Best suburb for a middle-aged, single professional? (Dallas, Fort Worth: apartment complex, rentals)

[peloton111]

Most of the advice here is geared towards young professionals. Here's a challenge; where would you live if you were a 50 year old single professional with no kids (school district is not important) and working in Southlake?

Being close to cultural activities is important. Being close to bars/night clubs not so much.

Judging by the comments here, uptown in Dallas and downtown Ft. Worth is more appropriate for a younger crowd. However, the suburbs are family oriented. Where's the middle ground?

[BigT3x]

The Park Cities, if you can afford it.

[TurtleCreek80]

Budget and commute tolerance (minutes, each way) will help give better answers.

But if proximity to culture is important, it's going to be a similar list of in-town neighborhoods:
Dallas- central and west side neighborhoods like the Park Cities, North Dallas/Preston Hollow, Bluffview/ Devonshire/ Greenway Park, possibly Oak Lawn or Turtle Creek if you want a high rise or townhome

Fort Worth- neighborhoods by TCU (Tanglewood, etc) for single family homes and museum district for denser/walkable/ urban living.

[ChristieP]

Definitely need to know your budget, buying vs. renting, and desired commute.

Unless you love commuting and sitting in traffic, Oak Lawn, Park Cities, etc. are not going to work for a job in Southlake.

[peloton111]

Thanks for all the great responses. I'm interested in renting with a budget of around $1,600 (1BR). A commute time of 30 to 45 minutes each way would be acceptable.

I've considered Ft Worth (West 7th) but if I'm not mistaken the commute would be similar to a Dallas in-town location.

[ChristieP]

Downtown Fort Worth to Southlake is not fun. You either have to take the long way with the trains and construction (35W to 170 to 114), or fight traffic and construction on 121/114, or go through all of the school zones on 26. Yes, it's similar to commuting from Dallas.

Have you considered downtown Grapevine? Specifically, this apartment complex: 925mainstreet.com There are many people your age who live in this complex! Downtown Grapevine has a local theatre company, Opry, etc.

Las Colinas is also a possibility, although there is less cultural activities there. They do have a symphony.

[Willsson]

Being close to cultural activities is important. Being close to bars/night clubs not so much.

...uptown in Dallas and downtown Ft. Worth is more appropriate for a younger crowd. However, the suburbs are family oriented. Where's the middle ground?

If a drive from 'in town' Dallas is not a problem then Oak Lawn may be a good solution, especially to the NORTH side of Lemmon. This is an area of more adult professionals who have settled into townhomes that have replaced houses. The drive might be a bore, especially around the north end of DFW. I always found that to be a bit tedious.

OTOH, Las Colinas or something just off 114 is suitable as an alternative and puts you mid-way between work and inner city and easy access to downtown Dallas or access to 183 to Fort Worth. There's an abundance of mid-aged professionals in this area for many of whom bars are not necessarily required. You'll find the social event of the week may be Thursday after work at a local watering hole.

Not all cultural events are happening in Uptown or downtown.

Some would recommend Addison. That too, would be suitable for your criteria.

[Metro Matt]

Las Colinas definitely.

Addison is way too far from Southlake, especially with the way they're getting ready to rip 635 up & do a complete makeover.

[GreyDay]

Townhomes in Southlake Square (center?) are pretty nice with alo of shopping nearby.

[expatChicagoan]

Originally Posted by GreyDay

Townhomes in Southlake Square (center?) are pretty nice with alo of shopping nearby.

There are no rental apartments in Southlake; the townhomes in Southlake Town Center are not rentals, and I'm pretty sure that if someone was to rent out their home, it wouldn't be for $1,600 a month, sorry to say