A Reflection of Houston and Dallas after years in both.... (Austin: dorm, buy)

[Treasurevalley92]

Originally Posted by kdogg817

I agree. I never quite understood why the area around the stadiums stretching down into downtown Arlington isn’t more urban. That area should be a major business district in the region. Arlington also has the luxury of having a major Texas public institution in close proximity to what is suppose to be Arlington urban core. Arlington in general is very youthful. It should have a whole strip dedicated to bars and clubs catering to the college students and the young crowd. Arlington has all the ingredients for success but what continues to hold it back is it staunch opposition to public transportation and lack of vision to create a strong urban core. I’ve been a strong advocate for DART and Trinity Metro to merge to create a regional transportation authority. I also think this will put the needed pressure on Arlington to get on board with public transportation.

Arlington is screwed over by the fact that it's run by old white boomers has been run by a major who's family made their fortune with car dealerships. Add to that they will do whatever Jerry or The Rangers ask of them. Simply put, Arlington desperately wants to be relevant, but they refuse to reinvent themselves, change stupid zoning laws and do the things that will make themselves a destination.

Jerry: No trains.

Arlington: Yes sir, no trains to Jerry's world! Please don't leave us, we love you Jerry!

Rangers: We want a new toy

Arlington: PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US, HERE TAKE A BILLION DOLLARS! PLEASE STAY!!!

The issue remains that there is nothing to do around the Ballpark or Deathstar. When I worked at the airport and people came in for games I found myself directing them to Fort Worth or Uptown. You have no idea how many people from out of state when returning their cars after a cowboys game raved about how nice the Death Star was, but then complained how there was "Nothing Around there" and how they ended up having to go to one of the real cities to find stuff to do. Over and over again, I heard people tell me they regretted getting a hotel in or Near Arlington and Next time they would stay in Dallas or Fort Worth.

I doubt the Texas live thing is going to change it all that much. It doesn't look like a fun place to hang out after a ball game, it looks like 1970s boomer futurism hellscape. It honestly looks like another Toyota Music Factory with overpriced chainy bars. (ok, though I do "like" Yardhouse for all it's beer choices)

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I'd say that Collin County and NE Tarrant deserve to have an ego at this point, given that they're the most important center of economic growth in DFW, unquestionably. Are FW and Dallas just becoming urban amenity neighborhoods to CC/NET at this point?

Who do you think laid the groundwork for these 'burbs to become the economic engines they are today? Dallas AND Fort Worth. Dallas pursued regionalism and over-expansion. This approach in conjunction with Fort Worth gave us DFW Airport. Once you throw in a bunch of highways and hungry real estate interests, you have the formula for massive suburban growth. Unlike the city of Fort Worth and the county seats of Denton and McKinney, most of the other suburbs have no real purpose. They were certainly not built for practicality reasons nor were they a bunch of standalone places that got this way on their own.

When you see Frisco submitting Amazon proposals without mentioning Dallas or actively trying to lure corporations away from Dallas, you know you're not dealing with good municipal neighbors. Frisco is on a mission to actively erase Dallas's identity. And instead of cooperating towards a long term vision of sustainability, Frisco has decided not to join DART and instead use its $$ to lure companies away from Dallas and several nearby municipalities. At least places like Plano and Richardson has more vision. So you think a sleazeball like Frisco deserves an ego? No.

And to your last point, Dallas and Fort Worth are not urban amenity neighborhoods of Collin County. Central Dallas has seen a surge of economic and population growth, so it stands on its own even if Collin Co. didn't exist. Although Uptown has gained the most, Downtown is beginning to see a lot of spillover. Both neighborhoods are becoming more positioned for a sustainable future, something that most of DFW can't even grasp.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by Treasurevalley92

The issue remains that there is nothing to do around the Ballpark or Deathstar. When I worked at the airport and people came in for games I found myself directing them to Fort Worth or Uptown. You have no idea how many people from out of state when returning their cars after a cowboys game raved about how nice the Death Star was, but then complained how there was "Nothing Around there" and how they ended up having to go to one of the real cities to find stuff to do. Over and over again, I heard people tell me they regretted getting a hotel in or Near Arlington and Next time they would stay in Dallas or Fort Worth.

I doubt the Texas live thing is going to change it all that much. It doesn't look like a fun place to hang out after a ball game, it looks like 1970s boomer futurism hellscape. It honestly looks like another Toyota Music Factory with overpriced chainy bars. (ok, though I do "like" Yardhouse for all it's beer choices)

The same is true for FC Dallas in Frisco. Although there is more to do there than Arlington, it can't hold a candle to what Dallas or Fort Worth offers. On top of that, Frisco is in a more inconvenient place than Arlington. At least Arlington is closer to both Dallas & Fort Worth, as well as the airport. If it had actual urbanity and things to do, it wouldn't be too bad.

[Exult.Q36]

Originally Posted by Treasurevalley92

Arlington is screwed over by the fact that it's run by old white boomers has been run by a major who's family made their fortune with car dealerships. Add to that they will do whatever Jerry or The Rangers ask of them. Simply put, Arlington desperately wants to be relevant, but they refuse to reinvent themselves, change stupid zoning laws and do the things that will make themselves a destination.

Jerry: No trains.

Arlington: Yes sir, no trains to Jerry's world! Please don't leave us, we love you Jerry!

Rangers: We want a new toy

Arlington: PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US, HERE TAKE A BILLION DOLLARS! PLEASE STAY!!!

The issue remains that there is nothing to do around the Ballpark or Deathstar. When I worked at the airport and people came in for games I found myself directing them to Fort Worth or Uptown. You have no idea how many people from out of state when returning their cars after a cowboys game raved about how nice the Death Star was, but then complained how there was "Nothing Around there" and how they ended up having to go to one of the real cities to find stuff to do. Over and over again, I heard people tell me they regretted getting a hotel in or Near Arlington and Next time they would stay in Dallas or Fort Worth.

I doubt the Texas live thing is going to change it all that much. It doesn't look like a fun place to hang out after a ball game, it looks like 1970s boomer futurism hellscape. It honestly looks like another Toyota Music Factory with overpriced chainy bars. (ok, though I do "like" Yardhouse for all it's beer choices)

Yep that sounds about right.

[As Above So Below...]

As far as suburbs go, Arlington wouldnt be in my top choices in DFW. Plano, Irving, Grapevine, or Cedar Hill are better IMO.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by DTXman34

And to your last point, Dallas and Fort Worth are not urban amenity neighborhoods of Collin County. Central Dallas has seen a surge of economic and population growth, so it stands on its own even if Collin Co. didn't exist. Although Uptown has gained the most, Downtown is beginning to see a lot of spillover. Both neighborhoods are becoming more positioned for a sustainable future, something that most of DFW can't even grasp.

I know about the residential growth in Uptown/Downtown and nearby areas. But - you're claiming economic growth. Has there been actual primary job growth in central Dallas (or elsewhere in the city) that holds a candle to what CC/NET is doing? You may resent those 'burbs and how they use their public funds, but it is what it is. They are the white-collar job engine powering the region's growth right now. Yes a stand-alone central Dallas would still be a job center, but it has yet to regain its former (pre-1990s) dynamism from a primary-job, economic perspective. Thus I don't think you proved your assertion on that point.

[TheOverdog]

Has there been actual primary job growth in central Dallas (or elsewhere in the city) that holds a candle to what CC/NET is doing?

Yes. Uptown is a primary jobs center in DFW, with the most expensive office property in DFW. It is also a much smaller in physical area, so it's not really comparable to the "Plano/Frisco/Legacy corridor" which is several square miles of space and employment. Also, in terms of office square footage, downtown Dallas plus Uptown has more than all of Ft Worth/Tarrant County. So to call it a laggard compared to NET (north east Tarrant County I guess?) or Collin County is incorrect.


The actual battle for #2 in DFW is between Collin County and Ft Worth, as Plano now has almost as much office sq footage as Ft Worth, and Irving isn't far behind either. I predict in the next decade they will both surpass Ft Worth unless Ft Worth starts getting serious.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I know about the residential growth in Uptown/Downtown and nearby areas. But - you're claiming economic growth. Has there been actual primary job growth in central Dallas (or elsewhere in the city) that holds a candle to what CC/NET is doing? You may resent those 'burbs and how they use their public funds, but it is what it is. They are the white-collar job engine powering the region's growth right now. Yes a stand-alone central Dallas would still be a job center, but it has yet to regain its former (pre-1990s) dynamism from a primary-job, economic perspective. Thus I don't think you proved your assertion on that point.

Yes. See theOverdog's post. Downtown is economically stronger now than it was then thanks to rise of Uptown and its resulting spillover. It has the highest employment density in all of DFW and has the pieces in place (growing residential, mixed use, transit-oriented, etc) for long term sustainability. This is not the same Downtown that Boeing sneered at (and rightly so) in 2000.

[Jimmy1953]

Originally Posted by SanJac

I am a native Houstonian and I am ashamed to say I have never visited Fort Worth. I can see your point... I will put Fort Worth on my list of places to visit in Texas (of which there are still many!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDM5PsUoDC0&t=69s

[kemahkami]

Originally Posted by As Above So Below...

In four years here, Ive never felt anything I would call a sea breeze in Houston. In Galveston yes, Houston no. Yes, the temperatures are technically warmer in Dallas, but its certainly a good deal less humid. It is more cloudy in Houston in summer time but that doesnt help with the humidity or heat index at all.

Originally Posted by Treasurevalley92

I would agree, the times ive been in Houston I've never felt anything like a sea breeze, and yes, it has worse summer nights than Dallas, though Dallas summer nights are pretty bad too alot of the time. It's not uncommon for it to be in the mid to upper 90s at midnight.

A sea-breeze is more than just wind at shore, it's an actual mini "cold front," wherein relative cooler air at sea displaces hotter air from land starting at the coast. The inland position of Houston just means that the sea-breeze is something you have to wait until later in afternoon for: typically around 3-5PM or so, corresponding to afternoon thunderstorms and winds switching to SE.
https://today.tamu.edu/2010/11/10/sea-breezes/