Built in 1969, the Fox Hills Apartment complex at 8783 Ferndale Road, just off Northwest Highway, has aged gracefully in a neighborhood where seemingly every corner is in the midst of tearing down old properties and building new ones.

In large part due to 18-year Resident Manager Ellen Beck, Fox Hills is a well-maintained property that emphasizes quality of life for the residents in its 178 units.

In fact, in the spirit of "keeping up with the Jones" (and the Prescotts and the American Brownfields), Ms. Beck has spent the last year overseeing some major improvements to the property, two of them focused on enhancing the safety of her residents.

New closed-circuit video monitoring cameras now allow her to monitor every area of the property from her laptop 24 hours a day, and new security gates have been installed that are locked between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Additional upgrades within the property include the resurfacing of the two sparkling pools, enhancements in the barbeque and picnic area, and a remodeled laundry room and main office area. Lake Highlanders might have also recently noticed the new retaining walls and landscaping that grace the main entrances to the complex off Ferndale Road.

Along with these updates to the property, Beck is well aware that being within RISD boundaries makes Fox Hills appealing to the roughly 25 Lake Highlands Elementary and Lake Highlands Junior High students and their families who live in the complex.

With monthly rents ranging from $460 for an efficiency to $995 for a 1,330 square-foot three bedroom, families on a tight budget can afford to live in a well-established neighborhood while enjoying the benefits of a Recognized School District. The complex's 94% occupancy rate bears that out.

Having the same Resident Manager for so long is also an asset to this community. Ms. Beck has a home in Ellis County where she spends her weekends, while during the week she stays on property in her one bedroom apartment. This affords her the opportunity to know her residents very well, and her soft lilting drawl belies her keen knowledge of her neighbors.

"We've got one couple who's been here 13 years with their two children, who are now 21 and 14," says Beck. "Another resident is 84 years old and moved in here one month before I came on board 18 years ago."

"Our oldest resident is 93 and still driving," she chuckles. "She parks right next to me every day and is as careful as can be."

Along with Beck's daily and nightly presence, there are also two Maintenance Engineers, one of whom has been with Fox Hills for 14 years and also lives on property. Both are available 24/7 for emergencies. Weekly landscaping service is provided by A Plus Landscaping, and judging by the well-manicured trees and shrubs, it's evident they take their work seriously.

Beck is quick to point out that the long history Fox Hills enjoys as a safe, affordable and well-maintained rental property has to do with good ownership.

As a holding of the Tipton Group, which owns properties in North Dallas, Mesquite, North Richland Hills, Bedford, Euless and Houston, owner Steve Burnett regularly visits his sole Lake Highlands property.

And, as further evidence of their successful management business model, Fox Hills has just received a score of 100% during its annual City of Dallas Apartment Inspection.

According to Beck, perfect scores among apartment complexes are extremely rare. "I very much thank my residents, my maintenance staff and the property ownership for all their hard work."

For more information about the Fox Hill Apartments, you can visit http://www.foxhillsapartments.com.