Carl F. Hess II, a 38-year-old portrait artist and award-winning high school art teacher, finds himself grappling with an emotional lump in his throat as he reflects on a dream he has nurtured in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas.
Yet, he wards off thoughts of despair, determined that the vision he has for his unique home at 1401 Seegar Street isn’t finished.
This five-story, gray-and-black house, often nicknamed by locals as the Beetlejuice house, stands out in the area, barely a mile from downtown Dallas.
Known for its shotgun-style architecture and odd aesthetics, the structure on Seegar Street has an unusual backstory, and so too does Hess’s journey to create a space for community and art.
Despite building the home, Hess lost ownership to a lender.
Nonetheless, he refuses to abandon his aspirations for the property.
His vision has included plans for a boutique hotel, an event space, and an art gallery focused on showcasing the work of underprivileged high school students.
However, his dreams were nearly crushed by a series of misfortunes, including financial challenges, interruptions in construction, a divorce, foreclosure, and even a court battle.
The Dallas Morning News took a deeper look into the saga of Hess and the home located at 1401 Seegar St., discussing the trials he faced and his enduring hope to eventually fulfill his vision.
“Giving up is not an option in my mind,” Hess told the news, emphasizing his unwavering passion for the project.
“The option for me is to complete the goal and display the work.
There’s a lot of passion behind this building.”
Few can say their home stands at the center of such a spirited struggle.
The current asking price for the unfinished property has been reduced to $629,000.
This detached four-story townhome boasts five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, sprawled across nearly 4,300 square feet.
A slight lawn, fenced in black, exists on a portion of the smaller 2,700-square-foot lot, with views of the Dallas skyline visible from the rooftop terrace.
However, to many observers, the building’s visual appeal remains questionable.
Some liken its odd, block-like formation to a child’s construction project, while others are concerned about its overall structural integrity and whether it meets inspection standards.
One resident, Ned Badir, expressed skepticism, saying, “I am not a huge fan of the house.
The bigger issue for me is I’m concerned if it passed inspection properly.”
William Baker, an established architect who has seen the property evolve over the years, shares a similar sentiment.
From his office across the street, he observed the building’s development from its inception.
He mentioned, “A lot of the Cedars is really old, and the platted lots are oddball shapes and different sizes, and that’s why we haven’t had a lot of big developers try to come in and build big things, because it’s too hard to assemble.
It’s all these little postage-stamp lots.”
Baker noted that while he appreciates the neighborhood’s unique character, the quality of construction in Hess’s home appears lacking.
“It does seem like (Hess) was building it with the least expensive materials available as a trade-off to maximize square footage,” he said.
He candidly added, “It’s a pretty damn ugly duckling, if you ask me, from an architectural standpoint.
The quality doesn’t seem to be there.”
City officials have verified that a permit was given for a four-story residence with a carport, and other inspections have been passed.
However, a final inspection has not yet been called.
The city spokesperson, Chalonda Mangwiro-Johnson, explained, “We cannot confirm whether there are any outstanding construction issues at this time.
Final inspections are a critical part of the process and must be completed before a final determination can be made.”
When Hess initially purchased the plot of land in Cedars back in 2018, he envisioned a serene family home.
He and his then-wife secured a loan exceeding $451,000 for the property, transitioning from a patch of grass intertwined with power lines to the site of the now-controversial home.
Hess, originally from Memphis, has long balanced his interests between the worlds of art and real estate.
He has painted portraits for several notable figures and taught art in local high schools.
After founding Chess Homes LLC in November 2018, he made the leap into real estate and purchased the land shortly thereafter.
As someone deeply attached to the neighborhood, Hess had planned to live nearby and build the home that now occupies Seegar Street.
However, as his family grew, he instead purchased a house in Forney.
His aspirations transformed alongside the construction of the home, evolving from a family dwelling to a space serving broader community purposes, including the potential for a boutique hotel and art gallery featuring works from his students.
During the early stages of construction, Hess took a hiatus to film an HGTV show with his then-wife.
The show, titled Moving Memphis, ultimately never came to fruition, leading to the couple’s split.
Just days after the divorce filing, the first materials for the home arrived at his doorstep.
Despite navigating the emotional and financial upheaval, Hess remains determined to see the project through.
After experiencing financial strain caused partly by the rising costs of materials during the pandemic, he found himself footing the bill for expenses that far exceeded his budget.
Working tirelessly, he juggled creating portraits by night and managing construction by day.
In May 2022, Hess transferred ownership of the property to Chess Homes, taking out a loan of approximately $532,300 against it.
In the ensuing months, he sought investors to further his ambitions; months turned into a year without success, ultimately resulting in his business inability to meet the loan obligations.
As a result, the lender took possession of the property.
Hess filed a lawsuit against Bay Mountain Fund, hoping to block the sale, but the case was dismissed when he did not appear for a court hearing.
Now, Hess faces the reality of his unfinished dream but continues to harbor hope.
He asserts that the lenders, although they now own the property, have maintained communication with him regarding his original vision.
Despite being listed for sale publicly, Hess believes there is still a chance to rally the project into a cohesive completion.
His hopes remain tied to the property as he envisions transforming not just 1401 Seegar St. but also the surrounding lots into a vibrant community hub.
“It’s more for me the passion behind it versus a piece of real estate,” he declared, emphasizing that his ambitions for this location have expanded beyond mere brick and mortar.
“This was bigger than a piece of real estate.”
image source from：dallasnews
