converted red brick warehouses into
beautiful lofts and condominiums.
Examples of building projects that have
recently been repurposed are the historic
six-story Purse Building, the Interurban
Building and the upscale urban Market
Grocery and eatery.
UPTOWN
Uptown is a thriving neighborhood
popular amongst the Gen Y and Gen
Xers. New developments for urban living
and the development of thriving retail
stores and a vibrant restaurant and
nightlife makes Uptown ideal for those
who want to be close to the action.
Uptown is adjacent to Oak Lawn and
runs from downtown along Highway 75
up to Highland Park. Hotel ZaZa, the
Crescent, the Ritz-Carlton and lots of
trendy places “to see and be seen”
populate the area.
Uptown is also home to the trendy
West Village shopping/retail/residential
development and features high-rise
living along McKinney with units for sale
and for lease. Buildings here feature
1930s-style architecture with modern
interiors.
Uptown has three shopping districts,
and all are accessible on the free trolley
shuttle line. The historic Gallery District
has many of the finest art galleries,
antique dealers, frame shops and custom
retail stores found in Dallas. Another
arts venue, the McKinney Avenue
Contemporary (also known as The
MAC) is home to three live theatres: the
Dallas Theatre Center, Theatre Three at
the Quadrangle and Kitchen Dog
Theater. Residents and local Dallasites
also enjoy independent movie pre-
mieres, foreign films and movie classics
at Magnolia Pictures, located in the
West Village.
PARK CITIES
Population: 31,849
School District: Highland Park
Highland Park: 214-368-6485;
www.hptx.org
University Park: www.uptexas.org
Median Home Value: $991,562
Highland Park and University Park are
surrounded by the city of Dallas, and
are separate, incorporated cities with
their own government systems, police
force and fire departments. Highland
Park and University Park form the fabled
“Park Cities” area, and those who live
here include old money society leaders,
corporate CEOs and arts patrons.
The Park Cities are bounded on the east
by Central Expressway (US- 75) and on
the west by the Dallas North Tollway.
Preston Road runs north and south down
the middle of the two communities.
Downtown Dallas is an easy 5-10
minute ride and with the road systems in
place, it’s just as easy to go west to Las
Colinas and the airport or north to
Plano.
The top Highland Park Independent
School District that serves both
Highland Park and University Park is
one of the best in the state. Three
HPISD schools, Bradfield, Hyer and
Highland Park Middle School, have
received the 2005 No Child Left
Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Award;
Upland Park received the 2006 award
The Highland Park Independent School
District is also one of only two districts
in the state to earn all 11 Gold
Performance Acknowledgment awards
from the Texas Education Agency.
Highland Park also has the reputation of
having the highest per-square foot
prices for real estate anywhere in the
Metroplex. Highland Park Village
shopping center was America’s first
shopping center, and has since evolved
into one of the most prestigious
shopping destinations in the world,
boasting such merchants as Chanel,
Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Escada and
Jimmy Choo.
The prestigious Dallas Country Club
with its rolling hills and elite membership
roster is across the street. University Park
is home to eight lushly landscaped and
well-equipped parks, in addition to
Southern Methodist University (SMU),
the college that gives the community its
name. Real estate prices are slightly
lower here than in Highland Park, and
buyers will find a larger variety of
100 DESTINATION DFW – WINTER 2014 | SPRING 2015
HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS
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