An East Dallas-famous house near Casa Linda Plaza that sat on the market for more than a year is meeting its timely ending.
Located at 1425 N. Buckner Blvd., it was a landmark estate sitting on 4.18 acres in the heart of Casa Linda Estates that went on the market in April.
The grand old home was built in 1925 or 1928, depending on who you ask, and became a point of obsession for many East Dallas residents who were intrigued by its Spanish castle facade with a pale tan brick exterior and domed clay Spanish tile roof, making it look a little like a fortress, including a fun turret that sat atop.
The house originally went on the market for $3.45 million, but the price was reduced at least half a dozen times, even being removed from the market in October. It resurfaced with a new listed price at $2.8 million, which finally drew a buyer. The listing shows the house as "under contract."
A backhoe started knocking down the structure on the morning of December 22. By 4 pm, it was gone.
The home had 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, one full kitchen, a kitchenette. A yard behind the house included a massive barn filled with all manner of rusted iron junk.
Demolition underway on 1425 N. BuckerFacebook
The house belonged to Tricia Johnson, and was the home of her in-laws, who passed away. She and her family were hoping that someone would renovate.
But potential buyers who visited the house found it had not received even basic maintenance and was in great disrepair, with extensive interior damage and decay (a condition that media were not allowed by the sellers to document).
Josh McDowell, founder of JM Construction Solutions, was one qualified buyer with the interest and skills to do a restoration, but estimated that the work would run $1 to $2 million — almost more than the house was worth. (The only buyers who were granted showings of the property had to submit financial information, curious neighborhood looky-loos were not allowed.)
This wouldn't be the first grand but decaying old home to go on the market and be razed.
A similar scenario recently occured with a home in Dallas' Lakewood neighborhood at 7226 Lakewood Blvd. which went on the market in August.
That home was designed by famed architect Cliff Hutsell, built in 1932, and kept in mostly original condition by its owners until they passed away. They left the home to their children who also wanted someone to buy it and restore it, while reaping vast profits from the sale.
Not unlike the house on Buckner, the Lakewood home had not been maintained and had numerous issues inside and out. That home was sold in September, and the buyers were not interested in restoring it. It was subsequently razed to a lot of online hue and cry.
But the reality seems to be that the people who can afford these houses generally do not seem interested in restoring them, while the people who insist these houses be restored aren't able or willing to pay for it.
