What do people have against Dallas proper? (Houston, Fort Worth: violent crime, homes)

[dallas,texas]

I've noticed something. No one seems to like Dallas proper. Its not just a crime riddin place. Its not like you get murdered right when you come in. I know there are people who like it, but lots of people do not know that there are many great places. I live in that preston hollow, bluff view area, and its so nice along with so many other places. Dallas is a great place in the city proper and the suberbs, and it annoys me so much how people think right here in dallas is so bad.

bye!

[kwiley1221]

Perhaps those people just prefer a less crowded smaller suburb and woudn't like Dallas 'city' under any circumstance. There are pockets of great communities in most big cities, but it's really about preference I guess. There are some nice areas in Dallas, like you said. It's a shame that they get passed over.

I think some of the negative perception (right or wrong) is with the DISD schools and with the Dallas city council. Outsiders and newcomers may not be aware of the council's reputation but long-time residents of the metroplex do. Most big cities have 'management' issues at one point or another, though. Schools would be the biggest factor for most families relocating to DFW.

As for DFW as an area as a whole, we love it. We hope to move back there one day but at the moment my best career locale is Atlanta.

[OREGONRAIN]

I noticed alot of dislike on alot of posts whether it be Dallas or anyplace is with schools, and overcrowded cities. People trying to find a place with a lower cost of living and less crime. Its across the board really not just with Dallas, so don't take it too hard.

[Guerilla]

Dallas really isn't an overcrowded city.

[KerrTown]

That DMN article describing Dallas being the next Detroit might be true. At this rate of suburbanization the core is rotting but the suburbs are booming. I'm thinking the center of the Metroplex will recenter in Plano. Someone mentioned that Frisco was a suburb of Plano. It sounded delusional at first but its true. Most major employers in Dallas are really in the suburbs. ExxonMobil, AAA, and Motorola(?) are in Ivring; J.C. Penney and Frito-Lay are in Plano (looks like closer to Frisco); and Texas Instruments in Richardson(?). The only employer I could think of, outside of retail, in Downtown Dallas is Belo.

Why are there so many towns in the desirable northern suburbs that strangle Dallas proper? There are so many that it's hard to remember all of them. How do you manage to remember all of them? What makes Plano more attractive to corporate headquarters than downtown Dallas?

[Guerilla]

I have heard of Dallas being the next Detroit as well. The only hope would be that inland train port (being built by the Port of Houston and a San Diego developer). It will easily become the second major port in Texas (behind the POH).

The suburbs are doing more harm than good for the City of Dallas, though. It wouldn't happen to Fort Worth, because Fort Worth has so much room to expand. At the rate the two cities are growing, don't be surprised if Fort Worth surpasses Dallas in population (may be fifty years, but it could happen).

[tertesh]

I not from Dallas but doing research on Dallas because I want to move there soon, I have noticed on other threads the term "Dallas Proper" where is that or what do you mean when you say Dallas Proper?

[socketz]

Dallas Proper = Dallas County.

There are very nice parts of Dallas that are still pretty central to employment.

I think what happens here is that since people are looking for homes 90% of the time, they are looking for reasons to exclude one place over another.

When doing so, people tend to place an entire area with one brush.

Dallas county has alot of older classy areas that actually have good resale and decent schools. Yes, it is closer to some of the more violent crime in the area, but as another pointed out, this is no different in any other major city in america. If you look at the rate of gentrification in major cities these days, the proximity to crime doesn't seem to bother alot of people.

In the end, whether it is a commute, posh burbs, shopping, schools, ammenities, etc - all these are trade offs you need to evaluate before moving. Different things are important to different folks and there is no one formula that works for everyone.

As for the suburbs killing the city, not sure I agree with that....even if say Plano becomes the new center of employment, Dallas to the South will still be closer than say Melissa and Prosper to the North. As the emplyment center moves, there will be adjustments where older areas rebuild and become more desirable. The nice thing about Dallas is the employment is pretty spread out.

In San Diego, there isn't much employment downtown, but downtown still has rebuilt and brought in alot of tourists, ballparks, ammenties, etc. Downtown is more of a frame of mind than it is an indicator of employment. Dallas is't a huge city, so I don't think it would take alot of rebuild downtown.

[Guerilla]

No, Dallas proper=Dallas city limits. There is more in Dallas County than the City of Dallas itself.

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by kwiley1221

Perhaps those people just prefer a less crowded smaller suburb and woudn't like Dallas 'city' under any circumstance.

Most simply ASSUME that the city is more crowded... it isn't. I lived in Dallas suburbs (Garland for years, Plano for over 10) and then lived in Dallas Uptown for over 10. I experienced less traffic, fewer crowds, and less crime than in the suburbs.

Dallas has many downsides but it is very spread out and has large pockets of both poor and rich with crime problems only in certain areas and with select parts of the population. (When you have a community active 24/7 you will have a larger count of issues than one where much of the population is gone during the day and in bed at night).

I left Texas for many reasons but Dallas alone was not the issue (I left Plano sooner than I left Dallas!).