What can you tell me about Kessler Woods?

[Edward_from_Dallas]

Well said Dallas Native!

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by Dallas native

Kessler is a great place to live and it is far from being dominated by the GLBT community, although they certainly have had a positive impact on the area for many years. But, there are also plenty of traditional families in Kessler too. Most people with kids there do send them to private schools. As for lot values in Kessler Woods, they were over-priced to begin with so it's no surprise that prices have decreased during the Great Recession. The larger Kessler area continues to be a very stable investment with similar housing to what you might find in Bluffview, Lakewood and some parts of the Park Cities. The topography and beauty of Kessler equals all of those 'hoods. There has been plenty of recent improvement in surrounding areas as well (Bishop Arts District, W. Davis St., Ft. Worth Ave, the Belmont Hotel, Methodist Hospital expansions, etc...).

Here's the big difference and it matters to many in this city: parts of Dallas are very status conscious and other parts don't give a rat's ass. Unlike its suburbs, most Dallas neighborhoods have their own distinct vibes and personalities. Dallas neighborhoods, much like high school cliques, can be pretty and popular or homely and rejected, some are trendy, some are tacky, some are ostentatious, some are frugal, some are rebels and some have enough FU money not to care what the others think of them. Kessler is one of those areas that, while everyone who knows of it agrees about its quality and beauty, is seen as "less than" by SOME people who live in other affluent parts of Dallas because it is surrounded on some sides by neighborhoods that are less desirable. And we can't forget to point out that it is SOUTH (OMG!!!) of the river (such as it is). The fact that some people across the river reject Kessler for these reasons actually makes it MORE appealing to many of the people who do live there. Although it's very upscale and very Anglo, there is a noticeable non-conformist attitude that can be found in many of the people who call Kessler home. That attitude can also be found in abundance in East Dallas. If you are not only willing, but might actually revel at the opportunity, to be among the people who are viewed as "different" by the overly status conscious crowd, then Kessler might be for you. If you are overly concerned about the opinions of those people who are crestfallen if they don't see their photos every month in D magazine, Dallas Modern Luxury or Paper City, then certain other areas to the north might be a better fit. If it's all about investment potential, then you should do very well in the long run if you invest in any of the affluent centrally located Dallas 'hoods.

Great observation - you distilled it perfectly.

[Couper]

Very interesting post by Dallas native, and it reminds me A LOT of how our current neighborhood in California might be described. For those that are familiar, we live in Montclair, which is in the Oakland Hills. It's affluent (actors, professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, etc), but people hear Oakland and think they might get shot if they go there. The school system situation is also the same, as the area is served by OUSD - just like DISD, it's not a place where most would want their kids to go.

Thanks again...very enlightening thread for someone who's been to Dallas twice in his life.

[Kessler Midcentury Modern]

My wife and I moved from DC to Dallas a few years ago. We bought a midcentury modern house in Kessler Park, so were in a similar situation as you, but we don't have any children. Here's some advice.

1. This is an ideal location to commute to downtown. It takes less than 10 minutes to get downtown and you can go on side roads, so you'll never get caught in traffic.

2. With a one year old, you don't have to worry about schools for a while, but Rosemont Elementary is well regarded for DISD and the Kessler School in the neighborhood is another option. Highland Park has the best public schools near downtown, but the houses are not modern and they are very expensive. We considered HP but decided to get more house for the money in Kessler Park.

3. If you like undulating hills, with lots of old trees and houses in different architectural styles, you are going to like Kessler Park. The surrounding neighborhood has an urban edge to it, with taquerias, mexican markets, and lots of car repair shops, along with shops and restaurants from gentrification around the Bishop Arts District off of Davis Street. There is a nice recently renovated Tom Thumb grocery store, and for foodie heaven Central Market up on Lover's Lane or Whole Foods at Lemmon are both within a 15 minute drive on a Saturday or Sunday morning. For 48 nights, Kessler Park has its own guerilla restaurant -- check it out on [url=http://www.48nights.com]48 nights @ SYLVAN | THIRTY: Home[/url]

4. There is quite a bit of midcentury modern architecture in Dallas. Most of it is concentrated in Kessler Park, Lakewood, and North Dallas/Preston. As others have mentioned, Kessler Woods houses are a good deal right now, and the prices mainly reflect the status problem in Dallas with anything south of the Trinity River. The Trinity River is undergoing a major redevelopment, with Calatrava bridges and recreational areas, which should be another benefit to the area when it is finished. Kessler Woods is a nice development and it is gated, so there is extra security and probably very little traffic inside the development.

5. Although it may not mean much now, there is a public golf course in the middle of Kessler Park (within a few blocks of Kessler Woods) called Stevens Park Golf Course. It is one of the cheapest courses in Dallas and it is a great no frills course if you aren't too picky.

6. Bottom line is that if you like the modern houses in Kessler Woods, don't let the neighborhood turn you away.

Hope this helps and good luck with the move. Contact me if you have any questions.

[dfwcre8tive]

There is also a development of modern homes going up in Lake Highlands: Urban Reserve: modern architecture homes and lots for sale in north texas (http://www.urbanreserve.net/ - broken link)

[Couper]

Originally Posted by dfwcre8tive

There is also a development of modern homes going up in Lake Highlands: Urban Reserve: modern architecture homes and lots for sale in north texas (http://www.urbanreserve.net/ - broken link)

thanks for this. i had heard of the area, but didn't look it up. seems to still be under construction, yes?

[dfwcre8tive]

Originally Posted by Couper

thanks for this. i had heard of the area, but didn't look it up. seems to still be under construction, yes?

Yes, a lot of it is but there are more and more houses going up.

Here's an aerial photo from December (Vanguard Way):Google Maps

While Lake Highlands is part of Dallas, the areas north of White Rock Creek are zoned for Richardson ISD schools instead of Dallas ISD: http://www.risd.org/Global/SchoolMaps.htm (broken link)

[prestonhollahag]

What can anyone tell me about Rosemont Elementary School?