2727 Shelby Ave J
Dallas, TX 75219

Oak Lawn is a vibrant, culturally rich neighborhood just north of downtown Dallas—about a 12 sq mi area officially designated as Dallas Planned Development District No. 193 Architecturally Significant Homes+13Wikipedia+13Visit Dallas+13. Known as the city’s “gayborhood,” it has been home to a thriving LGBTQ+ community from the mid-20th century onward, including Texas’s first gay bar (Club Reno in 1947), the state’s inaugural Pride Parade in 1972, and landmark bars like Sue Ellen’sDallasites101+3cityofdallaspreservation.wordpress.com+3cityofdallaspreservation.wordpress.com+3.

🏡 Housing & Demographics

• A mix of upscale high‑rise condos and apartments on McKinney Avenue and Turtle Creek, alongside historic single-family homes and Tudor cottages in areas like Oak Lawn Heights and Perry HeightsVeryApt+12Wikipedia+12Architecturally Significant Homes+12.

• Median home values range between roughly $410 K and $465 K, with rents around $1.7K–$2.2K .

• Population: around 36 900–50 800 (estimates vary depending on inclusion of Uptown)YouTube+5Dallasites101+5Dallas Voice+5.

🌳 Lifestyle & Amenities

• Ranked the third most walkable neighborhood in Dallas, with great access to local retail, dining, and bars Visit Dallas+7Redfin+7Redfin+7.

• Parks & Trails: Turtle Creek’s Reverchon Park (est. 1915), connected to the 3.5‑mile Katy Trail—ideal for strolling and recreation Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1.

• Nightlife & Community: Lively LGBTQ+ venues along Cedar Springs Road, including Station 4, Sue Ellen’s, JR’s, Woody’s, the Round-Up Saloon, and drag shows at the Rose Room Wikipedia+5Visit Dallas+5VeryApt+5.

🎉 Festivals & Events

• Hosts Dallas Pride (Alan Ross Freedom Parade) each September, a Halloween Block Party, Purple Party weekend, and more—all cornerstones of the neighborhood’s community spirit Wikipedia+2Visit Dallas+2D Magazine+2.

🏛️ History & Architecture

• Settlement began in the 1870s, surrounded by oak and cedar trees and natural springs; important early structures include the 1874 Methodist church and 1909 fire stationcityofdallaspreservation.wordpress.com+1cityofdallaspreservation.wordpress.com+1.

• Redeveloped significantly in the 1980s, transforming historic “Little Mexico” into high-rise condos, offices, and hotels Wikipedia.

🙋‍♂️ Resident Insights

From r/Dallas:

“Gorgeous neighborhood… overall it’s a wonderful area, perfectly located close to everything… almost makes Dallas feel like a small town. And as a member of the lgbt community, I wouldn’t be in Dallas if not for Oak Lawn.” D Magazine Neighborhoods+2Reddit+2Visit Dallas+2

📊 Quick Niche Ratings

• A + overall

• A + for nightlife, diversity, health & fitness, commuting

• C‑ish for housing costs and schools .