Farmers Branch (Dallas, Plano, Carrollton: apartments, rent, chapel)

[VPCall]

We're newlyweds likely moving to Dallas from Canada. What's Farmers Branch like? We've read the Wikipedia entry on it, and "strolled" the 'hood with Google Street View, but are looking for the sensory descriptions. Is it loud? We're looking around Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy and Webb Chapel Rd, and I noticed a medical complex (hospital?) is very close-by, in addition to the highway noise. Would traffic be atrocious getting to University Park area? Is it the epitome of suberbia?

Any responses help! Thanks!

[FalconheadWest]

Most people don't even know they're in Farmers Branch when they're driving through that area because it's so small. They changed their street signs to have the FB logo, so that's a clue, but most people refer to the area as Carrollton-Farmers Branch as the streets just all connect together.

If you're looking for an older, smaller home, there are areas of FB that a very cute... but like other older areas, there are also some streets that are not kept up at all. You'll need to drive it in person, not just look on Google Streets.

[toriecat]

We used to live in Farmers Branch. The schools are horrible, if that is a factor. Most all of the homes are older. FB is notorious for foundation issues. I noticed alot of people tearing down the older homes and building new ones. You really have to watch where you buy. One street can seperate the "nice" houses from the ghetto.

The hospital your talking about was Dedmans. It was just sold, so hopefully will improve. We were 2 miles from the highway and could hear it at times. I think the airplane noise was louder.

One thing we did like about FB was that it was very family friendly city. They have a city park that has stuff throughout the year: fireworks at July 4th, big Christmas light display, fishing day for the kids at a pond, lots of parks/playgrounds.

They are almost done with the DART transit line through FB. If mass transit interest you.

[sonshinelife]

FB schools are doing very well academically. The area is older but the schools are doing very well. Recognized to Exemplary matter of fact.

I personally wouldn't live in the area near the hospital or highway but only because it is primarily in the Dallas Schools and it is older. However there are some nice older areas that are served by CFB schools right off Josey Lane close to LBJ.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sonshinelife

FB schools are doing very well academically. The area is older but the schools are doing very well. Recognized to Exemplary matter of fact.

I personally wouldn't live in the area near the hospital or highway but only because it is primarily in the Dallas Schools and it is older. However there are some nice older areas that are served by CFB schools right off Josey Lane close to LBJ.

I was about to say something similar. There are some very nice areas in FB even though the city is older. You are right about the schools near the hospital.

I think the OP might not be concerned with schools. I think she sounds pretty young. I don't know.

OP, don't pay too much attention to the totally negative comments, usually the posters have an axe to grind for some reason. This holds true with the glowing positive postings as well. Read both and judge somewhat for yourself.

I will add, there are a few areas in Farmers Branch that are very undesirable.

Good luck

Nita

[theloneranger]

The south-eastern area of Farmers Branch is really indistinguishable from the areas of North Dallas adjacent to it--lots of well-kept ranch houses. As you go further away from Brookhaven Country Club, the homes get older and more run-down. You also, as you go closer to Josey Ln and to Belt Line Rd, will see more apartments and cheap taquerias (I like these, but this isn't usually considered upscale).

The public high schools for Farmers Branch are divided by Valley View Ln. North of Valley View will go to one of a number of elementary schools, Vivian Field Middle School, and RL Turner High School. Field is an excellent school, Turner not so much. South of Valley View, you have Dallas ISD schools--Cabell or Gooch Elementary, Marsh Middle School, and WT White High School. I wouldn't recommend either grade school or Marsh. White is not terrible, especially in the AP track, but it isn't what it used to be--the same can really be said for Turner as well.

A large number of families in the area send their kids to private school. The Catholic parish in FB is Mary Immaculate, and they have a pretty good school. St Rita is just south in North Dallas, and is also excellent. There are lots and lots of other options for schooling as well, including Parish Episcopal School, which is in FB itself.

The area around the Texas Hospital for Advanced Medicine (formerly known as Dedman and RHD) isn't bad--it's still mostly ranch houses that are in pretty good condition--not as nice as the areas closer to the country club or on the Dallas border between Marsh and Midway, but still nicer than a lot of the houses closer to Josey.

[toriecat]

I wasn't trying to sound so negative. When we lived in FB the schools were not so great...maybe they have improved since then. Most of the homes in FB are older, so if the OP is looking for something new, then FB might not be the place to be looking. I lived a block from the country club and almost everyone on that block had to have foundation work. It is just a fact of the land. As with most of North Texas.

It is a good place to live for location. It is just the right distance to just about anywhere...downtown, airport, lots of shopping areas, etc.

[VPCall]

Thanks, posters. Great info, and truly appreciated.

[TurtleCreek80]

Farmer's Branch is an interesting choice for you to have zeroed in on. It is an older aging inner-ring suburb. The location is good for it's proximity to downtown Dallas, easy drive to DFW airport. It would probably be a 20 minute drive to University Park durning rush hour. It's fairly safe and pretty diverse. Lots of Hispanics (from Mexico). Also, pretty affordable.

What it is not is the "epitome" of suburbia. For suburbs, I think the general consensus is that Richardson & Plano (due north of Dallas), Rockwall (due east), and Coppell/ Grapevine (northwest) would rank far higher on quality of life, general beauty of the area, school quality, and safety. McKinney, Allen, and Frisco are also popular, but they are a 45 min+ commute to downtown Dallas.

If you are young newlyweds, I would encourage youto actually look IN Dallas. It is not a really dense urban city like a New York or Chicago, so the city neighborhoods look suburban. You will also be a lot closer to other young couples your age & will have an easy time making friends.

If you are renting, I'd look at the Village, a huge area of apartmet complexes off of Greenville Ave and Southwestern in Dallas. There are old and new buildings with a wide variety of rent ranges. And there is a jogging trail, lakes, country club (free for residents) with tennis courts, gym, pool. You'd be much closer to fun restaurants, bars, live music, and shopping. And a 5 minute drive from University Park (not on any highways).

[tbone9900tx]

if you are moving from canada get ready for redneck ville in FB...they are known for being backward hillbillys...they are pretty racist folks up there...if you like confederate flats then FB is the place for you...the homes are old, the city is dead i dont even think there is a supermarket in FB...the cops are terrible they will give you a ticket for going over 1 mile over the speed limit, running green lights yes green ligts...be ready to pay a ticket every month..i have lived in fb and got out as fast as I could...you should look in coppell schools are way better and its in the same area...or carrollton up north...