Greenland Hills residents feel passionately about the character of their homes, and they’ll let just about anybody get close enough to see why.
For the fifth year, six neighborhood residents are opening their homes to the public for the M Streets Home Tour.
“We are trying to show folks why we love the area,” says Greenland Hills Neighborhood Association member Katy Richardson.
The neighborhood, with one of the nation’s largest collections of Tudor-style homes, dates back to the 1920s and ’30s. Architectural highlights include intricate stained glass, high gables, turned-stone columns, dramatic archways and elaborate stonework.
“Our neighborhood has a unique charm due in large part to the number of historical homes here,” says Chera Jackson, president of the neighborhood association.
The association advocates protecting the area from too much change.
“A few years ago, Greenland Hills was designated as a conservation district, which has a lasting impact, most notably that we will be able to preserve the area’s historic traits,” says architect Amy Gaddis, co-chairman of the home tour committee.
Tour officials try to choose homes that reflect a cross-section of the community, Richardson says. Past tours even featured new homes built in architectural styles compatible with the neighborhood.
This year’s tour features a Spanish Mediterranean home, a style unique in the neighborhood.
Tours are basically self-guided, with volunteers on hand to answer questions about the architecture, decor and remodeling, Richardson says.
“People can choose to spend as much or as little time in the rooms and gardens as they like,” she says.
Proceeds benefit the Greenland Hills CrimeWatch and Neighborhood Association. For the first time, the association also plans to make a donation to Stonewall Jackson Elementary School.
“We felt very passionately about the school after the possibility of redistricting came up last year,” Richardson says.
Although the Dallas school district abandoned plans to move the school’s boundaries, association members decided to channel financial support to Jackson, she says.
Home tours run from noon-5 p.m. May 21 & 22. Tickets cost $10, but children under 5 are free. Purchase tickets in advance at Kroger supermarket at Mockingbird and Greenville or on tour days at the featured homes. For information, e-mail hometour@mstreets.org, visit mstreets.org or call 214-215-3812.
