Dallas Real Estate History

Preservation Dallas celebrates design through the decades

The residence at 3911 Shenandoah Street in Highland Park is one of six homes showcasing the best of mid-century modern design at the 2013 Preservation Dallas Fall Architectural Tour.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Although it may have launched like a rocket in the 1950s, the sleek surfaces and clean lines of the mid-century modern design movement fits perfectly with today’s high-tech and gadget-driven homes.

Forward thinkers at Preservation Dallas have tapped into this culture of cool with their lineup of homes for the 2013 Fall Architectural Tour, which will be held on Saturday, October 26.

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty is the title sponsor of this year’s event, showcasing six beautifully preserved and newly updated examples of sleek and stunning mid-century modern homes.

“As a student of architecture, I’m always happy to sponsor the great work of Preservation Dallas,” says Robbie Briggs, CEO and president of the luxury real estate firm.

“The tour is an incredible opportunity for people to see wonderful architecture and design that is literally right in their neighborhood—and they might not even know it,” says Donovan Westover, Events and Development Coordinator for Preservation Dallas. “The original mid-century movement was big in Dallas. Through the years many people have embraced these design icons and have acted as stewards of the movement. The homes we’ll see on the tour are spectacular.”

Tour day kicks off at 8:30 am at Kalita Humphreys Theater with an architectural symposium highlighting mid-century modern residences in Dallas and their impact on the city’s architectural legacy and future. The discussion will be led by Dallas Morning News architecture critic, Mark Lamster.

Each year, the Fall Architectural Tour attracts about 250 guests, and proceeds go to further the group’s initiatives, which include educating the public about historic places, encouraging strong neighborhoods and saving threatened structures.

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For more information, go to preservationdallas.org, bfecard.com/neighborsgo or updatedallas.com. CEO and President Robbie Briggs owns and operates Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Shopping in the 'burbs

Retail boom in fast-growing Forney fueled by massive mixed-use development

Photo courtesy of The Village at Gateway

The Village at Gateway is a booming retail complex in Forney.

Frisco's not the only North Texas city experiencing a retail explosion right now. Forney's getting in on the action, too.

A Dick’s Sporting Goods store will join EVO Entertainment and other new tenants at The Village at Gateway mixed-use development in the booming Kaufman County city, according to a release.

Dick’s hasn’t announced an opening date for the 60,000-square-foot store. The retailer operates more than 10 locations in DFW.

The 82,000-square-foot EVO location will be an all-in-one entertainment venue. Think Dave & Buster’s meets Alamo Drafthouse. (Fun facts: Dave & Buster’s headquarters is in Coppell, while Alamo Drafthouse is based in Austin.)

The Forney venue will feature:

Nine movie theaters, including one IMAX auditorium and two EVX auditoriums
A full-service bar and restaurant
An upper-level lounge area
Event and conference spaces
22 bowling lanes
More than 125 arcade games
Rock-climbing walls
A multilevel ropes course
Bumper cars
Laser tag

An opening date for the EVO location hasn’t been set, although EVO previously said it would be ready this fall. It’ll be the first North Texas venue operated by Austin-based EVO after locations in Addison, Southlake, and Waxahachie rebranded as Hooky Entertainment under new ownership.

Construction of the EVO venue kicked off in January.

EVO Entertainment Group Kyle EVO construction is underway in Forney. EVO Entertainment Group Facebook

Developed by Dallas-based StreetLevel Investments, the Village at Gateway also will welcome other new tenants such as:

Luna Grill, a Mediterranean restaurant (October opening date).
Forney Nail Bar (October opening date).
Handel’s Ice Cream (future opening date).
Costa Vida, a Mexican restaurant (future opening date).

“The Village at Gateway is an exciting milestone for Forney, bringing new jobs, shopping, and dining opportunities while continuing to strengthen our local economy,” Forney Mayor Jason Roberson says in the release.

Tenants already open at the 152-acre development include:

Target
Home Depot
H-E-B
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Five Below
Burlington
Ross Dress for Less
James Avery
Bath & Body Works

“Forney is one of the fastest‑growing communities in the Dallas area, with exceptional schools, strong employment, and a rapidly expanding population — yet it has long been underserved when it comes to convenient, high‑quality retail and dining,” says Brian Murphy, managing principal at StreetLevel Investments.

From April 2020 to July 2025, Forney’s population soared by 79 percent to nearly 41,700, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas and the U.S.

A report released in January 2025 by OpenDoor revealed Forney’s 75126 ZIP code claimed the No. 6 ranking as the hottest U.S. housing market in 2024 for the second year in a row. It was the only North Texas ZIP code to make the top 10.

Forney failed to crack the top 10 in OpenDoor’s 2026 report, though. The only DFW ZIP code appearing in the latest top 10 is McKinney’s 75071, landing at No. 8.

forney retail shopping

Dallas Real Estate History

Preservation Dallas celebrates design through the decades

Shopping in the 'burbs

Retail boom in fast-growing Forney fueled by massive mixed-use development

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