141.78 sq mi of land is undeveloped in Dallas — more than any other city, 197.824 sq mi of land is developed

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

We moved to Oak Cliff in 1968 when I was 5 years old. We were the second black family in our neighborhood. By 1970 our neighborhood was 98% black. This just how drastic the change took place. By the mid 70's you still had lots of whites who lived near Kimball and Carter but they started moving to Duncanville or the white mecca which was Plano. I graduated high school in 1981 and this was the year Kimball had it's last white quarterback. Carter was all black and Skyline was majority white (High school I graduated from). The transformation of Oak Cliff was shockingly fast but that is just the way it was back then. We recently put my parents home on the market and most of the new buyers in that neighborhood are hispanics. The vast majority of the original homeowers in the neighborhood are 80+ years or older and the demographics of the neighborhoods is changing rapidly.

Same. My parents home was sold a few years ago in SOC and it was sold to Hispanics as well. I think the major shift is due to the exponential increase in the Hispanic population. Which is reflective of the country as a whole.

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

What makes it more unique is Oak Cliff has the best topography in all of Dallas by far. Where else to do you see the most scenic parts of a city being changed over by White flight the way SOC was? The only place I can think of that might be a little similar is the Baldwin Hills/northern Inglewood parts of LA but there are other large hills or scenic beaches where White flight took folks, so that area was not the only scenic one like SOC is for Dallas.

That’s what makes it even more strange IMO. Often you will hear Dallasites talking about the hilly topography of Oak Cliff and much of Southern Dallas. Even though Preston Hollow and the Park Cities are very nice and wealthy, they’re not hilly. Lakewood in East Dallas has a very nice topography for an affluent area though.

Very Hilly areas like this in Southwest Dallas were left undeveloped. Looking back it now, I’m glad it was. It would have probably been ruined with McMansions on the hilltops. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it does in the future. That’s if the area isn’t already protected.





There are areas in SOC that are getting gentrified. The Beckley Club Estates neighborhood is very hilly. Recently, a renovated 1930s tutor sold for 635K in 2022. (link from Zillow)

South Oak Cliff (75216 zip code) not too far from SOC High School. Some of the homes are on hills. I’m not sure if people outside of the SOC area know too much about it. The designer for Kessler Park (North Oak Cliff) and University Park designed this neighborhood in the 1920s. This area is also known for its wild peacocks.

Google Streetview

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QKoF45Y6ZbLGYLHk6?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3Pg8iBu2hc5u6sDu9?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QAyPDw381uBcd16C9?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8w6ntAWRDTzow9ro9?g_st=ic

Wild Peacocks on Google Streetview

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4cctKD5nQekR2DWX8?g_st=ic

[Grainraiser]

For me the White Rock, Kessler Park and Cedar Hill has the best topography in DFW.

[Leonard123]

Originally Posted by Dallaz

That’s what makes it even more strange IMO. Often you will hear Dallasites talking about the hilly topography of Oak Cliff and much of Southern Dallas. Even though Preston Hollow and the Park Cities are very nice and wealthy, they’re not hilly. Lakewood in East Dallas has a very nice topography for an affluent area though.

Very Hilly areas like this in Southwest Dallas were left undeveloped. Looking back it now, I’m glad it was. It would have probably been ruined with McMansions on the hilltops. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it does in the future. That’s if the area isn’t already protected.

Wouldn't that cause issues for slab foundations, though?

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by Leonard123

Wouldn't that cause issues for slab foundations, though?

I’m not too sure. But I’ve seen Cedar Hill develop more of its hilly areas. This same geographic feature in Southwest Dallas — the Balcones Escarpment and it extends into Cedar Hill as well.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2q-96P...ature=youtu.be


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_PyILP...ature=youtu.be


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m7UzK_...ature=youtu.be

Same area as the mansion posted in the 3rd video, you can see it on the hill at 1:15, 1:30, 1:48


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ngTLmt...ature=youtu.be

[lepoisson]

I'm on the fence about undevelopped land.

On one hand, I think it's good that some land is left undeveloped. In many cities, all areas of nature have been destroyed and replaced with buildings.

But on the other hand, rather than expanding outward, I think there is plenty of vacant land that can be used in Dallas and Tarrant counties. We have huge swaths of wasted land here in DFW.