Ebby Halliday, Inc. CFO Ron Burgert brings agents up to speed on Q1 results
“Over the past six months, the firm has seen an 8% gain year-over-year in sales volume, and units sold are up more than 9%,” Burgert said. “No small wonder, when 1,000 people a day are moving into Texas.”
The forecast looks strong well into next year, he also predicted. Hardly status quo in the typical sense, and yet very much “status quo” for this dynamic Ebby company!
Up next was John Crawford, President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc., a private non-profit organization serving as the primary advocate and champion for Downtown. Crawford spent his time encouraging the group by citing dream after impossible dream that has been realized in our beloved city. He started with an anthemic video entitled “A City Is a Poem,” which artfully captured how much Dallas has changed.
John Crawford. President and CEO of DowntownDallas, Inc., speaks to Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate agents at their quarterly meeting
“We have successfully transitioned from a one-dimensional central business district to a multidimensional “Live, Work, Play” community, in every sense of the phrase,” Crawford said.
And he should know. He has served on the planning committee since its inception more than 30 years ago, so he has witnessed firsthand and been a critical player in how Downtown Dallas has blossomed — seemingly overnight to anyone still saddled with the misguided perception that nothing’s going on down there.
Today it’s is the only true urban center in North Texas, Crawford continued.
“Every possible existing building has been adapted for residential living — some 10,000 people now live Downtown — and we’re at a point where all that’s left to do is build. The demand will certainly support this,” Crawford said. (See Burgert’s jaw-dropping relocation statistic above.)
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate agents gather for their quarterly breakfast meeting at the Dallas Country Club
Since 2007, $5 billion has been invested in Downtown, he continued, and $3 billion more will be spent over the next five years. Within the 15 neighborhoods that make up the area, more than 90 developments are currently underway, including 5,000 residential units to be added, plus 60 restaurants and 40 parks and greenspaces/plazas. The current residential inventory is 90% leased. Staggering!
Areas for improvement, he added, include walkability, car/bike sharing programs and convention business. DART has played a huge role in making life without a car even a consideration – it’s now the largest light rail network in North America. And Downtown already has 70 bike racks to help make the bike-share idea come to pass. ZipCar is already here, but could be doing better. Crawford also indicated that if the bullet train to Houston raises full funding, the station would be just south of Downtown – another coup for the city. Convention Center improvements would also further enhance our economy, and are in the works.
“All in all, there’s much to be proud of,” Crawford said. “We’ve made a lot of progress on our strategic plan, but there will always be more to do.”
Ebby CEO Mary Frances Burleson concluded the meeting with an anecdote from a recent trip. At a recent Realty Alliance gathering, she said brokers from across the country expressed their envy of us and our relocation business.
“It’s a great time to live in Dallas. We all need to keep planning ahead, just like John and his team have done, and we’ll be alright.”
Over the last two decades, Dallas has been gradually gaining (much-deserved) respect and recognition for having a sophisticated arts-and-culture scene. A team of city planners, corporations and private citizens had the foresight and conviction to invest billions, along with personal blood, sweat and tears, toward ensuring new world-class facilities would attract world-renowned artists, musicians, performers and exhibits here for our enjoyment and education. And attract they have.
The realization of their goal has encouraged other artrepreneurs to dream big, and several organic offshoots have sprung up over the last few years. One of those is the Dallas Art Fair. Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate is proud to support this premier collectors’ market, now in its eighth year.
Dave Perry-Miller, Terri Provencal (editor of Patron Magazine) and Kenneth Walters, at a Dallas Art Fair Sponsors Reception hosted by Eiseman Jewels
The event was originally the brainchild of Dallas developer John Sughrue and art dealer Chris Byrne. And over its relatively short lifespan, it has helped stoke a growing citywide appreciation for visual arts. Nearly 100 exhibitors will be making their way to Dallas this week from as far away as Sao Paolo, Dubai and Antwerp, bringing with them paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photography, video and installations by modern and contemporary artists. Thirty galleries participated in the inaugural version, so it’s easy to see with tripled numbers, that this city now has an insatiable appetite for art!
Rachel Lee Hovnanian’s “Perfect Baby Showroom” installation :: Leila Heller Gallery, New York and DubaiJulian Hoeber’s ‘Rotational Symmetries, Decayed and Stacked, 2016’ :: Jessica Silverman Gallery, San FranciscoLes Rogers’ ‘Star Star’ 2016 oil on canvas : : Makebish Gallery, New York
Last night, Kenneth Walters and Karel Schweitzer demonstrated the elegant lengths Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate agents go to in marketing properties of character and quality on behalf of clients. The team invited colleagues from within the firm and from other high-end brokerages to the top floor of the One Arts Plaza, timing the event for the evening sunset — with great effect! The unit’s 62′ x 10′ west-facing terrace views overlook the Dallas Arts District and Downtown Dallas, so Mother Nature had some stiff competition as she did her nightly show.
Hosts of the One Arts Open House: Kenneth Walters and Karel Schweitzer
Guests arrived to valet services, and were escorted upstairs to the exquisitely appointed 2/2 unit to mingle and sample champagne, wine and a catered spread in a magazine-worthy environment. By design, the experience gave attendees a glimpse into the home’s first-class entertaining potential, which they could then convey first-hand to any client prospects.
(L-R): Remington Reece, Top Producers Sharon Quist and Chad Schulin
(L-R) Charme Gallini, Frada Sandler, Gaynelle Henger(L-R) Top Producer Chad Schulin, Founder Dave Perry-Miller
1717 Arts Plaza #2303 represents the very best available on the residential side of the Lionel Morrison-designed mixed-use tower — and quite possibly in all of downtown. Previous owners tweaked the formerly two-unit, 3,000-square-foot penthouse to include state-of-the-art technology, custom-made everything and the world’s only full-height, all-laquer Bulthaup kitchen. It’s truly the pinnacle of luxury, and is priced accordingly at $2,750,000.
Modern high-rise penthouse condominium at One Arts Plaza, 1717 Arts Plaza, Dallas, TexasModern high-rise penthouse condominium at One Arts Plaza, 1717 Arts Plaza, Dallas, Texas
Modern high-rise penthouse condominium at One Arts Plaza, 1717 Arts Plaza, Dallas, Texas
Modern high-rise penthouse condominium at One Arts Plaza, 1717 Arts Plaza, Dallas, Texas
To schedule a private showing of One Arts Plaza, contact Kenneth at 214-923-3297 or kenneth@daveperrymiller.com.