south-east garland... lake hubbard good or bad? (Dallas, Highland Park: apartment complexes, city hall)

[mavsoffense]

How is the area? Im planning on purchasing a new home that is around 400k over there. Its really close to the lake and the old neighborhood across from it is really nice. Im just worried about the crime and ... sadly the bad rap Garland has. Obviously Garland wont be a southlake or Highland Park anytime soon but I still like the area regardless. I heard Garland is doing alot construction and revitlization in the area and along the I30 cooridor. I just need some advice.

Thanks

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by mavsoffense

How is the area? Im planning on purchasing a new home that is around 400k over there. Its really close to the lake and the old neighborhood across from it is really nice. Im just worried about the crime and ... sadly the bad rap Garland has. Obviously Garland wont be a southlake or Highland Park anytime soon but I still like the area regardless. I heard Garland is doing alot construction and revitlization in the area and along the I30 cooridor. I just need some advice.

Thanks

Yes, Garland is really going after revitalizing the older shopping centers and apartment complexes. The ones that were really bad the city has condemned, taken possession of and torn down. WOO-HOO! I'm guessing your looking around the area of Eastern Hills Country Club. Nice area and most people don't realize that the country club or the golf course are tucked back in there. I LOVE the older large acreage lots on Country Club just east of Centerville. Easy area to get to anywhere in the metroplex. Centerville is a great road to use to commute. I take it 4 times a day to and from my childs school. You can head right up Centerville to Firewheel Pkwy (formerly Northeast Pkwy) to the mall and 190. Sadly, the bad rap Garland gets is typically from people that know nothing about it nor have they ever been here. I don't count traveling down I30 or LBJ as going to Garland. It really is a great place to live and raise a family - VERY family oriented. My oldest has friends that live ALL OVER Garland as she goes to a magnet school. There are a lot of activities the city puts on for families to enjoy. Come out next week to the Christmas on the Square and see Santa (there is supposed to be a snow tubing hill for the kids). He does not arrive in a helicopter anymore but it is still a neat thing to attend, hear the choirs, shop at the vendors booths, eat a turkey leg, etc. Of course the biggest to-do is the Star Spangled Fourth. HUGE event.

[mavsoffense]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Yes, Garland is really going after revitalizing the older shopping centers and apartment complexes. The ones that were really bad the city has condemned, taken possession of and torn down. WOO-HOO! I'm guessing your looking around the area of Eastern Hills Country Club. Nice area and most people don't realize that the country club or the golf course are tucked back in there. I LOVE the older large acreage lots on Country Club just east of Centerville. Easy area to get to anywhere in the metroplex. Centerville is a great road to use to commute. I take it 4 times a day to and from my childs school. You can head right up Centerville to Firewheel Pkwy (formerly Northeast Pkwy) to the mall and 190. Sadly, the bad rap Garland gets is typically from people that know nothing about it nor have they ever been here. I don't count traveling down I30 or LBJ as going to Garland. It really is a great place to live and raise a family - VERY family oriented. My oldest has friends that live ALL OVER Garland as she goes to a magnet school. There are a lot of activities the city puts on for families to enjoy. Come out next week to the Christmas on the Square and see Santa (there is supposed to be a snow tubing hill for the kids). He does not arrive in a helicopter anymore but it is still a neat thing to attend, hear the choirs, shop at the vendors booths, eat a turkey leg, etc. Of course the biggest to-do is the Star Spangled Fourth. HUGE event.

Thats sounds good. Im really hopefull that garland would look like a new city in the next couple of years. My kids all are in college so I guess I would be taking my grand kids there when the time comes. I just like the nice quiet area over there. If I do move there (which I probably will) I will try to attend as many city hall meetings as I can see what progress they are up to. I may have to travel to Los Colinas for business sometimes ... what would be the best way to get there .... I know there will be traffic but any shortcut is better than none.

[MaryS80]

Garland is much like Dallas, it has an unfair bad rep simply because it is not lily-white, and and sparkling and new. You will find people of all income levels, and all nationalities in Garland.

Much of far south Garland is being revitalized. There are still many nice neighborhoods in south Garland, but the retail sector seemed to dry up in the late 90's. I'm not sure if the downturn was due to the economy in general, or 190 making far north Garland the hot area.

After the Faulkner Point debacle, and savings and loan fallout of the mid 80's the I-30 corridor was stagnant. It's only been in the last couple years that things have started to pick up.

A lack of exits and frontage along the 635 corridor really hurt Garland. That was the result of some really stupid people being on the city council years ago.

The city is revitalizing the old Garland Shopping Center on Miller and Garland. The old hypermart may already be closed, or soon will be. The cesspool that Village of Eastgate had become is gone. They city is cracking down on absentee land lords, and code violations.

[BstYet2Be]

I "third" all of the above. Garland was by far the very best close-knit community I could have raised my family in, with a small-town feel but conveniently located to everything else you'd want.

As far as a shortcut from there to Las Colinas, well... lol... by helicoptor, maybe? Just kidding, but mileage-wise it's not far... it's just heavily congested traffic you have to deal with if coming by I635. Sometimes, it would only take you twenty minutes on a good day, but if not, who knows. I would recommend you take 190 around (bring your quarters for tolls) and exit either on Las Colinas Pkwy or MacArthur Blvd, depending on where your destination is.

Good luck to you!

[Bjones1976]

It's still that way! Coming from Wisconsin I can honestly say it's refreshing to have that environment I remember when I was a child.

Originally Posted by new2sa

I "third" all of the above. Garland was by far the very best close-knit community I could have raised my family in, with a small-town feel but conveniently located to everything else you'd want.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Of course the biggest to-do is the Star Spangled Fourth. HUGE event.

I used to go watch fireworks in Garland every 4th with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. Is that the do you're talking about? It was HUGE and pretty freaking awesome.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

I used to go watch fireworks in Garland every 4th with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. Is that the do you're talking about? It was HUGE and pretty freaking awesome.

Yes, that is IT! They moved it from downtown 2 years ago to the mall. They don't have the rides anymore and that has upset many people along w/ no vendors. Just the concerts, fireworks and other things going on. Many have complained about it so maybe things will change for this next year.

Yes, it is still a very close-knit community. It sure does not feel like the 10th largest city in the state. My oldest has friends all over Garland. People have grown up here, gone off to college, moved back, married and raising their family here.

[BstYet2Be]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Yes, it is still a very close-knit community. It sure does not feel like the 10th largest city in the state. My oldest has friends all over Garland. People have grown up here, gone off to college, moved back, married and raising their family here.

Maybe it's because we always had to defend living in Garland that made/still makes everyone band together! Either way, worked for us!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by new2sa

Maybe it's because we always had to defend living in Garland that made/still makes everyone band together! Either way, worked for us!

Maybe but I LOVE IT! Even though I did not grow up here it sure feels like it as everyone is so welcoming to those that want to be a part. It is nice to know that people still live in the community they grew up in, their kids cousins are close by as are the grandparents. It really is a family oriented city.