How much has DFW changed? (Dallas, Fort Worth: to buy, schools, tax)

[GoneNative]

How much has the metroplex changed over the course of the last 10-15 years--in terms of culture, politics, lifestyle, pace of life, and overall character of the area? Is Dallas the same Dallas that it has always been, or has the massive influx of newcomers from across the country really changed the place in dramatic ways?

[Squirl]

I think its the same, the changes I notice are the effect of the recessionary times, not newcomers.

[Fillmont]

Originally Posted by GoneNative

How much has the metroplex changed over the course of the last 10-15 years--in terms of culture, politics, lifestyle, pace of life, and overall character of the area? Is Dallas the same Dallas that it has always been, or has the massive influx of newcomers from across the country really changed the place in dramatic ways?

While you would never mistake Dallas for an Urban Paradise, the last 10-15 years has shown a vast improvement in the availability and sustainability of more urban, dense living.

At the same time, more and more suburbs and exurbs have been filling up, so there is no shortage of that mode of living either.

So I'd say that Dallas has more options as to the types of lifestyle it can offer. I only hope that the urban core continues to densify, because Dallas still has plenty of suburban options, but we've been lacking in the urban department for decades now.

[Rakin]

The biggest change is the new Bush Tollroad, Oklahoma is now a suburb of Dallas and Ft Worth has a great downtown that's nicer than Dallas.

People are all the same, mixed with all kinds of cultures and diversity.

[ClarenceBodiker]

The Hispanic growth in population and influence on the region is probably one of the more noticeable things, too.

DISD is now an uber Hispanic majority. They are also dominant in many of the inner-ring burbs, too.

[hbdwihdh378y9]

Fillmont and Clarence covered the two biggest changes.

[BigDGeek]

IMHO it has changed a lot, and mostly not for the better. Really all that's better is the shopping. YMMV.

[ClarenceBodiker]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

IMHO it has changed a lot, and mostly not for the better. Really all that's better is the shopping. YMMV.

I don't know. I'd say there are plenty of good and bad things that have happened in the past 15 years. Both Dallas and Fort Worth are significantly stronger at their core than they were in the 1990's. Both cities are much less dangerous than they were in the 1990's, too.

On the other hand, sprawl and traffic are much worse. The sheer size and crowding of the metroplex has become almost unbearable. Way too many oversized suburbs.


I can't tell you if things are better or not than they were 15 years ago. Nostalgia is always more romantic than reality.

[Considering Coming Back]

Nothing has happened here that breaks national trends. The "inner city" (inside loop 12) is doing much stronger than 15 years ago. The exurbs are booming. The inner ring is struggling to deal with a declining tax base. The same as everywhere else

[TheRedTelephone]

Originally Posted by ClarenceBodiker

I'd say there are plenty of good and bad things that have happened in the past 15 years. Both Dallas and Fort Worth are significantly stronger at their core than they were in the 1990's. Both cities are much less dangerous than they were in the 1990's, too.

On the other hand, sprawl and traffic are much worse. The sheer size and crowding of the metroplex has become almost unbearable. Way too many oversized suburbs.

I can't tell you if things are better or not than they were 15 years ago. Nostalgia is always more romantic than reality.

Right on. Ever since "Old Dallas" and the original housing boom was laid to rest in the early 1990's, we've seen gradual expansion (roads/infrastructure/etc.) and a population increase. The recession of 2008 caused many folks to migrate here and bring their knowledge, money, diversity, and skills along with them. Overall mixed, but IMHO more good than bad. Especially now that Dallas is currently in the middle of a new boom. New money, new projects, renewed schools, slightly faster pace of living, more Fortune 500 HQ's than any other, and lots going on. Yet it still feels like Dallas. Particularly in classic 'burbs like HP, Lakewood, Bishop Arts, Oak Lawn, and up-and-comers like Cedars.

It's actually a great time to be here considering interest rates, inflation, and housing prices have remained stable (and low). I've been recommending to friends that now is the time to buy in. I haven't enjoyed "New Dallas" this much since, well, the days of "Old Dallas". Now if we could just alleviate the drought situation with some extra reservoirs...