Garland/Rowlett v. Frisco? (Dallas, Carrollton: crime, house, neighborhood)

[Grainraiser]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

A very small part of Garland is nice if you're into cookie cutter style homes near a tollway.

Wow I can't believe you said this. Frisco is exactly cookie cutter after cookie cutter subdivisions. I will offer this advice to the OP. Garland itself is a older surburb. They have really great area's and some bad area's and alot of areas are are in the middle just like most older cities. Frisco is pretty much a 10 year old city. 90% of everything is 10 years or newer. I personally love north Garland. One thing I learned when I moved to were I am now is I never have to go thru the bad area of town. Everything I need is right in my area. I am sure Garland is the same way. They have everything you need. It really boils down to personal preference. I would suggest you visit both area's to make your decision.

[MaryS80]

It's like comparing apples to oranges. Frisco is almost exclusively upper middle class (or least those who pretend to be) and almost exclusively white. Most everything is fairly new as it only really started to grow about 9 years ago. It's oriented for families with young children that shuttle to and fro. Lots of big boxes stores, and chain restaurants. The homes are all new, but generally the same style regardless of neighborhood. A lot of the builders succumbed to trendy architecture. If you are working in in the Frisco/Plano/Allen/McKinney area it's probably the best choice.

Garland is an older, inner ring 'burb. Despite what Matt says it's not a dump. There is a little bit of everything here race wise, income wise, and housing wise. There are poor run down parts of Garland, and there are parts that a sterling. There are wonderful older neighborhoods filled with tree line streets and prairie style homes. There are also cheap all bills paid apartments with green swimming pools. There is a wonderful magnet program at all grade levels and we have IB at high school level. Petty and non violent crime do exist, but violent and major crimes are rare.

There is no one city that is ever completely horrible, nor is there any one place that is perfect. I've made ths point time and time again here on CD and i will make it again. Too often places are generalized or called a ghetto or dump for two simple reasons. The first being that a place is less than 70% white, and that there are older areas that need cosmetic updates. Nowhere, and i mean nowhere in Dallas will you find a true ghetto. Even Oak Cliff one of the areas most vilified areas has some beautiful neighborhoods, and stunning views of the city.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

Garland is an older, inner ring 'burb. Despite what Matt says it's not a dump. There is a little bit of everything here race wise, income wise, and housing wise. There are poor run down parts of Garland, and there are parts that a sterling. There are wonderful older neighborhoods filled with tree line streets and prairie style homes.

All of the "older" neighborhoods I've been to in Garland have alleys in the back with garages & people still park their cars on the street in front of the houses.

Class

[MaryS80]

I am assuming by older you mean 1970's, by older I mean 1950's and earlier in which case their are rarely garages let alone alleys. If someone wants to park in front of their house, who cares. It's their house and their property they can do as they choose. It does not make them bad people, or make you better than them. Maybe they need the garage for storage or converted it into a room. Get off your high horse and stop playing judge and jury. I suppose you agree with the HOA in Frisco that only allows certain makes of vehicles to be on ones property as well.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

I am assuming by older you mean 1970's, by older I mean 1950's and earlier in which case their are rarely garages let alone alleys. If someone wants to park in front of their house, who cares. It's their house and their property they can do as they choose. It does not make them bad people, or make you better than them. Maybe they need the garage for storage or converted it into a room. Get off your high horse and stop playing judge and jury. I suppose you agree with the HOA in Frisco that only allows certain makes of vehicles to be on ones property as well.

Umm...no

Everything from the street to the first few feet of "your" grass is city property in most cities. Call the city to confirm this if you don't believe me. I personally don't like to see cars parked in the streets, its dangerous for one thing especially when people park going the wrong way & last it just looks trashy to see cars lined all the way down a neighborhood street on both sides to the last stop sign in sight.

My friend down in Houston lives in a newer middle class cookie cutter subdivision & even his HOA has rules against people parking in the streets. You'll get towed & ticketed for that in the blink of an eye.

[ETex2]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

A very small part of Garland is nice if you're into cookie cutter style homes near a tollway.

Wow.

My family moved to Garland in 1956 and I went to Garland schools 12 years. I now live in Rowlett, but I consider Garland to be my home town, since I've lived most of my 57 years there.

Clearly, you don't know a whole lot about Garland. A very small percentage of Garland is "near a tollway". Sure, it has it's share of cookie cutter homes, but most are NOT near a tollway. Garland actually has very little frontage along a tollway; much less than Plano, Carrollton, or (soon to be) Rowlett. Garland experienced tons of growth in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Frisco was basically a wide spot in the road 25 years ago.

Ever taken a drive along Glenbrook between Centerville Rd. and Briarwood? How about Club Hill, Club Creek, Club Meadows? Or Ridgedale, Prescott, Medina south of Kingsley? Or the Greens? Or Oakridge or Firewheel? The list goes on.....

You may have lived in the Dallas area for a while, but you are generalizing about Garland. And you don't seem to have your facts straight.

[LQQKOUT]

I am going to chime in here- message to the OP. I live in Rowlett and enjoy the community. I live on the edge of Garland/Rowlett going towards the Firewheel mall area (@ castle area, but Rowlett side). I personnally like Rowlett and yes it is going through changes but it will only make this city more desirable in the near future. I also like Garland and what that city has to offer as well.

Frisco is a nice place to go a visit, and yes it is more "cookie cutter" based city. Although Rowlett and Garland have some "cookie cutter" hoods, it is by no means what makes the cities.

Garland nor Rowlett are a DUMP, its a great place to live and raise a family.

Good luck to you, if you have any question regarding Rowlett you can DM me anytime.

[DaveG99]

I prefer Frisco. I like new buildings and homes. Garland has a lot more ghetto areas than Frisco does. I dont think Frisco even has a ghetto. All three of the areas will be nice if you have lots of money to spend on a house. But if your an average middle class person looking for a home for under $200k I'd go to Frisco. You will get a much nicer house in a better neighborhood.

[MaryS80]

Garland, just south of Garland High School and and Central Park is a very nice older neighborhood. The homes date from the early 1900's to the 1940's. The Williams family still has a nice homestead with a few acres in that neighborhood. The homes and lawns are well manitained

Rowlett has really bloomed to a city its own right. For years it was a sleepy little place in the shadows of Rockwall and Garland. Garland ISD has done a good job of keeping up with the growth to keep the schools from being overcrowded. No matter where you live in Rowlett you have the lake close by. Lake Ray Hubbard is very popular for boating and fishing. The only negative I've heard about Rowlett is their water bills are high. Soon 190 will come through the heart of the city.

[LQQKOUT]

I heard that rumor of the water bill...however a report came out recently regarding this issue in Rowlett and we are actual at a steady average on our water bill. Mine was only $62.52 which I just paid yesterday. I truly don't think that is high. And that bill was from last month when it was still a bit warm so watering was needed. As for this month, it will probably be much lower due to the bountiful of rain we are getting...which is fine with me.