Zodiac Apartments

Jim Lott Properties, LLC

Contact: Eddie Williams at Williams &Williams Property Management
email: ww 'dot' ranch 'at' yahoo 'dot' com
tel: 940-383-2712

Comfortable and Affordable
This is a great place to live and these are clean apartments with manicured lawns and no roaches. Laundry room onsite. Free covered parking available. Free UNT shuttle access is across the street and runs every 15 minutes. Shuttle takes you from the apartments to UNT school facilities (or restaurants, bars coffeshops and school things). Or the shuttle will take you to the town square where there are more restaurants, bars, coffee shops and an occasional free concert all in a 'Mayberry Meets the Modern World' type atmosphere. Then the shuttle picks up and takes you back home to the Zodiac Apartments. Even though Denton is an unbelievably safe city, the apartments are security cam monitored.

There is a courtyard and back patio with swing, lawnchairs, picnic tables with umbrellas if you like to study outside or just enjoy the outdoors.

The Zodiac Apartments have one of the more interesting histories of all off-campus apartments at the University of North Texas. Imagine the thought provoking 60's in all it's psychedelic glory.... A time when dreamers, coffee shop philosophers and an occasional university professor born too soon were inspired to experiment with life and spread their wings. Influenced by 'The 5th Dimensions' song 'Aquarius', a farfetched dream became reality. These 2500-08 West Hickory apartments were the second apartment building project of a bored, eccentric yet beloved NTSU (UNT) biology professor, Dr. James (Tad) Lott, and were completed in 1971. Managed by Dr. Lott's wife, Opal, never have there been a better partnership than these two WWII lovebirds. Tad was the brains and Opal the brawn and glue that kept the dream alive and intact. Tenants grew to admire and love Opal for her obvious pride and attention to detail she had for her properties. At that time at NTSU no professor had ever ventured away from the school and their livelihood to do something this challenging before. It was simply unprecedented. From 1969 to the early 80's, teaching anatomy/physiologyby day and taking lunch hours 'and breaks', 8plex by 8plex, Dr. Lott built his legacy. He never missed a beat with school and UNT legendary department chair boss Dr. JKG Silvey was actually impressed at Dr. Lott's ability to do it all and do it so well, with the help of Opal of course... The Zodiac Apartments comprised of several 8plexes in the area affectionately referred to by Dentonites as "Cement City'. The distinguishable buildings once spanned from Ave F to Charlotte St to Stella St to West Hickory St and West Oak St.

We took it for granted then but in retrospect Dr. Lott stretched the boundaries of what a college professor could be involved with and still do research, lectures, labs and international travel. He was truly an extraordinary person and we the family, Opal included, just held on for the ride.

Dr. Lott and wife Opal are gone now but the Lott Family, instilled with the work ethic of their parents, still own and oversee their management. Stop by and look around. You will see the personal touches and care that create a warmth few apartments can offer.