Any advantages to Richardson over Plano? (Dallas, Arlington: apartment, neighborhoods, buy)

[TheOverdog]

Richardson has the most poorly timed traffic lights in the metroplex which draws my hate. I used to live in N Dallas and take Campbell to the east side of 75. Every light would always turn red as you would roll up to it, and half weren't actual intersections but just entries into neighborhoods. You could see the light 100 yards ahead turning green as yours turned red. It took 30 minutes to go like 8 miles! I still hate the place due to that, and figure if a city can't get traffic lights even sort of right, then alot of other goverment services are probably poorly done as well.

Also the downtown area west of 75 on Arapaho (maybe) by the city hall place, the road was one of the poorest in DFW in terms of pot holes and generally poor maintenance. They also bulldozed a cool secret offroad area off E Lookout where some of the original settlers of Collin County were buried to build decent but generic hiking/biking trails.

So Plano beats Richardson in my opinion.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

Richardson has the most poorly timed traffic lights in the metroplex which draws my hate. I used to live in N Dallas and take Campbell to the east side of 75. Every light would always turn red as you would roll up to it, and half weren't actual intersections but just entries into neighborhoods. You could see the light 100 yards ahead turning green as yours turned red. It took 30 minutes to go like 8 miles! I still hate the place due to that, and figure if a city can't get traffic lights even sort of right, then alot of other goverment services are probably poorly done as well.

I know I always factor traffic light timings into my major real estate decisions.

Also the downtown area west of 75 on Arapaho (maybe) by the city hall place, the road was one of the poorest in DFW in terms of pot holes and generally poor maintenance. They also bulldozed a cool secret offroad area off E Lookout where some of the original settlers of Collin County were buried to build decent but generic hiking/biking trails.

Downtown Richardson isn't on Arapaho west of 75, it's on Belt Line/Main east of it. I drive Arapaho west of 75 pretty regularly and I haven't seen any potholes at all. I'm also not aware of any burial sites being bulldozed but even if it's true, Richardson certainly wouldn't be the first or the only city in north Texas to do something like that.

So Plano beats Richardson in my opinion.

No offense, but those are pretty stupid reasons to prefer Plano over Richardson.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

As someone who actually lives in one of the cities being discussed, I beg to differ.

As someone who used to live in Plano for over 15 years AND worked in Richardson 5 days a week, my opinion is just as valid as yours.

I live in McKinney now and can post objectively. Moderator cut: see comment

We get it, you like Richardson...

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

As I've mentioned many times, most of those lists have a cut-off of 250,000 people or more, which means Richardson and the overwhelming majority of other suburbs nationwide are not included.

As Big D has stated, those lists are done with different criteria over the years. And yes, McKinney got #5 very recently. However, I've been in the Plano area since 1986, and they've won accolades for decades now, since the days when they were <100k people. It's not a fluke, they simply have a helluva lot going for them. Richardson is not a bad area by any means. But to look at this objectively, there are few reasons why anyone would choose Richardson over Plano, which is the purpose of this thread.

[TheOverdog]

unless you're talking about big box store locations...which many of us in Richardson can do without quite nicely, thank you, and Plano can also keep its metric ton of chain restaurants.

So apparently Coit Road/Campbell is not a part of Richardson anymore? Richardson doesn't have any big box stores or chain restaurants except for all the ones it does have. Mine may be stupid, but yours are straight up incorrect. And Richardson added only 8k people between 2000 and 2010, which is a lower growth rate than Garland, so more people than just me feel there are things that could be improved. There are actually things I like about Richardson (actual bike lanes, the development on Campbell near 75 is intelligent for example), but if a city is going to actively anger me as I drive through there, I'm probably not going to be compelled to move there when looking for a house.

[Debsi]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

So apparently Coit Road/Campbell is not a part of Richardson anymore? No big box stores or chain restaurants there. Mine may be stupid, but yours are straight up incorrect.

Actually most of those stores are on the Dallas side of the street.

But yes we have big box stores in Richardson. Just not nearly as many.

[Johnhw2]

I live in Plano and commute to Irving to work. I live in West Plano, and really like Plano. The commute to west Irving isnt bad the times I go. I now drive leaving at 7am and come home at 4-430 departure time. 30-40 minute commute which isnt bad by my standards.

[Lakewooder]

In my area big box stores are not considered an amenity...

[busterkeaton]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

In my area big box stores are not considered an amenity...

Wow, you must be the coolest kid in school

[EDS_]

We lived in Richardson years ago. We lived in Plano for 16 yrs.

Richardson Pros:
For a suburb it feels like a small stand alone city
Lots of awesome neighborhoods - newer and older
J. J. Pierce High School
A lot of mom and pop stores and restaurants - a big plus IMO
Proximity to work centers and Dallas
Lots of ethnic diversity - to me a good thing
Pretty easy to get in and out of town

Richardson Cons:
Some run down areas
One exceptionally crappy high school
Richardson Police Department - lots of 3 mph over tickets etc.
As mentioned earlier - un-timed traffic lights
A slow growth city that is near the rebuild or retrench inflection point


Plano Pros:
Center of wealth and commerce
Many great neighborhoods
Three excellent Sr. High Schools
Really good shopping opps.
Fabulous roads
Excellent police/fire and garbage services
Solid parks and recreation opps.
Loads of excellent restaurants
Lots of opps for wine and beer drinking


Plano Cons:
Lean on arts - residents foolishly failed to vote in bond monies to fund a symphony hall and art showplace 5/6 years ago
Horrible traffic in spots - Tollway at Park, Preston at Park, Legacy at Preston and other intersections leap to mind
Too many apartments
Highly transient population
A little faux-glam for me. I like The Shops at Legacy but give me Preston Royal or Snider Plaza anytime.

If I had to chose between the two I'd pick Plano.