Remodeling Talk... Historic Renovation: Two Stories in Progress

Is the “old soul” in you fascinated by history, storytelling, and lasting legacies?

Then you’ll understand that the renovation of century-old, two-story 4519 Gaston Avenue isn’t really about salvaging a dilapidated structure. It’s about two lives of significance and objects of permanence, and how one can’t exist without the other. It’s the reason home renovation appeals to the passionate “old souls” in many of us.

After being uninhabited for over 30 years, the eight-room frame house was purchased by newlyweds Kyle Collins and Dr. Patricia Simon in November, 2008. Bella Vista Company began renovations in January. Kyle is a Market Development Manager for KimberlyClark and Patty is an orthodontist. They shared their story… with historic home renovation. While we were dating, we decided it would be fun to save an old house. We found a gem on Reiger Avenue! It was seriously dilapidated and uninhabited. It had been illegally made into an 8-plex sometime in the 80’s. The dentist in me wants to restore everything; the antique dealer in Kyle wants to buy anything old. So, we turned it into a luxury 4-plex, and we are very proud of how it turned out. We were the general contractors on the project, but we realized that neither of us had the time to do that job again! This time we found a company who understood what we wanted to achieve. couldn’t afford what she was asking. But for a year we’d drive up the driveway and stare, wondering what it might have looked like when it was built. Eventually we forgot about it. A year later, we were married and looking for a house. We looked for something that needed work so we could determine its final style. Kyle spent many nights searching the MLS listings. One day he called me at work, and said that I should drive by a house on Gaston that he found on the listings. When he told me the address, I realized it was “the” house! We bought it right away!

4519 Gaston Avenue

1906: Home was built for James T. Elliott, owner of Elliott Wholesale Lumber. He lived there with his daughter and her husband. Elliott died in 1919 and his funeral was held in the home’s parlor.

1925: Sold to Marie E. Kiersky who used it as a boarding house, renting out furnished rooms including the previous servants quarters.

1951-1961: Records are vague, but show a Wilma Colmer listed as an apartment manager. In 1942, a permit was issued by the City of Dallas for apartments.

1971: George Preston purchased the property, at which time Monty’s Used Car Lot was being operated at the address.

1978–: No evidence of inhabitance.

What led

to your decision to buy 4519 Gaston Ave.?

Tracy, our previous restoration contractor on the Reiger property, suggested we visit a house she had been using for supply storage. It was 4519 Gaston. When we walked in, all we could see was the staircase. The rooms were cut-up with walls everywhere and there were holes in the floors. But we could tell by the staircase that this house was once beautiful. Kyle joked with Tracy after that about buying the house.

One day she called us and said she wanted us to buy the house. Unfortunately, we

Would you like to visit the home and see the renovation in process? See this and other historic homes by signing up for the annual Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour May 8-9 at www.sahd.org

In Next Month’s REMODELING TALK:

how the home is being restored to its original charm and grandeur.

your “old soul” by undertaking a historic home renovation, give us a call.