Way OT - DFW members' help requested

Labeeb · Feb 15, 2007

I will, with about 90% certainty, be moving into the DFW Metroplex come the end of May. I loved all parts of the Metroplex I went to, but now it's time to start considering places to live. Being that I've lived in SC for the last 1 1/2 years I have been subject to awful ISPs. Dallas has Verizon FIOS availability and I have to get with the 21st century again when it comes to internet access. I will be looking to rent in one of the following areas. Of the areas listed, are there any that you would particularly stay AWAY from?

Carrollton, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV Available.
Coppell, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV Available.
Dallas, Texas, Installation available in some areas.
Denton, Texas, Installation available in most areas. FiOS TV Available.
Flower Mound, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV Available.
Garland, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV available.
Grapevine, Texas, Installation available in most areas. FiOS TV available.
Irving, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV available.
Keller, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV available.
Lewisville, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV available.
Murphy, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV Available.
Plano, Texas, Installation available in some areas. FiOS TV available.
Parker, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV Available
Rowlett, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV available.
Sachse, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV available.
Southlake, Texas, Installation available in most areas. FiOS TV available.
Wylie, Texas, Installation is complete. FiOS TV available.

G.MONEY · Feb 15, 2007

I say..Look to move to Chicago...and this thread needs a bump to the top any way!

Labeeb · Feb 15, 2007

G. MONEY said:
I say..Look to move to Chicago...and this thread needs a bump to the top any way!

Come on now...you know my stance on cold weather. I was reffing soccer tonight in the cold for three hours. That's enough for me!

TheFalls · Feb 15, 2007

Those are all good spots for the most part. You want to be close to your job location. Dallas is ranked like 3rd in the nation for road rage because traffic is a bitch at peak hours, especially when there is any form of precipitation coming down.

Safest bets for sure: Coppell, Grapevine, Plano, Southlake, and parts of Dallas.
Frisco and Mckinney are two of the fastest growing cities in the nation as well-but a little north.

Wait! I didn't see Garland. Garland sucks.

Labeeb · Feb 15, 2007

Interesting you mention the traffic. As compared to Philly, the traffic seemed to be a breeze. Rush hour only lasted about an hour, with no bumper to bumper activity. This was around the Arlington/Grand Prarie sections of the belt.

My workplace will more than likely be AA center.

TheFalls · Feb 16, 2007

Traffic problems are limited to a few hwys; it is nothing like LA.
Depending on what you have in mind, I would look in to moving to Mansfield. It is a little south of Arlington, but it is nice.

And 360 in Arlington is AWFUL.

Labeeb · Feb 16, 2007

The Falls said:
Traffic problems are limited to a few hwys; it is nothing like LA.
Depending on what you have in mind, I would look in to moving to Mansfield. It is a little south of Arlington, but it is nice.

And 360 in Arlington is AWFUL.

I'll definitely keep that in mind. I was in Arlington, about a mile from the Ballpark and Six Flags and the traffic wasn't terrible. But I know I don't want any parts of Arlington once the Cowboys new pad is ready for business.

How long of a commute would Mansfield be?

djking · Feb 16, 2007

Labeeb said:
I'll definitely keep that in mind. I was in Arlington, about a mile from the Ballpark and Six Flags and the traffic wasn't terrible. But I know I don't want any parts of Arlington once the Cowboys new pad is ready for business.

How long of a commute would Mansfield be?

hey, did you hear the Fantasy Ranch is now a bikini Bar?

maxdemo · Feb 16, 2007

I live in Dallas for a few years and the one thing I could not understand was why is everything north of Downtown?? Most cities have a n-s-e-w and with Dallas there isnt much to the south..so if you get a good place to the south you shouldn't have to deal w/ much traffic. The central expressway is a bitch during rush hour...JMO

Labeeb · Feb 17, 2007

Any other opinions? I'm sure we have more than just a couple of DFW residents here...

Thanks to The Falls and Max.

barman · Feb 17, 2007

LABEEB, I'm a 37 year native of DFW and know it well. Though I left nine years ago, I visited last year four times for a combined 3 weeks and really got around the whole area.

Clarify "AA Center"...you mean up at the top of 360 near 121? (crossover area between Arlington, Ft Worth, west side of Irving)

"Central Expressway", aka US 75 going north out of downtown is far, far better than when I left in 1997.

Hell, until about 1993-5 range, Central was only four lanes from downtown up past Walnut Hill.

Now it's 8-10 lanes all the way from downtown up to almost McKinney (30+ miles)

LBJ-635 same as it ever was (8-10 lanes most areas with a decent cluster fudge at I-35 and US75 junctions.

360 going north/south is one stretch I didn't catch last year. When I was there for brief stay in 2005, I noticed that it still jams up going south when you hit I-30 (SixFlags, Ballpark etal). Then it slightly fattens again going down to I-20 (which is where you would then turn west for about 15 miles to get to Mansfield with I-20 also being solid 8-10 lanes.

Wouldn't worry too much about Cowboy complex except on game days and even then it should be pretty smooth.

When they built the Temple of Baseball they created some pretty good flyway ramps off of I-30 which help dump most of traffic into the sports complex and I'm sure the Cowboys crib will utilize those and maybe add another.

Anyway...clarify more on your work location.

dowhat · Feb 17, 2007

The traffic does suck. The Tex DoT couldn't plan shit for road building.

You have a bunch of nice areas your looking at. I live in S.Garland, it's not bad, but I would rather live in N.Garland given the choice. The City of Garland has done a great job with their golf park of 63 holes.

Murphy is booming with new homes. Close to Plano Muni golf course, ok course.

If you like to golf, there are numerous courses for you to choose all over the DFW area.

dowhat · Feb 17, 2007

one more thing, here is the station you may want to listen to. The ticket, sports and comedy. Give it a listen for a week and you will be hooked. Saturday is a good listen, 8-10am The TeeBox, 10am-12pm the Orphanage(sp?).

Labeeb · Feb 17, 2007

Thanks for the additional info guys.

Barman, by AA Center I was referring to American Airlines Center, home to the Stars and Mavs.

Labeeb · Feb 17, 2007

Dowhat...golf is definitely on my agenda. I'm not a good player by any means, but certainly want to be able to work on my game. a 63 hole gold park sure sounds enticing...

barman · Feb 17, 2007

Aiigggghtt, Labeeb.

AA Center (the arena) would be a solid hour from Mansfield most mornings and afternoons.

I'd point you instead to Irving, North Grand Prairie/East side of Arlington.

Anywhere north of Irving (Carrollton, Coppell, Lewisville, Grapevine) is going to likely be more expensive, though all are similar drives into your job via 114 (merges with I-35 just past Texas Stadium) or I-35.

Pretty good haul to AA Center from Garland.

Richardson a pretty nice spot...Quick jump onto 635-West>Dallas North Tollway turn south and straight into the AA Center parking lot.

I graduated Richardson High way back in day.

Labeeb · Feb 18, 2007

After talking with a friend who lives in Arlington a little more extensively, I think I'm going to focus my search on the Plano/Richardson area. I realized that since I will more than likely be living in an apartment for the first few years I'm down there, FIOS won't likely be an option so the commute to Dallas becomes even more important. Plano and Richardson are both nice areas and have access to DART. I'm thinking I might do DART instead of driving in everyday. There are more than enough trains to where I wouldn't be captive to the schedule and the monthly pass rate is dirt cheap.

I'm looking at a place in Richardson, Block 24. Anyone know anything about this spot?

barman · Feb 20, 2007

Be more specific. What is "Block 24"?

Agree with your thinking on DART...Hadn't thought about that aspect in previous postings.

They were just getting the rail going when I left in 1997 and upon my return last year I see they have it going all the way to freaking McKinney (up I75). Not sure about the rest.

But bottom line is that from Plano or Richardson, yes you catch train downtown and then I'm sure there's a single busline that would run up past the AA Center.

You can get a lot of work done on the train (reading, writing and research etc), especially if you have a laptop.

barman · Feb 20, 2007

der...I coulda looked at Google first

Block 24 is a bit out there for this old 1970/80s Richardson boy.

By that I mean, way out there to the northeast corner of town.

Back in my day (he reminisces fondly), that was open farm fields where we would take our dates after the school dance, if you know what I mean and I think you do.

BUT, TIME FLIES...And now it's all developed.

Plus I see the GW Bush Tollway is right there. (That wasn't even started when I left in 1997 and now it's a freaking 10+ lane speedway that wraps the north and east side of Dallas County....solid)

ANYWAY...you're looking at maybe a ten minute ride in the morning west on Arapaho Road to train line going downtown.

And for sure that area of Richardson is pure-D suburbia, so you've got all the suburban amenities for shopping, movies, malls, late night 7-11.

OH YEAH...here's another tidbit which may or may not be important to you personally. Check with your friends locally about where alcohol can be sold in stores.

Texas and DFW are a bevy of inconsistency as they permit "wet" and "dry" areas.

Used to be city by city, but that's even different depending on where in Dallas you are. Some parts wet, some dry.

Most restaurants that traditionally serve alcohol elsewhere do serve "alcohol by the drink" all over the county.

But sales in stores are more random.

Funny...a local Plano friend just mentioned that, "As of Jan 1 Richardson finally started allowing sale of beer in stores", which was for sure a new deal.

Richardson was always dry before that. We had to drive anywhere from 5 to 8 miles west or south to purchase beer or liquor.

But a lot of that has changed since I left...so if that's a convenience you like, find out from your local contacts.

Labeeb · Feb 20, 2007

I'm looking at a 30 minutes train ride from Arapahoe to where I need to get in the city. Then about a 4/5 mile walk to work. All told, about an hour from doorstep to desk.

As for liquor sales, I originially hail from the great state of Pennsylvania, where sales were limited to "state stores" which sometimes meant long commutes to get what you need. It's better here in SC, save Sundays thanks to the blue laws. So I'm thinking I'll get by in DFW.

Thanks for all of the info Barman!

Way OT - DFW members' help requested

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