One of Charles Dilbeck’s great qualities was his adaptability. Whether he was designing a two-story Lakewood mansion or a charming ranch-style duplex on North Oak Cliff Blvd., he never skimped on detail, and his style is consistently evident throughout the more than 600 homes he designed.
One of Dilbeck’s most amusing signatures on ranch-style projects are the wagon wheel design elements. That eclectic whimsy is one of those authenticity clues that tell us this is no copy — it’s a real Dilbeck.
Of course, I always do my best to fact-check our historic architecture, so I sent the listing link for this duplex in the L.O. Daniel Jr. neighborhood to the authority on Dilbeck and the founder of The Charles Stevens Dilbeck Architecture Conservancy, Willis Winters.
Wow! I was not aware this duplex had been renovated. I have been studying the Ranch and French Norman cottages on N. Montreal and N. Oak Cliff Blvd for years. Although I have never come across any documentation or connection between Dilbeck and LO Daniel Jr, I have absolutely no doubt that these houses were all designed by Charles Dilbeck.
This particular duplex is a small-scale masterpiece-one of the best Ranch cottages in Dilbeck’s oeuvre. There are 17 houses in this neighborhood that I believe were designed by Dilbeck and constructed in 1941 and 1942. This particular duplex was built at a cost of $4,500.
Willis Winters
This Dilbeck duplex has undergone the most meticulous update I’ve seen in some time, with modern kitchens featuring stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, completely redone bathrooms, recessed lighting, and an open floor plan in each unit. The downstairs duplex is roughly 1,500 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Upstairs you’ll find approximately 815 square feet of living space with one bedroom and one bathroom, and the tremendous 1940s-era built-ins were kept.
If you are looking for an investment opportunity, it does not get better than this. North Oak Cliff is hotter than hot right now. The Dallas City Council approved new zoning, which will soon bring Sprouts Farmers Market to the corner of Fort Worth Avenue and Hampton Road. You can’t ask for a better location with Rosemont Primary and Twelve Hills Nature Center across Davis. The Stevens Park Golf Course and The Kessler Theater are both only a 15-minute walk away.
This Dilbeck duplex is the trifecta of historic significance, great location, and price.
Coldwell Banker DFW’s Liliana Ornelas has this darling Dilbeck duplex at 520-522 North Oak Cliff Blvd. listed for $721,000.
