The year was 1989, and my husband and I embarked on a quest for a new home, one that offered a more expansive footprint than our existing 3,000-square-foot ranch on Melissa Lane. Our search inevitably led us back to our beloved Old Preston Hollow, a neighborhood we had cherished since our very first encounter. This enclave wasn’t merely a location; it was a “honeypot,” drawing us in with its unique blend of mature landscapes and serene atmosphere, a true gem within the vibrant Dallas real estate market.
The allure of Old Preston Hollow was undeniable. We harbored a deep affection for properties boasting generous yards and majestic, old-growth trees. The area’s character, with its established estates and verdant surroundings, resonated deeply with memories of our childhood homes up north—my family’s property in East Dundee, Illinois, evoking the charm of St. Charles and Dunham Woods, and my husband’s in Warwick, New York, nestled near the picturesque Tuxedo Park. In an era when modern Dallas was rapidly expanding, Old Preston Hollow offered a distinct topographical and architectural retreat, yet it remained remarkably accessible, just a short stroll from the bustling Preston Center, perfectly balancing seclusion with urban convenience.
Then, we first laid eyes on 5511 Park Lane. An elegant, white-brick colonial, it sat majestically on a sprawling, leafy corner lot, spanning at least an acre. A “For Sale” sign stood prominently, yet my initial reaction was one of profound skepticism regarding its affordability. “Oh, there’s no way we can afford that house!” I exclaimed to my husband. Having been married for only nine years, with two young children, a dog, and a bird, the prospect of acquiring a home listed for a staggering $1 million felt utterly out of reach, especially considering the prevailing Dallas real estate climate of the late 1980s, which was still recovering from a downturn.
Despite our reservations, curiosity compelled us to take a closer look at this impressive Old Preston Hollow estate.
The house itself was a 1936 New Orleans-style colonial, distinguished by a graceful wrought-iron balcony extending from an upstairs front bedroom. A stunning glass garden room, adorned with beautiful green clay tiles, branched off the living room, inviting the outdoors in. While the exterior exuded a certain charm and timeless appeal, the interior presented a different story, revealing the nuances of a home that had undergone various renovations over the decades. It was clear that while the property held immense promise, the structure itself was a tapestry of original character and subsequent alterations.
The original charm of the home was juxtaposed with functional challenges. The kitchen, for instance, was quite small, appearing to be an afterthought added to the rear of the house, featuring minimal built-in storage and a single oven—a stark contrast to my own two. However, the expansive breakfast room more than compensated, boasting a grand bay window that framed breathtaking views of the swimming pool and the lush, verdant property beyond. This outdoor oasis immediately captivated my husband, shifting our focus from the house’s interior quirks to the unparalleled beauty of the grounds, a common desire for those seeking luxury homes in Dallas.
Further exploration revealed a family room, a step-down addition that I suspected was once a carport, leading to the garage. The search for a laundry room ended in a small closet directly off the garage, an unexpected feature for a 4,500-square-foot home. Both the family room and the three-car garage were obvious additions, unfortunately lacking the meticulous craftsmanship and tasteful moldings of the original 1936 structure. Upstairs, directly above the family room, was an added-on master bedroom complete with a fireplace, two rather small closets, and a corner bathroom offering pleasant views of the expansive grounds.
Accessing the master bath involved stepping up as if approaching an altar, an arrangement that, while initially perceived as elegant for about five seconds, quickly raised concerns about nocturnal navigation. I appreciated the soaking tub and the spacious shower with dual heads, but the elevated entry to the commode seemed like a potential midnight hazard. The main house itself featured three additional bedrooms, each modest in size and equipped with the compact closets typical of the 1930s era. A charming Jack-and-Jill bath showcased original black-and-white tiled mudded-in floors, while a tiny guest bath off the third bedroom, notably lacking a closet, was a more recent addition.
Above the three-car garage lay a cavernous, unfinished space, optimistically labeled “future gameroom.” This particular feature, along with the home’s somewhat disjointed layout, reinforced my initial impression: the house itself, a medley of styles and updates, didn’t deeply impress me. I could foresee it becoming a “problem child” when it came time to sell. Yet, the property—the majestic trees, the sparkling pool, the sheer expanse of the land—was truly spectacular, surpassing anything else we had encountered in our search for Old Preston Hollow real estate.
Upon closer inspection, we observed the original single-pane, wood mullion double-hung windows in the older sections of the home, contrasting sharply with the thin, commercial metal windows in the additions, reminiscent of those found in Class C apartments. We soon discovered the owner was involved in commercial real estate and was attempting to flip the house in the wake of a market crash. Capitalizing on the distressed market, we made a ridiculously low offer, and to our surprise, it was accepted, securing our dream property in Old Preston Hollow.
For nearly a decade, we called that home ours, embracing all its quirks and charms. Our children, aged 4 and 7 when we moved in, still fondly recall it as the greatest house they ever lived in, a testament to the magic of childhood memories created within its walls and sprawling grounds. Over the years, we made several improvements to enhance its functionality and our enjoyment of the property. We added a luxurious spa to the swimming pool, transforming the backyard into an even more inviting oasis. Before the “future gameroom” above the garage was finally finished, it became an adventure zone where our kids would gleefully slide down the back stairway on giant plastic lids. A large wooden crate from a sonogram machine was repurposed into an imaginative tree house, fostering endless hours of outdoor play.
As our family grew, so did our menagerie of pets, prompting us to add a spacious laundry room and what we affectionately termed a “pool bath” for convenience after swims. The newly finished game room was thoughtfully linked to our master suite, creating a generous closet for my husband and providing direct access to those back stairs—proving invaluable for his emergency hospital runs. This blend of practical upgrades and whimsical family projects truly transformed the house into a cherished home, making the most of its unique structure and expansive grounds, a classic journey for owners of Dallas estate properties.
One ordinary day, while tending to the parrot cage, my eyes fell upon a newspaper she had, well, personalized. A small advertisement caught my attention: “Great 9 percent interest rate loans at a new bank in town called Compass.” A playful thought sparked: “Hmm,” I mused, “maybe we need a tennis court!” And so, we embarked on yet another project, transforming a portion of our vast property into a private tennis court. We spent countless hours playing, hosting lively gatherings, and simply savoring every blade of grass on that magnificent lawn. From the generous right-of-way on Hollow Way to the iron fence on the east side—where our Golden Retriever, Bessie, once got her head comically stuck during church—the property was a canvas for family life. Countless family photos were captured amidst the lush grass and beneath the canopy of our enormous trees, even the one that would eventually fall, thankfully without harm, onto my son’s bedroom.
Despite the joy and memories, a persistent desire for something more, something perfectly tailored, lingered. I contemplated a major remodel, inviting every prominent architect in town to assess the property. Their unanimous verdict was clear and unequivocal: the existing house had been “re-muddled” beyond effective renovation; it had to go. While I desperately wanted to salvage certain elements, to retain a few “body parts” and build anew around them, the professional consensus advised a different path. We were urged to capitalize on our equity by selling the property and constructing our dream home elsewhere, a common dilemma in the high-stakes world of Dallas luxury real estate.
Selling proved to be a significant challenge, particularly within the unpredictable Dallas real estate market of 1996-1997. The process was arduous, filled with endless open houses and a pervasive sense of uncertainty. There were moments when we almost threw in the towel, utterly exhausted by the relentless demands, especially as our eldest child approached her senior year. Finally, upon the recommendation of a savvy friend, we engaged our last real estate agent. I made my expectations unequivocally clear: if we hadn’t secured our desired price within three months, I would halt the entire sale process. That agent was none other than the esteemed Dave Perry-Miller, ably assisted by his dedicated colleague, Kathy Finn.
Let me tell you, I was what one might politely call a “client from hell.” In fact, Dave himself recounts how he once asked Kathy, just before her retirement, which property presented the most challenging negotiations of her illustrious career. Her immediate, unwavering reply? “Candy Evans’ house at 5511 Park Lane,” she declared, a testament to the intensity of the process and the high stakes involved in selling such a unique piece of Old Preston Hollow real estate.
Dave: “We desperately need to show the house, Candy, we have a really great prospect waiting.”
Candy: “No can do, Dave. We’re in the middle of a Hockaday swim party, and the backyard is full of children.”
Dave: “Candy, we have an offer that is REALLY close to your target price…”
Candy: “Is it Candy’s magic number? If it’s not precisely what I asked for, then I honestly don’t want to even see it.”
“I knew right then that we were either destined to become very dear friends or mortal enemies by the end of this listing,” Perry-Miller candidly admitted, reflecting on the challenging yet ultimately rewarding experience. He added with a laugh, “I kid you not, the file folder for 5511 Park Lane was, without a doubt, the biggest and most substantial house file in my entire real estate career.” This anecdotal insight perfectly encapsulates the complexity and unique demands of selling an Old Preston Hollow estate, even for a seasoned Dallas luxury real estate professional like Dave Perry-Miller.
Finally, as the burgeoning tech industry began to mint a new generation of millionaires, we attracted a solid cash buyer—a young, ambitious couple from Southlake. The offer was incredibly close to our desired price, and after much deliberation, we agreed to an unusually long period until possession. Yet, even with the deal almost sealed, a peculiar dissatisfaction gnawed at me. I distinctly recall calling Perry-Miller and, much to his exasperation, asking him to explore options for getting me *out* of the contract. “I’m not selling this house,” I declared, somewhat irrationally. “We simply have too much stuff. I can’t even open the closets in the game room without triggering an avalanche!” It was a moment of sentimental panic, a reluctant farewell to a home filled with a decade of cherished memories and possessions, a common emotional hurdle when leaving an Old Preston Hollow family home.
Despite my eleventh-hour resistance, we ultimately closed on 5511 Park Lane in 1999. We transitioned to a rental house, which became its own unique story, before embarking on the construction of our current home. However, the lingering question remained: what if I had simply ignored the expert advice, torn down that “re-muddled” house, and built my dream residence on that absolutely stunning property? The thought persisted, a silent ‘what if’ echoing the potential of the exceptional land we had once owned. Then, in 2010, a couple named Susan and Bob Sulentic did precisely that, bringing the property full circle to its rightful potential.
Bob Sulentic, a Midwestern native, is the highly respected CEO of the colossal CBRE Group, a Fortune 500 powerhouse and the world’s largest real estate services firm. News travels fast in the tight-knit world of Dallas luxury real estate, and it wasn’t long before I received word that our old house was being torn down. A wave of mixed emotions swept over me. I immediately Googled the new owners, learning of their esteemed background, and in a moment of bittersweet reflection, I found myself shedding tears for the end of an era.
Compelled by nostalgia, I visited the site, picking my way over the rubble to bid farewell to the remnants of our former home. Remarkably, the wall where we had meticulously measured our children’s heights still stood in the small pantry, a poignant echo of bygone days. Those awful, fake tile boards, designed to mimic the tile counters and backsplash, stubbornly clung to the walls. And the iconic glass garden room, a space so beautiful that Neiman Marcus frequently used it for photo shoots, remained unexpectedly intact, a final testament to its original charm. But its reprieve was short-lived; it wouldn’t be standing for much longer, destined to make way for a new vision of luxury living in Old Preston Hollow.
The transformation was comprehensive and meticulously executed. Our old swimming pool was expertly filled in, and the beloved tennis court, once a hub of family activity, was systematically jack-hammered, its net and backboard dismantled. However, the true marvel lay in the reverence shown for the property’s magnificent natural assets. The towering, old-growth oak trees, the very heart of the estate’s grandeur, were babysat with an almost maternal care, likened to a female elephant protecting her young. Every time I drove by during construction, I observed trees and nascent plant beds meticulously covered and protected, resembling swaddled infants in a nursery. When the new home was completed, the landscaping was replaced with exquisite precision, ensuring that the original beds, which had bloomed with vibrant tulips each spring, likely since the 1940s, were lovingly preserved. This commitment to maintaining the natural integrity of the site, while rebuilding the structure, showcased a deep understanding of what truly defines a luxury Dallas estate.
The architectural vision for the new residence was entrusted to the renowned Larry Boerder, who designed a magnificent English country estate perfectly befitting the expansive 1.17-acre lot. Unlike some developers who might have devoured more of the property with an excessively large structure, Boerder’s design achieved grandeur without overwhelming the landscape. Spanning a total of 9,800 square feet, the new home is substantially larger than our former 4,500-square-foot residence, yet it maintains an elegant proportionality. I’ve always admired the ingenious way the four-car garage was integrated into the same footprint as our old one, but reimagined as a sophisticated motor-court style, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.
Construction of this exquisite property was undertaken by Rusty Goff, a builder whose reputation precedes him, known for never compromising on quality or placing so much as a thumbtack in an inferior home. The new estate boasts an impressive array of features designed for the pinnacle of luxury living: four generously sized bedrooms, elegant formal living and dining areas, a private guest suite, a colossal, fully-equipped chef’s kitchen, a spacious family room, a dedicated game room, a private office, an exercise room, a mammoth main laundry, and even a specialized pet laundry. Outdoor living is celebrated with a thoughtfully designed area and a screened porch, while the presence of a beautiful sunroom, hopefully inspired by our original one, brings natural light and serene views indoors. Where our family swimming pool once lay, a meticulously curated English garden now flourishes, adding another layer of charm and sophistication to this unparalleled Old Preston Hollow estate.
While the initial decision to tear down 5511 Park Lane was met with a bittersweet pang of nostalgia, the ensuing reconstruction has resulted in such a breathtaking transformation that I find myself intensely happy for the property. Much of what has been achieved—the thoughtful design, the luxurious amenities, the respect for the land—aligns remarkably with the “dream home” I had once envisioned for that stunning acreage. It’s a fascinating full circle, from one owner deeply embedded in the commercial real estate industry to another. The property has finally received the magnificent estate it always deserved, a testament to the enduring value of prime Dallas real estate, particularly in coveted neighborhoods like Old Preston Hollow. It truly has an estate befitting her inherent beauty, a crown jewel in the Dallas luxury market.
The magnificent estate at 5511 Park Lane, now a paragon of luxury living, officially went live on the market on March 7th. It is currently listed for an impressive $7.695 million, represented by Garrett Holloway of the distinguished Dave Perry-Miller team, a name synonymous with luxury real estate in Dallas. For those property experts back in 1997 who advised us to simply take our equity and build elsewhere, the ultimate return on our original 1989 purchase of this Old Preston Hollow gem stands as a staggering testament to foresight and location: a phenomenal 1,010 percent appreciation. This incredible figure underscores the enduring power and profitability of investing in premier Dallas real estate, especially in highly coveted neighborhoods like Old Preston Hollow, where discerning buyers continue to seek the finest in estate living. Indeed, may God bless Dallas real estate!