Interesting, fun and friendly communities of every size and style can be found in and around Dallas. That only makes it harder for new residents to decide exactly where they want to settle. They must weigh a long list of factors. Logistically, the particular neighborhood may determine the cost, size, age and style of a home. Don’t forget the tax rates, school districts, city services, recreational facilities and commute times involved in relocation!

From both a social and psychological standpoint, your neighborhood reflects your personality, values and lifestyle. It also determines things such as economic opportunity and future friendships. Fortunately for all Dallas newcomers, whether they want to live in the center of urban action or prefer the natural serenity of the countryside, the greater Dallas area has neighborhoods to meet every expectation.

This chapter provides a brief overview of DFW’s many relocation options. Once you start reading, you may be tempted to visit every neighborhood, city and suburb mentioned. Exploration is highly recommended! There are residences to meet every taste and budget here, and househunting Dallasites will discover something new around every corner. Enjoy getting to know DFW!

In Dallas’ early days, many residents chose to live close to downtown. Neighborhoods near the heart of the city thrived as Dallas grew. In time, however, it became the trend for to move into the suburbs. Some of the “in-town” neighborhoods were forgotten and fell into decline.

Today, that has changed. Many city of Dallas neighborhoods are making a comeback, thanks to preservation and restoration efforts. The more than 160 neighborhoods inside Loop 12 (also called Northwest Highway) are filled with a variety of conveniences and price options for young families as well as longtime homeowners.

To learn more about Dallas’ great neighborhoods and their histories, contact the Dallas Preservation Center (2922 Swiss Ave.) about the advantages of living within Loop 12. The preservation center features the Intown Living Center, the Preservation Resource Library and Archives. There you will find printed and digital information about neighborhoods, cultural opportunities, schools, shopping, recreation, housing and various local amenities. Preservation Dallas is a private, nonprofit organization that works to protect Dallas’ heritage through many different programs:

• The group provides educational public seminars, conferences and workshops.
• Neighborhood support efforts help residents face challenges such as appropriate zoning, designation and preservation of significant buildings/sites.
• The citywide Discover Dallas! historical survey identifies significant properties originating in the 19th century through the 1960s.
• Intown Living Center maintains neighborhood notebooks, an interactive multimedia display with information on select neighborhoods, and knowledgeable staff members to help answer questions.
• Tours of the historic Wilson Block and St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church teach visitors about historic landmarks and the potential impact of preservation efforts.

For more information, contact the preservation center at 214-821-3290. Read on to get some specifics about several key in-town neighborhoods.

Nestled east of downtown Dallas, Deep Ellum is noted as an eclectic entertainment and arts district. The atmosphere is blanketed with avantgarde shops, hot nightclubs, art galleries, savory restaurants and a growing influx of trendy loft and urban apartment developments. Deep Ellum living is building interest as downtown Dallas strives to enhance its residential community and lure people away from settling into the distant suburbs. Deep Ellum offers a style all its own. The height of the buildings is limited, the streets are narrow and many buildings are under renovation.

Originally, Deep Ellum was established as “freedman’s town” by former slaves after the Civil War. Back in the 1880s the area was considered too far from downtown Dallas to be a perceived as a respectable address. Positioned on Elm Street, just east of the Houston and Texas Central tracks near the depot, the area was referred to as Deep Elm affectionately pronounced “Deep Ellum.”