Preservation takes on many forms. The bottom line, however, is to save what can be saved rather than choosing demolition. Because of that, rehabilitating a challenging historic property takes vision, knowledge, and determination.
When OsCarina Pilar drove up to this Oak Cliff Midcentury Modern home last December, she was the only one to see past the faded beauty and damage.
Love at First Sight
Those neglected homes in need of significant repairs that most of us would pass by? They make her heart skip. Pilar is a real estate investor who has been interested in interior design for as long as she can remember. She got into construction in 2009, moving from commercial properties to residential ones.
One of her wholesalers told her a 3,137-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom property in Oak Park Estates had just hit the market. So she hopped in the car to see it.
“As I was driving, he called and said he’d just seen it and not to waste my time coming over,” Pilar said.
But the moment she arrived, she could see the original 1958 Midcentury Modern glory and fell in love with it.
“No one wanted this house. Everyone thought I was crazy.”
“A fire had partially damaged it, and we could not enter the house because it was a hoarder situation,” she said. “The bank would not even give me a loan on the property, but I knew I could bring it back and keep it as original as possible.”
Everything beyond the damaged part was in good condition, and other advantages to this particular property made it even more appealing. There was a pool with a cabana, and at some point, a second-story addition was created to be another principal bedroom.
Pilar called her team, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. She’s a very hands-on investor and is always on-site to oversee her projects. As it was being taken to the studs, she saved every brick to reuse.
“You cannot find that length of brick anymore,” she said. ”My crew thought I was crazy, but they understood when it all came together.”
Before the project could begin, the house had to be emptied.
“We filled 43 dumpsters,” Pilar said. “Clearing out the house took over a month.”
The kitchen, dining, and living rooms had been damaged, but that only served as inspiration. She raised the ceilings, replaced windows, and added more at the top of the house, following the original floor plan and replacing the plumbing and electrical.
“We started the project in March and finished five months later,” she said.
The pool and 342-square-foot cabana were redone, and the 515-square-foot second-story principal suite was turned into a self-contained apartment with a kitchenette. The potential of two income-producing properties is an exciting option you rarely find.
“Your environment affects your reality.”
Pilar has taken this Midcentury Modern right back to 1958 with everything a 2022 buyer wants.
“My designs are about the experience, how a home feels and looks,” she said. If you are sitting in the living room, you can see something beautiful from the windows. I celebrate the unexpected and accentuate the history and culture of a home while making it function for today.”
“I love that she kept the integrity of what this home was intended to be and infused it with timeless finish outs and glamour,” Compass Real Estate listing agent Anne Lasko said.
If you are unfamiliar with the Oak Park Estates area of Oak Cliff, I predict it will be the next hot spot. You can walk to Kiest Park and be in downtown Dallas in 10 minutes. The Five Mile Creek Greenbelt, a network of parks and trails the Trust for Public Land is developing across Oak Cliff, and southwest Dallas is minutes away. That means this area will only increase in popularity.
It’s evident this project became a personal labor of love. Pilar is only putting it on the market for two weeks. “If it does not sell, I’m moving in.”
There was a big happy hour to showcase the Oak Cliff Midcentury Modern last night, so you better move quickly!
Lasko has 3663 Cripple Creek Drive listed for $949,900.
