When it comes to exclusivity in our fair city, it doesn’t get much better than Brookside Estates.
Rarely does a property come up for sale here, so the fact that Compass realtor Suzanne Warner has just listed a gorgeous Mediterranean mansion is indeed exciting. You may be scratching your head thinking, “Where the heck is Brookside Estates?” Well, this area is also known as Volk Estates, but the historically accurate name is Brookside Estates, and it lies in the heart of University Park.
Large estates really became a thing in the 1920s. Leonard Volk, a prominent Dallas merchant in the early 20th century, purchased 41 acres from Southern Methodist University and W.W. Caruth in 1924 for the express purpose of developing estate properties.
Remember, the 1920s were a time of great prosperity, and there was plenty of oil money splashing around. Brookside Estates attracted oil tycoons like Algur H. Meadows and Everette Lee DeGolyer, who hired important architects like Bertram Hill and Hal Thomson to build impressive, elegant homes.
Brookside Estates is bounded by Vassar Avenue, Lovers Lane, and Turtle Creek Boulevard, which acts as a natural boundary and minimizes traffic. Within the neighborhood is another triangular-shaped area bounded by Baltimore Drive, Lovers Lane, and Turtle Creek Boulevard. This exclusive enclave is the most sought-after area of the entire neighborhood because there are only seven very private estates here.
This home is so beautifully designed with such historical detail that I was a bit shocked that it’s only 20 years old. With architect Larry Boerder responsible for the design and George Lewis listed as the builder, it’s no surprise the home looks like it’s been here for generations.
The 10,105-square-foot mansion was created to offer the grandeur you’d expect of such size, with a sweeping staircase in the entry and a myriad of fantastic ceiling treatments, including groin-vaulted, coffered, and barrel-vaulted.
You will find rich wood paneling, exquisite inlaid hardwoods, and splendid marble flooring. Even the silver storage cabinetry in the butler’s pantry has been treated to an antique mirrored surface. What is surprising is that you will also find a great deal of intimacy because, regardless of size, this is, first and foremost, a home.
The Brookside Estates mansion sits on just under an acre and features five spacious bedrooms, a primary suite with a spa-like bathroom and dual walk-in closets, multiple living rooms with grand windows, two first-floor offices, a home theater, and a large flex space. The estate’s outdoor spaces include a backhouse, pool, covered outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen, putting green, and graveled dog run.
What more could you ask for? Compass realtor Suzanne Warner has this one-of-a-kind Brookside Estates Mediterranean mansion at 7031 Turtle Creek Blvd. available for $18.499 million.
If you’re interested, check out the open house scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Licensed agents can bring their clients. However, if you’re not accompanied by a licensed agent, the seller requires you to bring government-issued identification to enter the home, preferably a valid driver’s license.
