Plano as the New Peoria--What's it really like? (Dallas, Austin: foreclosure, low crime)

[VPostrel]

I'm a Dallas-based writer working on an article for Texas Monthly about Plano as the "new Peoria"--an increasingly common touchstone example of the typical American city or (a slightly different thing) test market. I'd like to hear from people who've lived in Plano, or the general vicinity: What's your experience? What is Plano really like? There are plenty of stereotypes, some of which have popped up on these message boards, but which are true? What are the city's pluses? Its minuses? How has it changed (for better or worse) over the past 10 or 20 years? You can either post here, send me a private message here, or email me at vp-at-dynamist.com. Thanks very much,
Virginia

--
Virginia Postrel (vp-at-dynamist.com)
Author, THE SUBSTANCE OF STYLE and THE FUTURE AND ITS ENEMIES
Contributing Editor and "Commerce & Culture" columnist, The Atlantic
Columnist, Forbes

[curlytop]

Plano is fortified 12 ways, but without a lot of flavor. The settlers called it Plano because they thought it was the spanish word for "flat".

Good schools, parks are wonderful, good shopping, chain restaurants, low crime and affordable homes. Collin County has a very high level of educated people with masters and phds. Also has had the highest foreclosure rate in the country with the telecom corridor crumbling. If you want museums, haute cuisine, live jazz, etc, you come down to Dallas. If you want a bedroom community, this is a great place to raise kids with some caveats.

Competition amongst the students is very high, because in a school of thousands of students (with just 2 grades in it) your child doesn't get to participate unless they are the best. Everything in the school becomes a competition from reading books to drawing posters. And there is the issue of teaching for the TAS test...something all texas schools are dealing with. Perhaps the expectation of perfection, the glut of disposable income and the lack of parental constraint is why Plano was known as the teenage suicide capital in the 1980's and a heroin overdose center in the 1990's.

Overall, a great value for people wanting to live in the suburbs, quietly going to work and back home without interacting with their neighbors. Since moving to Dallas, I'm struck by the friendliness and community participation here vs. Plano. Guess people are too busy paying for their 2000 sq' homes and raising their kids to chat.

[VPostrel]

Thanks, Curlytop! Anyone else?
Virginia

[socketz]

I'm from Socal (OC and San Diego) and was suprised by how progressive and modern Plano (and all of Collin County) was when I was out there...

It almost felt like you could chop it out and stick it in the Southern part of CA and it would fit right in....

Aside from the 75, I thought what Texans call 'traffic' was almost cute compared to here.

The cons I saw....

Plano looks like old money in some parts....which is cool if your older and your kids are out of the house. For me, I was looking for strollers/bikes, etc. I didn't seem to see much of that in West Plano till I got to the area around Russell Creek.

If your looking for a more kid friendly area, I like Frisco->The Trails and McKinney->Stonebridge ranch.

I like Frisco better because there are about 15 geographic/infrastructure things going on that point to it being the next boom town in North Dallas. Also, if you live in the Denton County portion, your taxes are pretty low (%2.3) as opposed to a place like McKinney where they are 3%+

McKinney is really nice though.....I just worry about some of the shaky looking areas outside of Stonebridge Ranch (like El Dorado, with something like 50% owner occupation which means it's renter/flipper territory)

[afterglow]

Hey Virginia, I was raised in Plano, lived there for a total of 18 years. I'm now living in Austin, TX. I've been through the Plano school system, which was ridiculously competitive, to the point where college is much easier for me. I've lived in various places in Plano, and funny as it is to me, people of Plano would often decide your class on which part of the city you lived in. Plano had an extremely snotty side to it that really got to us as kids growing up there.

There are a great variety of shopping and many headquarters in Plano (EDS, JCPenney, Frito Lay, Dr. Pepper/7up). I have many feelings and opinions about growing up in Plano. I knew personally and met some of the kids that committed suicide and overdosed on heroin. There was actually an mtv special on kids and drugs in Plano when I lived there. Plano is an interesting city. I'm pretty glad I moved to Austin. You can pm or email me if you would like any more details.

[VPostrel]

Thanks to everyone who contacted me or posted here. The article is now out and can be read at http://www.texasmonthly.com/2006-12-....php?395614792 (password PLANO).
Virginia Postrel

[940]

It was an interesting and well written article. I noticed a few things that afterglow had mentioned in this forum that were included in the article so it was valuable to get a native's impression too. Thanks!

[duncan st clair]

"You can pm or email me if you would like any more details."

I'm considering moving to Plano and put my kids through the system.

I was considering Austin but didn't see the attraction.

Any reason for the move? Any advice or insight would be helpful.

[momof2dfw]

What are you looking for? Dallas/Ft Worth is huge and every area is different. Plano is a large city in itself as are many of the suburbs of Dallas. What does have Plano have that is a positive, well depending on if it is a positive to each individual that is : lots of restaurants, shopping, neighborhoods, etc. The price range of homes in Plano is wide. If you want the more fast paced Plano lifestyle then stay to the West of 75-Central closer to the Dallas North Tollway. If you want the Plano "system" but a slower pace of life away from all of the large strip shopping centers and mega corporate campuses look on the far east side of Plano out by Murphy. If your wanting a new home in the below $500K price range then the east side is where to look. If the age of the home is not an issue then you can find some newish existing homes on the west side.

The entire Dallas metroplex varies between cities greatly and it just depends on what you are after where you will be the happiest.

[socketz]

Curlytop,

I have a completely different view of Plano. Where do you live ? Plano is a very friendly upscale community IMO. All these negative views of Plano on here....makes me wonder if I just accidently stumbled into the only good spot within the city.