National Register Properties Surrounding Lake Cliff Park

National Register Properties Surrounding Lake Cliff Park

Oak Cliff

Lake Cliff Park and the immediate area surrounding it in Oak Cliff became a National Register of Historic Places Historic District in 1994 due to its significance with the development of the Oak Cliff community and the architecture of the neighborhood, primarily from the 1920s to 1930s. In 1997, the area was designated a Dallas Landmark District; however, significant historic residences at the entrances to the district on Blaylock Avenue and N. Crawford Street were left out of the district despite being listed as contributing historic structures in the National Register Historic District.

The Lake Cliff National Register Historic District covers approximately 75 acres including Lake Cliff Park, which features a man-made lake created around 1888. Properties in the district include a mix of frame and masonry one and two-story houses featuring Craftsman and Prairie School influences along with small compatible apartment buildings. The district includes the residential half-blocks fronting the park including Blaylock Drive, E. 5th Street, N. Crawford Street and the 13-story Lake Cliff Tower north of Colorado Boulevard. The Dallas Landmark District includes that area along with N. Marsalis Avenue and E. 6th Street, but not 826, 832, and 834 Blaylock Drive along with 1103, 1109, and 1119 N. Crawford Street. All of which are included in the National Register Historic District.

Due to interest in the area and recently increased zoning allowances it puts at risk the National Register listed historic buildings facing Lake Cliff Park as much larger multi-family units can be built on the sites since they are not part of the Dallas Landmark District. This threat is evidenced by a demolition permit recently issued by the City of Dallas for 834 Blaylock so that it may be razed for a larger multi-family structure. The two-story, brick-veneer building originally contained four apartments and was constructed in 1922.

In October, the Dallas Landmark Commission initiated the Landmark Designation process to expand the City of Dallas Lake Cliff Historic District to include those six properties facing the park and five others on Marsalis Avenue. The demolition permit issued for the structure at 834 Blaylock cannot be rescinded by the City of Dallas; however, there is still a chance for the others to be protected if the expansion of the Lake Cliff Landmark District is approved by the city. The district expansion is supported by both the Lake Cliff Neighborhood Association and Preservation Dallas as a way to protect the historic character of this important historic district in Oak Cliff.

UPDATE: The Landmark Commission initiated the Landmark Designation Process for the expansion of the Lake Cliff Historic District to include the properties on the National Register of Historic Places last year. However, the owners of those properties appealed the decision to the City Council and in early 2018 the Council overturned the decision of the Landmark Commission to initiate the designation process.