Douglas Newby Insights
Neighborhoods, Architects, Architecture, Design, Dallas, and Organic Urbanism
Dilbeck Prevails
It is a victory whenever a historically and architecturally significant home is sold to a new owner who will restore and renovate it. Every historic home that has not been extensively renovated or expanded is in danger of being torn down. This danger is especially acute when a Charles Dilbeck-designed home is only 1,800 square feet and is on a substantial lot in Highland Park.
This Dilbeck prevailed over a builder’s overtures for a lot sale and demolition. I have said that fabulous homes are torn down not because no one wants them, but because owners and real estate agents are tempted by an offer that comes in before the home is on the market or in the first two days. Builders and preservationists have too often said there is little hope for a historic home to be saved in Highland Park. Owners think they are getting a quick, sure sale, and agents do not have to do any work except provide the lot dimensions.
My contravening argument is that numerous buyers dream of owning a historic home. They need more time and information to evaluate it, but they are often willing to pay more for the lot and house than a builder or investor would pay just for the lot.
This Charles Dilbeck-designed home is a perfect example. I received a substantial offer from a builder the first day it was on the market. My clients turned it down. Before it went on the market, we spent a month preparing information, floor plans, and photographs to give homebuyers the opportunity to understand the home and its value.
There were 20 showings, and it took a month for the right offer to come in, much higher than the builder’s lot purchase offer. The cash buyers, who are restoring and accentuating the original Dilbeck features, closed in seven days. This made the closing date not that different from a customary 30- to 45-day builder closing.
Most encouraging was that three other buyers were devastated that they deliberated too long and the house got away. Yes, there is a pool of buyers who desire a historic home in Highland Park. This Charles Dilbeck-designed home has the best new homeowners.
#Dilbeck #Dallas #HighlandPark #ArchitecturallySignificant
Celebration
Can anyone remember a time when Lee Cullum did not represent the best of Dallas?
Lee is widely admired and regarded with affection—and with good reason. Lee brought great insight into Dallas, business, and its leaders as host of CEO on KERA.
She made Dallas proud when she appeared on PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and on NPR’s All Things Considered.
She shaped opinions as editorial page editor of the Times Herald and as a columnist at The Dallas Morning News.
Her international reach is legendary as a senior fellow at the Tower Center and through her service on the Council on Foreign Relations.
But maybe she has touched and dazzled us most as an interviewer and moderator on subjects ranging from politics and city affairs to art, leadership, culture, Dallas, and international affairs.
We see her photographic memory at work as she quotes politicians, philosophers, poems, or religious passages spontaneously in response to an answer—or to pose her next question. And she does so with a melodic voice, aristocratic diction, and a wonderful sense of humor.
Lee Cullum is the ultimate Dallas diplomat. Anytime Lee is in the room, you know it is a celebration.
Urbanity and Bucolicity
One of the virtues of a well-designed modern home is its ability to make an urban site feel connected to nature.
This view is between two architect-designed homes on Park Bridge Court. One was designed by architects Smitharc and the other by architect Ken Burgess. Both occupy zero-lot-line sites along the Katy Trail and Turtle Creek corridor, demonstrating how thoughtful design can create privacy while still embracing a remarkably bucolic setting.
The photograph also reminds me of advice from a brilliant designer friend Michael Lee who suggested a Mercedes estate wagon for me. Comfortable, robust, and understated, it has long been the everyday car of choice for many serious car collectors.
In this setting it seems perfectly at home—part urban sophistication, part countryside practicality.
The architecture, landscape, and even the wagon all share a similar quality – they are designed to be enjoyed every day rather than admired only on special occasions. * Urbanity and Bucolicity
#TurtleCreek #ParkBridgeCourt #architect #MercedesWagon #Dallas
The Carlyle – Bit of SMU
In New York, where else would you see three generations of beautiful women from Portland, Oregon, all with SMU connections, than at The Gallery at the Carlyle! Not pictured is their son and brother, an SMU student, and me, who also has degrees from SMU. And joining us for a moment, seated next to another woman with an SMU graduate degree, is Dimitrios Michalopoulos, the famous general manager of Bemelmans Bar. It is amazing to watch Dimitrios work the room with power, grace, elegance and an enchanting smile. Responsible for one of the most popular bars in New York, often with over an hour long line to get in, it takes a maestro to coordinate the celebrities, the rich and powerful, the hip and the beautiful, and ensure a lovely time is had by all. Besides his expertise in organizational behavior, he is a chemist at heart. Chemistry, his best subject in school, comes into play with the signature drinks he creates – the gin martini-inspired cocktail Bemelman’s Confidential – quickly comes to mind. The Gallery, with music spilling out of Bemelmans Bar, is my favorite place in New York because it attracts the most interesting residents of the city, and lovely guests from around the country, and often those with SMU or Dallas connections.
On another note, the same evening, I was able to say goodbye to my favorite hotel managing director, Marlene Poynder, who was departing the next day to her final career post in her native Australia. Marlene was always a delight and The Carlyle radiated her warmth and professionalism. *The Carlyle – Bit of SMU
@dimitrios_michalopoulos @marlene.poynder @The Gallery at the Carlyle @RosewoodTheCarlyle #TheCarlyle #SMU #TheGallery #BemelmansBar
Gallery Visit – Matisse
Every small and large city I have been to has a museum that I enjoy visiting. But only New York seems to have gallery blockbuster exhibitions of major artists that exceed what you might see in a museum.
Acquavella Galleries at 18 E. 79th St. is a good example. Recently, they had a Matisse: The Pursuit of Harmony exhibition featuring Matisse. I also happened to enter the exhibition at the same time as gallerist John McEnroe, who was there to see it as well.
It is also fun seeing an exhibit of great art in a building with great architecture. *Gallery Visit – Matisse
#Matisse #Art #AcquavellaGalleries #UpperEastSide
Remembering John Reoch
Some might think that 45 years ago, when John came to Dallas from Philadelphia as a buttoned-down attorney, he reinvented himself. Others, like me, think Dallas was simply the perfect city to nurture his brilliance as a lawyer and his profound appreciation of art, food, wine, literature, classical and contemporary music, architecture, cycling, and fashion.
John also nurtured the city. He even out-verved Dallas’s most exuberant personalities and fashionistas, always with impeccable manners, grace, and a wry sense of humor.
John’s first Dallas residence was the first new home built in the recently designated Munger Place Historic District. He went on to live in three conservation districts and multiple award-winning architect-designed homes. He filled both his homes and his law firm with art.
John might wear jeans while riding a Harley, but when riding an Italian motorcycle, he would only wear Armani or another Italian designer suit. As a professional cyclist, he would even retape his handlebars to match his racing kit.
John was incredibly generous, and everyone who knew him was the recipient of an unexpected gift. Perhaps his greatest gift was simply being in the room—or at a café table—looking, well, like John, which always brought a smile.
And come to think of it, who was better suited to receive the French Academy of Raffination Medal awarded to a select group of Dallas’ most refined citizens than our friend John Reoch? *Remembering John Reoch
@solreo @Karen.Cowden @levine7571 @LeBilboquetDallas
#JohnReoch #Dallas #Fashion #LeBilboquetDallas #MungerPlace
Allison’s Gazpacho
There is something about fresh-picked produce from East Texas that makes me think of Allison’s Helen Corbitt Gazpacho. What a great way to start summer! * Allison’s Gazpacho
#FM900FarmBox #Gazpacho #Summer @f.m.900_farm
Cafe Celebration
What better place than Cafe Pacific to celebrate a new modern architect-designed home that just closed and to be able to share the news with friends. Attire: Savile Row linen suit, London bespoke shirt by Deema, Hermes tie from Highland Park Village, and pocket square created with cocktail napkin supplied by Cafe Pacific Bar to enable me to satisfy dress code. Cocktail is French 75 made by Jonathon. Service by Lazlo, dining room manager of the day, Jo Ann Terrill. Inspiration: John Reoch. Photograph by Karen Foster. *Cafe Celebration
@CafePacificDallas @kfosterzsb @hp_village @deemaabichahine
#CafePacific #HighlandParkVillage #HighlandPark #Dallas #French75 pocketsquare
1915 – House and Automobile
1915 was an elegant year in Dallas. Wood pavers downtown had largely given way to concrete streets. Following a classic European Grand Tour, Hal Thomson returned to Dallas and began designing the city’s most elegant society estate homes, including this residence on Swiss Avenue in Munger Place, the grand boulevard of Dallas.
The motor court between the original architecturally significant 1915 residence and the later garages and secondary house is the perfect place to park a 1915 Packard Twin Six Seven Passenger Touring Car.
More than a century later, both remain reminders of an era when craftsmanship, engineering, and architecture were celebrated as expressions of progress and elegance. Today, the touring routes are more likely to be White Rock Lake and Swiss Avenue than the roads of 1915, but the Packard still looks entirely at home.
The home of John and Elise Willding was a highlight of this year’s Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour. Mel, the family chauffeur and mechanic, stands by for special occasions and family motoring excursions. *1915 House and Automobile
@JohnWillding @EliseMcDonaldWillding #HalThomson #1915 #Packard #5323 Swiss Avenue #DallasNeighborhood #DallasHistoricDistrict #MungerPlace #Architect #HistoricHome #Dallas #MothersDay #HomeTour
Talking About Dallas
Lunch with Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson always leaves me thinking about the future of the city.
Mayor Johnson has an incredible understanding of what is possible for Dallas. Even if he were not mayor, his observations about the city — and his understanding of both its challenges and its potential — would still be exhilarating and unrivaled.
Mayor Johnson is a thoughtful urbanist. The evolution of cities — particularly Dallas — has always been a great passion of mine. The mayor’s clarity of thought about the city may come from the vantage point of having been raised in West Dallas, educated at Greenhill in North Dallas, graduating from Harvard, and maintaining close ties with SMU as the city and the university become increasingly intertwined through shared initiatives.
One thing that dawned on me at lunch was the much-discussed move AT&T is making as it relocates its headquarters from downtown Dallas to a suburban campus. My initial reaction was disappointment. But as we talked, I realized that many AT&T employees already leave Dallas every evening for the suburbs. Their presence has limited impact on Dallas life.
In contrast, the Goldman Sachs headquarters moving to Dallas will have employees who are more likely to live in the city and involve themselves in Dallas life, contributing to the vitality of the city long after the workday ends.
If Dallas were a city in decline, we would cling to every company in an effort to slow the loss. But a vibrant city must continually upgrade — improving the quality of opportunity, participation, and civic life.
For Dallas to continue to flourish, it must sometimes allow some companies to leave so new and better ones can take their place.
#DallasMayor
#DallasDowntown
#Dallas
@cafepacific