why do they pick Dallas over other places with plenty of jobs? (Houston: houses, transfer)

[aceplace]

People who are dissatisfied with living in Dallas for one reason or another are usually confronted with the question... if Dallas is so bad, how come it's so popular? It was the fastest growing major metro in the last couple of years, and is always one of the fastest growing.

Sometimes the answer is... Dallas has a good economy and plenty of jobs. As if that was an insignificant factor.

Well, guess what... the entire Sunbelt has historically had a good economy and plenty of jobs, just like Dallas. Yet, people pick Dallas. The metro has absorbed much more than its proper share of Sunbelt growth in the last few decades.

So if economic opportunity is not the deciding factor, then what is?

Another way to look at is this question: why do companies relocate to Dallas over other places?

Except for a few businesses that are telecommunications related and naturally gravitate to an area that specializes in their industry, most businesses that move their headquarters to North Texas do so because their top executives want to be here. It's not like a CEO of a Fortune 500 company is desperately looking for work, or is transferred to North Texas against his will. No, the rich and powerful, who can move their companies wherever they please, choose to move them to North Texas. Why is that?

[mikejj2004]

I suggest you read the economy section of Dalllas on Wikipedia. Thats a complex question, low taxes, pro-business enivornment and cheap office space, houses and land lured many a large companies from the East coast during the 80s and now in the 2000s from California (example Exxon leaving the Exxon building in NYC to come to Las Colinas). The thing that set this whole business thing off 100 years ago was cotton/railroads then the East Texas oil field though Dallas has now diversified away from that.

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by mikejj2004

I suggest you read the economy section of Dalllas on Wikipedia. Thats a complex question, low taxes, pro-business enivornment and cheap office space, houses and land lured many a large companies from the East coast during the 80s and now in the 2000s from California (example Exxon leaving the Exxon building in NYC to come to Las Colinas). The thing that set this whole business thing off 100 years ago was cotton/railroads then the East Texas oil field though Dallas has now diversified away from that.

But that's not the real question. DFW has had a lot of competition in the low taxes, pro business and cheap housing departments. There are plenty of other Sunbelt locations with the same advantages. Yet Dallas has been the big winner. The question is Why? Why Dallas over San Antonio, Nashville, Charlotte, Phoenix, Orlando? Dallas even has an edge over Atlanta,, Houston and Miami.

You could even make the case that Dallas has inferior scenery and weather to many of these cities. Yet North Texas amassed more people in the same number of decades.

So what is the answer? Are people fundamentally stupid? Too dimwitted to make the best choice for themselves? Or does Dallas have an advantage... and what is it?

[TurtleCreek80]

One, in 1988, the city of Plano offered great tax benefits to companies to develop the Legacy Drive corridor. As long as companies kept "x" cattle or other "ranch" livestock on their property, they be taxes at the much lower ranch rate vs the regular business tax rate. They also offered other financial incentives for the development. Hence, you have JCPenney relocate from Manhattan, and Frito Lay, Erikkson, Countrywide, EDS, etc all moving major facilities to Legacy. This same "ranch" break has been offerred in other parts of the DFW area, too.

Second, DFW Airport is a major draw. It's a huge AA hub and offers many direct flights to Europe, Central & South America, and Asia for those doing international business. Even for flying within the lower 48, people consider Dallas to be "equally inconvenient" to both coasts- just a 3-4 hour flight to every major US city.

Third, cost of living is considerably less than other major cities so companies can pay lower salaries, hence lower cap-ex which Wall Street loves!

[tyanger]

Don't have all your answers, but on a personal level - for travel, both domestically and internationally, Dallas is so convenient. In about 3 hours I can be in so many more places than my sister who lives in Portland OR for example. I have other relatives in Ft Lauderdale and NYC, and friends spread out across Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania - and 8 or 9 times out of ten when we meet up it's in Dallas. That must count for something with businesses as well.

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

One, in 1988, the city of Plano offered great tax benefits to companies to develop the Legacy Drive corridor. As long as companies kept "x" cattle or other "ranch" livestock on their property, they be taxes at the much lower ranch rate vs the regular business tax rate. They also offered other financial incentives for the development. Hence, you have JCPenney relocate from Manhattan, and Frito Lay, Erikkson, Countrywide, EDS, etc all moving major facilities to Legacy. This same "ranch" break has been offerred in other parts of the DFW area, too.

Second, DFW Airport is a major draw. It's a huge AA hub and offers many direct flights to Europe, Central & South America, and Asia for those doing international business. Even for flying within the lower 48, people consider Dallas to be "equally inconvenient" to both coasts- just a 3-4 hour flight to every major US city.

Third, cost of living is considerably less than other major cities so companies can pay lower salaries, hence lower cap-ex which Wall Street loves!

Not trying to be argumentative here, but I'd imagine that other Sunbelt cities can assemble tax packages just as good as Plano.

DFW airport is a major draw, and may represent a competitive advantage for Dallas. Still, it is only one factor, and may have a limited impact.

The Dallas cost of living is not necessarily better than other Sunbelt cities such as Phoenix, Nashville, Charlotte, etc. It makes sense to move out of the Northeast to some Sunbelt city, if cost of living is the primary motivator, but Dallas does not have a cost of living advantage over its competition, namely other Sunbelt cities.

[tyanger]

There may not necessarily be just one major advantage. If you add up all the smaller advantages the bottom line just might be better for a lot of people and/or businesses. I'm not sure what kind of answer your looking for.

[**NoodLes**]

Where else in the world can you have a major downtown and uptown with big business and then drive not too far to enjoy the country living and ranches. I think Dallas has everything people want whether you want to focus on your professional career or live a calmer life outside the major areas. Also, Dallas on the map is right in the middle of the country. Doesn't stay too cold in the winter and doesn't stay too hot for long also. Flights are generally cheaper also. If you live on either coast a ticket can cost much more. Only thing Dallas doesn't have is a beach nearby, which Jerry could probably solve LOL!!

[TurtleCreek80]

I would not call the DFW impact minimal to the tens of thousands who travel every single week for work out of DFW. To not have to take red-eyes to LA or NYC is a huge benefit!

And yes, other cities could have put together tax break packages, but Plano DID! And it worked.

I think the easiest answer is that Dallas has a better business-attracting infrastructure than Memphis, Nashville, San Antonio. Phoenix and Charlotte are too far from the geographical center of the US to meet the "convenient" factor.

[tyanger]

Don't hate, just accept it - the DFW metroplex ROCKS! Like the color of the sky, there's no need to analyze, dissect, or debate it ... that's just the way is.