Hebron 121 Station: The Ugliest Apartments in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Does this make you feel like you're five minutes from the beach?
You’ll hear it said about some neighborhoods, almost always meant as a compliment: “It doesn’t feel like Dallas.”
Does this happen in other major cities? Do people feel a sense of pride in living someplace so unlike the rest of the area? Those aren’t rhetorical questions.
Usually I hear these statements made about quiet, tree-filled settings with an actual bit of hill-like topography, qualities rare on this flat plain we inhabit. But take a look at the image above of the Hebron 121 Station apartments. That doesn’t look like Dallas, either, does it? And as Steve Brown notes (behind the paywall) about the development in today’s Dallas Morning News: ”The colorful Caribbean-style architecture, resort landscaping and location on Denton County’s new commuter rail line has made the 90-acre development a hit with renters.”
I was not surprised to learn in Brown’s piece that Huffines Communities is responsible for the project, as they’re the same firm behind “resort living” and “Cape Cod-style homes” in landlocked Denton County. With Hebron 121 Station, they seem to have taken their building philosophy to another level. Given that they’ve got a waiting list for those dying to live in a flood plain former flood plain, and they’re going to build even more units, I guess there are plenty of people who believe more is better when it comes to palm trees in a parking lot. Just listen to this resident:
“My apartment faces the lake and fountains, and it’s got palm trees,” said Miller, a travel agent. “This is a great place for me because I love the beach and vacations.”
Yep. Nothing says “vacation home” better than an apartment complex next to a transit station near the intersection of two major highways in Lewisville.
I’m sounding snobby, aren’t I? I know, I know: different strokes for different folks. So why do projects like this gall me? As with the faux town squares discussed recently, it’s that they seem phony, inauthentic. And, as Christine Allison wrote in D Home last year about the popularity of palm trees in Dallas:
Is there a reason we are importing a dated marketing ploy? Can’t we just be us?
Exactly. Why have we got to pretend we live in the Caribbean? Can’t we just be us?
Then again, when it comes to authentic home design, who are we?
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16 comments
NO, NO we cant just be us. Dont you listen to city hall, we have to be world class, and to be world class we need to be more like other world class cities and less like what we are
Looks like something that would come up in the middle of an Arabian desert.
What could be more Dallas than a carefully manufactured habitat meant to appeal to people who’ve had their desires molded by a lifetime of lifestyle marketing?
I see they didn’t mention the breathtaking view of the landfill 3/4 of a mile away.
There is no “us” in Dallas. Dallas is becoming more and more full of people who aren’t from here. They’re transplants with their own idea of what culture and community look like. It’s not necessarily a bad thing except that many of these newcomers aren’t ready to embrace Texas culture. They want their In-N-Out Burgers and their Trader Joe’s. The housing styles just reflect peoples’ preferences.
Is there a template for what we’re supposed to look like instead? It’s heartbreaking to read about market forces catering to what customers want.
Wanna see what Far East Dallas looks like? Come on over to Goodfriend. Hang out with the small business owners, artists,teachers, bikers, writers, and neighborhood folks and their kids and dogs, enjoying the new Great Divide or Stone on Rotator.
Chris,
It’s only a matter of time before that landfill is converted into an entertainment area ; ). I wonder what the residents are going to think of the smell when the wind blows a certain way?
I actually think it looks cool.
If you dig that Disney World timeshare look.
Does DFW have a rule that all housing should look like brick boxes? Kudos to the developers for offering something different and unique.
Send us a picture after the next ice storm so we can see what dead Caribbean palm trees look like.
I like the picture. It looks like they have more original poolside seating than most other complexes. Give me a parking lot shot and then it would probably look the same as other complexes, the frou frou detailing w/ the columns works…at least it distinguishs from other complexes a bit. It reminds me of the senior citizens’ complex over by Cowboy Stadium, I would love to stay there but its for oldsters only.
Really D! Your writers need a little geography and municipal boundary lesson: this location is not in Dallas proper. It’s the city of Lewisville, Denton County – totally different just ask the taxpayers, commissioners and city councils of both cities. They will all tell you there’s a big difference.
Are u kidding me? I am living at this place and it is by far the nicest place I have ever lived! Noone who has visited in person could possibly be have a negative take on this first class place!
Why do you all care so much what we (I am a resident) like? It’s a nice, quiet, new community with a unique design. I don’t see the problem with that. Until you have visited this place yourself, talked to the residents and seen ALL of what the community has to offer, you sound pretty ignorant.