Tax Credit Program Highlight: English Village

History

The English Village is a Tudor style commercial building, designed by local architect Lester N. Flint and built in 1922. As one of the first commercial buildings in the largely residential Winnetka Heights neighborhood, the building’s proposed construction spurred a legal controversy between local residents, the City of Dallas, and builder C.S. Mitchell. At the time, the building was viewed as an unwanted intrusion and the building permit was denied. But eventually the design’s residential style and massing changed people’s minds, and Mitchell won his lawsuit against the city. The building is now a favorite landmark on Davis Avenue, and remains one of the best-known examples of English-style commercial architecture in Texas.

Rehabilitation Project

Prior to the beginning of this rehabilitation project in 2014, the building had been mostly empty for decades, and had even been named to a local list of at-risk historic buildings. The first step in the project was to repair and stabilize the building, which included replacement of the highly deteriorated roof and upper windows. The second floor had been stripped down to the studs and rafters many years before the current owners took possession, so the unfinished space allowed ample flexibility for a few spacious apartments to be created. Just as it did historically, the first floor once again houses a series of local businesses that make good use of the large storefront windows and original multi-paned transoms above. A few new features, including a second-floor covered patio and a vehicular entrance, were tucked away at the rear of the property and do not affect the main elevations of the building.