We Love Dallas, Here's why: Our feedback after living here for 11 months. (Austin: apartment, condo)

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Pagusas

Every inch of it to be like Michigan Avenue in Chicago :P

Seriously though, I guess I expected the historical areas, (or at least the area around reunion tower) to be much more green, park like, and cleaner. I got the look I'm thinking of from the area around Kyle Warren Park. That area is very nice.

Klyde Warren Park is something revolutionary for Dallas.

As someone born and raised in Dallas (not the suburbs), let me also point out that you don't even pay taxes to Dallas County, let alone the City of Dallas. They've got potholes now that'll bend your car's axle and lots of other very expensive, intractable big-city problems. I don't think Saint Augustine sod and pretty petunias near the aquarium rank very high on the list of priorities.

Dallas <> Frisco.

I no longer live in Dallas either, but I don't expect it to gussy itself up for me.

[TheOverdog]

OP's making it sound like a ghetto when in actuality (to me anyway) it looks like Main Street at Disneyworld compared to 30 years ago

And if you were older than that, Dallas had a thriving downtown (way better than uptown) and it was systematically destroyed to the point you all remember from your childhood 30 years ago. In other words, what you remember is a reality, but not the only reality.

The only thing, as a Dallas resident and not transplant, is I guess you can blame your parents/grandparents for detroying it, and we can thank you for the vision to fix it to a place where your children might want to live...All of us transplants are responsible for our previous hometowns.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

And if you were older than that, Dallas had a thriving downtown (way better than uptown) and it was systematically destroyed to the point you all remember from your childhood 30 years ago. In other words, what you remember is a reality, but not the only reality.

I can only share my own cultural context. I was born in the 70s.

I've heard a lot about what downtown used to be like from my parents, though.

I don't know why you're trying to argue with me anyway, we're both making the same point.

[Tamara0914]

Good review, thanks for sharing! I would have to disagree with the Frisco review. I'm a transplant from Philly/DC and I have family in Frisco. I find it very boring, cookie cutter, houses all look the same, not much character, and the same old boring strip mall shopping centers.

I do agree that people here are MUCH, MUCH, nicer than the Northeast. Took me a while to get used to that, but I can totally appreciate it now.

The weather is my one real complaint. The summer was too hot (even though apparently last summer was "mild"), and I dislike how one day there's ice, followed by 53 degrees, followed by 74, following by 31 and snow. At least in the NE I knew when it was going to be cold it was cold and not flip flop weather the next day. I miss all 4 seasons.

I love having no state income tax, and how much further my money goes here

[MurphyPl1]

Originally Posted by alastrian2

One might consider it to be on the crusty perimeter of downtown?

I love that description.

[MurphyPl1]

"Medieval Times, Very fun, though the one in Dallas is a lot smaller than the one in Chicago "

Thank you for saying that! I took DH about a month ago because he'd never been and I thought it would be a fun afternoon adventure. Totally cheesy one. I'd been to the one in Chicago (Schaumburg if we're going to follow the city vs suburbs theme) in HS. When we went into the one here, I couldn't figure out if it was smaller or I was just remembering the other one to be bigger.

[case44]

Glad you've come in here and have enjoyed it. And good for you for choosing Frisco to put your lifestyle in. The strengths you'll find here will far outweigh the weaknesses, as no area is perfect. But you will see that Texas is, as a whole, the most livable state in the country.

[Pagusas]

Originally Posted by MurphyPl1

"Medieval Times, Very fun, though the one in Dallas is a lot smaller than the one in Chicago "

Thank you for saying that! I took DH about a month ago because he'd never been and I thought it would be a fun afternoon adventure. Totally cheesy one. I'd been to the one in Chicago (Schaumburg if we're going to follow the city vs suburbs theme) in HS. When we went into the one here, I couldn't figure out if it was smaller or I was just remembering the other one to be bigger.

The one in Schaumburg is about double the size (much bigger entrance and souvenir area, the actual arena there is even bigger than that and supports a lot more horses at once). It has the benefit of being no where near any other buildings, as opposed to the one in Dallas which seems land locked. Still fun to go to here though!

Originally Posted by case44

Glad you've come in here and have enjoyed it. And good for you for choosing Frisco to put your lifestyle in. The strengths you'll find here will far outweigh the weaknesses, as no area is perfect. But you will see that Texas is, as a whole, the most livable state in the country.

We have been seeing that for sure. This states very livable, especially in the Dallas area. The QoL cost are great. Yeah every area has flaws but I've learned to make the best of what I've got, and when I can no longer do that (like with living in Illinois... hate that state sooo much) I look for greener pastures!

The only thing we feel the Dallas area lacks is nice vistas/hills/bodies of water (none of our lakes are particularly lookers). But my wife and I both go on vacation alot, so that fills our need for grand vistas.

[Brookside]

Props (and reps ) to you Pegusas on your very insightful review. I'm sure many newcomers to the area will appreciate what you've written.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Pagusas

Seriously though, I guess I expected the historical areas, (or at least the area around reunion tower) to be much more green, park like, and cleaner. I got the look I'm thinking of from the area around Kyle Warren Park. That area is very nice.

Historical areas? Dallas is a young city. The "historical area" downtown is about 2 city blocks long. The rest was developed during the post WWII skyscraper era.

Reunion Tower is the pinnacle of 1980's Dallas architecture & city planning....something you drive to, valet, get out, go up, come down, pick up from valet, and drive home. No need for park space (put your 1980's bigger, bolder, better "hat" on). Walkable urban green space is a purely 21st century ideal which explains why you found what you expected near Klyde Warren Park (developed 2010-present).