Word comes through the grapevine that a permit has been secured to demolish the historic Clifford Hutsell-designed home at 7226 Lakewood Blvd.
The permit lists Bain & Company manager Pedro Correa and his wife, Impeccable Pig owner Jennifer Correa, as the owners of the home listed by David Bush this summer for $2.5 million. Public records also show Kyle Brinkley of Brinkley Property Group as the buyer’s representative for the home, which is on a half-acre lot on one of the most sought-after streets in Lakewood.
The news of the demolition is sure to be heartbreaking for neighborhood activist Summer Loveland, who has campaigned for the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District. The proposed expansion would have protected the historic structure—one with many original Hutsell architectural elements that haven’t been seen in years. According to the conservation district expansion campaign’s social media pages, the city attorney’s office is still working on the draft ordinance for the district’s expansion.
“One of the goals of the Conservation District expansion is to encourage renovation of historically significant homes, including the addition of square footage,” Loveland said. “Other homes in the area have proved that this can yield beautiful results, fit for a growing, modern family. One example of a historic Hutsell that has been lovingly updated will be on the Lakewood Home Tour this year at 7102 Lakewood Blvd.”
Demolishing Lakewood History
The home, lauded by preservationists as a superb example of Hutsell’s Hollywood-inspired Spanish Eclectic style, was kept intact for decades by the previous owners.
“This is the best-preserved Hutsell I’ve seen in 35 years,” historic home remodeler Carol Gantt told daltxrealestate.com. “To reproduce that amount of ironwork alone at that level of artistic merit would cost over $100,000 today. This is also the best-preserved elaborate painting I’ve seen. There’s likely a large mural of trees painted up the staircase wall that needs to be carefully restored.”
According to neighbors who have kept an eye on the property since it was sold, several windows and some trim work have already been removed from the property ahead of its demolition.
According to Loveland, the construction company says the demolition is set for next week and it will likely take a couple of days.
“This home is a perfect reflection of the historical significance of Lakewood as a community,” Loveland added. “As long as this area of Lakewood is not part of the Conservation District, neighbors can only hold out hope that the home that replaces it will blend in with the aesthetics, charm, and feel of our neighborhood.”
We’ve reached out to Pedro Correa but have not received a reply.
[Update: Jim Foster of Pioneers of Dallas County has started a petition to save the home at 7226 Lakewood Blvd. [You can find it here.]
City of Dallas Demolition Permit And Authorization 7226 Lakewood Blvd by Jo Jemison England on Scribd
