On Location: Preston Villas, Dallas

Text and Photography by Laci King

It’s not surprising that most of Preston Villas’ new residents come through resident referrals and word of mouth. Manager Vivian Pereira’s friendly smile demonstrates that the focus at Preston Villas is on fostering community spirit. The staff take pride in helping residents with walking their dogs and computer troubleshooting—and the feeling is mutual. One couple, who are long-time residents, surprised Vivian and her team with a special breakfast to show their appreciation.

Preston Villas boasts a prestigious location with great schools in the Plano school district, close proximity to shopping and easy access to highways and bus lines. The floor plan sizes are comparable to most homes in the area. A resident since 2005, Tom Ovesny enjoys the community’s beautiful landscaping, well-manicured park, tennis court, barbecue area and swimming pool. Ovesny likes his short commute to work, but one of the main reasons he chooses to call Preston Villas home is simply because he “loves the management. If they weren’t so nice, I wouldn’t be here.” This community has a heart as big as Texas.

Location: Dallas

Owner: Westdale

Property Manager: Vivian Pereira

Developer: Summers Investments

Architect: Spain-Ayres & Associates

Year Built: 1980

Features/Amenities: Pool/jacuzzi, tennis court, covered parking, full-size washer/dryer connections in every apartment, wood floors in some units, black appliance package (in some units), brushed nickel fixtures and two-tone paint

Occupancy: 98 percent leased

Number of Units: 176 one-, two-, and three-bedrooms plus villas

Rent range: $680 to $940