Sometimes I can look at a house and just know there’s a great story behind it. This Peak’s Suburban Addition Prairie jumped off the page at me, and I have to hand it to the owner, Ryan Glenn, for not thinking I was some mad stalker. He graciously called me back after a plea on Facebook messenger.
Yes, I sometimes (OK, often) stalk people. I can generally find out all I need to know in three clicks and a phone call to get you the dirt! And this is some lovely dirt.
The Peak’s Suburban Addition is a tiny but important historic district. It was the earliest developed part of East Dallas and is one of our 14 historic districts, adopted in 1995. That means you cannot tear this adorable Peak’s Suburban Addition Prairie home down. Thank God.
Built Better Back Then
Just look at what is happening all around the Old East Dallas neighborhoods. You see blah, bland, boxy, and boring construction, and certainly nothing that will withstand over a century of living. It is a gross understatement to say they don’t build ’em like they used to.
Although the Dallas Central Appraisal District puts 1908 as the build date, the Dallas Landmark Commission paperwork has 1890, and Ryan found evidence the house was built in 1889. To give you some perspective, the first home built on Swiss Avenue has a construction date of 1905.
The lovely thing about this house is it is not a Swiss Avenue mansion. It was built for ordinary folks like you and me, which makes it all the more special and shows the critical importance of our historic preservation districts. Without this link to our past and saving these simple homes, Dallas would have become a preservation wasteland years ago.
But thanks to stalwart institutions such as Preservation Dallas, invested entrepreneurs, and old house lovers like the Glenns, we have a good bit of our built history intact.
But I digress. I did, after all, promise you a love story.
When Ryan Glenn and his wife, Jessica Lea, spotted this house in 2018, it was not the precious gem you see today.
“It had not been loved or taken care of for a long time,” Ryan said. “The neighbors across the street saw us looking at the house one day and invited us in. They wanted to find a homeowner that would take care of it. They showed us what they had done to their home and inspired us to take on the restoration.”
This sweet Peak’s Suburban Addition Prairie had one bedroom, two bathrooms, and an unusable back house when the Glenns signed the contract.
Puzzling it Out in Peak’s Suburban Addition
Now you may just assume Ryan was one of those kids that grew up at the knee of a contractor dad, but no, he spent 10 years in advertising as an art director and has worked as a writer and actor. He and Jessica are, quite simply, great problem solvers.
“When we bought the house, I didn’t even know what shiplap was,” Ryan said. “We tore off old sheet rock and saw it and thought, ‘Wow!’ Then we realized there were also giant holes to the outside! So we figured it out. We just throw ourselves into problems and solve them. I learned a little with each project and just kept upgrading my challenges!”
Ryan renovated the principal bedroom and bathroom, uncovering a bathroom window in the process.
“Someone had just tiled right over it,” Ryan said.
The renovation that the couple loves most is the screened porch, which was a bit of a necessity.
“Years ago, this was originally a duplex,” Ryan said. “People kept knocking on the door thinking it was still two separate residences.”
The kitchen had been updated in 2016, so it was not at the top of the list to personalize when they had a back house to consider.
“I probably spent two years fixing the back house,” Ryan said. “That was my longest project. It’s really cute now, and people love it when they see it.”
The main house is 1,260 square feet, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The two-story guest quarters and workshop are 900 square feet with one bedroom, a bathroom, a living area, and a full kitchen.
Love is the watchword in this tale, and all of the construction challenges have created a new love for Ryan. He’s started a custom furniture and woodworking business, Ferventcraft.com.
Of course, Ryan and Jessica will miss their Peak’s Suburban Addition Prairie, but their sights are set on a new horizon. With their new love, 17-month-old Asher, they want to be closer to their church in Grapevine, so it’s time to make a move.
Lucky for you!
Sue Wykes with Coldwell Banker has this charming Peak’s Suburban Addition Prairie at 4603 Sycamore Street listed for $569,000.
