live in a high rise.
Hey candy
Glad you liked oak it's my brothers restaurant
Hey candy
Glad you liked oak it's my brothers restaurant
[…] Here’s a home that would have been a great find for that piece in the New York Times on how …. Not only are developers building lofts and $5000 a month apartment penthouses in the Dallas Design District, they are also building homes out of warehouse space — luxury homes and studio combos where you can live, work, play, and entertain all in one giant converted warehouse space gone luxe. […]
[…] Here’s a home that would have been a great find for that piece in the New York Times on how …. Not only are developers building lofts and $5000 a month apartment penthouses in the Dallas Design District, they are also building homes out of warehouse space — luxury homes and studio combos where you can live, work, play, and entertain all in one giant converted warehouse space gone luxe. […]
For design district jewel, check out Pogir’s Monitor Live/work/gallery masterpiece on our website: BriggsFreeman.com.
For design district jewel, check out Pogir’s Monitor Live/work/gallery masterpiece on our website: BriggsFreeman.com.
[…] Even the New York Times has taken notice of The Design District — see anything about Deep Ellu… […]
[…] Even the New York Times has taken notice of The Design District — see anything about Deep Ellu… […]