I just discovered the most beautiful street in all of Dallas... (Highland Park: to rent, houses)

[FarNorthDallas]

Originally Posted by MSPMom

Thanks so much for giving me more areas to check out. I've been down Turtle Creek many times but never would have guessed at that tiny neighborhood you mentioned. I've heard about Bluffview and the other areas so I'm excited to continue my exploration. I do remember one day when I was heading toward the Park Cities from somewhere and suddenly found myself in Greenway Parks. Another beautiful area!

Dallas is quite charming and it's a bit of a shame that no one really tells transplants about these areas. I found this forum and a few other sites to help me learn about the city and I'm soooo glad I did!

We try, but all so many folks wnt to hear about is NEW NEW NEW. New houses, new schools, new retail, new roads.... And lots of folks actually think that the city of Dallas is entirely full of slums.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by MSPMom

Dallas is quite charming and it's a bit of a shame that no one really tells transplants about these areas. I found this forum and a few other sites to help me learn about the city and I'm soooo glad I did!

We have. Repeatedly. They still think the best thing since sliced bread is an hour or more AWAY from the City Limits of Dallas.

Oh well, I'd almost rather just keep it a well hidden secret and true to its character. No need of these gems being overrun w/ people only interested in bland strip malls, chain restaurants and identical houses

[MSPMom]

Well, the amount of suburb-worship in Dallas is pretty interesting. At the risk of inciting controversy I've observed that many people who live out in the northern suburbs are quite different from those who live in the city. I tend to get very different responses when I discuss our family's desire to live in Dallas. People up north look at me like I've lost a few marbles. I truly don't get this. Maybe they don't know all these lovely areas we've discussed. Maybe it's easier to pretend they don't exist and camp out in the suburbs. Maybe people believe living in communities with more minorities = unsafe. Who knows. Obviously folks in the city totally get it, but they don't bash the suburbs. They tend to tell me the burbs are a bit too artificial for their tastes. I kinda agree.

Honestly, I just can't fathom driving an hour or more each day to get to work, school, or whatever. So I guess my decision really comes down to traffic. And I have no need to show anyone that I live in a fancy suburban house that looks exactly like 27 others in my neighborhood. Perhaps I lived in Minnesota too long, where our lovely quiet suburb of unique homes was a 15 minute drive from downtown. 15 minutes! Sigh.

Clearly I'm rambling, which probably means I should go to sleep...

[Grainraiser]

I think most of the folks who live in the northern burbs are transplants from other places. The northern burbs are always the place they move to because they do have good schools and are fairly safe. Folks from the area know that there are great areas inside 635 but understand that a bad neighborhood could be only blocks away. Folks who have lived in Dallas most of there lives know were the great and bad areas instead of accepting the fact that whole areas are bad based on news report. Most transplants would never consider North Oak Cliff while the locals know there are great areas in this part of town. This is my take anyway.

[Spree]

MPS, where did you decide to move? I remember some of your previous questions, did you find a school for your child? I think you were looking at private schools?

[TXNGL]

Grainraiser, I think you're right. I think it's mostly fear. For instance, when I tell friends who live in Plano and Frisco (only one is a native Dallasite) that my daughter and I like to spend an occasional Saturday or Sunday out at Fair Park visiting museums or just walking around, they can't believe it. They want to know if I'm scared getting there or walking around there. I know it can be a tough area and I'm not stupid, I'm aware of my surroundings, but I love looking at all that Art Deco architecture!

[MSPMom]

Originally Posted by Spree

MPS, where did you decide to move? I remember some of your previous questions, did you find a school for your child? I think you were looking at private schools?

Still staying with family out in Rowlett (another story) while house hunting in the city and waiting for our home in MN to sell/rent. Our oldest will be three this year, so we're still in the daycare/pre-school stage but looking at private school options for the near future. I've been researching the highly regarded elementary schools since that could be a great option for a few years. A friend has a child at Stonewall Jackson and she's very happy. However, we prefer Lakewood proper to the M Streets so that would mean Lakewood Elementary. But I hear it's pretty good as well. We still love the idea of sending our girls to Lamplighter though...and then who knows??

It's tough since my husband and I both went to private schools and have always wanted to do the same for our kids. But we also believe in supporting the public school system so that it ultimately serves its true purpose of adequately educating ALL children in this country. Tough decisions.

I wish Dallas had stronger middle schools. I wish DISD were better managed. I wish it weren't so hard to get kids into schools like TAG. I wish more families with means would move back into the city. I wish people weren't so comfortable watching minority children continue to draw the short straw in failing schools. And I've never been convinced that predominantly white public schools in the suburbs are automatically great. I've been around enough barely literate high school kids to know better.

[Beretta]

Glad to have stumbled upon this thread. We will be in Dallas around 3/23 for interviews and will be doing some househunting while we are there. I have to give the relocation company an idea of what we want to look at by next week. Originally we thought Plano but have decided we want more of a central location.

Where is a good central location with charming homes, safe, etc. that is in the price range of $300-$50K? I would like to be like the homes and neighborhoods you are describing in this thread. Charming, well established, well kept, etc. Thanks!

[pepper131]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

Glad to have stumbled upon this thread. We will be in Dallas around 3/23 for interviews and will be doing some househunting while we are there. I have to give the relocation company an idea of what we want to look at by next week. Originally we thought Plano but have decided we want more of a central location.

Where is a good central location with charming homes, safe, etc. that is in the price range of $300-$50K? I would like to be like the homes and neighborhoods you are describing in this thread. Charming, well established, well kept, etc. Thanks!

You are describing Lakewood - zip code 75214!!
Also look in M-Streets - 75206.

I take my son to his math tutor in the Wilshire Heights neighborhhod - some cute homes there...between LW and MStreets. We arrive a little after 5pm and everyone, I mean EVERYONE, is outside chatting with neighbors, walking dogs, kids playing in the front yards. It's very ideal.

[pepper131]

Originally Posted by MSPMom

I wish Dallas had stronger middle schools. I wish DISD were better managed. I wish it weren't so hard to get kids into schools like TAG. I wish more families with means would move back into the city. I wish people weren't so comfortable watching minority children continue to draw the short straw in failing schools. And I've never been convinced that predominantly white public schools in the suburbs are automatically great. I've been around enough barely literate high school kids to know better.

My son is in a school that is maybe 5% white (we are white, btw) and 90-95% reduced lunch (low income). He's only in K, but I know his school is doing a GREAT job. He's reading, telling time...so many things my older son did not do until close to 2nd grade (but he was in a Montessori and not self-motivated at that point in his life).

Now, my older son went into a homeschool group at 3rd grade and remained until 8th grade. He got into the Science and Engineering Magnet. The school didn't know what to do with us at first when we were applying - not many homeschoolers choose a magnet school, but this was his dream. We worked closely with the school to get them the info they needed, take tests, etc.

The magnets take the best of the BEST - usually in the 80th percentile and up. At SEM, the minority students get the long end of the stick. The best universities recruit them heavily with free tuition. One such student pays 10% of his tuition at MIT. When you get into the schools and talk to the kids, observe the kids, talk to the parents and you can see the truth.