Winnetka Heights has been known as “Dallas’ Ideal Suburb” since 1911, and I’ve found an ideal Prairie-style American Foursquare home there for you!
The Russell Realty Company’s tagline, Dallas’ Ideal Suburb, still rings true today. Winnetka Heights remains the city’s best example of preserved, intact turn-of-the-century housing.
Winnetka Heights went through the same evolution that other historic neighborhoods endured. Like Swiss Avenue, Junius Heights, and Munger Place, as northern suburbs were developed, they beckoned the wealthier homeowners. After WWII, the increased demand for housing led to many of these historic grand homes getting subdivided into apartments or becoming boarding houses. Many fell into disrepair until the mid-1970s. That was the turning point when young buyers noticed the architecture, the low prices, and were undaunted by restoration. Those homeowners led a grassroots movement to never let their neighborhood decline again. Their activism resulted in Winnetka Heights becoming Oak Cliff’s first neighborhood to be zoned as a historic district in 1981. It’s now one of the most coveted places to live in Dallas, and it’s not always easy to find a house there.
I was thrilled when I spotted this beautiful blue Prairie-style American Foursquare. I did a deep dive into every time it’s been listed. Now, it’s clear the home has always had the best bones, but I could not figure out the lack of a window on the right side of the first floor. Interestingly, when I looked back at the listing prior to 2010, there was no window on the left either, which is super odd for a home of this style. Curious about the reason for this design, I turned, of course, to the most knowledgeable Winnetka Heights resource, Realtor Diane Sherman, to learn more about the home’s original configuration.
“I do know this property was originally built as a duplex with flats, one unit up and one down,” she said.
Mystery solved. It now makes perfect sense that in 1928, a duplex would need privacy and security from the street.
2006
2019
When those young homebuyers discovered Winnetka Heights, this house was ripe for renovation into a single-family home. Whoever initiated that first transition did a spectacular job of creating a two-story, 2,994-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home.
This house was enhanced with each new owner. By 2024, the kitchen had been updated and the principal bathroom transformed. Most recently, it’s had two new HVAC systems and a new roof put in. All of this has been done without the house losing a bit of its charm. There are still beautiful hardwood floors, stained glass accents, and a joyful, bright blue bathroom that offers just the right amount of personality.
But what captures my heart is the primary bedroom with a fireplace. Add a coffee bar and you’d have to pry me out of there.
As if the house is not enough, there’s a fabulous entertaining space in the backyard with a covered patio and saltwater pool.
The other fantastic thing about Winnetka Heights is that you are only a five-minute drive from downtown Dallas and a 15-minute walk from all the excitement of the Bishop Arts District. It’s also just across from Kidd Springs Park.
This is a beautifully updated historic home in a protected neighborhood, close to all you can imagine. It’s the whole package.