Oak Cliff's Best Development of 2008

It's official!  The Ninth Street Townhomes were voted the best Oak Cliff Development of 2008 by the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce!  Come view them today!

Considering a Craftsman style townhome in North Oak Cliff?

Here’s some trivia you might find interesting ~

The Craftsman architectural style began in England in the mid-19th Century as a reaction to the upper-class opulence of the Victorian Age. It was also an effort to produce houses in local districts from natural materials for a new and growing middle-class British population. The American movement began in California in the early 1900s inspired by two builders, the Greene brothers in Pasadena who designed and built bungalows. Homes were detailed with a then current interest in oriental wooden architecture. The Craftsman style residences became the most popular and fashionable smaller homes in the country. As a result a flood of pattern books appeared, selling plans; some even offering completely pre-cut and packaged lumber for assembly by local carpenters. Frank Lloyd Wright designed many homes with Craftsman influences and credited the development of middle-class housing in America to his Prairie School of architecture and the Craftsman styling, both growing to popularity in the early 20th Century.

North Oak Cliff’s Lake Cliff Historic District has seen much of the area’s history since the late 19th Century. The original Oak Cliff township was platted by T.L. Marsalis in 1886 and was annexed by the City of Dallas in 1903. The original township had one of Dallas’ largest collections of Craftsman and Prairie style homes. The Dallas Land & Loan and Lake Cliff neighborhoods, both within a few blocks of 9th and Starr Streets have active neighborhood associations. Lake Cliff itself is both a National Register and Dallas Historic District. The collection of Bishop Arts buildings in the Land and Loan District is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

A local organization named the Oak Cliff Transit Authority strives to bring back the Oak Cliff trolleys that until 1958 clanged their way from downtown along Jefferson Boulevard and other nearby thoroughfares. We’ll be here waiting for the bell

Bennett Miller Homes took inspiration for the 9th STREET TOWN HOMES from the mundane street name, the Craftsman details (i.e. knee bracing, old fashioned porches, rafter tails, authentic coloring), and also like Oak Cliff itself, a pleasant, slightly out-of-the way…but close-in, friendly place for working people to make their homes. We hope you will want to join us here where the people are friendly, unpretentious, and can be downtown in less than five minutes.

Update

Phase I of the 9th Street Townhomes are nearing completion. The granite counter tops have been installed in all units and sidewalks have been poured. The image to the left is a rendering of the of the full build out of the community. There will be a total of 22 townhomes with a shared access drive serving the secured parking spaces.
There will also be a walkway between the next two rows of townhomes.

The model will be available for viewing soon. Come by and check us out!

Location Efficiency

It's all over the news lately. Rising gas prices are changing the way we live. Everyday another article is in the news about how things are changing. Sales of trucks and SUVs have plummeted as people have flocked to smaller cars. People are also reconsidering life in the suburbs. Its becoming increasingly unaffordable to drive many miles for work, shopping and play.

As this pattern continues, Oak Cliff will only rise in value. With its access to transit, and proximity to Downtown, groceries stores, shops, and restaurants residents of the 9th Street Townhomes can save big money.

Transit is an easy option when living at the 9th Street Townhomes so you can leave your car at home! The Corinth Dart Rail Station is only a mile away from the townhomes and a streetcar line is planned to run only two blocks away. There are also frequent buses serving the area.

To sweeten the deal even more, Bennett Miller Homes is offering the option of a scooter and helmet to the first eight homeowners. Imagine how cool you'd be cruising up the street to the Bishop Arts District for dinner on a sporty scooter.

Click here for more information about location efficiency in Oak Cliff

Past BMH Projects

For the past 30 years Bennett Miller Homes (BMH) has acted as a pioneer working in areas of Dallas where others were afraid to invest. Beginning in the eighties, BMH renovated countless abandoned industrial buildings dating back to the turn of the century. Many of these projects have acted as catalysts for further redevelopment activity by others. One of the largest and most well known Bennett Miller renovations is Magnolia Station.

Magnolia Station, built in 1911, was originally a petroleum processing plant owned by Magnolia Petroleum. After falling into disrepair, the property was bought by the Bennett Miller Company in 1993 and was subsequently converted to lofts. It's hard to believe today, but at the time of purchase the property was located in the middle of an industrial wasteland. Shortly following the success of Magnolia Station, American Airlines Center and Victory Park came to be. We believe that without the initial investment in Magnolia Station, the area would not have become the success it is today. Now Magnolia station is at the foot of the Katy Trail, Dallas's premier bike path. It's also a few short steps from American Airlines Center and the many upscale establishments of Victory Center.

Street Cars

As mentioned yesterday, streetcars played a large role in Oak Cliff's early development. The original street car line ran from downtown Dallas across the river to Lake Cliff Park which at the time was an amusement park. When driving through the neighborhood you may notice that Jefferson takes a wide curve as it goes up the hill from the river heading west. The street was designed that way because early street cars didnt have the power to go directly up the steep grades south of the Trinity. The main street car lines traveled up Jefferson, Davis and parts of 7th street.

Fast forward 80 years to today. Streetcars may be returning to Oak Cliff someday soon! The Oak Cliff Transit Authority is working dilegently to make this dream a reality. The proposed line would run from downtown up Davis street then return down Jefferson, passing only a few blocks from the 9th Street Townhomes.

About the Neighborhood

Today we'd like to tell you about the many culinary delights of Oak Cliff. Just up the street from the 9th Street Townhomes is the Bishop Arts District. North Oak Cliff was originally a street car suburb. In the 1930's the corner of Bishop and Davis became one of Dallas's busiest trolley stops. After the removal of the trolleys, the area fell into disrepair but luckily visionaries saw its potential and have restored it to its former glory. It is now home to many of the City's finest restaurants including Hatties, Varacruz, Tillman's Corner and Chan Thai. Learn more about Bishop Arts here.

Traveling west along Davis street you will notice quite a few new and interesting establishments opening their doors and patios. Some of the most recent arrivals in North Oak Cliff include Bolsa, Kavala, Spiral Diner, Cafe Brasil, and Enos Pizza Tavern. With so many fine choices Oak Cliff is becoming a destination for many hungry Dallasites.

Grand Opening!!

We're excited! Bennett Miller Homes is stepping into the 21st century with a new blog. This site will be used to keep you updated on our current projects including the 9th Street Townhomes in North Oak Cliff. Right now, sheet rock is being installed and they should be ready for move-ins next month. The homes will start at a base price of $167,800 for the 1440 square foot model which has 2 bedrooms 2.5 baths. The homes are located at the corner of Starr and 9th Street.

We also want to use this blog to keep you posted on all the latest happenings in the neighborhood. With its big trees, rolling hills, and diverse culture, North Oak Cliff is definitely the coolest section of Dallas. We are truly excited to be a part of this area's transformation.

Find out more about us here.