Young Professional - Uptown or Las Colinas (Dallas, Trinity: apartments, for rent)

[youngpilot4ev]

I'm relocating from Charlotte to the Dallas area in March for a new job. I'm 25, single, and won't know a sole other than a couple future older married coworkers that helped recruit me to come work for the company. My budget for renting is around 1300-1400..85k salary. I'm 90% sure I have decided on the Uptown area.

So here is my situation, I'm big on planning have spent a ton of hours reading the boards and other sites but I can't find true data about the "real" commute time from the Uptown area to Las Colinas area where the office is located.

Being new to the city I would like to live in Uptown with other young professionals as I think it will help me with not being bored and will give a great opportunity to meet people. Also, I like the urban life rather than suburban familyville. Although, if the commute is insane what is living in Las Colinas like for a 25 year old?

Any feedback and insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by youngpilot4ev

I'm relocating from Charlotte to the Dallas area in March for a new job. I'm 25, single, and won't know a sole other than a couple future older married coworkers that helped recruit me to come work for the company. My budget for renting is around 1300-1400..85k salary. I'm 90% sure I have decided on the Uptown area.

So here is my situation, I'm big on planning have spent a ton of hours reading the boards and other sites but I can't find true data about the "real" commute time from the Uptown area to Las Colinas area where the office is located.

Being new to the city I would like to live in Uptown with other young professionals as I think it will help me with not being bored and will give a great opportunity to meet people. Also, I like the urban life rather than suburban familyville. Although, if the commute is insane what is living in Las Colinas like for a 25 year old?

Any feedback and insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I'm very averse to long commutes and I don't know how long it would take to get from Uptown to Las Colinas, but in your case I think it would be worth it to not have to live in Las Colinas. At your age and income level I think you'll enjoy Uptown a lot more. My $0.02.

[youngpilot4ev]

That's what I'm thinking as well.

For others, Charlotte is a growing city and can be a nightmare to drive in. Currently I commute 30-45 min each way depending on traffic and construction.

[WorldKlas]

Expect to drive 30-40 minutes during rush hour from Uptown to LC. Traffic is pretty jammed in the morning heading west on 114.

[TurtleCreek80]

20 minutes in the AM, 30+ in the PM (if you're driving home between 5-6:30). Definitely live in Uptown though; it's worth the commute to live somewhere that's fun and not a bedroom community.

[CMC_TX]

Originally Posted by youngpilot4ev

I'm relocating from Charlotte to the Dallas area in March for a new job. I'm 25, single, and won't know a sole other than a couple future older married coworkers that helped recruit me to come work for the company. My budget for renting is around 1300-1400..85k salary. I'm 90% sure I have decided on the Uptown area.

So here is my situation, I'm big on planning have spent a ton of hours reading the boards and other sites but I can't find true data about the "real" commute time from the Uptown area to Las Colinas area where the office is located.

Being new to the city I would like to live in Uptown with other young professionals as I think it will help me with not being bored and will give a great opportunity to meet people. Also, I like the urban life rather than suburban familyville. Although, if the commute is insane what is living in Las Colinas like for a 25 year old?

Any feedback and insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Minimum 30 minutes. Again, MINIMUM. This is coming from co-workers who lived in Uptown and drove to our office back when I worked in LC.

[metroxian]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

20 minutes in the AM, 30+ in the PM (if you're driving home between 5-6:30). Definitely live in Uptown though; it's worth the commute to live somewhere that's fun and not a bedroom community.

That's your best answer. From Uptown you'll cross Turtle Creek (it's really a creek, not the poster above) to Oak Lawn Ave and turn left. That'll take you to I-35 north bound.

There'll be a fork for 183/35, take 183.
Then there'll be a fork for 183/114, take 114.
Finish the beer quick, you'll soon be at work.

I made that drive for a number of years, hauling ass both ways, rarely a delay. ON return there may be an back up of traffic on I-35 for downtown which will delay your exit at Oak Lawn Ave. If you catch it in time you can take the Inwood or Wycliff exits. The Wycliff is a difficult negotiation but beats sitting in stalled traffic.

Also, heading to work. If the Interstate is backed up you can take Lemmon Ave up to Mockingbird Lane, or further north of Love Field to the Northwest Hwy and Spur 348. Both easy drives. If there's overnight ice then the bridge over the Trinity River may be iced over. If so, take the Regal Row exit and head north to I-35 to the NW Hwy.

And whatever the commute, considering what you're looking for you won't do better anywhere else in the DFW.

Good luck... ENJOY ! ! ! !

[youngpilot4ev]

Thank you all! This is some great advice and feedback.

You all have pretty much helped me make my decision. Right now I'm looking at apartments in the West Village area of uptown as it appears to have the most "urban" look.

[RJ312]

Uptown.

Las Colinas is not singles oriented. For a typical single guy, you are not going to run into as many single women. If you didn't work in Las Colinas, you'd probably go there 1-2 times per year.

West Village is a decent Uptown-ish option, but if you want to be closer to the bars, you might want be a little further south in the Uptown area.

[Rakin]

Lot of people here have not toured LC in the last few years. It's not uptown but getting there quickly.
The new Entertainment district and Concert arena should add a lot.

In a few years it will be giving uptown a run for it's money.
It will probably be more for the higher end empty nester or mid age professional who wants to live near work or the airport.