Just southwest of the storied homes on Swiss Avenue lies a more intimate, less popular Swiss Avenue in the gorgeous Gaston Heights neighborhood. Bounded by North Fitzhugh Ave. on the northeast and Peak on the southwest, sandwiched between Live Oak and Worth Street, is a lovely little enclave of historic homes that enjoys a distinction as Peak’s Suburban Addition.
This is a fantastic neighborhood for people who want an urban environment where you can see downtown from Gaston Avenue, and yet you can enjoy a quiet, walkable neighborhood close to shopping and mass transit. And there’s Jimmy’s Food Store just down Fitzhugh if you’re craving a Cuban sandwich. Man, that makes me hungry!
But today’s Friday Four Hundred sits on Swiss Avenue and is a beauty to behold. It’s a Craftsman-style Prairie Four-square that is just pristine! I love what the owners have done with this home, which is incorporate just a touch of modern amenities, upgrading critical issues, and yet maintaining the character of the home. At 4826 Swiss Ave. you get a large main house, a smaller guest house, a four-car garage with work space above, and gated entry. It’s marketed by Clay Stapp + Co. Realtor Angela Antonson for $499,900.
This neighborhood was once a very popular middle- and working-class neighborhood in the 1920s and 1930s, when the streetcars ran up and down many thoroughfares and criss-crossed downtown Dallas. Many of the larger manors were converted to apartments and sometimes boarding houses. Since then, the 22-block neighborhood has experienced a revitalization, with people moving in and taking on massive projects to help preserve the homes in this amazing neighborhood, one of the first residential developments in Dallas.
“The district was once part of a plantation settled by Mexican War veteran Jefferson Peak who became a pioneer in Dallas real estate development,” according to Preservation Dallas. “In anticipation of suburban expansion in the far eastern sector of East Dallas, Jefferson Peak and his son, Junius, subdivided the family plantation into 16 blocks, portions of which were sold as Peak’s Suburban Addition beginning in 1879. Streets were named after the Peak children: Worth, Carroll, Junius, Victor and Flora.”
Like I said, much of this home’s historic character remains. Inside the main house you’ll find large living spaces, a re-done kitchen that is functional and open, a breakfast area with a wall of French doors, and good-sized bedrooms with closets. Now, there’s also a guest house in the back that has two stories, with a bedroom and bath above a living and kitchen area. That provides a significant rental income opportunity for a smart buyer. Or if you’ve got family abroad that visits for long periods, this is a fabulous spot for them to stay.
The backyard features a huge deck, a hot tub, a koi pond, and a full privacy fence. It’s a lovely, functional urban home with tons of character! What a fabulous opportunity!
