When a Realtor says a home is one-of-a-kind, you might think it has a unique floor plan or unusual footprint. But when Mark Cain — a Compass agent who has sold some exquisite homes in Dallas — says this Mansion Park property near Cedar Springs and Oak Lawn Ave. is rare and one-of-a-kind, you know it really is.
The one-story single-family detached home at 3610 Congress was built in 1923 — as a commercial dry cleaners, though you’d never know it today by the façade of painted brick and long horizontal beams of cedar. Inside, you’ll find original Arkansas pecan wood floors laid in a labor-intensive herringbone pattern and a thousand more details like that which make this 3,158-square-foot home so spectacular.
But first, indulge me just a minute while I trace back the total of merely three homeowners. (I promised Mark I wouldn’t dwell too much on the dry cleaners part, but man it’s too interesting to exclude.)
In the late ’40s, the preeminent Realtor of the day Erle Rawlins found this former commercial space for his good friends, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Caruth, a New Orleans couple who were new to Dallas and missing their French Quarter home. Rawlins, who himself had an architecture degree from Rice, helped the Caruths enlist AIA architect Herschel Fischer to design the conversion that would become their home from 1950 until 1966. Then Rawlins purchased the home and continued the passion project.
When the home was last listed on the market in 2012, some worried it’d be torn down. But the current owner purchased it and continued the grand passion project from decades before.
Re-envisioned and remodeled by the owner, this unique home is replete with quality and outstanding design, Cain says. The unassuming exterior gives way to the stunning interiors — with original brick walls in the bright entryway with skylight and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass overlooking the large private backyard full of mature Live Oak trees that were original to the property. Those details come courtesy of a March 1970 Dallas Morning News feature I dug up on the Rawlins home.
With 3,158 square feet of living space, there are four bedrooms, four baths, living-dining area, den, fully-appointed kitchen, primary suite, and a 2-car attached garage. Yes, there’s an attached garage.
The kitchen is an thoughtful mix of new and old. There are designer Ann Sacks tiles, stainless Wolf, Miele, and U-Line appliances, and a Hoshizaki ice machine. They contrast with rare green marble countertops that were salvaged from an estate on Lakeside Drive and original Japanese Ash cabinets very lightly stained to accentuate the natural grain.
The primary suite — once a study — is jaw-dropping. Thanks to my internet time machine, you can see what provenance this room has.
Another jaw-dropper: The backyard oasis. Once an ordinary pool, the owner transformed the backyard with a pool tanning ledge, elegant water feature, and a stone walkway border with neat outlines of grass.
“I think the most fascinating thing about the property are the mature oak trees in the backyard that provide a wonderful canopy,” says co-listing agent JD Roberts. ”They give the property a secure and serene feel. The branches and leaves allow the light to dapple in and the result is beautiful.”
It’s these details of stone, wood, custom lighting, and other unique amenities that make this Congress Ave. home so special. Plus, here’s a bonus. If there’s a piece of art or furniture you particularly fancy, the seller is open to sell.
“It’s like having the luxury of high-rise living on the ground floor with no homeowners association or restrictions,” Cain says.
The residence is located in the tony “Mansion Park” neighborhood of Dallas — known for its luxury townhouses and residential buildings including the Rosewood Mansion Hotel & Residences, the Plaza I and II Towers, the brand new Aster high-rise and the soon-to-break-ground Four Seasons Hotel and Residences.
Mark Cain of Compass RE Texas has listed 3610 Congress Ave. for $3.995 million. Give Mark a call to see this beauty firsthand at 214-642-6516.
