Dallas DUers - I need your help!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

What neighborhoods/cities are near enough to Southwestern Medical Center to permit avoidance of some of the insane Dallas traffic? (Looking at a map doesn't really help; I've been to Dallas several times, but would like to know some inside information.) I've heard Plano is a booming area, but my husband thinks it's too far away. Thanks!

[Maestro]

1. Come south

Look at Midolothian, Waxahachie area. You'd be about 40-45 miles from Southwest Medical but the traffic is much better coming up from the south. I live in Midlothian and work in Irving which is near Southwest Medical. For more info go to http://www.midlothian.tx.us/

[Misunderestimator]

6. My dad lives there

in Midlothian that is...

[GOPisEvil]

2. Plano is pretty far off.

Even Duncanville or DeSoto would be a better commute.

[bmbmd]

3. I graduated from Southwestern

in 1981. The city is nothing like it is now. There are a number of gated apartments in the immediate area. We lived at 2424 Arroyo street just off Lemmon Avenue for a while in a gated apt., and were only minutes away. We then moved out to "Trammel Crow Village" on Northwest Highway, a few blocks east of 75. Great neighborhood, nice apt., good rates, close to the downtown Greenville ave area. Fifteen minutes to Parkland by the Tollway. (Don't ask me about the triple murder one floor beneath us, though-the infamous "Park Avenue" murders of 1980-just recently solved.) The traffic is horrible now from six am to eight pm. Plano is a disaster if you are trying to get to Parkland, even worse fi you are headed to the VA or Baylor. South Dallas has more crime and is generally not as nice as North Dallas. Oaklawn is a bit pricey.

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Are you sure I can't ask you?

I'm curious. I moved here in 94, and I remember hearing about a couple murders/rapes in The Village. The only reason I never moved there was because they didn't take pets. Forget that!

I know they had to set up a separate police substation for the Melody Lane/Park Lane area for awhile because the crime got so bad.

There was a rapist working near Royal/Manderville when I lived there, too.

[bmbmd]

8. We were actually in the Timber Ridge Apts, 8620 Park Lane.

It was a Monday night-the Colts were on TV. The young couple on the ground floor had a friend over and were grilling on the patio, leaving the screen door open. Two drifters came in-killed the neighbor, raped and murdered the girl, and took the guest hostage. The guest worked at the bulk mail center south of I20, and the drifters took him out to the Bulk mail center, ostensibly to rob it. They couldn't get in, so they shot the guy through the mouth and left him for dead. He played possum, then after they left got up and walked to the nearest convenience store to get help. He survived, apparently unharmed. The case was never solved. A few years ago, a guy on death row, I believe in Tennessee, confessed to the crime and ratted on his partner. Case finally closed.

The moral? Don't live on the ground floor, and don't leave your door open.

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Yikes...I've known 2 people who lived in that complex.

As a woman, I've NEVER lived on the ground floor in an apartment. Never.

Thanks for the enlightenment. What a horrible story. I feel so awful for the couple AND their friend.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. And if you're a DUer, avoid Plano anyway.

You'd be miserable there. And it's far removed from everything. Antiseptic, overly Repub, and the drivers are more assholes than they are in any other area of the city in my experience. They feel like they're bulletproof in their SUVs and Lexi, so they'll cut you off as soon as look at you.

The crosstown traffic is a little easier than north/south up and down Central, but not by much.

I would head east just a little way to some older little duplexes near Lakewood/Lower Greenville. They're harder and harder to find now that they're all being torn down for McMansions, but you may still be able to get a good deal. I had a 1-bedroom on Llano for 4 1/2 years-- started at $750 in 1998, and my landlord never raised our rent. (Area bounded by Greenville, Mockingbird, Ross, and Abrams, approximately).

Plus, you're right near EVERYTHING-- independent video stores and theaters, nightlife, Whole Foods, Central Market, plenty of coffee spots, and we used to be able to walk to Cafe Brazil for breakfast, which rocked!

There are still some semi-affordable places near Oak Lawn, and the area has cleaned up quite a bit since I lived off Lemmon in the early 90s. It used to be quite scary, but parts of it are better now.

Avoid 3701 Cedar Plaza, as the landlords are jerks. At least they used to be.

Hope this helps a little....
FSC

[ChickMagic]

7. I work at Southwestern

We live near the high five (635/75) and the commute is not too bad. There are a lot of apartments in that area, duplexes for rent, and houses for sale. It's a pretty diverse community and some great Dems live there!