Cedar Springs Place
Why it's listed
Cedar Springs Place is a public housing complex in Dallas made up of 28 one- and two-story buildings containing 182 units. Built in 1936-1937, it is arranged symmetrically around a central open space called "The Mall," with parallel alley streets and a cross axis dividing the site into identical quadrants. The buildings are reinforced concrete block with stucco finish, flat concrete roofs, steel casement windows and cast stone sills, and almost no ornament. It was one of only 51 Public Works Administration low-income housing projects in the country, and the first in Texas and west of the Mississippi. A group of Dallas architects led by Walter Sharp, who were also working on the Texas Centennial buildings at Fair Park, chose the International Style, which was new to the region. The design drew on European mass-housing ideas of light, air and green space. Despite some deterioration, the complex remains intact and shows 1930s housing reform and planning ideals.
Significance in brief: It was one of only 51 Public Works Administration low-income housing projects built nationwide and the first in Texas and west of the Mississippi River. It reflects New Deal housing reform and community planning (Criterion A). Its early use of the International Style by a group of well-known Dallas architects led by Walter Sharp is significant under Criterion C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91001901, listed December 30, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2531 Lucas Dr., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | December 30, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001901 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1935-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Walter Sharp and the Centennial architects (see text) |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some buildings show deterioration, but the complex is described as intact and retaining its original architectural and open-space planning integrity. It is still used as public housing. |
| Acreage | 12.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.81404, -96.82092 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91001901.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107322050
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.