Distinctive Property: Quaint bungalow in Junius Heights with a jungle oasis in the backyard
It hasn’t always been easy to discover the charm and character of 5904 Junius St. The quaint Junius Heights bungalow was built in 1920, and nearly 70 years later, the home has fallen into disrepair, says listing agent Nida Faith. “It was one of the worst houses in the 5900 block of Junius.” Dallas Morning News Written in January 1997. Neighbors Carl and Jana Braddick, who had recently finished updating their house, decided to restore it. The couple spent nearly a year renovating the house and adding HVAC systems. Nine months later, they “transformed the ugly place into a charming 1920s bungalow,” according to the website. News.
The house has retained this charm ever since. “There’s a kind of magic here,” Faith says. The house has a large front porch with a “cool” hammock and original interior details, such as a fireplace and hardwood floors. She says there are windows everywhere, ensuring natural light enters every room. All that sun lightens the mood inside. “It’s a very happy, very comfortable atmosphere,” Faith says of the home.
The exteriors are absolutely charming. At some point in the house’s history, after the Bradyx family moved in, one of the owners installed a large swimming pool and waterfall in the backyard. The space is surrounded by greenery. The current owner added to the backyard forest with more plants and urns. The place is unexpected, an oasis in East Dallas, Faith says.
The Bradyx family’s efforts to save the bungalow became the norm in the neighborhood. Junius Heights, founded in 1906, is full of prairies, artisans, arts and crafts, and Tudor-style homes. It became a historic district in 2006. It is now one of the city’s largest historic districts, with about 800 homes. It has strict protection. Faith says it’s almost impossible to demolish a house here. You could get rid of it completely (see an example of a recently renovated Junius Heights home on next month’s AIA Dallas Tour of Homes), but tearing it down would have to pose a safety risk.
These rules provide safeguards for local homeowners who may be concerned about new buildings changing the look of their neighborhood, such as what is happening on some streets in the Park Cities.
“The amazing thing about the neighborhood is that you don’t have to worry about tearing down the house next door and building a huge mansion next to your tiny house,” she says.
Scroll through the gallery to learn more about the home, but don’t get too attached, the home is already under contract.
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Katherine Wendlandt
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Katherine Wendlandt is the online assistant editor for d magazineLiving, Home and Garden blogs, covering all…
