Want to know one of the hottest neighborhoods in town where Baby Boomers are buying every inch of land they can grab? I call it Contemporary Architecture Row, a sliver of land between Highland Park, the Katy Trail and Turtle Creek, about one block long in Northern Heights. Here you will find 60 by 150 lots zoned for up to four units — dense living, but not too. Close to EVERYTHING, and somewhat walkable. June and Oliver Mattingly first got the design ball rolling. Now Frank Welch lives there — I’m visiting with him this Friday, having missed our meeting last week apres wild Dallas storms that left us without electricity. There are so many stunning contemporary homes here, designs by Graham Greene, Lionel Morrison, and Max Levy.
“Take a stroll in that neighborhood, and you’ll have a primer on the best architects and best neighborhood designs in town,” says David Griffin.
His listing at 4300 Abbott snagged an AIA award on a prime corner lot, Abbott and Springbrook. Completed in 2002, this is a one-owner home that has absolutely everything today’s sophisticated buyer wants in a home to while away the fun years. Designed by Oglesby Green principal Graham Green, built by modern dynamo Diane Cheatham, who created the Urban Reserve, the home is made of rock-solid concrete construction. Diane builds ’em strong, and builds ’em right. I still see how gracefully her homes take on age, beginning with a few not too far from me. Every one of her homes gives you a sense of cutting edge, of a look that gets more classic by the day.
4300 Abbott has three bedrooms, three full baths, a three-car garage, one living area, a study, laundry room, and jam packs efficiency into 3066 square feet. I love the floating stairs, floor-to-ceiling windows, sleek stainless kitchen — never go out of style — and light. But I am crazy over the patio with a small pool that looks as if swim jets could turn it into a workout pool in about a fourth the space of a regular pool
Asking is $1,250,000, which includes the rich foliage on the first and second floors. The second floor balcony overlooks a carpet of green treetops. In my book, this home is the epitome of in-town living! Asking price is $1,250,000 and the home has created so much buzz, I wouldn’t be surprised if it sold before I hit “publish”.
