Eastern Hills - stunning! (Dallas, Fort Worth: apartment complexes, crime rate, loan)

[naterator]

I like to try back roads when the freeways are crowded. Last week, I jumped off I-30 and ended up in the most adorable neighborhood I've ever seen. It was off Weiler and Jacqueline Rd in Eastern Hills. Not far from the Meadowbrook golf course.

It was like stepping back in time to 1957.

The homes look immaculately maintained, there are lots of trees, wide streets, and...just wow. I've never seen anything quite like it. It was beautiful.

Does anyone know anything about this area? I've checked it out on city-data.com, but would love to hear from someone who lives there. I was ready to pack up and move.

To me, this area looks like it's really ready for a big "pop", much like Ryan place in the '80s, Fairmount in the '90s, and Mistletoe Heights in the '00s.

Of course there are some issues with the surrounding area, but.

Please, any input is appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by naterator

Of course there are some issues with the surrounding area, but.

Until those "issues" are addressed, I doubt there will be any "pop."

[naterator]

I'm not so sure....that's rather a "chicken/egg" argument. Some of Fort Worth's older, wonderful neighborhoods today weren't revitalized by a bunch of developers going in first and clearing the way. It was trailblazing homeowners who, one at a time, saw the beauty and intrinsic value to a neighborhood. And took a risk, realizing that the area deserved to be saved.

True, my sample size is n=1, but based on what I saw, I think this neighborhood deserves to be saved. We will never see neighborhoods like this again.

[ChristieP]

The problem with the nearby neighborhoods is both the crime rate and the issue of entrenchment. It's going to take some major muscle to push the bad elements out of the surrounding area, and right now, there doesn't seem to be that support from the city or the neighborhoods. Yes, Meadowbrook itself is gorgeous, but I seriously doubt that the Poly neighborhood is suddenly going to be cleaned up after decades of neglect...

[RayStokes]

Crime and schools don't really matter for neighborhood revitalization and turning over. That comes after. Fairmount feeds into Trimble Tech if I'm not mistaken, which is not a good Ft. Worth school. Both Fairmount and Ryan's Place still have some pretty shady areas around it so crime is not stamped out and certainly not to suburban levels. Yet both areas have skyrocketed in value and are considered hip and trendy places to live. If we look to our neighbor east as an example, Oak Cliff, Old East Dallas, and so on have seen revitalization despite poor schools and crime still being a factor in the area. I don't think schools and crime are really an issue for a neighborhood to be gentrified and property values to rise.

Eastern Hills is beautiful. I've always loved that area along with Meadowbrook, White Lake Hills, and Woodhaven (minus the high quantity of terrible apartments in the area that really bring it down). Even past 820 if you follow Randol Mill past Temple Christian there are beautiful country homes. I think the main obstacle for a turnaround in the area is the distance from downtown. Most urban areas that gentrify are going to be closer to the core of the city. Like you said, the area is already beautiful and there's nothing wrong with the homes. Most are owned by caring homeowners that have taken care of them. I'm not even sure if property crime is a huge problem for Eastern Hills or if its isolated enough from nearby bad neighborhoods. Eastern Hills "popping" would begin with revitalizing neighborhoods around them and replacing a lot of the numerous crime infested apartment complexes nearby.

[ChristieP]

You just said crime rates don't matter, then gave two examples of crime-ridden apartments bringing down the rest of the area. You can't have it both ways!

[RayStokes]

Well, my thesis is that crime is not a deterrent for the start of an area's turnaround. That has been proven many times over in urban neighborhoods not only in DFW but around the country. Crime does, however, need to be addressed during the actual gentrification process. That is the difference between the two.

[loves2read]

The people who buy in Fairmont and Ryan's Place are likely to be those who either don't have children or can afford private school if they do...
What has made those two areas popular more than they were in the past is the 7th street development which has definitely upgraded values in surrounding areas and I am sure taken a big bite out of any crime as well...

why do you think Sundance still has Bass cops riding all over it even though crime is so low?

[flyntexn]

I have some friend's who bought a 1954 home I believe and are currently renovating. They are using a revitalization loan to redo all the interior and have made huge improvements to what was a former blight. There is an original cedar closet which you don't see those too often anymore. Most of the neighbors on the street have fantastic looking 50s properties however as stated, we did drive right through the hood to get there which is a setback.

[hypocore]

I doubt the 7th street development has had much of an impact on property values in either Faimount or Ryan Place considering they are on opposite sides of 30.

Now all the road improvements and growth from the medical district will have had a nice impact.

Fairmount has a large presence from it's Historic District that brings in lots of attention. Ryan Place has less of a presence, but is gaining.

About 25 years ago when my ex's great aunt died, they were worried about selling her house in the Fairmount area, today there wouldn't be a bit of a problem.