Tax Credit Program Highlight: Bella Villa Apartments

History

The Bella Villa Apartments is a three-story, Mediterranean Revival style apartment building in Vickery Place, a historic residential neighborhood north of downtown Dallas. The building was constructed using the architectural bones of the Vickery Place School, which had been previously ravaged by fire. Investors Royal G. Hockett and Eugene L. Rolfs sought to retain as much of the damaged property as possible when rehabilitating the property with Young & Young Architects. Bella Villa Apartments is in many ways typical of apartment buildings constructed in the post-war boom; the efficient floor plans were geared toward young couples seeking comfortable living arrangements close to the modern conveniences of downtown Dallas.

Rehabilitation Project

Bella Villa was poorly maintained in recent decades. Looking past its shabbiness, the building was purchased by new investors, who have completely rehabilitated it. While the project was substantial, Bella Villa maintains its original appearance with minimal alterations. No floor plan changes were made, and all apartments retained their historic size and layout. Charming historic features, like arched openings, murphy bed surrounds, and telephone nooks were retained while kitchens, bathrooms, and mechanical systems were fully updated. Wood windows were fully restored by master craftsmen. Because the apartment building was built using the remains of the previous school building, it required significant structural repairs.