After 7+years, considering moving back. (Dallas, Austin: real estate, lofts, condos)

[roverchris]

We moved to Austin in July,2001 and really do love it here. However, due to some work circumstances, we're considering moving back to town. My in-laws live in Carrollton, so we do visit occasionally and always make the trip to Snuffer's for the cheddar fries. My question is, how much as changed since then? I lived in the Greenville/University area for years and really like it there. I heard that the development has really grown around Mockingbird/75 area. Granted, we're different too, being parents now, but I'd still like to visit Ships or the Lakewood Landing for a drink here and there.

[MaryS80]

The Mockingbird Station is area is almost unrecognizable, the rest is still pretty much the same. The strip mall across from Mockingbird Station is still there. The proliferation of of high rise condos is probably the biggest change, and Uptown seems to have swallowed most of Oak Lawn.

[nsumner]

The other major change is the high 5 interchange at 635/75.

Google Image Result for http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/construction/high_five/images2005-04-27/high_five_5.jpg

Naima

[roverchris]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

The Mockingbird Station is area is almost unrecognizable, the rest is still pretty much the same. The strip mall across from Mockingbird Station is still there. The proliferation of of high rise condos is probably the biggest change, and Uptown seems to have swallowed most of Oak Lawn.

I assume you're talking about the strip mall w/the Jason's Deli. I know Campisi's is still there. I think we last ate there about 3 years ago. Condos are something that Austin has too much of also. Funny thing is, with the economic downturn, many will be sitting vacant when finished.

[ParkRowPioneer]

Hi Chris,

I recently moved back to Dallas after living in Austin for 20 years. It is definitely not Austin. There are some out-of-the-way places here that are interesting, but it is much more difficult for small, funky places to survive here, as Dallas does not exactly celebrate funkiness. The Dallas approach is more akin to 'search and destroy.' I live in an historical district close to Fair Park and I love it. Unfortunately, there are not enough restaurants and businesses in this area, so I have to go to Deep Ellum, lower Greenville, Junius Heights, and Uptown for a lot of my socializing and shopping. But there is a great rib place on MLK!

[MaryS80]

Deep Ellum is definitely dying, that's been a more recent change. Some clubs opened up that brought in a rougher crowd/criminal element. Crime spiked, people stopped going, and one of the previous mayors went on some self righteous "clean up deep ellum movement". Granted it did need cleaning up, but the crusade was more about being on some moral high horse that dealing with the actual problems. The latest plan is to turn it into some new urbanism development complete with........high priced, high rise condos and lofts.

[roverchris]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

Deep Ellum is definitely dying, that's been a more recent change. Some clubs opened up that brought in a rougher crowd/criminal element. Crime spiked, people stopped going, and one of the previous mayors went on some self righteous "clean up deep ellum movement". Granted it did need cleaning up, but the crusade was more about being on some moral high horse that dealing with the actual problems. The latest plan is to turn it into some new urbanism development complete with........high priced, high rise condos and lofts.

I remember when it was Theatre gallery, Clearview, and Prophet Bar. There for a few years, skinheads ran amuck down there until Jeff Swaney got the police to crack down on things.

[killer2021]

Well if it is for work you probably don't have much of a choice, do you?

[roverchris]

Originally Posted by killer2021

Well if it is for work you probably don't have much of a choice, do you?

No, I've got a choice, but the grass might be greener up there. Bigger town, more cars to work on, etc. We have no family here, so being close to my wife's parents would be nice for her. Not to mention they would gladly babysit.

[Lakewooder]

Hey roverchris -- I posted this on another thread:

"Went to an informal party on Peak at Elm (a place where Plano people would freak) - Free food, beer and wine at Victor's Cafe - galleries open next door included Rich Morgan Studio, Karen Blessen, Paper Arts, Clay Austin Studio, Doug Davis Photography and even the Empower African Children headquarters. The after-party was around the corner at the It'll Do club - a place Jack Ruby used to go but is now an old dive attracting yuppies and immigrants. Great fun and a $6 cab ride from my house. But you can walk many places around here - look up the walkablity index and put in an address. My house in East Dallas shows .38 mile to many restaurants and shopping...

I saw a lot of people I knew at that party but met a lot of interesting new people - a writer, somebody filming a documentary, a couple who own a wine import business, a guy from Austria and his Oklahoman wife who own commercial real estate all over (and live above their office nearby), several architects, a photograper, etc..."

Guess who organized the party? Jeff Swaney.