Houston Suburbs vs DFW Suburbs (Dallas, Fort Worth: tornadoes, earthquakes, live)

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

also earthquakes!

Technically, yeah... but when was the last injury due to earthquake in Texas? The last death? I don't know if there has ever been an earthquake death in Texas. Tornadoes and Hurricanes, on the other had, do cause significant death and destruction in our state.

[tazziman22]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Other than that, the burbs are the same for the most part. Same as you'll find around any big US city except perhaps in the Northeast part of the US.

Since I'm from New Jersey I'd love to know how it's different from the Northeast besides what was said already.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by tazziman22

Since I'm from New Jersey I'd love to know how it's different from the Northeast besides what was said already.

Ok, it's like this... Dallas, Houston and pretty much all the TX cities and sunbelt cities are relatively new to the big-city game.

In the Northeast, you have established suburbs that are significantly older -- so you have a different road infrastructure (boulevards & through streets instead of so many cul-de-sacs), better public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure, different business and retail building styles (traditional vs. strip mall surrounded by surface parking). You are also likely to find more mature trees, as well as long standing architectural rules and building codes.

You won't find suburbs like that here in Texas. Here, you'll find more cul-de-sac style suburbs with a single or just a couple of entries off a main road; no public transportation (nor will there ever be in these burbs -- the residents don't want it), less pedestrian infrastructure, more corporate-style retail architecture (strip malls/surface parking). Building codes may have been very lax in some of these suburbs, and you'll note that in the build quality. Architectural standards were set by the developer, not the cities, so you'll find some "cheapest common denominator" styles. Some suburbs here will have mature trees, and ones like the Woodlands or Kingwood are actually forested, but for the most part the trees cover will be less mature to almost nonexistent.

On the plus side for TX suburbs --

*newer houses mean less maintenance, more energy efficiency
*home building styles have changed such that a typical new middle class house is a castle compared to some of what was standard in the NE. Huge bathrooms, tall ceilings, huge bedrooms, and nice big yards are common and accessible in almost any price range
*cul-de-sac communities, when they work, should be safer (traffic-wise) for kids and probably less likely to experience property crime.
*the newest master-plan communities have tons of amenities
*car-friendly.. big garages and driveways, wide streets, ample free parking

[AK123]

Most of what has already been said is true.

I think the main difference I'd notice would be more variety to the different Houston suburbs simply because of Houston's geographical location. Pine forests on the north and near west side; oaks and prairie on the southwest and south side; and an emphasis on waterside/coastal living on the southeastern side/Bay Area.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Ok, it's like this... Dallas, Houston and pretty much all the TX cities and sunbelt cities are relatively new to the big-city game.

In the Northeast, you have established suburbs that are significantly older -- so you have a different road infrastructure (boulevards & through streets instead of so many cul-de-sacs), better public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure, different business and retail building styles (traditional vs. strip mall surrounded by surface parking). You are also likely to find more mature trees, as well as long standing architectural rules and building codes.

You won't find suburbs like that here in Texas. Here, you'll find more cul-de-sac style suburbs with a single or just a couple of entries off a main road; no public transportation (nor will there ever be in these burbs -- the residents don't want it), less pedestrian infrastructure, more corporate-style retail architecture (strip malls/surface parking). Building codes may have been very lax in some of these suburbs, and you'll note that in the build quality. Architectural standards were set by the developer, not the cities, so you'll find some "cheapest common denominator" styles. Some suburbs here will have mature trees, and ones like the Woodlands or Kingwood are actually forested, but for the most part the trees cover will be less mature to almost nonexistent.

On the plus side for TX suburbs --

*newer houses mean less maintenance, more energy efficiency
*home building styles have changed such that a typical new middle class house is a castle compared to some of what was standard in the NE. Huge bathrooms, tall ceilings, huge bedrooms, and nice big yards are common and accessible in almost any price range
*cul-de-sac communities, when they work, should be safer (traffic-wise) for kids and probably less likely to experience property crime.
*the newest master-plan communities have tons of amenities
*car-friendly.. big garages and driveways, wide streets, ample free parking

Good description!

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by dweej

Don't forget tornadoes in DFW! I think in terms of natural disaster potential, both cities' suburbs have their downsides.

Tornadoes are quite rare in the Dallas area--when they do hit they hit western areas or Fort Worth. Dallas itself hasn't been hit by a tornado in many, many years (knocks on wood). The earthquakes in DFW are barely noticible and are quite rare.

Houston, on the other hand, has been hit by hurricanes on an almost annual basis in recent years. The city is far enough inland to be pretty safe, though--the "Big One" could come, and H-town would flood, but there won't be significant damage like in NOLA or Galveston in 1901.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

Tornadoes are quite rare in the Dallas area--when they do hit they hit western areas or Fort Worth. Dallas itself hasn't been hit by a tornado in many, many years (knocks on wood). The earthquakes in DFW are barely noticible and are quite rare.

Houston, on the other hand, has been hit by hurricanes on an almost annual basis in recent years. The city is far enough inland to be pretty safe, though--the "Big One" could come, and H-town would flood, but there won't be significant damage like in NOLA or Galveston in 1901.

Tornadoes are not rare to the Dallas area.....

[AK123]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

Houston, on the other hand, has been hit by hurricanes on an almost annual basis

Not true.

[First24]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

Tornadoes are not rare to the Dallas area.....

It's been 52 years since there has been a deadly tornado outbreak in Dallas. Tornadoes are rare in Dallas County and the Mid Cities portions of the Metroplex. The majority of severe storms in DFW move from West to East and Ft Worth's westside usually acts as a buffer zone.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Dangerfield

It's been 52 years since there has been a deadly tornado outbreak in Dallas. Tornadoes are rare in Dallas County and the Mid Cities portions of the Metroplex. The majority of severe storms in DFW move from West to East and Ft Worth's westside usually acts as a buffer zone.

That is still the Dallas area. You guys get atleast 5 tornado warnings a year.