Dallas' Only Daily brings word this afternoon that three of Deep Ellum's most historic properties -- all of which were converted into apartments in the last decade -- have been "quietly" snapped up by Westdale Property Management. Turns out, the company that's done a lousy job of tending to perhaps the most historic building in Deep Ellum, the Knights of Pythias Temple, is now the proud owner of the Continental Lofts at 3311 Elm Street, the Murray Loft Apartments at 3401 Commerce Street and the Farm & Ranch Lofts at 3300 Main Street. Westdale already owns a handful of downtown apartment properties, including the Adams Hat Lofts on Canton and the Elm Street Lofts on Commerce.
The News doesn't say how much Westdale paid Henry S. Miller Commercial for the buildings -- only that "the properties' historic status and a shortage of parking at one of the buildings were sticking points for some potential buyers." Guess this is as good a time as any to point out a new apartment complex going up in Deep Ellum: The Ambrose, at the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and Indiana Street. Says the Friend of Deep Ellum who lives downtown and sent us the link yesterday, "I start to get the feeling they hire that same SMU student to keep drawing all these West Village-ish images." --Robert Wilonsky
