I just discovered the most beautiful street in all of Dallas... (McKinney: club, best)

[hamiltonpl]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

MSPMom, thanks for the sanity -- you will notice that when I have criticized (or given any word of warning about) the new shiny suburb of the moment, I have been called 'bitter' and 'jealous' and generally raked over the coals.

For some reason they seem to think that if you don't live there it's because you can't afford it. That really is a laugh for most of the population of Lakewood.

I recently went to a home on Tokalon after a funeral and it just felt comforting to be on that beautiful street with my lifelong friends.

Couldn't of said it better myself. If someone seriously looks at Lakewood, Knox-Henderson and North Dallas, then decides the suburbs are a better fit -- that's fine. But the blind following for the suburbs disturbs me.

[Fairy Queen]

I just read this thread. I must agree that Tokalon is probably the most beautiful street in Dallas area. It incredible how the road just caresses the trees and there is a true southern mansion feeling of these homes, yet it doesn't seem pretentious like HP homes. The upper Tokalon street, the 6800 block is the best of the best of Tokalon. There is a stately feeling to these homes, and my favorite is the Georgian house on the hill--it reminds me of NY/Pennsylvania/Maryland/Virginia mansions planted in Dallas---I heard that this house was story to great parties at some point. Just absolute gorgeous. I would love to visit these homes on a tour and take photos and meet the owners---what do they do?!!-----Make sure you walk there in Fall, the leaves are spectacular.

[Katana49]

Most of the vegetation on Tokalon is overgrown and unkempt, not beautiful. Some houses maintain their property well, but most do not.

[Johnhw2]

I need to check this street out, my favorite now is in bluffview, shady lane or something like that. Dallas is not flat compared to houston and all over the area pretty streets or golf courses can be found it vegetation that defies the sterotype. Some of the golf courses along creeks are heavily wooded with massive trees. Not No massive but beautiful shade trees none the less.

[Katana49]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

I need to check this street out, my favorite now is in bluffview, shady lane or something like that. Dallas is not flat compared to houston and all over the area pretty streets or golf courses can be found it vegetation that defies the sterotype. Some of the golf courses along creeks are heavily wooded with massive trees. Not No massive but beautiful shade trees none the less.

Pull it up on Google street view and save yourself the trip.

Highland Park, areas of McKinney around the country club and Stonebridge Ranch, Plano's Willow Bend... all are much nicer IMO.

[Johnhw2]

Where would you suggest around Stonebridge streetwise? I've see some pretty areas in plano near 'mckamy' road and a couple of roads near prestonwood country club in far west plano.

[mm4]

Originally Posted by hamiltonpl

Couldn't of said it better myself. If someone seriously looks at Lakewood, Knox-Henderson and North Dallas, then decides the suburbs are a better fit -- that's fine. But the blind following for the suburbs disturbs me.

Does it not preserve the former areas against the hordes?

[BLDSoon]

Okay some on this thread HAVE officially lost their marbles.

The MAIN reason lots of people ( and please read main) live in the 'burbs' as opposed to the city is COST. Not because they lack style, or love cookie cutter or detest beautiful historical homes with mature tree lined streets. I mean come on. There are hundreds of thousands of hundreds of people living in the suburbs. Where in Dallas would you fit them all if they suddenly decided they want to live there? Suburbs exist out of NECESSITY not because people lack a sense of what's cool or pretty. The truth is that even if Dallas suddenly became the safest place on earth, many who live in the suburbs still couldnt afford to live there.

And by afford i mean more than just being able to buy a home. Buy enough home for your money and comfort and pay for private school, or buy enough home for your money and have a reasonable commute, or buy enough home for your money and have access to amenities and public schools for your kids etc etc etc. Unfortunately the whole world cannot afford to shop in Highland Park Village and cute dainty boutiques for every little thing so strip malls exist for a reason. The planning of these in some places is unfortunate but they are what they are.

I personally would love to move to Dallas in the next decade or so on some land in neighbourhoods currently occupied by a bunch of aging ranch homes. I would demo whats there and build something else in its place. Something more contemporary.(sorry McMansion haters) But if i could afford a reasonably updated but not too modernized home on swiss avenue or Tokalon or anywhere in HP i would do it in a heartbeat.

The truth is for the vast majority of people, living in these areas is not feasible. And the reasons for that are more diverse than being ignorant of the existence of these areas. That fact is true for pretty much all large metro areas everywhere...not just dallas.

[pepper131]

I drive Tokalon about twice a week; it is down the street from my friend's house. The properties are well maintained and vegetation is not overgrown. In the fall, there is a gorgeous large ginko tree in front of a house that turns bright yellow and makes me stop every time.

[HP48G]

Originally Posted by BLDSoon

Okay some on this thread HAVE officially lost their marbles.

The MAIN reason lots of people ( and please read main) live in the 'burbs' as opposed to the city is COST. Not because they lack style, or love cookie cutter or detest beautiful historical homes with mature tree lined streets. I mean come on. There are hundreds of thousands of hundreds of people living in the suburbs. Where in Dallas would you fit them all if they suddenly decided they want to live there? Suburbs exist out of NECESSITY not because people lack a sense of what's cool or pretty. The truth is that even if Dallas suddenly became the safest place on earth, many who live in the suburbs still couldnt afford to live there.

Yep. Plus all those tree lined mature neighborhoods are far from the high growth job centers ....the suburbs often offer the shortest commutes to many jobs.