Kessler Park - Gorgeous! (Dallas, Austin: high crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I found myself in Oak Cliff today, with time on my hands. I drove around the area and was so impressed! Huge trees, large lots, large houses. Some of the houses were smaller but still on large lots. It is a truly gorgeous area. I had no idea that it was as nice as it is. I think more people moving to the DFW area should consider it.

[bencronin04]

It's a great area, if you don't have children or are willing to send to private. the Local public's are terrible at the upper levels.

[DitsyD]

There is also little in the way of shopping. Few large grocery stores, Targets, Walmarts, or even Starbucks. I lived in that area many years ago, and while it is better now, it is still a shopping desert.

[bencronin04]

Originally Posted by DitsyD

There is also little in the way of shopping. Few large grocery stores, Targets, Walmarts, or even Starbucks. I lived in that area many years ago, and while it is better now, it is still a shopping desert.

That is a good point. Hopefully with all the restaurant and "urban" boom out there, that will change.

[WorldKlas]

there is, in fact, a new shopping center with Walmart and Lowes and many other retailers right at Hampton and I-30. Very convenient to Kessler Park.

[RonnieinDallas]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

I found myself in Oak Cliff today, with time on my hands. I drove around the area and was so impressed! Huge trees, large lots, large houses. Some of the houses were smaller but still on large lots. It is a truly gorgeous area. I had no idea that it was as nice as it is. I think more people moving to the DFW area should consider it.

Growing up, I heard nothing but bad things about Oak Cliff and Dallas in general. High crime, tons of poverty, and urban blight. I grew up never knowing that a lot of that was false. My first visit in 2004 eliminated a lot of those stereotypes out of my head. Kessler Park is definitely gorgeous, and one of Dallas's greatest neighborhoods. I wish I could get down there more often.

Originally Posted by WorldKlas

there is, in fact, a new shopping center with Walmart and Lowes and many other retailers right at Hampton and I-30. Very convenient to Kessler Park.

There's also a Tom Thumb on Hampton just south of Davis and Jefferson, an El Rio Grande (the one on Maple has great produce) wedged between Jefferson and Davis, a Kroger in the Wynnewood Shopping center, a large Fiesta on Jefferson, the brand new Cox Farms Market @ Sylvan & Thirty, and the Dallas Farmers Market is just a few miles away. Plus there are several butchers and small food stores scattered.

[fwsavemoney]

Originally Posted by RonnieinDallas

Growing up, I heard nothing but bad things about Oak Cliff and Dallas in general. High crime, tons of poverty, and urban blight. I grew up never knowing that a lot of that was false. My first visit in 2004 eliminated a lot of those stereotypes out of my head. Kessler Park is definitely gorgeous, and one of Dallas's greatest neighborhoods. I wish I could get down there more often.



There's also a Tom Thumb on Hampton just south of Davis and Jefferson, an El Rio Grande (the one on Maple has great produce) wedged between Jefferson and Davis, a Kroger in the Wynnewood Shopping center, a large Fiesta on Jefferson, the brand new Cox Farms Market @ Sylvan & Thirty, and the Dallas Farmers Market is just a few miles away. Plus there are several butchers and small food stores scattered.

Ronnie - I meant to ask you this before. You signature says that you are a moderator for Dallas and Fort Lauderdale. Is that accurate or did you mean to say Fort Worth instead?

[RonnieinDallas]

Originally Posted by fwsavemoney

Ronnie - I meant to ask you this before. You signature says that you are a moderator for Dallas and Fort Lauderdale. Is that accurate or did you mean to say Fort Worth instead?

That is not a mistake. I don't moderate the Fort Worth forum. Acntx is the moderator for Fort Worth. Acntx and I co-moderate the Dallas forum. I also moderate Texas, Fort Lauderdale, and co-moderate Austin (with Ludja).

[DitsyD]

Originally Posted by RonnieinDallas

Growing up, I heard nothing but bad things about Oak Cliff and Dallas in general. High crime, tons of poverty, and urban blight. I grew up never knowing that a lot of that was false. My first visit in 2004 eliminated a lot of those stereotypes out of my head. Kessler Park is definitely gorgeous, and one of Dallas's greatest neighborhoods. I wish I could get down there more often.



There's also a Tom Thumb on Hampton just south of Davis and Jefferson, an El Rio Grande (the one on Maple has great produce) wedged between Jefferson and Davis, a Kroger in the Wynnewood Shopping center, a large Fiesta on Jefferson, the brand new Cox Farms Market @ Sylvan & Thirty, and the Dallas Farmers Market is just a few miles away. Plus there are several butchers and small food stores scattered.

I did say "large grocery stores". The Tom Thumb and Kroger are small ones. I shopped there when I lived in the Stevens Park and Elmwood neighborhoods of Oak Cliff. The new stuff: Lowe's Walmart, etc., are all on the edge of Oak Cliff. Yes, it is better, but there still aren't many choices for shopping other than discount stores or small mom & pop places.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

I found myself in Oak Cliff today, with time on my hands. I drove around the area and was so impressed! Huge trees, large lots, large houses. Some of the houses were smaller but still on large lots. It is a truly gorgeous area. I had no idea that it was as nice as it is. I think more people moving to the DFW area should consider it.

Yes, it's a gorgeous area! There are many other neighborhood gems west of I-35 like Ravinia Heights, Elmwood, Winnetka Heights, etc. Several neighborhoods do annual home tours which is a nice way to get an inside look!

Originally Posted by bencronin04

It's a great area, if you don't have children or are willing to send to private. the Local public's are terrible at the upper levels.

Yes, middle & high schools are terrible but Rosemont is quite good. There are several HP alumnae who send their kids there, including one woman who is a former university professor and top 10 HP graduate. Plus, your chance of getting into magnets for upper grades is higher due to zone quotas (less competition in south sector vs North or East Dallas).

Originally Posted by DitsyD

There is also little in the way of shopping. Few large grocery stores, Targets, Walmarts, or even Starbucks. I lived in that area many years ago, and while it is better now, it is still a shopping desert.

Not true. Newish Wal-Mart at Cockrell Hill & I-30. Plus, the neighborhood has more of an indie vibe; they'd rather support the several locally owned coffee shops than a Starbucks. (Although there's a Starbucks by the afore-mentioned Wal-Mart as well).