"HomeTown" - North Richland Hills (Dallas, Fort Worth: for sale, apartments)

[second_pancake]

I've searched and searched the internet for information regarding the relatively new community of HomeTown, including this forum, and keep seeing the same answers, however I'm hoping to find some residents in the community that will be able to shed some light on some strange things my husband and I have noticed.

We're from Jacksonville, FL and are in the process of relocating to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We have decided that there are 2 places that would work for us in regard to commute times and general quality of life: North Richland Hills and Grapevine (Downtown Fort Worth would've been perfect, but the commute was WAY too long ~sighs~).

We happened upon Hometown one day and loved the way the neighborhood looked and it's proximity to almost everything, but there was something 'off' about the place. We drove through there at several different times of the day through the course of a week and on weekends, and it's always the same....not a single person outside doing anything. At night, it's really dark...hardly any porch lights on or lights on in the front of houses, only in the back by the garages.

There is definitely the presence of children (bikes, basketball hoops, etc.), but no kids...not even the SOUND of kids. And the only adults we saw at any time was a group of seniors doing a community walking tour of courtyards in the Cambridge courtyard homes.

Like I said, we really like the area but we are active and have 2 children who are active (husband races bicycles, I do triathlons, kids swim and play hockey and soccer), and want to be in a community with like-minded people. Is HomeTown right for us or are we better suited for someplace else????

[loves2read]

you mgiht get stronger response if you had put this on FTW board since NRH is so close

There is section for senior living in HomeTown--maybe that is where you were--
Walker Creek is elementary school built in Birdville ISD because of HomeTown population so yes, there are plenty of kids in HomeTown--and I don't blame you for driving around at different times--but it is hot and most people don't let their kids play outside in front yards--I see NO kids in my neighborhood doing that this summer--we don't have that many but there are families with elementary/jr high kids and you just don't see them that often--so that might not be a prime indicator of whether or not they are there...

go to the school and just ask how many of its students live in HomeTown--probably 75% do--

I have written about HomeTown before--to me it is not a neighborhood that really IS friendly to kids --there are small front yards and the streets are narrow--the front porches are deceiving since most of them are really too small to be useable--

homeowners or visitors' cars park in front of houses on streets because the garages are in the back and not that convenient
means there is no "friend parking" on driveways like in most subdivisions--streets are NARROW--since there are alleys in backs of homes and lots are small

having garages at the back -- which IS unusual for the Mid-Cities area--means that is where most people come and go--so logical place to have a "night" light...while that might be normal design in other states/cities--it is fairly unusual for Mid-Cities area...the streets are curvy as well--designed that way in attempt to make traffic slowdown going through neighborhood but makes seeing ahead to end of the block not that easy as well...

I am always conscious of how difficult it is to see kids who might be playing and who dart into the street to go after a ball or something...there are "trails" to use that supposedly funnel kids off the streets and into the park sections of HomeTown

the blocks are long in some sections--which cuts down on the number of street lights--most people in this area -- the Mid-Cities not just Home Town--don't usually have their porch lights burning at night as a nightlight for the street--

some people in my older neighborhood in Bedford DO have the gas lights in front yards that come on at dusk and go off at dawn and some people do have sensor lights by their garage---but with energy costs going up people are reducing unnecessary useage...

The recreation center for NRHs is located on 820 Loop south of HomeTown--it is a city site and the one that is supposed to be constructed in HomeTown has not been built yet--and it would also be a CITY/not private rec center--the one on Loop 820 is pretty busy ---the city library IN HomeTown has not been built yet either--supposed to be by the Kroger strip--closest one now is S of 820 by Rufe Snow I think

but NRH has lots of activities for children/families---
check out the links on city's web site
http://www.nrhtx.com/

great water park NRH2O, Iron Horse golf course that is good quality--sports leagues for youth--
this shows the summer programs the NRH city does
http://www.nrhtx.com/pdf/discover_brochure_new.pdf

and this is link to one map of bike trails--info on the city's web site says that NRH bike trails connect to FTW bike trail but I don't bike and I don't see where they connect
there is supposed to be bike trail from HomeTown/Walker Creek to NRH2O which would be nice for kids--but it is not there yet...
http://www.nrhtx.com/pdf/bike_routes.pdf
another link to bike trails in area
Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation - NCTCOG.org

this is link to bike group in Denton Dallas FTW
DDFW (Denton / Dallas / FtWorth) Bicycling Meetup (Lewisville, TX) - Meetup.com
as is this one
Lifetime HTH Cycling Club (Flower Mound, TX) - Meetup.com
a long-time bike store in the area is Bicycles Inc --closest store is Bedford off Harwood rd--not that far from NRH--they sponsor bike rides and have a cycle club I think and
Bicycles, Inc. - Arlington, Bedford, Hurst, Fort Worth and Keller, Texas - Trek, Specialized, Electra

this is link to cycling races in DFW area
Bicycle Texas Dallas Ft. Worth Area
The Hotter than Hell 100 is pretty big race around this area in Wichita Falls


triathalons
Tri Friends and Fun (Flower Mound, TX) - Meetup.com

this is link to the new development tied to HomeTown that fronts Hwy 26/Grapevine Hwy by the Kroger shopping strip and in front of Walker Creek Elem
http://www.nrhtx.com/pdf/Buzz/The%20...ome%20Town.pdf
you can see the proposed library site there--and there is a "venue" site--don't know that that is supposed to be...

Personally I would not buy a David Weekley home in HomeTown and they built a lot
but if you can find a house built by Elite --which is a local custom builder--that is probably a good choice--he did not build many there--but he is really a good builder...

I don't like the narrow streets and the lack of privacy with the way the houses overlook one another--and there are not many natural trees---at one time there were plenty of homes for sale there--probably some foreclosures--but the numbers listed on MLS seem to be fairly low right now...it is convenient location--close to North Hills mall and the 183/121 freeway--not that easy to get into Dallas but good for FTW or DFW airport

[second_pancake]

Thanks for the info. I'll repost this in the FTW thread. I thought I was posting this in the FTW forum...at least that's what is indicated at the top of my browser.

So, I'm gathering from your comments that you do not live in HomeTown. What we saw in regard to the lack of residents socializing and kids playing seems to be exclusive to HomeTown in NRH. We drove through other neighborhoods and it was far different...many people out enjoying a walk or jog with kids on bikes with them.

We actually like the narrow streets, alley parking/driveways, small front yards, and porches...which are very useful from the houses we looked at...plenty of room for a patio set and/or porch swing. Not really sure which houses you were looking at when you were there. Coming from Jacksonville where in new subdivisions, the norm is for your entire front yard to be driveway, coming right up to your front door, and having no porches at all, just flat concrete and driveway.

We were definitely not in the "retirement home" area...we drove down every street in the neighborhood and experienced the same thing every time.

Btw, I believe the library is not only built but open. When we drove through there a few weeks ago, I drove on Bridge street into the shopping area where The Venue apartments are located, and there is a library right on the left hand side just before you get into the shopping area. There was a woman entering the building and a sign indicated that it was open.

[5stones]

my sister has friends with kids who live there and love it.
When we were looking, we drove through and we both hated the look. (personal preference) It looked just like our and every other neighborhood in NOVA. plus the lots were very small and the houses were jammed in there...(just like NOVA)

There are a TON of young families who live there and love it.
Maybe it was neighborhood night at NRH2O or something when you were there.
(just an off night??)

We noticed since moving here...during the day now that is summer...the kids aren't out riding bikes etc... they are either at the pool or inside. We have a bunch of kids in our neighborhood but on a hot day, you will be hard pressed to find them.
Evenings though things pick up and people are everywhere walking dogs riding bikes etc..

[lvtx]

Originally Posted by 5stones

my sister has friends with kids who live there and love it.
When we were looking, we drove through and we both hated the look. (personal preference) It looked just like our and every other neighborhood in NOVA. plus the lots were very small and the houses were jammed in there...(just like NOVA)

There are a TON of young families who live there and love it.
Maybe it was neighborhood night at NRH2O or something when you were there.
(just an off night??)

We noticed since moving here...during the day now that is summer...the kids aren't out riding bikes etc... they are either at the pool or inside. We have a bunch of kids in our neighborhood but on a hot day, you will be hard pressed to find them.
Evenings though things pick up and people are everywhere walking dogs riding bikes etc..

This sounds like a neighborhood I would like. Is "Home Town" the name of a neighborhood or the actual name of the town? Not quite sure how to access the MLS for the houses there. Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[second_pancake]

It's the name of a subdivision in North Richland Hills, TX.

[Sue Fox]

I have posted twice and asked residents of Home Town to reply if they would recommend buying there. (or not) No response either time from anyone who lived there. I also drove by different months and times of day without seeing anyone outside -- even on porches?

I am also concerned about the narrow streets and alleys. Also can see the houses (not brick) would need painting every few years. Are there problems with the David Weekly homes?

Does anyone know other areas in NRH perhaps more desirable? I did like the close access to shopping and main highways -- but what about medical facilities? Anything close? Thanks!

[Guingirl]

There are some very very nice properties in NRH. Drive North on Rufe Snow or North on Precinct Line and you come across many very nice neighborhoods.

[second_pancake]

We have David Weekly homes here in Jacksonville and I think they are a pretty well-built home...at least compared to others in our area. I'm not familiar with some of the other builders there in North TX so maybe David Weekly is inferior compared to them, but I would think they'd have the same building standards regardless of what part of the country they are building.

[second_pancake]

Originally Posted by Sue Fox

I have posted twice and asked residents of Home Town to reply if they would recommend buying there. (or not) No response either time from anyone who lived there. I also drove by different months and times of day without seeing anyone outside -- even on porches?

I am also concerned about the narrow streets and alleys. Also can see the houses (not brick) would need painting every few years. Are there problems with the David Weekly homes?

Does anyone know other areas in NRH perhaps more desirable? I did like the close access to shopping and main highways -- but what about medical facilities? Anything close? Thanks!

Interesting. So they're not outside playing, and apparantly they're not inside on the internet...or at least not on the forums I wonder what they do????