Dallas Real Estate News

The latest edition of The Advocate Magazine was delivered to my house this morning.  I happened to notice the fellow trying to navigate through the water spewing from the sprinkler system and met him half-way thinking, "Yay, something besides the Morning News to go with my coffee today." 

The cover shows a child-like map rendering of Dallas (totally out of scale and distorted), it's primary purpose not accuracy, but to give definition to the area of Dallas known as Lake Highlands.  As the current president of the Old Lake Highlands Neighborhood Association, one of the founding association members having served as a board member at one time or another for nearly ten years, and homeowner in the "original" Lake Highlands Estates since the mid-70's-- it is no secret or surprise to anyone that I have a great deal of pride and love for this little oasis known as Old Lake Highlands.  When I saw that the map rendering did not include any portion of Old Lake Highlands, and the panel of readers that was convened to discuss "What is Lake Highlands?" all live north of Northwest Hwy, and we were barely mentioned in the lead in to the article at all... as in, ".... what about Old Lake Highlands?", as if we were some kind of ugly step-cousin or something, I was fairly annoyed to say the least.   

I sat down and read the article, taking in the perceived slight and becoming more and more annoyed until at last, there it was-- the BIG question.  "Do you consider Old Lake Highlands as part of Lake Highlands?"  Hahahaha!  Kudos to the panel!  I am paraphrasing, but the response was "It's more like they don't consider themselves to be part of Lake Highlands."  (followed by laughter).  BINGO!!! That is so true!

Don't misunderstand me.  "Lake Highlands" is a nice place, and we are not competing.  Often we share valuable information or work together when concerns and issues arise that could ultimately affect both of our neighborhoods.  It's just a matter of lifestyle choices that differentiate us. 

First of all, Old Lake Highlands is an area of Dallas (inclusive of several small subdivisions with Lake Highlands Estates being the largest) that is blissfully and uniquely surrounded by greenbelt, parks and conservation areas.  Only one small section of the neighborhood actually touches on a "concrete" boundary at Northwest Highway.  This neighborhood has (if it's possible) an emotional connection to the lake, the prairie that adjoins Van Dyke Road, Norbuck Park, Boy Scout Hill and the creek along Dixon Branch at Lake Highlands Drive.  If we're not out using those spaces for recreation, meditation or hard core exercise, at the very least, we are enjoying the view! 

We share in the joy that every single time we leave our homes and head west along Mockingbird, or walk along Van Dyke to Peavy toward the lake, we are witness to one of the most beautiful daytime vistas this city offers:  White Rock Lake surrounded by trees and the city skyline beyond.  We  also share feelings of comfort and serenity that we experience as we cross the lake and head up the hill into the "highlands". 

While we are extremely fortunate to have the exemplary Hexter Elementary School in the neighborhood, our homes are not typically "family-size".  Most of the growing families either live in one particular area of the neighborhood where the houses are larger, or they move (often to Lake Highlands) in order to have the space they need. Those who are here enjoy a Halloween Parade down Lakedale and up Woodridge followed by a block party each year.

We enjoy things like Pink Flamingo Fridays (when Spike the Flamingo) offers up a locale for a neighborhood happy hour, and we come together just to stay in touch and keep abreast of what's going on in the neighborhood. We've recently implemented a program specifically to reach out to the many seniors living in the neighborhood, and plans are underway for a variety of annual events that keep us connected as a community.  Our crime is low and our property values continue to rise.

Even more relevant to this article, plans for our second entrance into the neighborhood are underway (the first is located at Northwest Hwy. and Classen in Norbuck Park), and when it is constructed, there will be no doubt to anyone passing by it or through it, that they are in a very special, very beautiful and unique part of this great city, Old Lake Highlands:  The "original" Lake Highlands.  We don't necessarily want everyone to know about us, but it's a risk we're willing to take-- just to set the record straight!