Briggs Freeman’s J.L. Forke has lived all over Dallas. He’s hit practically every hot spot – M Streets, Lakewood, Oaklawn – ALL OF THEM. He recently landed in Greater Kessler Park and today, he’s going to tell us all about it. Where to go, what to do, and why he loves it so very, very much.
1. The Landscape (And Landscaping)
Forke said his current home was listed as a “Coming Soon” in MLS. Most of you know this, but when a home is marked as Coming Soon, legally NO ONE can tour it. Not a licensed agent, not a free-spirited passerby, not kids stacked two tall in a trench coat. NO ONE.
So Forke waited patiently for weeks for the Kessler Park home to hit the market and the day it did, he and his husband were all over it. The first thing Forke’s husband did when they walked inside was race to the back of the house and throw open the back doors. He’s an active gardener and outdoor enthusiast. Forke even calls him a bird nerd.
When his husband, Mike, returned inside, he was a hot minute away from weeping. He LOVED it. He said it felt like he was back home in the Pacific Northwest. It was so lush and green and private and, well, that was that and they bought the house.
2. The Neighbors
Forke said within the first few months he met 32 neighbors. Thirty two. Effortlessly. Just from being outside working in the yard or going on walks. He and his husband were invited to happy hours, get-togethers and eventually holiday parties. There’s just a vibe over there. Everyone is welcoming, like-minded, and chill. Maybe it’s the landscape. Maybe it’s the location. Whatever it is, it draws a wonderful crowd. Which is also why most people don’t leave. Forke said the majority of his neighbors have been there 20-plus years. Once you’re in, you’re in. That’s so incredibly uncommon in this day and age and pretty much tells you all you need to know about Kessler.
3. The Neighborhood
Forke loves the walkability of the neighborhood. With the varied architecture – everything from English Tudors to Midcentury – every home is custom and unique, well-landscaped, and just beautiful to look at, you know? Kessler is a little capsule of magic. It supports my theory that when you’re surrounded by gorgeous nature, you’re just a little happier. Forke said during Pride Month he noticed flags were flown everywhere by everyone – gay, straight, and otherwise. Again, WELCOMING. This neighborhood is IT.
4. Shops and Such
Bishop Arts is so close it’s silly and we all know it and love it. But Forke said the places they frequent the most are the Cannon’s Corner Irish Pub, Cox Farms Market, and CiboDevino Marketplace at Sylvan Thirty. Trinity Groves is right down the road, too, so you’re literally never hurting for a good place to eat. Cannon’s Corner Irish Pub is modeled after the neighborhood pubs in Ireland and actually owned by an Irish couple that lives in Dublin. He said it’s charming as heck and all the bartenders have Irish accents. Cox Farms Market is like a mini-Whole Foods. Fresh produce and meat. Just a charming place to shop. And finally, CiboDivino is authentic Italian restaurant and marketplace with handmade pasta. Forke said of all the places to eat, they can’t help but go back pretty much one night a week.
5. Tyler Station
The makers station at Tyler Station is becoming an increasing draw. With restaurants, barbers, food trucks, artist studios, a boxing ring, and creative spaces galore, it’s hard to hit up Oak Cliff and NOT stop by. Forke said it’s called TyPo – a blend of Tyler and Polk Streets where the grand brick building resides.
6. Conservation District
Aside from Kessler Park East, the neighborhood is in a Conservation District. That means all that gorgeous architecture and variety of home styles set on bigger lots with the deep setback are here to stay. Hooray.
7. History
Kessler Park includes “10 separate developments dating from 1923 to 1979.” The name comes from George Edward Kessler, “a pioneering urban planner and landscape architect hired by the city in 1909. Kessler drafted the Kessler Plan for Dallas with civic improvements designed to solve many of the city’s problems such as flooding, dangerous railroad crossings, and beautification of urban areas by incorporating greenbelts.” If you’d like to know more, kesslerneighbors.org can tell you all about it. And I’ll just bet Forke could, too.
