Is it any wonder that we love loft living? These cool, sexy, urban spaces have been capturing our hearts for years. Popularized in films like Ghost, Big, Flash Dance, and Zoolander, the concept of living in a large, open, light-filled space with great views is easy to embrace.
Loft living can be traced back to the 1960s in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. Manufacturers started leaving the city for more economic digs and struggling artists saw these enormous spaces as the perfect spots for their studios. Of course, artists are not exactly flush with cash so they lived in their studio spaces — illegally. It was not until 1971 that New York passed a law making loft living in SoHo legal and other neighborhoods soon followed suit.
Today, the vintage industrial loft has become so popular everywhere you seldom find them for sale.
In 2018, Brick Underground interviewed The Corcoran Group’s Sandy Mattingly, known as the Manhattan Loft Guy, who said, “…the opportunity to buy a large, classic loft under $1 million is close to extinction.” Remember that was three years ago, so loft prices have gone up accordingly — when you can find them.
Is it any wonder developers decided to imitate the look? However, even with new developments, the true loft look is still hard to find, especially in Dallas. But it’s out there and seldom has the style been as successfully executed as what you will find in 2011 Cedar Springs. That’s because the architect’s intention was to pay homage to that classic urban manufacturing building style.
I don’t believe loft living can get better than this two-story double residence. It’s dramatic, elegant, sophisticated, and the perfect film location. I can easily see George Clooney slipping away from a party to deal with international business tycoons, moodily pacing back and forth as the city is reflected in the stainless steel wall panels. Of course, Cate Blanchett would be charming guests in the art-filled grand foyer gallery.
The dramatic interiors are the brainchild of owners Larry Ness and Belinda Deane Ness. The existing concrete and glass materials were accented with oak flooring, steel trimmed thresholds, those wonderful stainless steel wall panels, and black matte paint. A sculptural oak and steel staircase floats up to the second level, seamlessly bisecting the formal and family spaces.
The beauty of loft living is the adaptability of the spaces. There is no end to the creative ways you can use them. Larry originally purchased one unit, and acting as the general contractor created the immaculate streamlined space you see today.
About four years after he finished, his next-door neighbors decided to move. So he purchased their loft to combine with his. “Of course that meant gutting it,” Larry said. “Belinda was inspirational. She made a lot of recommendations. We’d sit on the finished side and have a glass of wine, then go over to the dust pit on the other side and start working.”
The result is magnificent loft living with over 4,600 square feet and two principal suites on the second level with views of the Trinity River and Victory. I cannot think of a space more ideally suited for the influx of executives we are seeing from New York. We already know they love loft living.
Whoever is lucky enough to purchase this sophisticated loft will also enjoy the neighbors.
“I’m going to miss the people,” Larry said. “We have a great community here. It’s small enough that everyone knows and looks out for each other. I’m also going to miss the convenience. You don’t need to drive anywhere. There is a big Tom Thumb grocery store next to us, you can walk to great restaurants and there is always something going on downtown!”
If you love loft living as much we do, 2011 Cedar Springs Number 606 was listed this morning by David Griffin for $2.980 million. I hope you have him on speed dial because this one won’t last long.
