Sanctuary Studios is the Church/loft conversion of the historic Mary King Memorial Church located in the developing North Oaklawn / Maple Springs area of Dallas. The 6300 square foot structure consists of two large lofts ideal for use as offices, live/work space, artist studios, or upscale living.
The brick buildings sit on a half-acre corner lot which was originally part of the 280-acre Alfred King Lucas homestead and farm. The chapel was constructed in 1927 at a stop on the Katy Railroad, which used to run north up Fairmount Street from downtown Dallas. It is one of the oldest buildings in the vicinity, a landmark whose lawn is still bordered by the original rose-lined wrought-iron fence on the Kings Road and Fairmount street-fronts and is ornamented with large magnolia, crepe myrtle and mulberry trees.
The property has been updated with an automatic drive-through gate, 2 walkthrough gates, 8 on-site secured parking spaces, ample exterior lighting, a pet-friendly enclosed backyard, and an intercom for guest entry. The year-and-a-half long renovation was completed in 2003, and was the brainchild of owner Lee Emmert, a photographer and professor who now resides in the Pacific Northwest.
2,600 square feet
hardwood floors
pressed tin ceilings
2 large bedrooms/offices
1.5 baths
2,000 square foot open studio area
14 foot ceilings
elevated open kitchen
large tile kitchen island
Viking double-oven and gas cooktop
two exterior entrances
14 large windows
double-paned frosted glass
large closets
utility room
locking stainless steel storage units
vintage metal cabinets
cast-iron ceiling fans
pedestal bathroom sinks
12 large “schoolhouse” light fixtures
two chandeliers
solid wood-plank antique doors
14-inch crown molding
floorplan
3,500 square feet
glossy stained concrete floors
5 vaulted skylights.
6 large separate rooms
3 full baths
2,000 square foot open studio area
11.5 foot insulated open-rafter ceilings
large open full kitchen
vintage metal cabinets
gas double oven and cook top
3 exterior entrances
opens onto the enclosed backyard
double-doors loading entrance
large casement windows
doublepaned frosted glass
walk-in closets
sizable utility room
cast iron ceiling fans
recessed lighting
solid-core doors
tiled bathrooms
hardwood molding
floorplan
Last year a developer purchased a huge, recently cleared parcel of land directly across the street from SANCTUARY for $10.4 million. Just got a letter from the city—word is that they’re proceeding with condo development!
CITYVILLE residential/retail development at the Southwestern Medical District is complete! Spokespeople for the owner (General Electric’s real estate arm) say “We think is increasingly going to be in the path of growth in Dallas…and be well positioned over the next few years to capture a lot of growth…targeted to a younger, hipper demographic.”
DART’s new GREEN LINE is happening! It’s being constructed to run northwest from Fair Park and Deep Ellum through Downtown and up to Love Field. The line basically parallels neighboring Maple Avenue and stops at both Market Center and the Medical District…three blocks from SANCTUARY!
forwardDallas!, (in conjunction with the Southwestern Medical District) is planning the development of an 8 acre park connecting Motor Street to the Katy Trail! We’ve been smiling about this, as it would bring the neighborhood full circle: long ago the Katy Trail Rail line used to run right down Fairmount Street and stop at the church.
Urban Lofts has finished up a new townhome development two doors down from the church, priced at $120/ft.
Hawthorne Residences paid $4.8 million for land on our Cedar Springs corner and spent 2008 constructing 150,000 square feet of residential living.
