Your Expert Guide

Knox-Henderson: How the Katy Trail and its local gems dazzled this resident

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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When Melissa Frantz-Ellerman moved to the Knox-Henderson area in 2020, it didn't take her long to fall in love with this Dallas neighborhood. Coming from a 26-year real estate career in Atlanta, she now sings the praises of Knox-Henderson to her friends, family, and clients at Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty.

"I love the sense of community in this area, the small-town feel in the middle of a large metro area," Frantz-Ellerman says. "Plus there's the Katy Trail, lots of local restaurants and shops, and it's adjacent to Highland Park."

Knox Street is a vibrant lifestyle destination, offering a unique and elevated vision with more than 80 shops and restaurants — all just steps away from the Katy Trail.

"From chic retail brands to one of Dallas’ most exciting dining scenes, the undeniably energetic and outgoing Knox Street neighborhood is where live, work, and play seamlessly converge," she says. "A curated collection of the trendiest names in fashion, home decor, and wellness are anchored by truly distinct local boutiques and eateries that have continued to welcome generations of patrons."

Frantz-Ellerman describes this energetic area as welcoming, manicured, and safe — so safe, in fact, that she sold her son, a 2021 SMU graduate, a townhome right in the heart of the Knox District.

Frantz-Ellerman offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in Knox-Henderson. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Distinct dining is at the core of Knox Street's vivacious culture, posting an extremely elevated collection of revered restaurants and cocktail bars, each bringing individuality and an unparalleled experience.

"From the moment I moved to Dallas, I fell in love — and, frankly — right at home with The Charles," she shares.

Since then, Duro Hospitality has opened several restaurants she frequents but the newest, Mister Charles, is situated in the center of Knox. It has been a big success, Frantz-Ellerman reveals, given its location was the iconic former Highland Park Pharmacy.

"I love how they preserved the historic facade on the outside while the interior boasts opulent design, indulgent French and Italian dishes, elevated cocktails, and rare wines," she says.

Other new and notable restaurants recently opened include Anchor Sushi Bar, Green Point, and Pizzana.

"My most favorite is Rose Cafe, located in The Terminal," she shares. "I love it so much that I went three times the first day, and I now frequent it almost daily. It's a warm and inviting all-day cafe filled with creativity and community spirit, inspired by the elegance of a blooming rose garden. I love how it opens up to the trail, and I usually run into someone I know — it feels like a home away from home."

Frantz-Ellerman also notes Rose Cafe's nextdoor neighbor, Le PasSage, for its French-Asian fusion and design inspiration modeled on luxury train the Orient Express.

A multitude of other cuisines is abundant, including classic French fare at Le Bilboquet and Toulouse, modern culinary creations at Grange Hall, exceptional American fusion at RH Dallas' rooftop restaurant and Georgie by Curtis Stone, masterfully crafted Italian cuisine at Taverna, and a taste of classic Tex-Mex at Doce Mesas.

Order freshly baked pastries and hand-crafted lattes to-go at Village Baking Company or enjoy a leisurely al fresco dinner, all just steps from your home.

The Katy Trail Ice House, which sits right along the Katy Trail, is not to be missed. Considered by many to be the best patio in Dallas, this spot is an Austin-style beer garden with tree-shaded tables and 50 beers on tap. "Did I mention it's very dog-friendly, too?" Frantz-Ellerman says. "It is a spot everyone must experience."

Where to play
Dallas' most walkable shopping and dining district is located between prestigious Highland Park and Henderson Avenue, less than three miles from downtown, offering a premier destination for locals and guests to explore and experience along the iconic Katy Trail. A curated collection of the trendiest names in men's and women's apparel, interior design, and wellness are anchored by bespoke local boutiques and restaurants that have continued to welcome generations of patrons.

Whether shopping contemporary styles at Vince, Lululemon, and dozens more, or seeking interior design inspiration at Restoration Hardware, Serena and Lily, and Crate and Barrel, a vast selection of unique lifestyle brands and businesses are around every corner.

From luxe gifts at Grange Hall to Dallas' most acclaimed fitness studios and personal care destinations, a refreshing sense of place and the warmest of welcomes can be discovered when strolling down tree-lined streets boasting a thoughtful mixture of preserved historic facades, innovative architecture, and charming courtyards.

“I love the ease and encouragement of a healthy lifestyle here," Frantz-Ellerman says. "It’s so easy to just hop on the Katy Trail for a quick run or a long bike ride. My husband and I take long rides on the weekend, shorter ones during the week (with my dog strapped in my basket), and walk to our weekly Wednesday night reservation at our first-date spot, Taverna."

A host of new wellness concepts are opening in the neighborhood, among them Alive and Well and O2 Dallas, the latter of which is a pilates, yoga, and retail concept from Aspen.

"In a large city like Dallas, access to the Katy Trail, shopping, restaurants, and the overall charm of the Knox Street area is a special gift and one of the most alluring qualities of Knox-Henderson," says Frantz-Ellerman, who recently served on the Katy Trail 5K committee. "So pair that with your home being right in the middle of it, and life is good!"

Where to live
This area has an eclectic mix of townhomes, single-family homes, and apartment/condo buildings, making it an ideal spot for every stage in life. Frantz-Ellerman lives with her husband, who builds custom homes in the Park Cities, in a home just steps from the Katy Trail.

One of Dallas’ most ambitious Knox Street projects is on its way, says Frantz-Ellerman. It will be a mixed-use development that will feature an Auberge Resorts Collection Hotel and Residences, restaurants, retail, luxury rental building, a boutique office building, and a new park space.

This project will bring a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel and residential experience to one of Dallas' most beloved live-work-play destinations. The centrally located park integrates with the Katy Trail while serving as a meeting place and respite for those enjoying the trail and the Knox Street neighborhood.

Whether you're an SMU grad like Frantz-Ellerman's son, just building your foundation in Dallas, or an out-of-towner looking for the perfect spot to start the next chapter, Knox-Henderson has something for everyone, and Frantz-Ellerman has the passion, experience, and bespoke service to get you there.

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Melissa Frantz-Ellerman lives, works, and plays in Knox-Henderson. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email mfrantz@briggsfreeman.com, or call 404-791-3686.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Hop on the Katy Trail or escape to your own backyard retreat.

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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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