I live in a pocket of condos located in east Dallas Texas around the Central Market at Lovers Lane and Greenville. I love my neighborhood. It doesn't look like much from the street, but living here is great! Once you are home, you aren't going to have to venture very far to find everything you could possibly need. If I am overcome by the need for a single slice of Italian Cream Cake at 9:30 at night, all I have to do is slip into a pair of flip-flops and walk a block down the street to the best destination grocery store in the Metroplex. I know, I know, an apple would be better for me. And, last time I counted, Central Market carried 22 varieties of apples. Seriously. Life is GOOD!
My neighborhood has a total of 17 condo complexes, making it the single largest area of condos in East Dallas, TX. The boundries are Lovers Lane, Greenville Avenue and Skillman. The Dart lightrail line is the southern boundary. There are a total of approximately 1,100 condo units in the area. We have a "Walkability" score of 84, which puts us in the same category as downtown Manhatten or San Francisco. Remember, I told you, it doesn't look like much.....but, once you figure out what is going on here, you will understand the enormous benefits of living in the area! And, people in the area do walk places. Day and night, it is common to see people walking along, going somewhere in the area on foot.
The area is served by a lightrail station, 18 restaurants, a post office and library, 3 grocery store as well as a number of specialty retailers such as Michaels, World Market and the best CD exchange store in the Metroplex. Every major bank in the country is located somewhere within easy driving distance of my place. The Tom Thumb on Lovers Lane is open all night. The Krogers down on Mockingbird is a Flagship store. Lowes, Home Depot, 2 Targets, a Sams, a Walmart. What else can a person possibly need?
For information about condos in East Dallas or in Dallas Texas generally, go to my website by clicking this link.
These condos were originally built as apartment complexes in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were condominiumized in the late 1970s. The majority of these complexes were built by one of two companies. The floorplans and finishout reflect that relationship. One builder created Sandhurst Manor, The Terrace, Sandhurst Plaza, Williamsburg I, Williamsburg II, Birchbrook Manor and Birchbrook II. Those floorplans have stood the test of time. Typically they have lots of closet space, good line-of-sights and traditional exterior
s. For information about specific complexes in the area, click here.
Much of the work of the other builder has been radically changed. That builder was responsible for what is now Bella Gardens and The Tuscany, two complexes that were gutted and updated by the Power Brothers about 10 years ago, as well as the complex that is now called The Veneto. The same company also built Spanish Steppes which was bulldozed to build new apartments in the recent past. The complexes that are relatively original are Summerset Village and The Arrangement.
Other builders did single complexes in the area. Each of those complexes has something to recommend it. There is The Danbury where the majority of the units has a floorplan that is just 3 large rooms. La Fontaine has the largest mix of floorplans in the area, running the entire range from one-bedroom studios to 3 bedroom units. University Place is known for its large, private live-oak shaded interior courtyard. It has a sister complex in the area known as The Pink Wall. University Crossroads is a classic property built by a company called Dan-D. Once you learn to recognize them, you will see these complexes all over the Metroplex. Weeping mortar, terra cotta tile roofs. That leaves Arbor Court. Unhappily Arbor Court is mostly owned by investors and is tenant occupied. It is living proof of the maxim that there is usually a good reason why something is cheap to buy.
There are also some rental complexes in the area, entire properties that have not been condominized. Two of them were venerable local institutions, Windsor House and Spanish Steppes. I can't tell you how often I have talked with someone who has told me that they lived in one complex or the other at some point. Both of those complexes were bulldozed and replaced by high-end rentals. Another old, sad complex at the corner of Lovers and Skillman has also been replaced by another 3 story rental complex with all the bells and whistles current renters expect in a property.
A 4th rental complex, Signature Point, is an entire blog topic all by itself. That complex sat at the intersection of Lovers Lane and Matilda. The tract is currently completely vacant, waiting for redevelopment as an upscale Continuing Senior Living facility to be called The Tradition.
Another reason to live in the area is that these condos are the least expensive housing available in the Stonewall Jackson Elementary attendance area.
These condos around the Lovers Lane Central Market in East Dallas TX are great!
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