The charm and character of 5904 Junius St. was not always so easy to spot. The quaint Junius Heights bungalow was built in 1920, and nearly 70 years later, the home had fallen into disrepair, says listing agent Nyda Faith. “It was one of the worst houses in the 5900 block of Junius,” the Dallas Morning News wrote in January 1997. Neighbors Karl and Jana Braddick, who had recently finished updating their own home, decided to restore it. The couple spent close to a year renovating the house and adding HVAC. After nine months, they “had transformed the eyesore into a charming 1920s bungalow,” according to the News.
The house has kept that charm ever since. There’s a kind of magic here, Faith says. The house has a large front porch with a “wonderful” swing and original interior details, like the fireplace and the hardwood floors. There are windows everywhere, ensuring every room is infused with natural light, she says. All that sun lightens the mood inside. “It’s a very happy, very comfy vibe,” Faith says of the home.
The exteriors are just as enchanting. At some point in the home’s history, after the Braddicks moved on, an owner installed a large pool and waterfall in the backyard. The space is surrounded by greenery. The current owner has added to the backyard jungle with more plants and urns. The space is unexpected, Faith says, an oasis in East Dallas.
The Braddicks’ effort to save the bungalow has become the norm in the neighborhood. Junius Heights, which was established in 1906, is filled with prairie, craftsman, Arts and Crafts, and Tudor style houses. It became a historic district in 2006. It’s now one the city’s largest historic districts, covering around 800 homes. And it has strict protections. It’s nearly impossible to tear down a house here, Faith says. You can completely gut it (see an example of a recently renovated Junius Heights home on the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes next month), but it has to be a safety hazard to tear down.
These rules give assurances to local homeowners who might be concerned about new builds changing the look of their neighborhood, like what is happening to some streets in the Park Cities.
“The amazing thing about the neighborhood,” she says, “is you don’t have to worry about the house next door being torn down and a mega mansion being built next to your little bungalow.”
Scroll through the gallery to learn more about the home, but don’t get too attached—the house is already under contract.
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