Archive for May, 2009

By Sarah Scott

Ray Washburne wants Park Cities residents to know that the new Highland Park Village is going to look a lot like the old one.

The real estate investor and restaurateur said he wrapped up negotiations to buy the Village this week. As this article went to press Wednesday, Washburne said he was hammering out final details at a title company.

Washburne had a lot to say about the future of the Dallas’ oldest and most valuable shopping center. Its taxable value has been reported as being $80 million.

Washburne — who bought the center along with his wife, Heather; her sister, Elise Summers; and her husband, Stephen — emphasized that all four are lifelong residents of Highland Park and graduates of Highland Park High School.

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May 18, 2009 DallasNews.com
What would “Cheesus” do?

A Preston Hollow couple driving home from Houston was snacking on a bag of Cheetos when Sara Bell had a religious experience.

“Jesus appeared,” she told the Preston Hollow People newspaper last week.

Or more exactly – a Cheeto in the shape of what appears to be a two-inch tall figurine with extended arms.

Bell had bought a bag of Cheetos in Jersey Village, about 20 miles northwest of Houston, and was eating the cheese-flavored snack when she made the discovery, the newspaper reported.

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A deal to sell the venerable Highland Park Village is scheduled to close Wednesday, despite a last-minute challenge from one of the center’s high-profile tenants.

The first time we visited Dallasite Matthew Earnest’s store, SARTEL , there wasn’t a piece of the label’s clothing in sight – save for the crisp, navy organza blouse worn by his co-designer, Lily Atherton Hanbury. But chic things come to those who wait. The Shops at Highland Park boutique now holds a small, tightly edited collection of the duo’s highly refined wardrobe staples.

By SOPHIA DEMBLING / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Luxury? In this economic climate? Are we nuts?

No, really. Everyday luxury is a thing of the past for most of us, but even so, if you have a special occasion warranting a luxury break, now is a great time because luxury hotels are feeling the pinch, too, and they want you.

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How can social networking benefit your business?By Josh Hixson
Real Estate Editor

Facebook has officially invaded the world of North Dallas real estate.

Firms such as Ebby Halliday and Virginia Cook found it hard to ignore the allure of Facebook’s hundreds of millions of active users and recently took the plunge into the world of online social networking, while Rogers Healy and his 2,000-plus members have been veterans of the scene for quite some time.

None of the agents we talked to could say they sold a home soley because of Facebook, but they did indicate the website’s ability to reach potential clients is what drew them and their companies to the social networking site in the first place.
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