The Big D Weighs in on Urban Living

This month the Dallas Morning News held a little informal poll on the topic of raising children in Downtown Dallas. Apparently there are TEN families with children there. (Of course, this isn’t Chicago – a small fraction of the economic activity in the Metroplex occurs in downtown Dallas.) Despite having no retail (Nieman-Marcus doesn’t count,) very little nightlife, or for that matter life at all, there’s been something of a loft space boom (i.e. loads of office space that’s had its tenants move North) in the area of late. The responses from random Dallasites, I thought, were fascinating. Economics totally aside, there is a psychological idea of the good life that may be impossible to overcome. The notable absence of children of Learning from Chicago has deep roots, justified or not, in the psyche of the average person. There’s probably some of Christopher Alexander’s work at Berkeley that addresses this, but the mainstream architectural community never seems to care. Without children, you miss the middle-aged high-income households that drive the urban engine. N.B. “Frisco” refers to a distant Northern suburb, not the City by the Bay. Note the grammar and spelling in some of the suburban entries.

The Question: Would you consider raising children in Downtown Dallas?

May 31, 2006 09:22 p.m.
Kids need grass and their own yard and a dog and a cat -- not a couple of selfish parents more interested in being hip and cool than providing a good home environment for their children.
May 31, 2006 09:21 p.m.
Absolutely not. I wouldn't live there as an empty nester!
May 31, 2006 09:12 p.m.
absolutely no environment to raise a balance child.
May 31, 2006 09:09 p.m.
I absolutely would. Most suburbs look the same and offer the same thing from coast to coast. On the other hand, most downtowns are unique to the area and offer so much more. Most things are within walking distance and what's not is easily reached by train and bus if need be. My girlfriend and I live in Downtown Dallas and we've talked about raising children there. It is only a matter of time.
May 31, 2006 09:09 p.m.
Sure, you gain just as many great lifestyle elements by living downtown as you do by living out in the suburbs. I don't think a family in Frisco has the opportunity to literally walk down the street and have access to venues like the DMA, the Nasher, the Meyerson, shopping, and other great arts and entertainment options. It's called "walk to life" versus "driving everywhere all the time".
May 31, 2006 09:01 p.m.
No, thank you. I work downtown and hate the garbage I see every day. I love living in the burbs.
May 31, 2006 09:00 p.m.
No I would not. Personanlly, I prefer country living where it quieter, less smog, and less traffic.