Oak Lawn is a special neighborhood, Compass agent Crystal Gonzalez says. It is centrally located—folks can easily zip up or down the Dallas North Tollway to wherever they need to go, or find an easy surface street that takes you into downtown and Uptown. There’s shopping and dining nearby, and it is near Turtle Creek and the Katy Trail. It’s also not as stuffy as other Dallas neighborhoods, which have over-the-top mansions and inaccessible price points.
But the neighborhood doesn’t have many of its earliest homes left. “Of course, condos are necessary, and townhomes are necessary,” Gonzalez says, “but each year, I think we lose more and more of our historic footprint.”
The 109-year-old craftsman at 3900 Bowser Ave. is one of the few still standing. Built in 1914, the setback, corner-lot property features character worthy of its age. “This is one of the gems of the neighborhood,” Gonzalez says.
The charm starts in the secret garden-like front yard, which is hidden behind a gate and a privacy wall of shrubbery. “It’s like you’re just looking out into your own private estate,” Gonzalez says, “and that’s really hard to find in the middle of the city.” The property is canopied with established, century-old trees, too, some of which are low enough for kids (or adults) to climb.
Inside, the house “still has all of its original character,” Gonzalez says. The hardwoods are original—although she suspects some have been patched over the years—as are the stained-glass windows, dentil molding, and many of the built-ins. “There’s probably some really great life that’s lived in that house,” she says. Although, “it’s been updated to meet today’s standards, for sure.” Over the years, closets have been expanded, a saltwater pool was added, and a guest house now stands in the backyard. The previous owners renovated the bathrooms and the kitchen, but kept the updates in the original craftsman style of the home.
These details give the home a sense of grandeur and history, but there’s plenty of room for pomp and party, too. “It would be super great and super easy to entertain,” Gonzalez says. “Having a party of 100 people is a very easy, feasible thing to do.” There are plenty of spaces to host throughout the property, inside and out.
The spacious front porch would be a great spot for a spring or fall luncheon, she says. The formal dining room—which has a toy train track installed on a ledge—is oversized and perfect for dinner parties. Plus, it opens out to another covered veranda, which could be where the bar is set up. And outside in the back, there’s a massive deck that can seat nearly 60 people.
“It’s an entertainer’s house all day long,” Gonzalez says.
Scroll through the gallery to learn more about the home.
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