By Chase Heckendorn
Special Contributor
The growing culture of self-employed folks, creatives/freelancers and start-up businesses in Dallas has spurred quite a bit of demand for live/work space. Pioneered by some early loft developers in Deep Ellum, we’re now seeing a widespread trend of property owners and developers following in their footsteps. The idea of having an eclectic mix of commercial and residential tenants is appealing to both the tenant and property owner alike.
So what exactly is a live/work space, and why is it so appealing?
If you’ve ever been involved in opening a small retail office in Dallas, you know how much of a headache it can be. Depending on the state of the building, just getting the electricity on can require a laundry list of updates, city inspections and headaches. This is not only time consuming, but it can also be costly. The appeal of live/work space is simple: You can save quite a bit of money and time by occupying a shared space for both your business and everyday life. It’s zoned to be used for both residential and limited commercial use. The tenants we routinely see in this type of space are architects, photographers, law firms, tech companies, and creative/marketing groups.
The majority of live/work space in Dallas is located in Deep Ellum, although there are a handful of these communities in the Design District, Downtown and Uptown areas as well. They’re typically found in historic warehouse buildings that have been divided into a number of wide-open floor plans ranging from 800 to 3,000-plus square feet. Common features include tall ceilings, exposed brick, large windows, concrete floors, and occasionally a 2nd floor.
4330 N Central Expressway
This unassuming two-story building located on the N Central service road has gone through an incredible revitalization. After sitting vacant for almost two decades, the new owner has completely renovated this building from the inside out. The first floor contains one large office space with two unique live/work spaces located on the 2nd floor.
Loft features include large kitchens with high-end appliances, polished concrete floors, exposed air ducts, seamless glass showers, modern rectangular windows, three bedrooms/offices in each unit, two full-sized bathrooms, and gated garage parking. Each unit has a pre-installed alarm system and the building is controlled access.
Suite 200
Price: $4100
Available: Now
Size: 2700 sqft – 3 bed/office & 2 bath
Unique Features: Downtown/Uptown views. Private balcony. 2 garage parking spots.
Suite 250
Price: $3800
Available: Now
Size: 2500 sqft – 3 bed/office & 2 bath
Unique Features: Large open work space. 2 garage parking spots.
Chase Heckendorn is a Realtor and Dallas resident specializing in the unique rental inventory in and around downtown Dallas. If you’re interested in touring either of these lofts, contact dallastxlofts.com/contact or call 214-233-6455. Find out more about Heckendorn and the incredible apartments and lofts in Dallas’ urban core on his website.
