Lake Highlands gives East Dallas its own take on the gayborhood
Tapani, Sassano and one of their four-legged ‘children’ find the Lake Highlands area gay-friendly, affordable and topographically unique for Dallas. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Life+Style Editor
Part of the fun of urban exploration — as far as home-buying is concerned — is discovering the hidden gem. Once a neighborhood like Oak Lawn or Oak Cliff is widely known as gay-friendly or funky or affordable, some of those (especially the affordable part) stop being the case. That’s why David Sassano and Don Tapani are only now willing to tell everyone that they got in on the ground-floor.
The name “Lake Highlands” probably does not conjure up fantasies of a gay enclave, but the East Dallas neighborhood (roughly northeast of White Rock Lake around Northwest Highway) has been a perfect fit for the couple.
Tapani bought the house in 2009, having moved away from the Lakewood area. That was before he and Sassano met; within a year or so, the two moved in together, and have lived a suburban dream since.
“I like that Lake Highlands is not as busy as Lakewood — the traffic, the noise, etc. — yet it is just as close to White Rock Lake and the Arboretum,” Tapani, an account manager in the television industry, says. “Your real estate investment will go much further here, rather than in a lot of neighborhoods that have historically appealed to LGBT buyers.”
And it’s well-situated for easy access to Downtown, NorthPark Center, Fair Park and LBJ, he notes.
Tapani isn’t the only one to have noticed this.
Tapani and Sassano added ‘a gay touch’ by expanding the master suite, above, and decorating it will furnishings and art that reflected their tastes, and melded with the mid-century style of architecture. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)
“I’ve been surprised by the amount of gays that do live in, or are moving to, Lake Highlands,” says Brian Bleeker, a Realtor with experience in the market here. “Many gay [home- buyers] have chosen to pack up shop and head across the lake.”
“East Dallas is now where Oak Cliff was five years ago, with regards to new restaurants, independent shops and available services,” says Sassano, who previously lived in Oak Cliff, where he “enjoyed the uniqueness of the community.” And, like the ‘Cliff, “the neighborhood is very affordable and gay-friendly.
“There is a great mix of gay and lesbian homeowners scattered throughout the area,” he says. “We have ethnic and age diversity, and there are several gay-owned businesses located nearby that the neighborhood has embraced and supported.”
Unlike Oak Cliff, the homes tend to be dominated by more mid-century and fewer pre-war styles.
“I would describe our home as an urban ranch with mid-century influences,” Tapani says. “The homes in our immediate neighborhood were built in the mid-’50s to late-’70s.
There are numerous mid-century modern homes in the area that are very affordable. The square footage can range between 1,600 to 3,500, depending upon when the home was built.”
“That’s a big, big gay deal,” smiles Bleeker, who says gay buyers are drawn to the architecture and the price point, which he calls “just a smidge less than in-town neighborhoods.” Prices span $200–$400K. “I find these [age] homes also require a little bit less maintenance than historical neighborhoods containing ’20s, ’30s and ’40s construction of the intown markets. The energy efficiencies of post-1950s is a completely different ball game as well.”
Of course, that didn’t mean Tapani and Sassano didn’t bring “the gay touch” in personalizing their home. When Tapani bought their home, which was still lived in by the original owner, he made tons of improvements, from expanding the master suite by removing a wall and constructing an add-on. The backyard was re-landscaped, and they filled in with the kinds of furnishings and artwork they and their three “children” (all four-legged) enjoy. The elements all work together in creating a traditional style that feels integrated and organic.
It’s not just the structures but the environment that appeals to many residents. Indeed, Lake Highlands is about as rolling as you’ll find in Dallas north of the Trinity.
“Our heavily treed street is situated between two creeks providing us with a topography not found in most parts of Dallas,” says Tapani.
“We have spent many summer nights at the Arboretum attending outdoor concerts, riding our bikes around the lake, walking the dogs in the neighborhood, meeting friends for cocktails at the local beer gardens, and much, much more,” Sassano says. “We don’t see ourselves leaving the area anytime soon.”
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 7, 2014.
