There are some lovely, intimate, private neighborhoods in Dallas. Christopher Place is one of them. Oh, you haven’t heard of it? That’s why people move here!
This gated enclave has only 25 townhomes. The entrance to Christopher Place slopes down a long, tree-lined, private drive to Turtle Creek. It was described by the developers in 1966 as “wild and lovely.”
Developers Manning Grinnan and Frederick Smith had a vision of a neighborhood filled with modern townhouses. This lush parcel of land off Fitzhugh Avenue was the perfect location.
The Dallas Morning News archives had only one article about the neighborhood. That alone speaks to the privacy factor.
Elegant townhouses originally were built hundreds of years ago by owners of rural estates, Mr. Grinan reminded in a recent interview. A trip to the city took several days. While in town, people of substance wanted to live in the fine country style to which they were accustomed.
The townhouses will have a continuity—but not a pattern—along each side of the parkway, with entrances through large private garden patios.
“Each house will express its owner’s individuality in its interior floor plan and its personal plantings,” Mr. Smith said.
Individuality is the key word here. It’s what makes this such a lovely neighborhood. The developers would be delighted to see their vision fulfilled.
Properties rarely come on the market in Christopher Place. Since 2014, only eight have changed hands. Some homeowners have lived here since the 1970s because there has been little reason to leave. When one of these hits the market, it’s a very big deal.
Today we have an elegant two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 3,244-square-foot, French eclectic townhouse. Arched windows, detailed millwork, ornate fireplaces, and grand hallways set the tone for gracious living.
“I know the word is overused, but this home really is magical,” Allie Beth Allman listing agent Laurie Welch said. “It also lives and entertains like a single-family home. The natural setting gives you a feeling of living in a beautiful treehouse.”
The present owner has lived in this Christopher Place townhome for 19 years.
“I have loved the living room,” she said.”There is something about the wonderful light from the windows, and looking out to beautiful trees year-round. The focal point of those views and the beautiful antique fireplace are definitely my favorite things about the house.
The team at George Bass Stage & Design added artwork and some current elements to the home to give it an updated appeal.
“This townhome reminds me of those I’ve been to in Paris,” Bass said. “It feels very European and is an elegant property for anyone that needs a pied-a-terre in a perfect location.”
A park at the end of the cul-de-sac overlooks Turtle Creek and your jogging path is Lakeside Drive. Al Biernat’s restaurant is a three-minute drive, and the Dallas Arts District is nine minutes from the front door. You can see why homes are rarely available here. This has been the perfect spot, in the most coveted part of Dallas, for more than 50 years.
Laurie Welch has this French eclectic townhome at 4601 Christopher Place listed for $1.399 million.
