Residential Renaissance

Frisco is a big city with a small-town heart and feel, and so much of its heart is deeply rooted in the area where it was originally settled. As the city continues to grow and thrive, a section of its historic downtown known as the Rail District is reinventing itself as residential and retail tenants flock there. According to the Heritage Association of Frisco, in February 1902, the Blackland Townsite Company held an auction and sold lots in the town, which was founded along the new railroad line built by the San Francisco and St. Louis Railway Company. The land was bound by what today is Walnut Street to the north, Ash Street to the south, John W. Elliott Drive to the west and North/South County Road to the east. The following month, a second auction was held during which lots in what was called the “Griffin Addition” were sold. Featuring many historical markers, and with some of the homes from that era still standing, the Rail District has been in a state of revitalization and rejuvenation over the past few years, following the Frisco Downtown Advisory Board’s plan to allow the area to evolve yet stay true to its roots. While Downtown Frisco’s Main Street boasts quaint boutiques and unique dining options, just off of the busy thoroughfare, homes new and old are playing a big role in the residential revival of the Rail District. “The Rail District has now become the most expensive per-square-foot real estate in all of Frisco,” said local Realtor® and downtown Frisco expert Matt Calloway. ”We have over 15 new homes being built in addition to many remodels by owners. Nack Development has invested over $50 million and has had 11 new business move here in 2020-2021 alone. It’s the heart of Frisco, and people want this area to be cool. We need it, as Frisco is often defined only by master-planned communities and strip (shopping) centers. Many people don’t realize, but we have almost 70 businesses that call the Rail District home.”
The Dow Baccus House
brOak StreetMr. Calloway and his family also call the Rail District home. They live in a historic home in the heart of downtown. According to the Frisco Heritage Association, on April 17, 1905, the Baccus family purchased three acres from the Blackland Townsite Company on which the house was built. Mr. Baccus, who served as the mayor of Frisco in 1911 and 1916, selected the lumber that was used to build the home, which featured cypress siding and coal-burning fireplaces. The 4,200-square-foot home, nestled on a half-acre lot, has four bedrooms and five bathrooms in addition to a guest house and a six-car garage. It stands majestically at the corner of Oak Street and South County Road, and boasts many characteristics of the Greek Revival architectural style.

About his family’s decision to move to the Rail District, Mr. Calloway said, “In 2012, we had a vision of this area being transformed into something like the Bishop Arts district or lower Greenville and the M Streets in Dallas. Since then, we’ve invested and live in the area. The lifestyle is why we love it. … We walk two blocks to restaurants and shops. We know everyone, and it feels like Mayberry.”The home has undergone a few renovations, but Mr. Calloway said he and his wife love its original aspects and have worked to preserve its historic appearance. They do plan to proceed with a major renovation this summer to bring its exterior up to perfection. “People stop by almost daily taking photos and asking about it. We Airbnb our guest house and meet so many wonderful people that truly get inspired by walking downtown and experiencing staying with us in the Rail District.” Mr. Calloway said he loves the lifestyle that the area provides. “Walking to restaurants, the murmur of live music, the big lots and trees, and realness and soul … you don’t get anywhere else in Frisco.” The Rogers House
brOak Street

Nick and Yvonne Brown weren’t necessarily looking to restore a historic home, but after making an offer on the house in September 2020, they learned of its significance. Though it does not have an official name, the Browns have nicknamed it the Rogers House, in honor of its first owner, Dr. I.S. Rogers. The home is set to receive a historic marker from the Heritage Association this month.According to the association, Dr. Rogers, one of Frisco’s most revered early residents and its first mayor, built the home after purchasing lots from the Blackland Townsite Company in February 1902. The Folk Victorian-style abode features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, a kitchen (with a separate utility room) and dining room, in addition to a wraparound porch with a large outdoor deck just off the living room. The 2,058-square-foot home is surrounded by a large yard with mature trees and enough parking to accommodate four cars. “Its excellent location in the heart of Frisco (is) close to shops, restaurants, coffee stores, but it’s also nestled in its own quiet corner amongst mature trees and gardens,” Mrs. Brown said. “I stand on the edge of 5th and Oak sometimes and just envision driving by in years to come, to see a family enjoying its yard in the Texas sunshine.” With the hope of preserving its historic look, Mrs. Brown says the home will very much appear the same on the outside once its restoration is complete. “The more we peeled back the layers on the inside, the more issues we found, mostly due to poor upkeep and severe termite damage throughout,” she said. “We have managed to salvage a lot of the original shiplap used to build it and will expose a feature wall of shiplap in each of the bedrooms. We are also keeping the stairs, bannister and four original internal doors, which will be refurbished and placed back into the home.”The process of restoring a historic home has been fascinating, she said. “Each time I walk through the home, I imagine the people who lived there, babies who were born into the home. Dr. Rogers’ daughter was married out of the home, and how they lived each day with none of the conveniences we have now and endured the crazy Texas weather. It’s a very special home for sure.”