Leggy crane flies land atop this week's 5 most popular Dallas stories

This week's hot headlines

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Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Crane flies have landed ever so lightly in Dallas, which means one thing. The crane flies have arrived in Dallas, and this year, they're here in droves. Fragile, leggy, and whisper-light, crane flies are most often found around streams and lakes. But at certain times of year, they show up in urban areas, hovering and bobbing around houses and doorways.

2. Site of former Valley View Mall in Dallas meets sad unfortunate end. A once-beloved North Dallas mall is meeting its timely ending: The former Valley View Mall at LBJ Freeway and Preston Road saw demolition begin on March 16, putting an end to nearly a decade of inept waffling. The mall closed in 2015, with big plans for redevelopment that never happened.

3. Grab this '60s East Dallas home with only one owner before flippers get it. A '60s house in East Dallas with only one owner that's basically untouched is on the market at a great deal of a price. Located at 2323 Homeway Cir., it's a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home built in 1969, with 1,802 square feet and an attached two-car garage.

4. Country music bad boy Morgan Wallen headlines ACM Awards benefit show in Dallas-Fort Worth. Dallas-Fort Worth will be the center of the country music universe on May 11, when the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are broadcast from The Star in Frisco. As with any worldwide, Super Bowl-level event, there'll be many happenings leading up to it. First up: a benefit concert headlined by Morgan Wallen.

5. Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 bars with cool cocktail specials. It's always good to support your local watering hole but sometimes the heart wants something else, and even better when it's something cheap. For our March edition of Where to Drink, we spotlight five drinking opportunities around Dallas that include a seasonally-focused happy hour, a one-day drink special, a new happy hour for the summer, and a new happy hour at an Arts District hotel bar.

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Dallas sits pretty among world's top 20 cities with most mega-wealthy homeowners

WHERE THE OTHER HALF LIVES

The ultra rich are ultra attracted to Dallas. In a new report, Dallas ranks No. 14 in a list of the 20 cities worldwide with the highest number of ultra-high net worth individuals. Dallas lands just behind Paris as a location where the greatest number of ultra-wealthy people have primary or secondary homes.

The report by Altrata, an intelligence firm that creates data-based profiles on ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWs), explores where the most individuals with a net worth of over $30 million choose to live.

While other recent reports highlighting North Texas focus on the 1% and the income required to attain that rank, this study investigates those with accumulated wealth.

New York leads the global list with 21,714 ultra-wealthy residents, while Dallas claims 4,686.

Just behind Dallas is Houston, at No. 15, which boasts 4,420 ultra-wealthy folks.

While Dallas and Houston are the only Texas cities on the list (how did billionaire-tech-mecca Austin not make it?), U.S. cities dominate the rankings with only four international cities in the top 10: London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore.

That Dallas and Houston rose to the top of this list shouldn't be surprising since both cities were also recognized recently among the biggest markets in Texas for sales of homes valued at $10 million or more. As evidenced by recent listings, mansions and extreme luxury homes are a notable part of the real estate market in Dallas.

"In a world of volatile politics, uncertain economic prospects and rapid social and technological change, the wealthy population’s preferences for how and where they live are constantly shifting. Yet the significance of ‘home’ for the wealthy — as a haven for family, a place of work or a vacation escape for personal wellbeing — remains as strong as ever," the authors of the report say. "Moreover, the allure of the city, whether for business, cultural, family or lifestyle reasons, remains strong, driving demand across the world’s luxury residential real estate market."

This report also investigated the cities with the most ultra-wealthy individuals per capita, with Monaco and Aspen topping that list. Cities where the most ultra-rich people have second homes include New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.

For the curious, or for those planning on moving on up, here's the full list of the top 20 cities where the rich (and famous?) live and how many ultra-wealthy residents each city has:

New York: 21,714
London: 15,907
Hong Kong: 15,175
Los Angeles: 13,194
Miami: 10,831
San Francisco: 9,221
Beijing: 8,923
Singapore: 7,471
Chicago: 6,506
Washington, D.C.: 5,732
Boston: 5,722
San Jose: 5,291
Paris: 5,235
Dallas: 4,686
Houston: 4,420
Seattle: 4,334
Toronto: 3,742
Atlanta: 3,420
Denver: 3,134
Phoenix: 2,969

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Grab this '60s East Dallas home with only one owner before flippers get it

House For Sale

A '60s house in East Dallas with only one owner that's basically untouched is on the market at a great deal of a price.

images.estately.net

Cool '60s facade of the home at 2323 Homeway.

Located at 2323 Homeway Cir., it's a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home built in 1969, with 1,802 square feet and an attached two-car garage.

The listing describes it as "lovingly maintained," with a gracious floor plan, generous sized rooms, and "lots of charm throughout."

It sits on a spacious 8,842-square-foot lot with mature trees, that's minutes to Casa Linda, White Rock Lake, and Lake Highlands.

Although the interior is mostly untouched, it's had numerous updates including:

new roof in 2021
hot water heater 2016
furnace in 2014
new AC in 2016
new electrical panel in 2010

So they took care of some of the important infrastructure, although it says it's for sale as-is, so there could be other surprises.

Still, with all of those updates, if you were someone who appreciated the original '60s wood-paneling and could remain open-minded to the quaint wallpaper and were able to see that Formica countertops are really wiser in a kitchen than granite and loved a vintage wall oven, why then it would almost be move-in ready. Might want to replace the carpeting.

The bathrooms are not '50s-era pastels although they do have vintage 4-inchX4-inch tile, but the countertops are granite, and one of them has an Art Deco-style black-with-white-flowers wallpaper that doesn't look all that dated.

A house built in 1969 is perhaps not innately venerable but it's still in great shape and it would be so much more righteous if the house were purchased by someone who liked it for what it was, rather than a flipper who is just going to wipe it clean and replace it with non-period stuff.

The current seller is the original owner.

Listed by Allie Beth Allman & Associates, it's priced at $219,000, and as the listing indicates, it has already received multiple offers. They're calling for the best offer by Sunday, March 19 at 3 pm.

Photo courtesy of Foster Farm & Ranch.

Own a piece of Utopia with this Hill Country riverfront retreat listed for $2.5M

UTOPIA ON THE WATER

Have you ever wanted to buy a retreat or say you own a slice of Utopia? Now’s your chance – the Utopia River Retreat, a remarkable 12-acre property on the Sabinal River in Utopia, Texas has hit the market for $2.5 million.

The secluded, tree-filled, riverfront estate boasts nine guest cabins and "the Fortress," a historic lodge that can sleep 12 guests.

Each cabin has its own full kitchen, living space, and covered porch. Three cabins have two bedrooms that can host up to six guests, and six cabins are single-bedroom that can sleep up to four guests.

The property has been a sought-after wedding destination since the first wedding ceremony took place there in 1861. The only structure on the land at the time was a stone fort, which has since been converted into the Fortress.

Other features of the Fortress include:

Two master suites
Three semi-private lofts
A full kitchen
Fireplace
Wrap-around porch
Original stonework on display

Another highlighted feature of the property is the renovated hay barn. The previous owners turned it into a bespoke event space with an open floor plan, wood beam ceilings, a stone fireplace, and attached deck. Also around the barn is a large green space and a covered gazebo with a breathtaking view of the Sabinal river.

The Utopia River Retreat sale is facilitated by Chad Foster, the founder and broker of Uvalde-based real estate group Foster Farm and Ranch.

“With its current amenities and space for expansion, Utopia River Retreat provides potential buyers with a lot of entrepreneurial opportunities,” said Foster in a press release. “The event space, cabins, and renovated fort make Utopia River Retreat a great addition to any real estate portfolio.”

As investors are snatching up properties left and right for the next wedding venue or event space, the Utopia River Retreat is touted as the next hidden gem in a booming wedding industry. The Knot estimates a Texas couple’s average wedding budget is between $24,000 and $30,000. Texas couples are also more likely to put 30 percent of their wedding budget towards a perfect venue for their special day.

Even outside of wedding season, the estate can host family vacations, reunions, and corporate retreats, and more.

The town of Utopia is located 90 miles west of San Antonio and 350 miles southwest of Dallas.

More information about the property can be found at the Utopia River Retreat website, and more information about the listing can be found at Foster Farm and Ranch’s website.

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HGTV's No Demo Reno seeks homeowners north of Dallas for design makeover

Flipper News

A buzzy HGTV show is seeking participants: No Demo Reno, the renovation series hosted by Jenn Todryk, AKA the "Rambling Redhead," is casting homeowners who live north of Dallas. Way north.

Todryk is the founder of a highly relatable blog called "Life as a Rambling Redhead" which has earned her more 1.2 million followers on Instagram.

No Demo Reno follows her as she devises cost-saving ideas to create transformations on homes, with a goal of keeping the original floorplan. The show rejects demolition as the path to renovation, meaning no casual removal of walls.

The series debuted in March 2021, followed by a successful second season in 2022. Now they've been renewed for a third round, and need homeowners in the area — specifically, Lucas, Fairview, Allen, and McKinney — who crave a redesign of their home.

They're looking for:

Homeowners in need of a cosmetic home renovation ranging from 3-4 spaces
Primarily indoor spaces: kitchens, main living spaces, and other unique rooms
Homeowners must have an existing budget between $85K-150K

Other requirements: They need people who are excited to be on TV, and who like the idea of having Todryk take the reins on the design of their home.

Homeowners must be willing and able to vacate during the remodel, anticipated to take 10 weeks.

Also, appliances are not included in the scope of the budget.

Apply online, or email tvshowcasting@rtrmedia.com for more details.

Todryk is originally from Burleson; she and her husband Mike own Armor Coffee, a coffee shop in Allen, and they have three kids.

She's also written a book, published in 2017, titled W(h)ine: 50 Perfect Wines to Pair with Your Child's Rotten Behavior, which she says has sold out three times, and has earned 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with reviews such as, "Warning: you might pee yourself because it's so funny!!!"

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Dallas-Fort Worth's new-home market shifting slightly in 2023, report says

REAL ESTATE REPORT

For the fourth straight month, the pace of new home sales in Dallas-Fort Worth has slowed despite a statewide average price drop, according to the latest HomesUSA.com report.

The report uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data to determine the status of the Dallas, Fort Worth, and statewide real estate markets.

The Metroplex's three-month moving average for the amount of time new homes spent on the market in January was 95 days, which is a 12-day increase from December 2022. In January of last year, homes spent an average of 53 days on the market.

In good news for builders, the total number of completed new home sales increased in January despite active listings remaining flat. These findings are consistent with MLS’ data showing a potential statewide sales decline.

Buyers are also seeing small improvements when it comes to new home prices. The average home price decreased ever so slightly from $501,789 in December 2022 to $501,763 last month. Additionally, the three-month moving average of the sales-to-list price ratio for Dallas-Fort Worth has dropped for the seventh straight month.

Overall, sales are showing stability thanks in part to statewide price drops. The results are demonstrated in the pending new home sales data for January, which had its highest increase in 12 months. There were 2,027 pending sales last month, up from 1,773 in December.

HomesUSA.com CEO Ben Caballero says the area's new home sales indicate the market’s “remarkable stamina.”

“Dallas-Fort Worth new home sales are still showing remarkable stamina – as are local builders,” Caballero says in a release. “Statewide average new home sales are still strong, despite all of the challenges builders face.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, sales were higher in January than December, which was a record high for 2022,” Caballero added, “but keep in mind as inventory rises, builders are listing more homes, which increases sales reported to MLS.”

Last fall, DFW was deemed by WalletHub as of the best places in the U.S. to buy a house. Then the Urban Land Institute's annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate report named DFW the No. 2 U.S. market to watch in 2023, behind only Nashville.

More information about the report can be found at HomesUSA.com.

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Texas rises through the ranks of most innovative states, says new report

MOVING ON UP

The Lone Star State has again taken a step up on an annual report that ranks the most and least innovative states in the country — this time cracking the top 15.

Texas ranked No. 15 in personal finance site WalletHub's 2023’s Most and Least Innovative States ranking. It's a steady improvement for the state, which ranked No. 16 in 2022 and No. 17 in 2021.

The report analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia and how each performed across 22 key metrics, including population of STEM professionals, venture capital investment activity, number of technology companies, patents per capita, and more. The data was pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other records.

Here's how Texas performed at a glance:

No. 18 – for share of STEM professionals
No. 16 – for projected STEM job demand by 2030
No. 25 – for eighth grade math and science performance
No. 21 – for share of science and engineering graduates aged 25 or older
No. 13 – for share of technology companies
No. 31 – for R&D spending per capita
No. 18 – venture capital funding per capita

For the 11th year, Texas won Site Selection Magazine's Governor's Cup, the governor's office announced earlier this year. The award, which Texas has won 19 times since its inception in 1978, recognizes the nation’s top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions.

"Texas truly is America’s economic engine, and we stand apart as a model for the nation. When choosing where to relocate or expand their businesses, more and more innovative industry leaders find themselves at home in our state," Governor Greg Abbott says in a news release about the award.

"I congratulate the exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who have worked so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create in diverse communities across this great state," he continues.

The most innovative states included the District of Columbia, which ranked at No. 1, followed by Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, and California, respectively. The least innovative state was identified as Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively.

Source: WalletHub

Access to quality education is a significant contributor to each state's innovation economy, the experts say in the report.

"Investing in education, particularly K-12 but also at the University level, it is no accident that innovative ecosystems develop in states with strong education systems and research universities," says David L. Deeds, professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. "These institutions build strong capable modern workforces that attract capital, and jobs and create innovations. The benefits do not happen overnight, in fact, they take years if not decades, but consider what The UC’s or the University of Texas at Austin have meant for the development of premier innovative ecosystems."

Hall Group to open new hotel in mixed-use re-do of Frisco office park

Hotel News

Frisco is getting a new hotel at one of the city's pioneering office developments: Called the Hall Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, it'll open at Hall Park, and will be part of the Autograph Collection Hotels – Marriott Bonvoy collection.

According to a release, construction is anticipated to be complete in late 2023, with an opening set for spring 2024.

The hotel is part of the first phase of a $7 billion new masterplan to shift Hall Park from an office focus into a live-work-play community. It'll be owned by Dallas-based Hall Group, and operated by Coury Hospitality.

Autograph Collection Hotels – Marriott Bonvoy is known for its diverse independent hotels that champion individuality.

Hall Park Hotel will feature:

world-class contemporary art
outdoor pool
4,000 square-foot ballroom
state-of-the-art fitness center
chef-driven restaurant and lounge
expansive patio

There will be 224 guest rooms and 60 well-appointed suites, supporting both short term and longer stays, with a focus on business travelers, events, meetings, regional “staycationers,” and tourists visiting Toyota Stadium, The Star in Frisco, regional youth sports tournaments, the upcoming PGA of America complex, and Universal Studios Park.

This makes the second hotel for Hall Group, the first being the Hall Arts Hotel which opened in the Dallas Arts District in 2019; and the fifth Autograph Hotel in the DFW area (others include the Adolphus in downtown Dallas, Hotel Vin in Grapevine, the Sinclair in Fort Worth, and Hotel Drover in Fort Worth).

Coury Hospitality is based in Las Colinas, with a portfolio of more than 30 hotels and restaurants, including 10 hotels in the Autograph Collection.

“Our partnership with Autograph Collection Hotels provides the opportunity to deliver a one-of-a-kind property to the residents and visitors of Frisco that will include a museum-quality art collection and world-class food and wine offerings,” says Hall Group chairman and CEO Craig Hall. “Framed by views of the art-filled Kaleidoscope Park, which is currently underway, hotel guests will be able to experience Frisco not only as a business and sports hub but also as an emerging arts and culture destination.”

Other new developments at Hall Park include The Monarch, a 19-story, luxury apartment tower expected to open in the fourth quarter. It'll have 214 units with 29 floorplans, including eight penthouse units with oversized balconies and high-end appliances and finishes, spa-inspired master baths and park views.

Amenities include a club room with kitchen, pool, fitness center, outdoor grilling areas, yoga and meditation space, bike storage, pet washing area, and meeting space.

The base of the residential tower will hold a 10,000-square-foot eatery, slated to open in 2024, with a diverse selection of 10 unique, chef-driven restaurants.

They're also building The Tower at Hall Park, a 16-story office tower that shares a podium with the hotel and will boast multiple terraces on every suite level, outdoor amenity space, and direct park access. That tower will also include 10,000 square feet of ground-level retail and restaurant space facing Kaleidoscope Park. It's also forecast to open in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Dallas to give away free produce in one neighborhood every other Friday

Vegetable News

The City of Dallas’ Office of Community Care, in collaboration with the American Heart Association and the Last Patrol, has launched a fresh produce drive at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center.

Starting Friday, March 24, Dallas residents can drive-thru or walk-up to the WDMC to get fresh produce, free of charge. The drive thru will take place on the second and fourth Friday of each month.

Through this initiative, OCC and its partners aim to provide access to fresh food and nutritional support to more than 370,000 community members in West Dallas who are impacted by food insecurity.

"Food insecurity occurs when healthy food is not readily available daily, due to poverty or socioeconomic challenges, causing people to go hungry or eat food that is of reduced quality, variety or desirability," says West Dallas Multipurpose Center manager Ashley Hutto in a statement. "This program will support community members in improving food security and access to fresh produce in West Dallas."

Aamerican Heart Association Community Impact Director Bry Mabry says they chose the location for its accessibility to a large population in need.

“This center is a centerpiece of the community in West Dallas and a suitable location to reach a large portion of the residents of West Dallas," Mabry says.

"This area within Dallas County historically has had high rates of poverty and food insecurity," she says. "Knowing and understanding the needs in this area, the American Heart Association's North Texas Team continues to partner with the West Dallas Multipurpose Center to create more opportunities for positive impact."

The fresh produce distribution will be first-come, first-serve, from 1-2:30 p.m. at WDMC, located at 2828 Fish Trap Rd.

There is no income or zip code requirement to participate.

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