When Preservation Park Cities board members Larry Good and Craig Melde presented the organization’s final Register of Historic Homes document to the Highland Park Town Council on Jan. 20, they were hopeful that it would spark an ongoing conversation.
“We hope this is the beginning of a dialogue,” Good said. “We hope you would invite us back and that we’d work together on where this might go.”
The presentation of the PPC Register of Historic Homes came during the study session that follows the regular council meeting. Study sessions typically include reports and discussions, but seldom involve council action.
Good and Melde explained how the register highlights priority 1 and priority 2 houses with histories and statements of significance and proposes the creation of historic districts such as Connor Park/Lakeside and Westpark.
“The document that we’ve prepared for you is a great deal of research; it’s a wonderful asset,” Good said. “We hope you’ll help us make it as public as it can be.”
PPC would like to see incentives for preservation over demolition. Options could include property tax abatement and an amended zoning ordinance and building code which might encourage enlargement or reconfiguration construction in lieu of destruction.
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“I wish we could find a way we could discern the difference between builder/speculator’s activities when they come in and purchase a property and demolish a house as different from a homeowner decision,” Good added. “And, is there a way to create scrutiny between demolition permits that can differentiate that and hold it to a higher level of standard? Because so much of the houses we’re losing, we’re losing to speculation not an owner decision.”
The council also used the study session to review projected and ongoing capital projects, including repairs to the Beverly and Mockingbird bridges, dredging of Exall Lake, landscaping of the Hackberry Creek Phase 1 project, improvements to the Davis Park playground, construction of a new Holland Avenue water tower, and rehabilitations to the Ashley Priddy fountain and Overhill Park.
Earlier, during the regular council meeting, members:
- Approved the renewal through Dec. 31, 2028 of an agreement between the Highland Park Department of Public Safety and the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. The deal is required under state law to address the disposition of forfeited contraband.
- OK’d an interlocal agreement with the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas Inc. (SAT) so the town can benefit from the association’s competitive bid pricing when purchasing vehicles.
- Authorized the purchase of three DPS replacement vehicles for no more than $260,343 from Defender Supply (Holiday Auto) through the SAT.
- Extended for 12 months the construction period of a 16,000 square foot home with a 7,000 square foot basement at 3301 Beverly Drive. The new deadline is Feb. 1, 2026. The extension fee is $25,174.40.
