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East Kessler Park home with private backyard oasis is made for entertaining

A home nestled into an urban paradise in East Kessler Park is back on the market after the first buyer was unable to sell their own in California. That misfortune creates a spectacular second chance for the beautiful, meticulous modern at 1629 Junior Dr.

Listing agent Melissa O'Brien says it just might be the most special home to come on the market in this neighborhood in years.

Perched high on a half acre in one of the most desirable corners of the area, this 3-bedroom, 2.1-bathroom home also features an oversized garage with finished second-story office space that boasts a veranda overlooking downtown Dallas. It is plumbed for future expansion should the need for a mother-in-law suite or garage apartment arise.

The main home — built in 1938 and beautifully updated — has 2,625 square feet of soft-modern design that features walls of windows, open living spaces, and rich hardwoods.

"The current owners have labored over every design decision, and the outcome rivals anything currently on the market," O'Brien says. "She’s a chef and cookbook author, so the kitchen is extraordinary. It is full of little surprises that will truly blow buyers away."

It is rare to find a kitchen that is equal parts beautiful and functional, and pictures don't do this one justice. Think floating marble island, restaurant-quality appliances, and a spacious bar with hidden beverage built-ins.

Another exemplary feature of the home is the dreamy master retreat, with its expansive closet and soaking tub that overlooks the gorgeous grounds.

Speaking of the backyard, it is the very definition of an outdoor oasis in the midst of a large city. A fire pit and hot tub sit amid endless varieties of plants and flowers throughout the grounds. The future owners will feel like they have moved into their own arboretum. (No green thumb required for purchase.)

"This is the one that people just can’t forget," O'Brien says. "They dream about it, they long for it, and I don’t doubt that the next person through will find that it’s their needle in a haystack."

The home is listed with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate for $1.3 million.

The home, at 1629 Junior Dr., sits on half an acre of lush grounds.

Photo courtesy of Melissa O'Brien

The home, at 1629 Junior Dr., sits on half an acre of lush grounds.

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GP News

Grand Prairie expands to the south with new master-planned community

Rendering courtesy of Provident

Goodland Grand Prairie

The City of Grand Prairie is growing fast and expanding to make way for a new master-planned development south of US Highway 287 and along Tollway 360, in Ellis and Johnson counties.

The community development, called Goodland, is the result of Grand Prairie’s recent 1,500-acre annexation extending its southern border toward Mansfield. Overall, with the added land, Goodland will be a 5,000-acre site featuring 15,000 residences including townhomes, custom homes, and gated communities for 50,000 residents.

According to a release, it will be a “city within a city” and a 45-minute drive from Dallas-Fort Worth. Beyond housing, there will be shops, restaurants, schools, public and private event venues, regional sports fields and complexes, dance halls, churches, trail systems, city parks, ponds, and preserved green spaces.

“This is a significant step in our city’s development,” says Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen in a statement. “Unlike many of our neighboring cities, we have the unique advantage of new development opportunities to our south that will drive the growth and prosperity of our city. We recognized the opportunity and took decisive action.”

Leading the development is Provident, a Dallas-based real estate firm that has created other master-planned communities across Dallas-Fort Worth, such as Preston Hollow Village and Hillstead in Collin County. Provident has plans to work nature into the space design with more than 1,600 acres of creek corridors and floodplain land.

Plans are ongoing for a centralized mixed-use walkable Town Center, complete with civic buildings and other commercial development. Further south on the property near Highway 67, light industrial uses and other private employment campuses are already underway, projects that will contribute vital tax dollars for city growth and future expansions.

“This level of placemaking is quite rare, and certainly not easy to execute, especially in a brand-new community," says Provident Managing Director Rylan Yowell in a statement. "We are committed to a long-term vision with a desire to be good stewards of the land."

A new four-lane road called Goodland Parkway will link Goodland to Grand Prairie at Tollway 360 and US Highway 287. It's set to open by December 2025.

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