Are rear-entry garages just a DFW thing? (Houston, Dallas: apartment, homes)

[hellpaso]

Not a Dallas thing. More a design/price thing. Front garages=less expensive. Side entry garage=more expensive. Rear access garage/alley=priciest. I like the fact that I don't have to see my neighbors when entering or leaving my house.

Oh--I've seen all three types all over the country, too. Plus carports, Porte-cocheres, etc.

[racehorse]

We have alleys and front entry garages in our neighborhood.

[DitsyD]

Murphy and Parker don't have alleys, so no rear-entry garages.

[Falafelosophy]

We have all front or side entry garages in our West Plano neighborhood. All homes have 3 car garages and space on driveway for guests so people rarely park on the street. I think it's easier to meet & greet neighbors regularly and it seems safer. I've lived in rare garages houses as well and didn't find it annoying.

[mami2emily]

Originally Posted by ggolf

Had a rear entry garage in Chicago. If there's an alley, you get them.

Allen had them, Anna didn't. Sherman doesn't. I hate them because you just don't get to know your neighbors.

Parts of UP has alleys. I love having an alley and rear garage because no one can keep track of our comings and goings. Definitely love the privacy aspect.

You don't get to meet your neighbors, that is partly true. We rely on block parties to get to know the neighbors on our street. But we have met many of our alley neighbors since we see them more often. My son's best friend is an alley neighbor; he came over when we first moved because he saw him playing hoops outside in our back driveway.

[Cathy4017]

I had an alley AND a front-entry garage in Midland......but Midland had a mix of both front-entry and rear-entry garages.

I have no alley here where I am now (NM), and a front-entry garage. In the two places I've lived with alleys, the owner had to maintain them, weeding, etc, or get a citation.

It's nice here not to have to do that. I don't have alley access at all in the rear, so I don't have to do any work on it. :-)

I prefer front-entry--safer at night, IMHO.

[USA_Mom]

Originally Posted by compSciGuy

I've seen rear entry in California, but it's not common there.

Me too, mostly grew up there.

[Saintmarks]

I know neighborhoods in McKinney that don't have alleys but still have a rear entry garage, the drive comes off the front of the street, down the side of the house and then a large pad in the back. The EX has one like this.

Some of the alley way neighborhoods look kind of Stepford like to me. I actually like the looks of front driveways but a side entry is always a nicer look IMO. Also, there are neighborhoods where the alley/rear garage seems to invite more on the street parking at the front. Some of these streets are an obstacle course for the amount of curb parkers on both sides.

And for the record, can't think of any neighborhoods back in the southeast that had alleyways/rear entry garages.

[roskybosky]

I'm from the Northeast, where front garages are all you see, but being in Dallas/Coppell for so long I've come to like the rear entry garages best. The street looks tidier, you can see the houses, and the home design isn't ruined by a giant door in front. I also like the privacy of entering my house w/o the neighbors seeing my car go in and out a hundred times a day.

[ggolf]

Originally Posted by roskybosky

I'm from the Northeast, where front garages are all you see, but being in Dallas/Coppell for so long I've come to like the rear entry garages best. The street looks tidier, you can see the houses, and the home design isn't ruined by a giant door in front. I also like the privacy of entering my house w/o the neighbors seeing my car go in and out a hundred times a day.

Hundred times a day? Rosky you are one busy person!