Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
Highland Park is just about the most coveted neighborhood in Dallas. Sure there are sports stars, celebrity sightings, and film shoots, but the great schools, terrific police and fire department, and gorgeous luxury properties are what really draw buyers. There has only been one thing lacking … until now — Highland Park luxury condos. Robert Elliott Custom Homes has solved that issue with their latest development, The Mondara, on Abbott Avenue.
A few days ago the certificate of occupancy was issued and it’s now move-in ready. A good thing, too, as 29 of the 39 units, ranging in price from $800,000 to $2.2 million, are already sold. We first heralded this incredible project in February of 2015, and then we gave you a sneak peek at this stunning development in April. When we were there on Thursday getting a grand tour from listing agent Lynda Piepgras of The Associates (Elliot’s brokerage firm), the one and only Nate Berkus and crew were hard at work on a recently purchased abode. That may give you a small clue as to just how special these homes are, because you know Nate doesn’t work on just any luxury condo!
Elliott bought the property three years ago and started thinking. About the same time David Stocker of SHM — Stocker Hoesterey and Montenegro, the formidably talented architectural firm — was walking by almost daily. He was thinking, too.
“I lived on Cragmont, a block away,” Stocker said. “I used to walk by all the time. It was vacant for years and I spent a good deal of time daydreaming about the site and what would look cool there. It was so much fun when Robert called to work on the project. He has great vision.”
Elliott was looking for an opportunity to target empty nesters. “Our company builds a lot of single-family homes and we know people eventually don’t want the maintenance of a yard and a pool, and they don’t want to pay big taxes on a big property,” Elliott said. “They want high-end, good-quality, without a bunch of staircases, and they want to stay in the neighborhood. That demographic was our inspiration. We wanted to provide them with the quality and the feel of the usable parts of a 7,000-square-foot home without the maintenance.”
Elliot and his team prioritized the use of more single-family residential elements like real stucco and wood-clad windows that you don’t normally see in a multi-family development, and they prioritized space. The family room, kitchen, master bedroom, bath, and closet to be exact. “These spaces had to be comparable to a single-family, high-end home,” Elliott said. “I think we nailed it.”
So do we.
There are four floor plans in the three-story development, with two buildings that surround a common courtyard.
“Richard Metersky did the original layout of the building that allowed us to see how to use the property spatially and how to fit what we wanted within the city code,” Elliott said. “SHM brought it all to life, and Bill Bibb of Archiverde was the landscape architect.” Bibb and Elliott put their heads together to come up with a common green space that people will actually use. The result is a gracious, accessible area with resort-style seating, fountains, a fire pit, grills, and even a couple of putting greens.
Stocker’s inspiration was Alys Beach, the groundbreaking community in Florida’s panhandle, noted for courtyard living and the vacation spot of many Dallasites.
“When we think about our architecture, we always consider the outdoors, and the relationship between the building and the environment,” Stocker said. Each of the units has access to a courtyard or balcony facilitating that relationship.
Light is also integral to the design, and Stocker wanted to ensure it flowed throughout the homes. “We are always chasing light in multiple directions.” That light has been beautifully captured in every space at The Mondara.
Can it get any better? Of course! There are dedicated guest quarters for your visiting friends on the second level and we understand there is going to be only a nominal charge for the use of this fantastic amenity. Book that through the on-site concierge, and of course there is secured guest parking, along with owner parking, underground.
The Mondara is located in the most walkable part of Highland Park with access to the Katy Trail, great restaurants and a brand new Trader Joe’s a few blocks away.
Remember there are only ten of these beauties left and they are going fast. Give Piepgras a call at 214-228-7318 for a tour, and then call Robert Poe at Inwood National Bank. They’ll have you in one of these gorgeous condos before the holidays.
