We were having this as an informal discussion at the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference here in Miami: does it make a difference when a house once belonged to a famous person? Certainly that makes for better copy content, but how much actual value can you place on a home for having a famous owner?
Even more, what if the famous owner was there many moons ago?
Ironically, I was in Miami the very first time I ever saw the Dallas Cowboys or heard of Tom Landry. I was at Superbowl X: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys but only by 4 points — the score was 21 to 17. It was a nail-biting game, and a back -to- back win for the Men of Steel, who played at the Orange Bowl on January 18, 1976.
That was more than 40 years ago. 4510 Hallmark Drive had been built in 1962, so this is the home he and Alicia came home to after that Superbowl. In fact, he came home to this house after the Cowboy’s first three Super Bowl appearances, including the team’s victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. I did not see that one, dang it. But when the Landry’s moved, they took all of those trophies with them.
Maybe the fairy dust remains.
The home has had only had two owners, which sometimes signifies that it has been cared for lovingly. And it is such a sixties icon it almost deserves to be enshrined: terrazzo floors, fancy woodwork, vaulted ceilings with beams, interior atrium and that low-slung, low roofed ranch house profile that keeps the sunlight out of the house to keep it cooler. Recall, the concept of central AC was pretty new in the early sixties.
The home has four bedrooms according to the agent, but DCAD says five. It was custom built for Tom and Alicia Landry and I will so bet the kitchen had boomerang formica. Why am I so sure? We owned a similar home in the neighborhood, and it was born to us with little blue boomerangs on pristine white Formica. A wall of brick in the family room surrounding the fireplace. Ceiling medallions. Louvered doors. Double entry doors. There are three full baths, cannot believe the Landry’s did not have a powder room but surely one could be added.
The 4,000-square-foot home now priced at $795,000 is where the Landrys raised their children. The kitchen and master bath have been updated to 2015 standards — requisite granite, stainless appliances, new cabinets and light limestone. The vast swath of windows overlooking the back yard lead me to believe those were not original, nor was the rear patio with skylight: the patio was there, skylight probably added. Which is fine. The master bath is pretty large with tons of storage, brass (sigh) and the master bath has an interesting lit cove ceiling.
And look, just look at those swag drapes!
The rear back yard is as virgin as it gets: the trees have swelled to huge heights, the bushes are dense, and there is plenty of room for a pool on that .37 acre lot. Those generous lots are one reason why I am so bullish about this area.
But what I probably love best is the giant oak in the front holding court over the circular drive. Think of how many times the Landrys must have come home and swept through that elegant circular driveway, with this big tree watching. If limbs could talk…
