Back in 1984, Gary Pridavka’s parents were pleased to hear that “Their Son The Lawyer” had just purchased a large and wonderful old historic home in an area of Dallas known as Munger Place. Gary, obviously, had “made it.” His grandfather, a immigrant from Lithuania, would have been proud.
“So they came down from Michigan for the first time … when the house needed all the renovation,” laughs Gary. “And it was: This is what you bought? You paid how much for this? And me saying: It’ll be nice.
“The guest house out back — I remember telling my daddy: I can do this. And he just kept looking at it and saying: Tear it down, just tear it down. That’s your best place to start.”
Sixteen years later, grandmother is rocking on the back porch, babysitting the little ones while Gary and wife Jill show off the beautifully salvaged 1909 structure (although the couple likes to joke that the house remains a “work in progress, plans for a master suite already underway). Julie, six, and Garret, four, however, have a limited interest in well-planned social controls and prefer to race around in random circles, not really getting in anyone’s way in the spacious, well-laid-out rooms.
“When I bought this house, I was single,” recalls Gary, “and a lot of people asked me: why did you get such a big house? For me … I kept driving by this neighborhood on my way to work downtown. And it was coming back, if still in pretty rough shape.
“But I looked at the demographics: all these young couples living in the M-streets in these smaller cottages. And I realized this neighborhood was gonna be great for people who wanted to stay in the city and have kids. I thought I’d buy it and fix it up in my spare time, as a hobby, and either sell it or get married and keep it.”
Gary chose the latter, having a family of his own to fill up the generous spaces. The two younger children, in fact, were actually born right there in the house with the aid of a local midwife.
The teenaged Chase is not present to add to the melee, but an energetic puppy makes up for any lull in the action. (Psssst, Chase: they hid the Cherry Seven-Up from you in the old Edison in the entry hall.) The lovely, family-friendly rooms stand up to all the activity quite well, serene and seemingly ready for another 91 years of living.
“A few years ago, we were thinking about maybe moving,” says Gary. “But then we really couldn’t think of anyplace else we’d want to move to. This house is the perfect size for our family and we like the neighborhood.”
Jill adds: “And the diversity. We get so many different people here that really, in the long run, it’s going to be better for the kids. I love this neighborhood and the style of the homes. The thought of moving out … when we really started looking at it, I realized I just couldn’t do it.”
If the owners didn’t want to move a few years back, it’s small wonder they’re committed to staying now. Not so very long ago, their neighbors on Reiger included half a dozen bars and a car wash. But families like the Pridavkas wouldn’t turn loose; gradually, the encroaching businesses have realized they are fighting a losing battle. Today, real estate developer David Weekly has purchased 16 lots on the street and is in the progress of constructing high-end replicas. It’s easy to look around these days at the carefully tended properties, to watch all the kids riding their bikes up and down the street, and see what a “find” this neighborhood was. But … back then?
Surely Jill was a just little daunted by the prospect of marrying a man who was enamoured of an old house in a transitional area?
“Not at all,” Jill protests. “I worked downtown and I’d cut down Munger sometimes. And I just loved this neighborhood. It was really quite a surprise when we started dating and I found out he lived over here.”
“He thinks it was ‘planned,’” she kids, “because I met him after he’d done so much and painted outside. He thinks I was just cruising the neighborhood thinking: Ah! It’s just about done … I think I’ll meet him now.”
Gary had indeed been facing down the daunting labor required: ’85 —foundation, ’86 — downstairs, ’87 — upstairs, ’88 — exterior, ’89 — guest house, ’92 — decorating. A few years off to have a family … . Finally, a year and a half ago, the couple landscaped, replaced the roof and renovated the kitchen. A “work in progress” indeed, one requiring fortitude and foresight.
So is the boy from Niles, Michigan, now fully adjusted to life as an urban pioneer? Actually, Gary says that Munger Place is reminiscent of that small old-fashioned town as well as the streets of his old college town, New Orleans (he attended Tulane).
“This house has such a family-friendly feel,” he says. “It reminds me of home.”
