Casa Linda Estates – Dallas, Texas
Casa Linda Estates, or simply Casa Linda is a neighborhood in east Dallas, Texas (USA). It is situated south and east of White Rock Lake and south of Garland Road (SH 78). It is in Dallas Council District 9.
The neighborhood features half-acre and larger, tree-lined estates along winding roads. Residents are close to White Rock Lake, the Bath House Cultural Center, the Dallas Arboretum, and the Casa Linda Shopping Center.
A very short drive to Downtown Dallas from Casa Linda Estates
Situated less than a half mile from White Rock Lake, Casa Linda Estates is south of Garland Road and bisected by Buckner Boulevard. It is bounded by San Saba Drive on the west, Peavy Road on the east, and the S&P railroad track on the south. Most streets have Spanish names such as Tranquilla, Hermosa, and El Campo. Lots run from a half acre up to a few at 3 acres. Deed restrictions allow a resident to have 2 horses per acre. The neighborhood has a country feel to it but also a very short drive to downtown Dallas.
It has beautiful mature trees and a multitude of architectural styles such as modern contemporary, traditional ranch, Greek revival, Spanish colonial, and minimal traditionalist. Casa Linda has an active neighborhood association with many activities such as movies in the park, a garden tour, crime watch, and plant sale. Casa Linda shopping center is within walking distance with many restaurants, grocery shopping, and other merchants.
The History of Casa Linda Estates Neighborhood
The area was known as Ola and Reinhardt before redevelopment as Casa Linda. Dallas annexed Reinhardt in 1948.
The 640-acre area was purchased by Carl Martin Brown and his wife Ida May James Brown on January 1, 1933, with a mortgage given in the amount of $5333.48 at 7% interest to the Chenault family that owned the land at that time.
In 1937, Carl had a full title search done of the land and found it had originally been awarded to Richardson Scurry for his participation in The Battle of San Jacinto. Mr. Scurry was not allowed to sell, so upon his death, it was sold for 1,000.00 dollars by his attorney in fact to another W, Heedle. Over 100 years the land went from owner to owner till it ended up in Carl’s hands.
Chili’s and El Fenix Restaurant at Casa Linda Estates Neighborhood
The Browns turned their family farm into homes called Casa Linda Estates and a shopping center called Casa Linda Plaza, though a few vacant lots remained until the early 1960s for future homes, and the last store to be built in Casa Linda Plaza was a Kroger grocery built in 1971. The architectural styles of the homes vary, and some excellent examples of Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture can be found in the area and also the shopping center. Howard D. Brown loved the Spanish language and named all the streets using Spanish words.
The area is heavily treed, and most homes display well-kept and in some cases elaborate landscaping, many have servant’s quarters built in the back of the property that today can be used for rentals or guest accommodations. The Brown Family created a place where all items for everyday needs could be purchased in Casa Linda Plaza with schools and a firehouse nearby.
The Brown family owned the shopping center till Howard D. Brown decided to sell it in late 1978 due to leukemia. Howard Brown’s daughter, Beverly Ann Brown Heart, was a home builder in Dallas, Richardson, Garland, and Rockwall Texas, continuing till the mid-1980s the family tradition of building. As of 2015, Casa Linda is still going strong with new tenants like Chili’s restaurant along with old tenants like El Fenix Restaurant which has been there since mid mid-1950s.