Friday, September 18, 2009

Now marked down: Dallas mansions

Now marked down: Dallas mansions
By Steve Brown / The Dallas Morning News

The French-style Highland Park house has limestone floors, a three-car garage, a swimming pool and guest quarters out back. But what's likely to catch a buyer's eye is the sign out front: "New Price."Now offered at $4.45 million, the 6,788-square-foot mansion has been marked down by close to $1 million since it came on the market last spring.

"It's one of those listings you are scratching your head," said agent Joan Eleazer. "You know that the market is bad, but why hasn't this great house sold?"

With the latest price cut, Eleazer, who works for Briggs Freeman, is finally getting some nibbles from potential buyers.

Full Story

Dallas-area home listings fall substantially

Dallas-area home listings fall substantially
By Steve Brown / The Dallas Morning News
September 4, 2009

North Texas homebuyers who are hoping to find a huge supply of houses for sale may be in for a surprise.

While many markets in Florida and the West are suffering from a surplus of for-sale signs, the number of houses available in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has fallen substantially in the last year.

The supply of pre-owned homes for sale is down almost 17 percent from this time last year and has fallen by a quarter from the summer of 2007.

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Friday, July 17, 2009

Other districts may follow Highland Park's lead on class rank

By Lori Stahl and Tawnell D. Hobbs / Matthew Haag and Sam Hodges contributed to this report / The Dallas Morning News
July 2, 2009

Highland Park may be the first public school district in Texas to end the practice of ranking all high school students, but some suburban school districts say they may consider following suit.

Southlake's Carroll Independent School District has already begun studying the issue, and officials there will consider a similar recommendation during the coming school year.

"It's definitely something that we've been talking about," said Becci Rollins, coordinator of counseling.

Highland Park recently decided to stop ranking all but the top 10 or 25 percent of its students, saying the current system of ranking the rest of the students who fall below the line is a disadvantage when applying to colleges.

Full Story

Newsweek names HPHS among best in U.S.

Highland Park High School is listed this month among the top high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Newsweek includes HPHS, ranked number 23, for its students' participation on Advanced Placement exams.

This is the sixth year Highland Park High School has made Newsweek's "Top 100" listing. HPHS is the highest ranked comprehensive high school in Texas, outscored only by magnet and charter campuses.

Newsweek's article, "America's Best High Schools," compiled a listing of 1,500 high schools, with public schools ranked according to a ratio that divides the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests taken schoolwide by the number of graduating seniors in the school.

Using that ratio, Highland Park High School scored a 6.108, up from 6.035 in 2008, and 5.727 in 2007.

"We are excited to be named to Newsweek's list of the best high schools in America once again," said HPHS Principal Patrick Cates. "This recognition validates the work our students and teachers do every year in our Advanced Placement program. Our program is one of the largest in the country, and we believe that it prepares students for success in any college or university anywhere. This ranking brings honor to our school, our school district, and our communities."

Click HERE to read the article.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Highland Park Village Owner Wants To Keep Theater

By Sarah Scott / People Newspapers
5/21/2009

Ray Washburne wants Park Cities residents to know that the new Highland Park Village is going to look a lot like the old one.

The real estate investor and restaurateur said he wrapped up negotiations to buy the Village this week. As this article went to press Wednesday, Washburne said he was hammering out final details at a title company.

Washburne had a lot to say about the future of the Dallas’ oldest and most valuable shopping center. Its taxable value has been reported as being $80 million.

Washburne — who bought the center along with his wife, Heather; her sister, Elise Summers; and her husband, Stephen — emphasized that all four are lifelong residents of Highland Park and graduates of Highland Park High School.

Full story

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Dallas' historic Highland Park Village changes hands

By MARIA HALKIAS / The Dallas Morning News

Like an expensive heirloom, Henry S. Miller Interests has sold Highland Park Village to another extended family that hails from the wealthy neighborhoods surrounding it.

Two sisters and their husbands, all 1970s and 1980s graduates of Highland Park High School, formed a partnership that is paying $170 million for the 250,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style center built in 1931.

Ray and Heather Washburne and Stephen and Elisa Summers, daughters and sons-in-law of Dallas oilman Al Hill Jr., have acquired the center from the families of Henry S. Miller Jr., his sister Carmen Miller Michael and husband Ludwig Michael and the Miller's longtime investment partners, the Polchow family of New Orleans.

Full Story

Monday, May 18, 2009

Judge declines Larry North's attempt to block Highland Park Village sale

A deal to sell the venerable Highland Park Village is scheduled to close Wednesday, despite a last-minute challenge from one of the center's high-profile tenants.

At a court hearing late Friday afternoon, a judge declined to grant a request for a temporary restraining order filed by fitness guru Larry North, a longtime tenant. He was trying to block investor Ray Washburne from purchasing the complex.

Full Story

Dallas designer's Sartel label building its repertoire

The first time we visited Dallasite Matthew Earnest's store, SARTEL, there wasn't a piece of the label's clothing in sight – save for the crisp, navy organza blouse worn by his co-designer, Lily Atherton Hanbury. But chic things come to those who wait. The Shops at Highland Park boutique now holds a small, tightly edited collection of the duo's highly refined wardrobe staples.

"We're establishing who Sartel is," says Earnest, noting that London-based Hanbury serves not just as co-designer, but as the prototypical Sartel woman, a highly polished someone who "goes to work, goes out, has a kid."

Full Story

Dallas luxury hotels reduce rates, focus on service

By SOPHIA DEMBLING / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Luxury? In this economic climate? Are we nuts?

No, really. Everyday luxury is a thing of the past for most of us, but even so, if you have a special occasion warranting a luxury break, now is a great time because luxury hotels are feeling the pinch, too, and they want you.

Full Story

Friday, May 15, 2009

Real Estate Agencies Are Friending Facebook

How can social networking benefit your business?

By Josh Hixson
Real Estate Editor / People Newspapers

Facebook has officially invaded the world of North Dallas real estate.

Firms such as Ebby Halliday and Virginia Cook found it hard to ignore the allure of Facebook’s hundreds of millions of active users and recently took the plunge into the world of online social networking, while Rogers Healy and his 2,000-plus members have been veterans of the scene for quite some time.

None of the agents we talked to could say they sold a home soley because of Facebook, but they did indicate the website’s ability to reach potential clients is what drew them and their companies to the social networking site in the first place.

Full Story

Friday, April 17, 2009

Highland Park Yoga Studio Boasts New Kind of Flexibility

By Sarah Scott / People Newspapers

Audrey Woods is what you might call a yoga sampler.

During her eight years of practicing yoga, she’s been to a number of studios and learned from even more teachers.

“I found myself driving from studio to studio trying to find teachers I like,” she said.

But after taking her love of the art with her on the road to Los Angeles and practicing at Bryan Kest’s studio in Santa Monica, Calif., she got an idea.

Full Story

Family to dedicate sculpture in daughter's memory in Highland Park

Nearly four years ago, as they were mourning the death of his daughter, Sean Royall's friends and family had a suggestion: Why not commission a sculpture to remember her by?

The idea grew from there to establishing the Grace Royall Foundation, and his vision continues to expand.

Today, Royall and his wife, Jennifer, will formally dedicate the sculpture, Grace Eternal, at Prather Park in Highland Park. And this week, Children's Medical Center Dallas announced a $50,000 gift from the foundation for improving treatment of septic shock.

Full Story

University Park

Appraisers for University Park and Southern Methodist University are close to choosing properties to use in determining the value of city land the school is seeking to buy.

Once homes to be used as comparable sales have been picked, the appraisal should be relatively simple, City Manager Bob Livingston said.

Full Story

Pending Sale of HP Village Confirmed

By Sarah Scott / People Newspapers

The current and future owners of Highland Park Village confirmed the shopping center’s pending sale after being named as co-defendants in a lawsuit this week.

The deal, which has been rumored for months, is at the heart of a 13-page petition filed Monday with Dallas’ 116th Civil District Court by fitness guru Larry North. Highland Park Village owner Henry S. Miller III and buyer Ray Washburne confirmed their negotiations in phone interviews Wednesday.

Full Story

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

A look inside Dallas designer James McInroe's home

James McInroe opens the door of his apartment wearing a T-shirt that declares, "Black is the new black." His trademark rectangular frames are accented with gold, his belt is vintage Gucci, and his sneakers, yes sneakers, are Puma, trimmed in black patent and yellow.

Get ready to rumble.

The designer's wardrobe echoes his envied portfolio of Dallas interiors. A McInroe room is an amalgam of disparate furnishings that would quietly sing on their own, but shout at top decibel under his orchestration.

Full Story

Episcopal School of Dallas Seniors Earn Applause For Art

By Michael Hines / People Newspapers

2 students get honorable mention in Advanced Placement exhibition

Steele Burrow may not be planning on focusing on art in college, but his high school work has already proven to be noteworthy.Burrow and fellow Episcopal School of Dallas senior Natalie Maxted both earned honorable mentions Monday in the 11th annual “Young Masters” exhibition, an event honoring Dallas-area Advanced Placement art students. Burrow said just making it into the field was an accomplishment.

“It’s a big honor,” he said. “Students from all across Dallas submit their single best piece of art.”

Full Story

Image on right: Natalie Maxted’s Autumn which earned honorable mention.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Dallas-area home prices fall nearly 5%

A few years ago, news of a 5 percent drop in Dallas home prices would have caused blood to run cold in the local real estate market.

But in the current national housing market depression, Dallas’ price decline is being hailed as the best in the country.

Dallas had the smallest home price decline among 20 cities in the January Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

Full Story

Friday, April 03, 2009

Water Restrictions Take Effect in Highland Park

By Sarah Scott/ People Newspapers

It’s shaping up to be a big month for water in the Park Cities.

Last week, Highland Park and University Park were officially in the first stage of their drought contingency plan.

And the cities’ watering restrictions (no irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) went into effect Wednesday and will remain until the end of October.

The first stage of the drought plan, which is based on water levels from the Grapevine Reservoir, is largely dependent on voluntary cooperation from residents and businesses.

Full Story

Monday, March 23, 2009

February existing home sales rise by 5.1 percent

PMZ Real Estate Agent Michelle Zeiter, left, walks into a bank owned home she isMarch 23, 2009
By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate Writer

WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes jumped unexpectedly in February by the largest amount in nearly six years as first-time buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures and other distressed properties.

Economists said sales, while still at levels not seen since 1997, may finally be coming back to life after declining sharply following the stock market plunge last autumn.

Read Full Story

Stocks jump on bank plan, rise in home sales

Michael J. Sollitto, Specialist for Banc of America, and Traders work on the By TIM PARADIS, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK – Wall Street is getting the good news it wants on the economy's biggest problems: banks and housing.

Investors reignited a two-week rally Monday after hearing the government's plan to help banks remove as much as $1 trillion in bad assets from their books and home sales showed a surprise increase. Major stock indexes jumped as much as 4 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which rose nearly 300 points.

The Treasury Department said its plan would rely on the government's $700 billion financial rescue fund, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as well as private investors.

Full Story March 23, 2009

Monday, March 16, 2009

5 Great Things To Do

Break Up, Rock Out >>

Lead singer Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders return to the tour circuit to promote Break Up the Concrete, their first new album since 2002. It has been described as straight-forward rock with lyrics alluding to Bob Dylan’s songs and beats reminiscent of Bo Diddley. The Pretenders perform with American Bang, a southern band from Nashville. Doors open at 7 p.m. today. $45-$85. House of Blues. 2200 N. Lamar St. 214-978-2583. hob.com.

<< Love Always, Russia

Brush up on your classical Russian composers as Yuja Wang and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform “From Russia With Love.” Wang, an internationally acclaimed pianist, will perform romantic pieces including Rachmaninoff’s demanding but hauntingly beautiful “Piano Concerto No. 3.” “From Russia With Love” is conducted by Arild Remmereit. 7:30 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Meyerson Symphony Center. 2301 Flora St. $17-$110. 214-692-0203.

dallassymphony.com


Driving Beat >>

Celebrate Black History Month this weekend with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s annual Cultural Awareness. This year’s performances deliver a driving beat of new contemporary works and repertory classics in dance sets including Ray Mercer’s “Pulse” and Hope Boykin’s “in.ter.pret.” New York choreographer Christopher Huggins also returns with his newest work “Jazz Course 101 — Dallas Black University.” Experience the strength, technique, and expression of the dance company and learn a few jazz moves from your seat. 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday. The Majestic Theatre. 1925 Elm St. $10-$60. 214-871-2390. dbdt.com

Mystic Arts
Keith Carter transforms time, light, and memory into transcendent imagery in the latest exhibition at the Photographs Do Not Bend gallery. Works from Carter’s latest book, A Certain Alchemy, will be featured along with other intriguing photographs by the artist. The show opens Saturday with a reception and book signing from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Exhibit runs through April 25. 1202 Dragon St., Suite 103. Free. 214-969-1852. pdnbgallery.com.

In Stitches

Join your family and friends at the Crow Collection of Asian Art’s Family Size Quilt Celebration, where you can go on a scavenger hunt, design a quilt pattern, and tour the “Stitching the Seasons: Contemporary Japanese Quilts” exhibit. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Crow Collection of Asian Art. 2010 Flora St. Free. 214-979-6430. crowcollection.org.


[source: peoplenewspapers]

Monday, February 23, 2009

University Park Cell Phone Ban

University Park officials are standing behind their ban on cell phone use in school zones, despite a researcher’s assertion that such tactics are ineffective.
Last week, Speed Mea­surement Laboratories, a Fort Worth-based traffic research company, released the results of a month-long study on cell phone use in school zones. The study focused on one school zone in University Park and two in Dallas, where use of a hand-held cell phone is banned, as well as four school zones in Texas, Illinois, and Colorado where no ban is in place. Observers watched for drivers using a cell phone when the school zones were both active and inactive.
Their findings show that the percentage of University Park drivers talking on their phones in school zones barely dropped when the zone was active, from 9 percent to 8.1 percent. They found similar results in both Dallas school zones.
Carl Fors, president of Speed Measurement Laboratories, said the research proves that bans like those in University Park and Highland Park aren’t enough to deter drivers from using their cell phone in an active school zone.

“We are going to have to do something as a society,” said Fors, who believes an outright ban on cell phone use in vehicles should be enacted. “We must do something to stop it. We can’t rely on public good will." University Park’s enforcement of the cell phone ban began in January 2008. Officer Lita Snellgrove, a spokeswoman for the University Park Police Department, said a learning curve is to be expected when implementing a new law.

“It’s like any new law or city ordinance. It’s going to take some time to educate the public,” Snellgrove said. “I think that as we continue to monitor the school zones and give more tickets, people are going to become more aware of it.”

Steve Mace, a spokesman for the city of University Park, said the City Council is in no hurry to change their ordinance.

“The council is still very much behind it,” Mace said. “They are still supportive of the measure.”

University Park Real Estate

Park Cities Police Blotter

By Anaka Johnston / People Newspapers

Of The Week:There Goes His TipAt 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 14, a couple reported being verbally abused by a vulgar cab driver in the 3400 block of McFarlin Boulevard. They said he was upset because they paid with a credit card instead of cash.

HIGHLAND PARK CRIMES

TUESDAY
At 2:40 p.m., a Honda Civic with an expired registration sticker was pulled over in the 4000 block of Oak Lawn Avenue. The driver, Richard Carrasco of Mesquite, was arrested after Dallas police confirmed the car had been reported stolen.

At 6:06 p.m., a silver Apple MacBook Pro was reported stolen from a bag left in a chair inside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village.

At 6:45 p.m., $200 was reported missing from a fanny pack left in a chair outside the Starbucks in the 100 block of Highland Park Village. 11

WEDNESDAY

Around 2:10 a.m., a purse containing a wallet, an iPhone, nine credit cards, a driver’s license, an insurance card, and keys was stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Belclaire Avenue.

Between 2:45 and 3:15 p.m., a chain saw, a backpack blower, and a hedge trimmer were stolen from a landscaping company’s trailer parked in the 4900 block of Eastern Avenue.

Around 6:20 p.m., a purse was found behind a house in the 4300 block of Belclaire Avenue. It is believed that the purse was stolen from a house across the street and disposed of after cash was removed. 12

THURSDAY

At 2:15 p.m., a woman was bitten on the top of her foot left in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue. She described the suspect as a black and white cat with white paws, long hair, and a long snout.

At 4:33 p.m., the glass panes of a back door were reported damaged by a prying tool in the 4500 block of Beverly Drive.

Between 8 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, someone dented a rental car parked in the 3400 block of Harvard Avenue, causing $1,500 worth of damage.14

SATURDAY

Around 4:04 p.m., a 19-inch Sony computer monitor was reported stolen from a home in the 4400 block of Lorraine Avenue. 15

SUNDAY

Around 1:57 p.m., Brian Neal Walker, a homeless man, was arrested at the Whole Foods Market in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive for theft of $13.72 worth of groceries, including food from the hot bar, a small pint of milk, and nuts from the bulk aisle.

UNIVERSITY PARK

TUESDAY

Between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m., a $300 Porsche key was stolen from a locker in the men’s dressing room of the YMCA in the 6000 block of Preston Road.

At 9:14 a.m., lawn equipment, including a $200 blower and a $200 weed eater, was reported stolen from a garage in the 2700 block of Milton Avenue. The items were recovered the next day from Cash Plus Pawn in the 9100 block of East R.L. Thornton Freeway.

At 11:20 a.m., a $450 refrigerator and a $1,500 ice machine were reported stolen from a house in the 3300 block of Southwestern Boulevard.

Full Story - Park Cities People

Park Cities Foreclosures on the Rise

By Krista NightengaleAssistant Managing Editor
People Newspapers - Full Story 2/20/09

Christina BaranyRavi and Uma Kalielindi walk arm in arm during a foreclosure bus tour led by Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch.About a month ago, Debbie Sutton and Gary Bilpuch, agents with David Griffin and Co. Realtors, did something they’d never thought they do. They took a group of 30 people on a home tour in the Park Cities. But it wasn’t just any, old home tour — it was a look at 10 foreclosed homes.

Although the Park Cities and Preston Hollow have held off the devastating toll of the economy on the housing industry for quite some time, it looks like these two areas are finally being touched.
“It’s affecting the area,” said Terry Smith, Realtor with Jerold and Terry Smith Realty and owner of dallashomescenter.com. “It’s happening.”

According to a report released by Addison-based Foreclosing Listing Service, the first quarter in Dallas isn’t looking so good.

“Setting a new all-time quarterly record high, 13,259 postings were filed on homes located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro during the first quarter of this year,” said FLS president George Roddy Sr.

And it doesn’t look good for the Park Cities and Preston Hollow, either.
According to FLS, in the first quarter, the percentage of foreclosures in all our ZIP codes except 75225 have increased. And when comparing 2008’s foreclosure totals to 2007, one can see an increase in all areas, except 75220.

Where are the foreclosures coming from?It’s obvious foreclosures, even in the bubble, have increased.

But why? Ben Coats, a Realtor with Allie Beth Allman, started his career with a very specific group of people: homebuilders in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

Looking for Preston Hollow Homes? Contact Bernice Edelman today! http://www.berniceedelman.com/