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Historic Highland Park estate hits the market for first time in over a century

The home features chevron-patterned hardwood floors and multi-pane, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo courtesy of Allie Beth Allman and Associates

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.

Photo courtesy of Allie Beth Allman and Associates

Traditional in appeal, the home's hallmark is the custom wrought-iron balustrade framing the front entry and veranda.

home-for-sale

bang for your buck

These are the 10 most affordable ZIP codes for Dallas-area renters

Photo by Jenifer McNeil Baker for Greystar

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Buying a home in Dallas is difficult enough to afford these days, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are 10 Dallas-Fort Worth ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes to rent in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental costs required the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

Two Dallas suburbs and their ZIP codes specifically stood out in CashNetUSA's ranking of the most affordable ZIPs for renters across the Metroplex: 75013 in Allen (No. 1) and 75033 in Frisco (No. 2).

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in Allen comes out to $1,716.45, and the median annual income of an Allen household is $145,220. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in the Allen ZIP code only takes up 14.18 percent of a household's median income, which is the No. 1 lowest in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Allen was recently named one of the best small cities to live in, with a scorching hot real estate market to match its thriving popularity and growth.

In Frisco's 75033 ZIP, annual rent costs only represent 14.89 percent of a household's median annual income. The area – which encompasses the Meadow Hill Estates, Preston Highlands North, Christie Ranch, Newman Village, Shaddock Creek Estates, and Collin neighborhoods – has a median household income of $149,525, and average rent costs add up to $1,855.49, according to the study.

Meanwhile, Dallas' own 75214 ZIP code ranked No. 8 in the metro-wide ranking of most affordable ZIPs for renters. This area consists of several established Dallas neighborhoods, including Northeast Dallas, Wilshire Heights, Lakewood, Lakewood Hills, Junius Heights, and Munger Place.

The median annual income for a household in 75214 comes out to $104,583, and the average rental costs $1,669.40 per month. That means annual rent payments account for 19.15 percent of a household's median income, according to the study.

The seven other ZIPs that make up the top 10 most affordable ZIP codes for renters in Dallas-Fort Worth include:

No. 3 – 76248 in Keller
No. 4 – 76085 in Weatherford
No. 5 – 76262 in Roanoke
No. 6 – 75078 in Prosper
No. 7 – 75048 in Sachse
No. 9 – 75077 in Highland Village
No. 10 – 75093 in Plano

Top ZIP codes for renters in the U.S.
CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio's 78248 ZIP ranked as the No. 4 most affordable ZIP code for renters in the U.S., and the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code statewide.

Two Houston-area ZIP codes – 77401 and 77094 – ranked No. 9 and No. 12 nationally, while Allen's 75013 ZIP code fell two spots behind to claim the No. 14 spot.

frisco suburbs zip codes rent