Community Recommendations for Upper Middle Class Black Family (Dallas, Plano: condo, mortgages)

[LadyT68]

We recently relocated here from the Midwest, and are currently living in temporary housing near the University Park area until we settle on a place to live. Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow were recommended to us. My husband doesn’t want more than a 30 minute commute. I work from home. We love the fact that in our current location we are so close to a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options. I don’t like the fact, however, that the only time I see black or brown faces is when they are on the other side of the counter serving me. We don’t have an issue living and working in predominately white spaces. We’ve done it our whole lives. However, living here just feels different. We are empty nesters so schools are not an issue. We want an area that will give us the best return for our investment. We also would like to find a place where we can meet and socialize with other couples/families, but we don’t want to be some place where we are not wanted. We are leaning towards Preston Hollow. So besides Frisco and the northern cities, where do upper middle class Black families live?

[turf3]

I am a white guy so take my comments for what they are worth.

HP is pretty much as white as it comes, except for well-heeled Indians and Chinese. UP about the same. Preston Hollow is similar but probably a wee bit more diverse.

Consider, also, that the main reason for very high prices on even rather shabby houses in UP/HP is purely the school system. In other words, a very large fraction of the people in HP/UP these days will be consumed with children and schooling. That's why they have huge mortgages, to get in that school district.

I would not expect you to see a lot of "not being wanted", but you are correct, you will rarely see other Black people as neighborhood residents.

If you are prosperous, and you don't need to be concerned about schools, I would generally consider:

Lakewood
M Streets area
Kessler Park area

for more-or-less-city-center type environments, with more racial and cultural diversity (not just young married with children). You may also want to look at the area north of Preston Hollow, i.e, between the tollroad and Hillcrest, roughly from Royal Lane north to Belt Line.

If you go out to the suburbs, you will see a lot more racial diversity, but far less cultural diversity. In other words, if you live in Frisco/Southlake/Plano/etc, you will find that the vast majority of your neighbors are between 25 and 45 with school age children and are unable to relate to anyone for whom the concerns of people between 25 and 45 with school age children are not paramount. I am serious. If it's not babies, recipes, or professional spectator sports, it doesn't exist. My experience (as a white person, so take that for what it's worth) living in the "close-in" exurbs (if such a thing can exist) was that no one really cared a bit about race. Which may just mean it was muted.

(We can now expect the usual chorus of howls from the people who reliably defend the exurbs against claims of generica.)

[TheOverdog]

So besides Frisco and the northern cities, where do upper middle class Black families live?

Cedar Hill and the Oak Cliff part of Dallas both have large middle class black populations, about 30%. The northern suburbs generally max out around 10% black with the majority of that being generally considered upper middle class. Preston Hollow is about 3% black. Highland Park is less than 1% black but that 1% is upper upper middle class. Much of south Dallas has high percents of black (Lancaster, DeSoto) populations but smaller percents would be upper middle class. If I were you, I'd scope out Cedar Hill and the nicer parts of Oak Cliff first before looking at anything north.

I don't think you said where your job is.

[MurphyPl1]

Where's the job so we now where 30 mins is from.

[TurtleCreek80]

The DFW area in general is more segregated among socioeconomic lines than racial ones. Affluent blacks live where affluent whites, Asians, and Hispanics live.

I grew up in the Park Cities but live in Preston Hollow now. PH is ever so slightly more diverse than HP/UP. I see it on my very block as well as our and about in the neighborhood. It is also more "empty nester friendly" than UP where almost everything revolves around the schools.

If I were an empty nester and needed close proximity to downtown - while also seeking diversity - I would live in Kessler Park or one of the adjacent North Oak Cliff neighborhoods. It's a fun area, the topography is gorgeous, super close to downtown, and supports local businesses. It's kind of the anti-suburb

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Kessler Park is absolutely gorgeous! Not that far from downtown.

[WorldKlas]

My suggestions for nice areas with diversity within 30 min of downtown:

Las Colinas (LC is upscale and is in Irving, its one of the most diverse communities in the USA)
M Streets
Lakewood
North Oak Cliff

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Ir...185375252.html

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by LadyT68

We recently relocated here from the Midwest, and are currently living in temporary housing near the University Park area until we settle on a place to live. Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow were recommended to us. My husband doesn’t want more than a 30 minute commute. I work from home. We love the fact that in our current location we are so close to a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options. I don’t like the fact, however, that the only time I see black or brown faces is when they are on the other side of the counter serving me. We don’t have an issue living and working in predominately white spaces. We’ve done it our whole lives. However, living here just feels different. We are empty nesters so schools are not an issue. We want an area that will give us the best return for our investment. We also would like to find a place where we can meet and socialize with other couples/families, but we don’t want to be some place where we are not wanted. We are leaning towards Preston Hollow. So besides Frisco and the northern cities, where do upper middle class Black families live?

There are other upper middle class black families in PH. (I grew up there and my parents still live there.) I personally have not witnessed racist incidents there nor have I heard of any happening from black friends. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, obviously...as a white person I have no way of understanding the black experience in America. But I'd welcome you and so would my family.

[Rakin]

The Las Colinas area is very nice and diversified. Irving was just recognized as the 40th safest city in the US.

[BLDSoon]

Originally Posted by LadyT68

We recently relocated here from the Midwest, and are currently living in temporary housing near the University Park area until we settle on a place to live. Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow were recommended to us. My husband doesn’t want more than a 30 minute commute. I work from home. We love the fact that in our current location we are so close to a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options. I don’t like the fact, however, that the only time I see black or brown faces is when they are on the other side of the counter serving me. We don’t have an issue living and working in predominately white spaces. We’ve done it our whole lives. However, living here just feels different. We are empty nesters so schools are not an issue. We want an area that will give us the best return for our investment. We also would like to find a place where we can meet and socialize with other couples/families, but we don’t want to be some place where we are not wanted. We are leaning towards Preston Hollow. So besides Frisco and the northern cities, where do upper middle class Black families live?

For an empty nester, I would suggest areas close to but south of downtown, especially Kessler Park/ North Oakcliff.. Downtown/ Uptown is also an option if you are open to condo living.

The lack of diversity, and black/ hispanic people especially in HP/UP/PH isn’t a coincidence. Browse the school threads for an education on why that is (And for insight on how people REALLY feel. People on this thread tend to be more honest when discussing schools and one can glean quite a bit more information about everything from housing to race relations from those conversations. Search any thread with DISD in it)

You just happened to have landed in one of the least diverse places possible in DFW. PH wont be much improvement.