Commute from N. Oakcliff to Plano (Dallas, Mesquite: condos, houses, neighborhoods)

[chitowngirl70]

Wanted to know if there are any residents who live in North Oakcliff and commute to Plano? I have been looking at houses in the area and love it. I am a Chicago native who relocated to Dallas nearly a year ago. I started looking at condos in Uptown/Oaklawn, but you don't get much for your money in the price range I was looking in (low 200s.) I work right off of Legacy and the Toll. I have a co-worker who currently lives in the area and he says the commute is not bad. Living in Chicago I had on average 1.5 hour each way commute out to the surburbs from the city everyday. I was hoping not to repeat the same experience living in Dallas. Can I make this commute in 40-45 mins?

[TurtleCreek80]

Definitely can do it in 40-45 minutes. Probably 35 minutes if you hit it right.

I work on Legacy and get on the Tollroad at Oak Lawn. It's 25 minutes door to door in the am. Leaving work in the 5pm hour, it can take 35-40 minutes. Leaving at 6, it's 25-30 minutes.

If you lived in Kessler Park/ Stevens Park and took side streets to 35 (ie, not 30 to 35), I don't think it would add more than 10-12 minutes to my drive. If you are looking at neighborhoods further south like Winnetka Heights, it would probably add 15-20 minutes onto my drive.

[ChristieP]

You CAN, but WHY? My goodness that is a long way to drive every day...and in addition to the gas you will be burning, there is also the issue of expensive toll roads.

If you are looking for older homes in that price range, why not look in Richardson?

[Macbeth2003]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

You CAN, but WHY? My goodness that is a long way to drive every day...and in addition to the gas you will be burning, there is also the issue of expensive toll roads.

If you are looking for older homes in that price range, why not look in Richardson?

Nothing against Richardson, but I really cannot imagine someone who fell in love with N. Oak Cliff being happy in Richardson - or Vice Versa. I recommend Richardson a lot for someone who wants a suburb that is what a suburb used to be, and I grew up in that area, but a substitute for North Oak Cliff it isn't.

That said the OP needs to budget the tolls when making the decision. It does add up.

If you do end up in Oak Cliff make sure to get a Croissant - regular, almond, or chocolate at Rush Patisserie one weekend. Trust me.

[Grainraiser]

Your commute time should be in the 35-40 minute range. I drive from Mesquite to the tollway/Parker intersection and it takes me 50-55 minutes. Mind you I add 10 minutes to my commute because I take Central to Parker and cut over instead of hitting the tollway.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

You CAN, but WHY? My goodness that is a long way to drive every day...and in addition to the gas you will be burning, there is also the issue of expensive toll roads.

If you are looking for older homes in that price range, why not look in Richardson?

People choose to buy in Frisco/ Plano/ McKinney and work downtown....at least this commute would be against traffic.

Tolls are $90/mo on DNT from 35 entrance to Legacy.

Older homes in Richardson are ranches from the 1950's-1960's. Lovely, not not the character of the 1910's bungalows & 1920's Tudors and Meds in North Oak Cliff. They aren't exactly interchangeable.

[fistofsouth]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

People choose to buy in Frisco/ Plano/ McKinney and work downtown....at least this commute would be against traffic.

Tolls are $90/mo on DNT from 35 entrance to Legacy.

Older homes in Richardson are ranches from the 1950's-1960's. Lovely, not not the character of the 1910's bungalows & 1920's Tudors and Meds in North Oak Cliff. They aren't exactly interchangeable.

Well to be fair there are some High Tudors and Bungalows in Richardson and Plano and McKinney...and...well...essentially any town that was extant when WWI vets came back and demanded homes that looked like the cottages they saw in the English and French Countryside. Plano and McKinney also have 19th Century Queen Annes and turn of the Century Bungalows and Victorians. Having said that I do agree with everyone else that Oak Cliff has an eclectic flavor that none fo those burbs can match. I mean Old Downtown Plano is cool especially since the DART Line arrived, but they have nothing along the lines of the Bishop Arts District and I doubt you will see community gardens popping up in Richardson anytime soon.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by fistofsouth

Well to be fair there are some High Tudors and Bungalows in Richardson and Plano and McKinney...and...well...essentially any town that was extant when WWI vets came back and demanded homes that looked like the cottages they saw in the English and French Countryside. Plano and McKinney also have 19th Century Queen Annes and turn of the Century Bungalows and Victorians. Having said that I do agree with everyone else that Oak Cliff has an eclectic flavor that none fo those burbs can match. I mean Old Downtown Plano is cool especially since the DART Line arrived, but they have nothing along the lines of the Bishop Arts District and I doubt you will see community gardens popping up in Richardson anytime soon.

Uh we just built one in the Heights Park neighborhood.

[chitowngirl70]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

You CAN, but WHY? My goodness that is a long way to drive every day...and in addition to the gas you will be burning, there is also the issue of expensive toll roads.

If you are looking for older homes in that price range, why not look in Richardson?

I've considered all these things. Honestly, I don't think I would like living in Richardson. In the past I have foresaken urban living to be closer to work in the burbs and end up regretting it. N Oakcliff reminds me of "urban surburban" communities on the outskirts of Chicago such as Evanston and Oak Park.

[chitowngirl70]

What is considered Richardson Heights?