Plano: overcrowded? Opinions on Sunnyvale? (Garland, Mesquite: 2015, crime, tenants)

[TX75007]

Originally Posted by DaveG99

The traffic is pretty horendous though during rush hour. I refuse to drive anywhere from 5pm-6:30pm. The midway and Park area is crazy at that time. Especially if you are trying to drive east on Park.

One trick is Parkwood up to Windhaven then down Plano Road to Marsh. Parkwood is one of the best kept secrets to avoiding the East-West mess at Park/Parker & Tollway.

Once Nebraska Furniture Mart goes in, Windhaven will be as busy as Park.

[Grainraiser]

I have worked in Plano for awhile and I have never experienced long waits for any resaurants unless it was a holiday. I will say the same for grocery stores. Sunnyvale is a very nice community but the lifestyle there is much more laid back than the northern burbs. The schools are excellent but the enrollement is small by suburban standards. The entire district has 1,200 students. Plano West High School has over 4,000. You want find high end shopping or country clubs in the area. Most of your amenties will come from Mesquite or Garland and these areas are more blue collar than white collar. What you will get is a tight community and a large lot. Ray Hubbard lake and Rockwall is 5 minutes away. I would somewhat disagree with Sunnyvale not being centrally located. It is certainly closer to downtown than Plano and if you work in the northern burbs you can take the tollway from Sunnyvale to Plano with little traffic. Everyone knows about Plano/Frisco/Allen but few know much about Sunnyvale. Sunnyvale is much more laid back and relax.

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by TX75007

Riiight..

We walked into Joe's Pizza off Parker/Tollway last Friday at 7 pm and found a seat immediately.

I took the kids grocery shopping at Whole Foods on Preston the following Sunday at 1pm and checked out with just one person in line in front of me.

OTOH

It is a 30 min wait to get a seat at many locations in Frisco on Friday - Hooters, Cheesecake Factory, etc. And Frisco is still under served when it comes to Grocery stores. The complaint about lack of grocery stores is a common one in Frisco...

I don't know anything about Sunnyvale, but given its location, which is not central to the jobs in Dallas nor is is it near the airports, makes its location less than appealing if you are a professional.

In fairness, if the OP works in downtown dallas, then Sunnyvale becomes a VERY good option. Far better than anything in Collin County. Now if the job is just about anywhere else then you might want to look at other options.

[globe9]

The GF and I tried to eat at several restaurants in Plano last Saturday night about 8:15pm. There were 30+ minute waits at all of them. We tried Chuy's, Razoo's, Abuelo's and some other place that was in the same parking lot as Chuy's and Razoo's. None of those restaurants are worth a 30+ minute wait so we just gave up. To be fair though, it was a Saturday night. I was just surprised that all 4 restaurants had 30+ minute waits(Razoo's was over 45 minutes).

Can't comment on wait times at grocery stores in Plano b/c we don't grocery shop there.

[TXTwizter]

If you think Plano is overcrowded, then you would definitely hate Uptown or the Park Cities.

[DitsyD]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I have worked in Plano for awhile and I have never experienced long waits for any resaurants unless it was a holiday. I will say the same for grocery stores. Sunnyvale is a very nice community but the lifestyle there is much more laid back than the northern burbs. The schools are excellent but the enrollement is small by suburban standards. The entire district has 1,200 students. Plano West High School has over 4,000. You want find high end shopping or country clubs in the area. Most of your amenties will come from Mesquite or Garland and these areas are more blue collar than white collar. What you will get is a tight community and a large lot. Ray Hubbard lake and Rockwall is 5 minutes away. I would somewhat disagree with Sunnyvale not being centrally located. It is certainly closer to downtown than Plano and if you work in the northern burbs you can take the tollway from Sunnyvale to Plano with little traffic. Everyone knows about Plano/Frisco/Allen but few know much about Sunnyvale. Sunnyvale is much more laid back and relax.

Plano West has 2160 students, not 4000+ You can see for yourself on the PISD website.
Plano West Senior High School - Campus Profile : Plano ISD


Plano West plus Jasper plus Shepton has 5447 students ~ that may be your 4000+ number; the senior high and its two feeder high schools.

[Mulching]

I've waited as long or longer in Uptown, Addison, HP and Frisco on busy nights. I'm sure Sunnyvale has few restaurantes but not many bothers to drive for dining in Mesquite, Garland and rural area beyond that.

[ETex2]

Originally Posted by biafra4life

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In fairness, if the OP works in downtown dallas, then Sunnyvale becomes a VERY good option. Far better than anything in Collin County. Now if the job is just about anywhere else then you might want to look at other options.

I would have to agree here, and the commute is better than it is to Rockwall which might be another option. Lots of decent shopping and (mostly chain) restaurants in Mesquite which just a few minutes from Sunnyvale. Rockwall has better shopping and restaurants. Most parts of Sunnyvale are 20-30 minutes from Rockwall though, so not too bad.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by globe9

The GF and I tried to eat at several restaurants in Plano last Saturday night about 8:15pm. There were 30+ minute waits at all of them. We tried Chuy's, Razoo's, Abuelo's and some other place that was in the same parking lot as Chuy's and Razoo's. None of those restaurants are worth a 30+ minute wait so we just gave up. To be fair though, it was a Saturday night. I was just surprised that all 4 restaurants had 30+ minute waits(Razoo's was over 45 minutes).

Can't comment on wait times at grocery stores in Plano b/c we don't grocery shop there.

There's a Razzoo's at 75 and Spring Valley, no need to drive up to Plano. And Chuy's isn't worth a drive anywhere. You could flip through the Yellow Pages and randomly point to a restaurant and it would probably be better; the food is forgettable and the service is atrocious. Ditto Abuelo's...they suck.

Originally Posted by TXTwizter

If you think Plano is overcrowded, then you would definitely hate Uptown or the Park Cities.

LOL very true! Plus...try finding a parking space!

[TheOverdog]

There's a Razzoo's at 75 and Spring Valley, no need to drive up to Plano.

Unless you live close to the tollway, then there's no reason to drive to Spring Valley and 75. See how that works?