(This story was originally published on Friday morning, Sept. 28, and now includes updated information.)
You know that “for sale” sign that has been on the southwest corner of Skillman and Church for a few years now? The one with Lake Highlands Town Center developer Prescott Realty‘s name on it?
Well, it seems as though that land may finally be seeing some action. Neighbors of the property are telling us that a surveyor has been on the land, laying out a single street and 35 single-family lots.
Prescott owns almost 7 acres of land on that corner that Dallas County Appraisal District values at roughly $1.99 million: 3.024 acres at 7505 Skillman (on which the former North Dallas Community Assembly of God Church sits); 1.821 acres at 9168 Church; and 2.017 acres at 9178 Church. We have left several messages with Brian Leslie, Prescott’s managing director of acquisitions/development, to ask him about this land and other Prescott projects, including the Town Center, but our calls haven’t been returned.
Another parcel of land adjacent to Prescott’s is also on the market. Forest Meadow Baptist Church, located at 9150 Church, is selling 2.99 acres at the back of its property. Realtor Peggy Hill has it listed at $880,000, and its status is “active option contract.” Hill tells us that the plans for the property would be “positive” and and that “the neighborhood would be thrilled about it,” but that’s all she could tell us.
So we’re talking about nearly 10 acres at Skillman-Church that could be converted into 35 single-family homes.
The land that may be converted to single-family homes is the triangle lot off of Skillman near Church, the two skinny diagonal lots behind it, and a portion of the other triangle lot, which is land owned by Forest Meadow Baptist Church.
Roughly four years ago, that’s exactly what some Lake Highlanders were wanting. At the time, we wrote a story talking about the then-plans for that land — developer Jonathan Perlman wanted a zoning change from single-family to planned development to build private senior citizen housing, including a five-story facility.
“We have a real need for single family homes, and the property is zoned single family,” said Glee Huebner, who at the time was co-president of the Highlands West Neighborhood Association, which borders the project. “So why would we want to change the zoning from single family?”
The neighborhood was arguing that builders were willing to put single-family homes on that site, and builder Mark Dann of Highland Classic Homes was quoted in the story as saying it would be “entirely possible.” (I called Dann today, and he says he doesn’t know what’s happening with this project, so he’s not the guy behind it.)
The zoning never did change, and if what we’re hearing about pans out, it sounds like neighbors will get what they wanted — and took a stand for — after all. Keep reading lakehighlands.advocatemag.com for updates on this story.
