Garland Downtown Historic District
52 buildings around the square, the oldest from 1897, two blocks from the Blue Line
The Garland Downtown Historic District is the National Register district around the city's square: 52 commercial and public buildings, the oldest dating to 1897, sitting two blocks from a DART Blue Line station. It is principally a commercial district rather than a residential one, and the residential opportunity in and around it is loft, apartment and mixed-use rather than detached housing. For a city better known for its industrial base, the square is Garland's most distinctive asset.
Price Range
Product-dependent: lofts and apartments around the square rather than houses, with older single-family in the surrounding streets from roughly $200K. Garland's citywide band is approximately $275K to $287K (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026). Ask for current availability with an as-of month.
Property Types
Lofts and mixed-use residential, Older single-family in surrounding streets, Commercial buildings
Year Built
Commercial buildings from 1897 onward; residential stock varies
HOA: Loft and mixed-use buildings carry association or condominium dues; surrounding older single-family streets generally have none. Confirm per address and read the association's financials for any attached product.
Schools
Garland is served by Garland ISD, and parts of the city by Richardson ISD and Plano ISD; verify by address
Commute & Access
DART Blue Line two blocks from the square · about 10 min to the President George Bush Turnpike · roughly 25 min to Downtown Dallas by rail
Highlights
What makes Garland Downtown Historic District stand out
- 52 commercial and public buildings on the National Register, the oldest from 1897
- DART Blue Line station two blocks away, so downtown Dallas is a rail trip
- One of the more intact historic squares in eastern Dallas County
- A walkable district with restaurants, civic buildings and the Plaza Theatre
- Garland's events and festivals centered here
- Genuine urban character at Garland prices
Best Fit
A buyer who wants walkability and rail access at the metro's lower price points, and who is comfortable with loft or mixed-use product rather than a detached house.
Nearby Amenities
- The Plaza Theatre and downtown Garland's arts venues
- Restaurants and independent businesses around the square
- DART Blue Line station
- Garland's civic buildings and public library
- City festivals and the downtown events calendar
- Lake Ray Hubbard within a short drive
Major Employers Nearby
- The City of Garland and Garland ISD
- Downtown Dallas via the Blue Line
- Garland's manufacturing and industrial base
- The Richardson Telecom Corridor
- Downtown Garland's own businesses
How Garland Downtown Historic District trades
The residential market in and immediately around the square is small and product-specific, and it depends heavily on the district's commercial vitality: downtown living works where there is something downtown. The Blue Line station two blocks away is a durable advantage that most comparably priced areas cannot offer. Detached housing in the surrounding streets is old and priced accordingly.
Check these before you offer
The trade-offs a listing will not mention. None of these are reasons not to buy here; they are the things worth pricing in.
- This is primarily a commercial historic district. Residential options are limited and are mostly attached product.
- Buildings of this age carry substantial maintenance obligations, and conversions vary widely in how thoroughly systems were replaced.
- Event weekends bring crowds and parking pressure to the district.
- Rail proximity means train noise; check the specific address at different times.
- Confirm the school district for the address, since Garland spans three.
Garland Downtown Historic District: Frequently Asked Questions
Can you live in downtown Garland?
How good is the transit here?
What is in the historic district?
Nearby
More Garland neighborhoods
- FirewheelGarland’s highest-priced address: golf-course lots on the Bush Turnpike$450K – $750K+
- Club Hill EstatesBig brick houses on real lots, minutes from Lake Ray Hubbard$300K – $450K
- CamelotThe Garland pocket where some streets are zoned Richardson ISD: check the address before you offer$280K – $450K
- Arbor CreekAn established Garland neighborhood with a registered associationRoughly $250K – $410K depending on plan and condition, around Garland's approximate $275K to $287K band (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026). Ask for current comps with an as-of month.
- Myers MeadowAn established Garland neighborhood with a registered associationRoughly $250K – $420K depending on plan and condition, around Garland's approximate $275K to $287K band (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026). Ask for current comps with an as-of month.
- OakridgeAn established Garland neighborhood with a registered associationRoughly $250K – $400K depending on plan and condition, around Garland's approximate $275K to $287K band (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026). The market softened across that window; ask for current comps with an as-of month.
- SpringparkAn established Garland neighborhood with a registered associationRoughly $260K – $430K depending on plan and condition, around and above Garland's approximate $275K to $287K band (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026). Ask for current comps with an as-of month.
- Travis College Hill Historic DistrictTwelve houses on 11th Street, listed on the National Register in 2017Effectively unquotable: twelve homes do not make a market, and individual sales here are rare and driven by condition and restoration quality. Garland's citywide band is approximately $275K to $287K (Redfin, readings between January and June 2026), which tells you little about this street. Ask Mali for the actual sale history.