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Douglas Newby
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Italian Texture@JoeMcCallFAIA

These long, thin Corso Italian 19-3/4” x 1-1/2” bricks were selected by Joe McCall for the modern home he recently designed in Highland Park. These bricks are individually formed and fired in kilns that allow a variation and depth of color depending on the placement in the kiln. The emphasis of the horizontal length of each brick evokes the modern rectilinear aspects of this very modern home. The texture adds depth and character to a modern home with many glazed walls, windows and doors. This post is a tribute to architect @JoeMcCallFAIA and the incredible modern homes he has designed. The post is also in honor of artisan and artist, master brickmason, and architectural historian Rick Wood who always has something fascinating to say about brick and how it is applied. *Italian Texture
@JoeMcCallFAIA #JoeMcCallFAIA #CorsoBrick #ItalianBrick #HighlandParkModern #ModernHome #DallasModernHome #DallasDesign #DallasArchitecture #DallasArchitect #HomesThatMakeUsHappy

Legends On Legend

Frank Welch was a legend – an architect beloved by his clients and revered by other architects, and he still is. The Architectural Forum posted the Frank Welch Memorial Lecture at the Moody Performance Hall in the Arts District. Here, potential future legends, Midland architect Mark Wellen, FAIA, Dallas architect, Max Levy, FAIA, and Fort Worth architect, Mark Gunderson, AIA, reviewed the work, approach and personality of architectural legend Frank Welch, FAIA, who furthered Texas Modern architecture and charmed the community.

Architects are tied into the community, shape the community, and illustrate the history of the community. Since I was in my twenties, I have met and discussed architecture with the architects in Dallas I consider legends. When I initiated and sponsored the Restoration House of the Year Award, a series of AIA presidents were on the committee for the annual award. These included Ed Beran, FAIA, Bill Booziotis, FAIA, and several other legends I have learned much from, and a few of them became longtime friends. Another legend was James Pratt, FAIA, who was a Dallas combination of Wilbur Cook, George Kessler and Jane Jacobs. I discussed a home James Pratt designed in my TEDx Talk, Homes That Make Us Happy, and had the pleasure of being a member of Town and Gown with him. James Pratt had a plan for Dallas unveiled at the Dallas Art Museum which included Haskell Boulevard connecting Highland Park with Fair Park. When I go to the Dallas Architecture Forum, there are often architects in the audience who will be our next legends and talked about for generations. Architects have one foot in society and one foot with the public – tradespersons, builders, designers, and the community. Architects are esteemed and accessible. What architects do you think might someday be a lasting legend in Dallas? *Legends On Legend
#DallasArchitect #DallasLegend #DallasArchitectureForum #ArtsDistrict #FrankWelch #MarkWellen #MaxLevy #MarkGunderson #TexasModern #MoodyPerformanceHall #ModernArchitecture #DallasModernHomes #ArchitecturallySignificant @RWArchitects #MarkWellen #DallasArchitecture #TexasArchitecture #MidlandArchitecture #TexasModernArchitecture

Nature and Neighborhood

People have been flooding to suburbs, small towns, and countryside locations. Homeowners also have been migrating to urban neighborhoods that embrace and exude nature. The rear garden of my home in an urban neighborhood has 12 trees and extensive plant life, attracting dozens of varieties of birds, from hummingbirds to hawks. Recently, when I went to Greenway Parks to show a Max Levy modern home that I have listed for sale, I was greeted by a rabbit close to the front entrance. There is something about seeing a rabbit that makes me think of nature on a different level. Rabbits are not rare and they do not seem out of place, but they always bring a smile. Nature brings value to us and value to a home. Greenway Parks is a great example of a neighborhood with lots less than an acre in size that exudes nature. What neighborhoods that have lots under one acre do you associate with nature? *Nature and Neighborhood
#GreenwayParks #MaxLevyArchitect #DallasNeighborhood #DallasModernHome #HomesThatMakeUsHappy #DallasNature #Rabbit #DallasHome

Tribute to D@DMagazine

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D Magazine has for years identified the best Dallas realtors. This year, I wanted to make a tribute to D Magazine by securing a two-page profile in the section that lists the best real estate agents. It was also a great reason to retain talented artist Allison V. Smith to take a portrait photograph of me.

I have been fond of D Magazine since Wick Allison produced the first issue of D when I was still at SMU. I have known several of the past D Magazine editors and have actually have been close friends with a few of them. Each editor brought their personality, expertise and background to the magazine, shaping its direction. However, I have never enjoyed the magazine more than now under the leadership of editor Tim Rogers. Tim takes a profoundly insightful look at Dallas, but always with the undercurrent of his ever-present humor. D Magazine has been successful in part because Dallas has been successful. Dallas is successful in part because of D Magazine and the contribution of its incredible editors, writers, designers, producers, and staff. Thank you D Magazine! *Tribute to D
@DMagazine #DMagazine #TimRogers #CityMagazine #DRealEstate #DBestAgents #DallasRealEstate #DallasHomes #DallasNeighborhood #DallasRealtor #HighlandParkHomes @TimmyTyper @allisonvsmith

Town and Gown

Our first time back to an in-person event will be seared in our minds forever. I am so pleased my first 2021 event was an SMU Town and Gown talk and dinner with the added pleasure of it being held at the Dallas Arboretum's A Tasteful Place, the fabulous modern glass pavilion designed by architect Russell Buchanan that overlooks the edible gardens and White Rock Lake. Town and Gown, I believe, is the only club that I have been a member of. The idea of brilliant professors and deans on the gown side alternating talks with brilliant members of the Dallas community on the town side was an appealing concept. I was thrilled to be voted in as a member. At the turn of the 21st century, I was president of Town and Gown and I have continued to enjoy the inspirational and collegial exchange of ideas since. This recent Monday evening, Allan McBee moderated a provocative conversation, “US-China Relationship-Economic and Security Discussions,” with Jay T. Young and Patrick Jenevein. Both of these speakers have had extensive personal involvement with China and these thorny issues. At dinner, sitting next to the great artist and intellectual Mary Vernon added to the joy of being back to seeing people. *Town and Gown
#SMU #TownAndGown #DallasArboretum #ATastefulPlace #WhiteRockLake #EdibleGardens #Architecture #Modern #LandscapeDesign @AllanWMcBee #PatrickJenevein #JayTYoung #Dallas

Max Modern

Architect Max Levy pushes the envelope of modern architecture and embraces the envelope of the environment. In every house Max Levy designs you are able to see his original concept is rooted in nature. Each project projects and embraces nature in different nuanced ways. I love that the second floor screened room with a separate entrance and a fireplace is not on the side of the house or hidden at the back of the house or the lot, but is front and center, a central element of the design. It is here one is enticed to enjoy the views of neighbors strolling down the tree-lined streets or see one’s family in the glass-walled rooms surrounding the garden and pool. A design focus creates a living focus. *Max Modern
#GreenwayParks #Architect #MaxLevy #Architecture #HomeForSale #Modern #Design #ModernHome #DallasHome #ScreenedRoom #HomesThatMakeUsHappy

Neighborhood, Nature, Architecture

Architectural significance, the neighborhood and nature are the foundation of homes that will make people happy and go up in value. This modern home by architect Max Levy that I will be offering for sale is architecturally significant in Greenway Parks, a fabulous neighborhood, and designed to capture nature. In the short term, these aspects of the home will have the buyer love living in the home and in the long term the buyer can expect a vast increase in value.
*Neighborhood, Nature, Architecture
#Architect #MaxLevy #Architecture #GreenwayParks #Modern #Design #Neighborhood #HomesThatMakeUsHappy

Modern Lens

Windows are a lens to the environment around us. Often historic homes have windows with pretty views of nature. Too often modern homes are built with gobs of oversized windows, but they look into a neighbor’s garage. I love that this modern home has long stretches of windows on both sides of the home that allow one from either the inside or outside of the home to have a beautiful framed view of other architect-designed modern houses across the pond. *Modern Lens
#Architecture #Architect #Design #Window #View #Modern #ModernHome #OrganicUrbanism

Winter Pointillism

The winter point of Pointillism is to accentuate the design and capture the moment. On a morning bike ride through Dallas neighborhoods, what better way to convey a season, capture a home, and express a feeling than with full, soft, white snowflakes falling against the backdrop of a home painted in a graphite tone trimmed in white. This city home surrounded by nature on a rolling block was transformed by one of my favorite artists, Allison V. Smith, and her husband, the esteemed gallerist, Barry Whistler. They took a home with great proportions that was perfectly sited, but at a glance might look like many other brick homes of the Dallas period. Dramatic paint, landscaping, and a well-positioned porch bench make the home visually enticing and an inviting spot for a porch salon. Here is a home that captures the essence of every season and the vitality of the city interlaced with nature—Organic Urbanism at its best. Thank you, Allison @AllisonVSmith and Barry @BarryWhistlerGallery, for your many contributions to heightening the aesthetics of Dallas. *Winter Pointillism
#DallasNeighborhood #Architecture #Design #HouseColor #FrontPorch #Home #Winter #Snowflakes #Pointillism #OrganicUrbanism #HomesThatMakeUsHappy

Speed Reading

A Christmas tradition in our family started, not when I received this speed-reading mechanical bear, but when my father did when I was a child. He so enjoyed narrating and showing off this speed-reading bear to family, friends and neighbors stopping by over the holidays that he received a mechanical toy every Christmas from then on. On Christmas Eve presents were opened, and on Christmas Day all the previous mechanical toys received at Christmas were brought out and put under the tree. And what a collection it was—from Charlie Weaver mixing a drink, drinking it, and smoke coming out of his ears, to the Neiman Marcus nursing dog. The tradition continued after my father was gone and I began receiving a mechanical toy every Christmas. *Speed Reading
#MechanicalToy #ChristmasToy #Toy #Christmas #ChristmasGift #Bear #SpeedReading #ChristmasTradition #MechanicalBear #MidCenturyToy #Tradition #FamilyTradition #Father #Neighbors #Friends

Baton Passed

The wonderful thing about being a real estate broker is not just seeing great houses, but meeting and getting to know wonderful people. This Henry B. Thomson architect-designed house is a beauty. Every time I go inside, I marvel at its proportions and why it instills such a pleasing sense of awe in a greater way than other important houses. Just having the opportunity to revisit that feeling would have been motivation enough to represent the seller and offer this architecturally significant home for sale. What was really thrilling was to represent a Hal Thomson homeowner who I met when I was in my 20s, when the homeowner was first looking at homes on Swiss Avenue. I have watched her renovate the home, maintain the home and contribute in a friendly and meaningful way to the neighborhood. This homeowner exemplifies why so many Swiss Avenue homeowners live on Swiss Avenue for decades—the comradery and friendly atmosphere, the proximity to downtown with skyline views popping up over the trees that grace the boulevard, the nationally celebrated neighborhood chef-owned restaurants, and the close proximity to the Santa Fe Trail and White Rock Lake. While the sale of this home invokes sentiment, it also brings joy to see this architecturally significant home being passed on to another homeowner who also loves historic homes, gardens, Dallas, and Swiss Avenue. The great houses survive 100 years because of great owners. This Hal Thomson-designed home has another one. I always strive for gracious transactions. This important home was listed, sold and closed in 19 days with all the participants delighted with the outcome and the future of the home. *Baton Passed

#HalThomson #HenryBThomson #Historic #ArchitecturallySignificant #Architect #Architecture #SwissAvenue #HistoricDistrict #Dallas #Neighborhood #OrganicUrbanism

Residential Link to Downtown

The city trails are busy. The tree-lined neighborhood residential streets remain tranquil. Isn’t it remarkable that one can ride a bike from White Rock Lake to the downtown Arts District through four linked single-family zoned historic and conservation districts and the Wilson Block Historic District on Swiss Avenue? While the Sante Fe and Katy Trails also provide enjoyable links from White Rock Lake to the Arts District, can you think of another city where one can ride several miles through the quiet residential streets surrounding downtown? The conservation district of Lakewood, the historic district of Junius Heights, the historic district of Munger Place, and the historic district of Peak Suburban protect the aesthetics and scale of the homes. The single-family zoning protects the neighborhood, keeping the density, traffic and number of cars parked on the curb low. People are fleeing cities where there is no refuge from high density neighborhoods. Cities that have added density to their neighborhoods have experienced destabilization and deterioration like Dallas once had when the neighborhoods were zoned multifamily. In Dallas, this deterioration was reversed when the neighborhoods were rezoned single-family. There is a push by some at City Hall to allow ADUs and backyard rental houses on every single-family zoned lot in Dallas. This would have a devastating effect on our tree-lined neighborhoods. Cities are fragile. We need to continue to nurture ours. *Residential Link to Downtown
#ADUs #LowDensity #BackyardRentalHouses #TreeLinedStreets #BikeRide #Trail #Path #Dallas #Neighborhood #DallasNeighborhood #City #OrganicUrbanism

Neo-Classical Sacred Design

Architect C.W. Bulger was part of early 20th century architectural royalty. Bulger came to Dallas in 1905 to design a prominent church. His classical architectural departure from the Gothic church style of the time prompted his invitation to design this neo classical church with Corinthian columns and a gold dome for the Gaston Avenue Baptist Church that is now Criswell College. His son, Clarence, who had just graduated from the University of Chicago, joined his practice and in 1907 they designed the first skyscraper in Dallas, the Praetorian Building. The father and son architectural firm went on to design elegant and refined homes on Swiss Avenue and in Highland Park, Lakewood and Northern Hills. The foundation of Dallas architecture was made up of great architects that included C.W. Bulger, Hal Thomson, Lang & Witchell, C.D. Hill, Marion Fooshee, James Cheek and others. *Neo-Classical Sacred Design #CWBulger #GastonAvenueBaptistChurch #CriswellCollege #Architecture #Architects #Neoclassical #Dallas #SacredSpaces #Design

Raised Eyebrow

As a contractor once said, “If you are going to give a home a facelift, start with the eyebrows.” While renovation will make this charming Craftsman cottage fresher and more elegant, this home is also a good reminder that gentrification is underrated. It is worth noting that working class homeowners, teachers, journalists, and artists bought and fixed up houses in the neighborhood and helped change the apartment zoning to single-family zoning. This prevented large apartment complexes to be built that would have had expensive rent and cause the affordable homes like this one to be torn down. Gentrification from renovation is a slow process. Gentrification started 45 years ago in the now historic districts of Munger Place, Junius Heights, and Peak Suburban Additions. It is nice that this Junius Heights historic district home is now taking its turn at renovation. *Raised Eyebrow
#JuniusHeights #GentrificationIsUnderrated #EyebrowDormer #OldEastDallas #SingleFamilyZoning #Neighborhood #Dallas #Architecture #Historic #Revitalization

Angle of Howard Meyer

The Howard Meyer angle makes an impact on architecture, neighborhoods and Dallas. This great architect did all three across Dallas. At White Rock Lake in 1939 he set the tone for classic estate homes overlooking the lake. On Turtle Creek Blvd. he designed 3525 Turtle Creek, a residential high-rise, that gave panache, style and elegance to Turtle Creek that became known for prestigious high-rises. In 1953, Howard Meyer with architect Max Sandfield designed Temple Emanu-El, a sacred space for a religious community, that became the pride of the Dallas community. In Greenway Parks Howard Meyer designed a midcentury modern home in 1950 that propelled the design of many other architecturally significant midcentury modern homes in Greenway Parks. In 1982 Jim and Carolyn Clark retained Howard Meyer to consult with on the home's renovation. The result was a midcentury modern residence that renewed interest in midcentury modern homes in Dallas. The current owners’ further renovation maintained this modern home as a beacon for the best architects in Dallas to come to Greenway Parks and design architecturally significant homes here. *Angle of Howard Meyer
#HowardMeyer #Architect #Architecture #GreenwayParks #OrganicUrbanism #HomesThatMakeUsHappy #ArchitecturallySignificant #Modern #Mid-Century

September Dawn

Highland Park is associated with opulence, architecture, Highland Park Village, success and prestige. What is easy to forget is that the township of Highland Park is attractive in the way any small town or village is attractive. Highland Park is made up of tree-tunneled streets and tree-lined boulevards, perfect for riding a bike, running, or walking through the many serene neighborhoods linked by parks. During the pandemic one often sees more people than cars. One visits with neighbors and friends passing on the sidewalks and quiet streets. Highland Park is surrounded by the vibrant neighborhoods of Dallas; however, homeowners can still enjoy the timeless attributes of a gentle neighborhood and natural beauty. *September Dawn
#September #Dawn #HighlandPark #Village #Neighborhood #StreetScene #Landscape #Photography #Parkway #TreeTunnel #Dallas #JoySpotting #OrganicUrbanism

Masks Make All the Difference

My artistic loyalty was always to the Peruna IV statue on campus that served as a gravestone for the late SMU pony mascot. New stadiums, new arenas, new parking buildings, new Georgian buildings with wider columns, and the new large sculpture of three mustangs, all convey the rapid 21st century growth and current personality of SMU. A circle created for the three mustang sculpture in the new middle of campus surrounded by athletics facilities just seemed too much—until now. On a recent Dallas bike ride through the SMU campus, I broke into a huge smile when I saw these masked mustangs. A sculpture I had always thought was kind of trite and gauche became utterly adorable. It made me think that if I was an incoming freshman, my first stop at the SMU bookstore would be to purchase several SMU t-shirts with these masked mustangs on the front. What better way to exhibit school spirit, be socially supportive of masks and be fashionable. I say fashionable since my sartorial statement my freshman year was wearing a different SMU t-shirt to class every day. This was prompted by a couple of things - in the tumultuous times school spirit had a throwback feel to it. Isn’t a throwback style always in fashion in some sort of avant-garde way? Besides, I negotiated with my parents that they would pay my university bookstore bill. I was so excited to find SMU t-shirts were sold next to the books. The end of August always reminds me of arriving at SMU for my freshman year. I hope that the SMU freshman class has a great year and enjoys SMU as much as I did. *Masks Make All the Difference
#MaskedMustangs #SMU #Dallas #SMUtshirt #SMU_bookstore #schoolspirit #HighlandPark #UniversityPark #SMUcampus #DallasNeighborhood #joyspotting

Hawk on Henderson

Hawks have such a powerful presence. Havoc replaces tranquility when they arrive—songbirds disappear. Hawks are associated with hunting and domination. It was with great amusement that I watched this hawk patiently annoyed. I guess it is like sitting on a porch on a hot day with a fly or gnat buzzing around. While one could easily and violently dispose of this distraction, is it really worth the effort? *Hawk on Henderson
#HawkAttack #Henderson #OldEastDallas #Neighborhood #DallasNeighborhood #DowntownNeighborhod #OrganicUrbanism #Dallas #UrbanNeighborhood

Neighborhood of Theaters

There are few buildings that I am as sentimental about as the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed theater. Listening to the talk by the architects of Diller Scofidio+Renfro and the Dallas Theater Center artistic director Kevin Moriarty, I realized sometimes architects come across as boring and pedantic, but when they are speaking from a Frank Lloyd Wright stage, it comes across as a thrilling performance. As I reflected on the many plays that I have seen in this space, I think I could watch someone read out of a phone book in this Frank Lloyd Wright theater and be mesmerized. The message from the architects was that they want to make this site an urban attraction by renovating the Frank Lloyd Wright theater and adding two new theaters. They also want to respect the natural beauty of the Turtle Creek site. The architects reviewed many of their projects where their designs and programs took clues from the site, whether they were subtle, like grass growing between broken concrete, or obvious, like a large body of water. May I suggest for this project they take their architectural clues from the Turtle Creek Park niche neighborhood right across the street from the theater? Here is a neighborhood of just 39 homes that draws residents from many blocks away that want to walk or jog through the neighborhood to enjoy the delightful forested topography of this hidden neighborhood. Nature is the draw for this neighborhood that is also the closest to the most enticing vibrancy of Dallas. It is backed up to the Katy Trail and just around the corner from many of Dallas’ favorite retail districts. The next niche neighborhood along Turtle Creek is Northern Hills. It also combines nature and vibrancy. Hopefully, this new Turtle Creek theater neighborhood will be as successful combining nature and vibrancy, not disturbing this corridor of Turtle Creek niche neighborhoods but becoming one of them. *Neighborhood of Theaters
#DallasTheaterCenter #KalitaHumphreysTheater #FrankLloydWright @Diller_Scofidio_Renfro
#FrankLloydWrightTheater #TurtleCreek #NicheNeighborhoods #TurtleCreekPark #NorthernHills #KatyTrail #Dallas #Theater #Neighborhood #ArchitecturallySignificant #HistoricallySignific

Consortium of Community

While we stay at home, others are staying at home advancing the plans for the Frank Lloyd Wright theater. Many people have been incredibly involved and through their inspiration, passion and diligence propelled the preservation plan for the Frank Lloyd Wright theater project to this step of hiring the architectural firm of Diller Scofidio+Renfro. On stage at the end of the program discussing the approach to this Turtle Creek site and renovation of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed theater are some of the key people that the baton has been passed to. They will be critical to the success of this project. I am pleased that the three lead architects are from New York but with Texas and Dallas roots. This project falls in a district of city councilperson Dave Blewett who understands the nuances of neighborhoods, Suzanne Smith is the Art Commissioner, Kevin Moriarty as the artistic director of the Dallas Theater Center is also a leading voice for theater in Dallas, and in the center is the chairman of this project. This good looking group is the tip of the iceberg for all the people who have worked on the project and for all of the people who will be needed for this Frank Lloyd Wright theater project to come to fruition. *Consortium of Community
@Diller_Scofidio_Renfro #DillerScofidioRenfro @DallasTheaterCenter #DavidBlewett #SuzanneSmith #FrankLloydWright #FrankLloydWrightTheater #FrankLloydWrightTheaterRenovation #Dallas #DallasNeighborhood #TurtleCreek

Organic Urbanism

This striped woodpecker is enjoying foraging on the trunk of a walnut tree in front of a home a young family purchased from their church 50 years ago for less than $10,000. The great grandparents still reside here, as do occasionally members of succeeding generations. The best affordable homes are structures that can be patched together, fixed up and become a home through successive generations that enjoy the tall trees, front porches, birds, flowers and wildlife that also enjoy an organic urban neighborhood. *Organic Urbanism
#Woodpecker #OrganicUrbanism #HistoricHome #UrbanBirds #Family #Neighbors #Neighborhood #CityLife #Dallas #HistoricDistrict #PrairieStyle #WalnutTree #Home #AffordableHousing

Hidden in Plain Sight

With the trails packed with people, now is the time to enjoy alternative walks like those along the original boulevard at SMU that leads to Dallas Hall. In the middle of the boulevard is the newest building disguised by the Georgian motif found on campus. A month ago, I discovered what was beyond the façade. Brad Cheves, the best university development director in the country, gave me an inside look at the indoor football practice facility prior to an SMU Town and Gown meeting being held in the adjoining dining room. In the next image you will see SMU professor, former law school dean and SMU faculty athletic advisor Paul Rogers put on a smiling face in front of this addition to the campus. I say “hidden” because you would never really guess this building, right next to the dorms and across the street from the Meadows School of the Arts, in the prime spot on the boulevard leading to the Dallas Hall, is a full-length practice football field. I say “in plain sight” because it is just a few feet away from my first floor McGinnis Hall freshman dorm room window. Every day for decades I used to swim in the 50-meter pool which now would be between the 10- and 35-yard lines. *Hidden in Plain Sight
#SMU #PaulRogers #TownAndGown #SMUBoulevard #SMUIndoorFootballPracticeField #SMUNeighborhood #UniversityPark #Dallas #ParkCities #SMU #highland park

Luxury and Nuance

The Barry Whistler Gallery is the last gallery I visited before I was sent home. The drawings by Jay Shinn still leave an impression. Seldom is so much done with what looks like so little. This drawing subtly shimmers, shines and radiates as this pencil drawing merges the silver and gold fine pencil strokes into a framed piece of art that draws one to it like a magnet until one finds their nose near the glass admiring the visual texture created by the exquisite hand of artist Jay Shinn, shown by appointment at the Barry Whistler gallery. *Luxury and Nuance
#JayShinn @Jay_Shinn_Art @BarryWhistlerGallery #BarryWhistlerGallery #DallasNeighborhood #DesignDistrict #Dallas #Art #Design #Drawing #Exhibition #ContemporaryArt #ModernArtGallery #Artist

LawnMowerOverkill

A cedar elm-shaded street makes parkway grass hard to grow. But as the lawn man says, “No matter how small the yard or how thin the grass, I will mow it.” And, “You can count on me to give you an honest five minutes’ work.” As anthropologists note, the smaller the village, the bigger the festival. Maybe the smaller the yard, the bigger the mower. This paltry patch of parkway grass might not be special, but the Mercedes-ornamented mower certainly is. Across the street, the high-tech engineer opts to propel a very old-school hand-push reel mower. A study in lawn care contrasts. *LawnMowerOverkill
#Overkill #DallasLawn #Lawnmower #SitDownMower #SmallerTheLawnBiggerTheMower #HonestFiveMinutesWork #Mercedes #Lawncare #DallasHome #Dallas #Neighborhood

State of Hall

Craftsmen and contractors last month were working on the crevices of the building and re-stabilizing major components of the building. Several years ago at the invitation of the late Rita Clements, the wife of Texas Governor Bill Clements, I served on the Executive Committee of the Dallas Historical Society for almost ten years. During this time, along with the late Robert Hyer Thomas, we pushed back against the proposal to discontinue the possession of the historical artifacts collected and owned by the Dallas Historical Society. The executive director had proposed photographing the collection and putting it online so that there would be no more responsibility for the preservation and maintenance of the individual objects. In fairness, this proposal was precipitated by the Hall of State building that still had an aura of majesty on the inside and outside, but was crumbling from within and out. Roof leaks were being patched with tarp and plywood. Buckets would be catching water dripping from 30 feet above. The problem was decades of leaky finances and leaky roofs. The storage spaces for the collection looked like a garage sale before it was organized. It is comforting and exciting to see the renewed interest in Fair Park. Its management is being put into private hands and the public supported city designated bonds to pay for the renovation of the Hall of State. There might not be any other place in Texas that so fully embodies and feels so embued in Texas history as the Texas Hall of State. *State of Hall
#HallOfState #FairPark #TexasHistory #Renovation #Murals #Dallas #CityOfDallas #HistoricallySignificant #ArchitecturallySignificant #ArchitectDesigned #Neighborhood#Design #Historic #History

National award-winning Realtor Douglas Newby knows the most about Dallas.
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