In Hollywood Heights, the homes are rapidly becoming mullets, and that’s a good thing! They are all business in the front and a total party in the back.
Or, to put it in more sensible terms, in a conservation district like Hollywood Heights, you can’t change the front of your home or the first third of each side. These sections must remain historically accurate. However, behind that party line, almost all bets are off as to what you can do.
When I moved into the neighborhood in the 1990s, it was full of charming stone-embellished Tudor cottages, cute Craftsman homes, a smattering of ranch-style houses, and, of course, the only two Pueblo Revivals in Dallas. The most extensive remodels happening were attic conversions. Although some of those were extraordinary, they don’t hold a candle to the ideas homeowners are coming up with for additions behind their homes.
As the demographics here began to change with the influx of younger, double-income individuals, the mullet house trend started to emerge. This 1931 Hollywood Heights charmer is a great example. The drive-up has clear Hollywood Heights historic appeal. Walk inside, and you have all the reasons buyers want to live here, with the beautiful original hardwood floors, stained glass cabinet fronts in the kitchen and second living areas, and loads of glorious window light. The home features 1,844 square feet, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and is situated on a very large lot. Sweet, right? But wait, there’s more, so much more.
Look Behind That Party Line!
The present owners wanted a guest cottage but on the same level as the house. Many of the homes here have large yards that drop down in the back, so decks are the norm, with steps down to the backyard.
After consulting with Brian Gream, a plan was devised for a very different kind of guest cottage. It’s a tree house! In 2017, Gream constructed a 440-square-foot guest house floating above the lot. Imagine how happy the present owners must have been during the pandemic to have this as a separate workspace!
A bridge leads from the deck to the tree house and still leaves you enough room to kick the ball around the yard or install a swimming pool.
Imagine the possibilities here. Whether you need a guest house, an office space, an art studio, or a living space for a multi-generational household, this tree house has you covered. But the most exciting aspect? The potential for income. Install steps to the bridge and you can rent this out short-term or long-term, helping you pay down that mortgage quickly!
This one’s a slam dunk, folks. Don’t wait to get to one of the open houses this weekend.
OPEN HOUSES:
Saturday, June 28, 1:00-3:00 PM
Sunday, June 29, 1:00-3:00 PM
