Lakewood elementary - neighborhoods? (Dallas, Plano: houses, layoffs, buying)

[New_to_DFW]

My wife and I want to find a house within the Lakewood elementary district to renovate. Total max budget including all renovations would be $850K, but prefer to stay in the $650-750K range if possible. No kids yet, but hope to start next year so kid-friendly areas are a must. How important is it to be within "Lakewood Proper" - Mockingbird to North, Abrams to west, and Gaston to South for resale purposes? What are the neighborhoods like that border Lakewood proper, specifically Hollywood Heights, Santa Monica, Gastonwood-Coronado Hills, and Abrams near Lakewood Country Club. How do they each compare in terms of quality of life? Kid / family friendly? Resale? At this price point and life stage, would we be making a mistake to consider homes outside Lakewood proper? We would plan to stay in this house a minimum of 5-10 years, and maybe more if our kids could be AP/IB track at Long/Woodrow and were doing well and enjoying it.

Also, we are not from Dallas originally, my wife grew up in south TX and I grew up in CA so we need a place that is very open-minded. The only thing that concerns me about Lakewood is how tight-knit it is with seemingly generations and generations of residents - I'm hoping we would be welcomed in and not treated as outsiders.

Many thanks!

[Lakewooder]

In that price range I would go with Lakewood Proper for investment purposes. However, there are homes being built all over approaching that range - there is one in Gastonwood-Coronado Hills (nee C-Streets now called Lakewood Hills) which is on two lots! I would say in 5-10 years there will be many more. However, Hollywood Heights is not really up in that price range and is a conservation district. Lakewood Proper is probably the most kid-friendly but believe me they are all over...some adults are a little miffed when the kids outnumber them at The Lot, Matt's and Canne Rosso..

I wouldn't worry about breaking into the crowd. There are a lot of new people everywhere. I don't know if you were here this weekend for the Lakewood Home Festival, but it's a good intro to the area. You will get to know people fast in LECPTA, Lakewood/Long/Woodrow PTA, East Dallas Chamber, YMCA, Lakewood Service League, neighborhood associations and many other organizations. There are two school carnivals each year at Lakewood and Stonewall. There's always a good crowd at our Woodrow football games (we finished as undefeated district champs and are in the playoffs!) and they are known to be friendly - just start talking to the people around you. It's similar at the restaurants, shops, pubs and bars in the area...just start talking!

If you are here, Long is having an open house on November 14 and Woodrow on November 20.

[TurtleCreek80]

All of those areas are great for resale and for living. Most of the ones you named that are outside of Lakewood proper don't have many / any $800k range homes so if that is what you want to spend, I'd cross Hollywood Heights-Santa Monica, C Streets, and the Lakewood Elementary neighborhoods that are north of Mockingbird off your list. You'd be buying the most expensive home in the area which is never good! However, if you want a $300-400k starter home, those are awesome places to look!

The Lakewood proper area is also SO great for kids because there are no traffic lights or major streets once you cross Abrams. Everyone can bike/ walk to school and to/from friends' houses.

It's a very friendly place. Most of our friends who live there and grew up in Dallas actually grew up in other neighborhoods (Park Cities, Richardson ISD, private schools) and they have all found their own niches in Lakewood.

[jennifw]

I agree with staying in Lakewood proper. We love not having to cross Gaston to vist friends or get to the lake.

Do you have a realtor yet? You need one. I have some friends who are changing houses, moving from south of Gaston to Lakewood proper. Their house sold before it was even listed and the house they bought never went on the market. Things are still pretty hot!

Good luck!

[Walter Benjamin]

100% agree with previous posters.

In terms of quality of life / kid-friendly / resale, as in terms of practicalities like schools, shopping, commute, etc. these areas are more alike than different. From the bigger picture, as compared with North Dallas, Plano, whatever, this is really one big neighborhood which is probably why those from elsewhere refer to "Lakewood" in the broader sense beyond Lakewood proper. At Lindsley Park (in Hollywood/Santa Monica) there are always kids from the C Streets and Lakewood who have braved the difficult trek across Gaston. I believe the current head of the dads' club at Lakewood Elementary, is from H/SM.

That price range is above almost everything in H/SM. In the C Streets, that would get you new construction (7114 Coronado), not a renovation project. The C Streets are changing a lot. Just in the past two years, virtually every block has had one or more tear-downs at all times. I would not be surprised in 10 years, if all of the 1940s 3BR traditionals there that go for $200-400K have been replaced by new construction in the $800-900K range. If you want new construction, that is the place.

There are some truly grand homes on gorgeous lots in the Abrams-Brookside area (605 N. Brookside) but that area is a little cut off from everything else by the country club, Abrams Rd, and the trail. Plus, Brookside Drive, though gorgeous, is a through street where people drive fast. Within Lakewood proper, generally the houses are older as you go south and west; and newer as you go north and east. The historic areas are pretty much all within the southern part of Lakewood (closer to Gaston than to Mockingbird).

For comparisons with Lakewood proper, why not look in Greenland Hills i.e. M Streets (5431 Merrimac; 5334 Mercedes; 5510 Merrimac)? Those are Stonewall Jackson elementary. Personally, my favorite thing about Lakewood proper is the sense of quiet seclusion and lake proximity on the broad streets (broader than in the C Streets or H/SM), whereas my favorite thing about the M Streets is being closer to all the restaurants, entertainment, etc. on Greenville, Knox-Henderson, Uptown, etc.

[New_to_DFW]

Thanks everyone for the comments, extremely helpful. We were definitely inspired by the Lakewood Home Festival last weekend. Loved that house on Avalon. Before that my wife was pretty focused on new construction, but after seeing the renovations, she is now open to a remodel. I think we will focus on Lakewood proper. I do have realtor that is helping me.

[BellaO]

The Avalon house was my favorite too. I wish they had mentioned who they used for remodel, one of the best I've seen!

[Lakewooder]

That used to be the Cox house, the kids there went to school with me and their mother designed and made costumes for the Woodrow musicals for many years.

[New_to_DFW]

Small world! Do you know who remodeled it for the current owners?

[Lakewooder]

It's a very small world in Lakewood -- the Allens lived next door (Ruth became WWHS principal) then the next house was Charlie Tessmer Good time Charlie - Page 1 - News - Dallas - Dallas Observer, the Meers lived on the other side. Across the street was Dr. Campbell, the Thompsons and the Echols. Just a few years ago, I knew or went to school with everyone on Avalon (or very nearly everyone). Some have died and some are new people...

That being said, I cannot remember who renovated the house for the current owners!