The opportunity to live on almost two acres in the heart of Highland Park seldom comes along because people tend to hang onto these large estates. Once in a great while, a large family property hits the market, and some lucky buyer hits the jackpot.
For the first time in over a century, the historic Highland Park gated estate at 4009 Armstrong Ave. is for sale. You have probably passed by the home thousands of times and have never noticed it. That’s by design, and it’s one of the major attractions of the property.
“The privacy is amazing because you can’t see another house,” Allie Beth Allman listing agent Christine McKenny said. “The property is positioned between Turtle Creek and Hackberry Creek and offers incredible privacy for Highland Park. You don’t have a lot of opportunity for a Highland Park gated estate.”
Judge Nelson Phillips moved to the property in 1906. He was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas in 1912 and sold the estate to William Ott Connor in 1913. Connor was the first elected mayor of Highland Park. The house has remained in Connor’s family for over a century.
Leadership runs deep in this family. Connor’s father was a mayor in Corinth, Mississippi, and his brother was the Dallas mayor from 1887 to 1894. Prior to public service, W.O. Connor was the chairman of the board of Republic National Bank in 1920.
Connor built the present home in 1941, and he built it big, even by today’s standards. At 8,331 square feet, it must have blown folks away back then.
It’s clear no expense was spared. A custom wrought-iron balustrade frames the front entry, veranda, and rear balcony. Marble flooring and a spectacular staircase grace the foyer. Chevron-patterned hardwood floors and multi-pane, floor-to-ceiling windows were as essential to a Highland Park estate in 1941 as they are today.
There are five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a powder bath, library, den, and upstairs living area. What’s astonishing is how much a home of this age checks off so many of the boxes we see as essential for current construction.
Although we hate to see historic homes razed — and indeed this property is in great shape and could be enlarged and further renovated — we all know the value of this property is in the land. Still, wouldn’t it be nice to find a buyer that valued the history?
If walls could only talk.
McKenny has the property listed for $18 million. An open house is scheduled from 1-2:30 pm Sunday, November 12.
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A version of this story originally was published on Candy's Dirt.
Traditional in appeal, the home's hallmark is the custom wrought-iron balustrade framing the front entry and veranda.
