There are lots of factors that determine where you choose to live. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where commute times can easily be more than an hour or two each way, proximity to work is certainly a big factor when deciding where to settle down. The Uptown and Plano business corridors have been fast growing in recent years, with increased housing so workers can live close to their jobs. But now the employment centers seem to be shifting, and residential centers are likely to change as well.

It can be challenging to predict the next new business and population centers, but the Dallas Business Journal predicts that Downtown Dallas and Las Colinas will be the primary spots for business growth based on pending deals and expected leasing activity. 

Where to Live Near Downtown Dallas

Typical Texas homes

Downtown Dallas is a natural next step for businesses that have been priced out of Uptown, where rents are rising based on limited vacancies. Leasing activity and prices per square foot have been steadily increasing since 2016 as downtown experiences a renaissance. As more parks, retail storefronts, and restaurant spaces create the walkable centers people want, businesses are seeing the value of moving back into Downtown Dallas.

So where would workers in Downtown Dallas choose to live, assuming they wanted to get out of the immediate downtown area? Lake Highlands and Richardson are reasonably close suburbs that still have some available affordable housing, so they may benefit from a leasing boom in Downtown. The Cedars neighborhood just south of Downtown will also likely see increased growth in coming years, especially when the Dallas station for the proposed bullet train to Houston opens.

Where to Live Near Las Colinas

Las Colinas, Texas

The other hot spot to watch is Las Colinas. A 2017 Dallas Morning News story declared this DFW area as the neighborhood with the greatest demand for office leasing. According to the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, the most new leases were signed in the first quarter of 2018 in Las Colinas and Downtown Dallas. Las Colinas is also experiencing significant office construction.

Las Colinas is itself a great place to live. The city planners started investing in the entertainment options that lured office developers back to the area. The Toyota Music Factory is a major entertainment complex that features multiple stages for national musical acts, restaurants, an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema movie theater, and a bowling alley. The Water Street development along O’Connor Road and Lake Carolyn also brought new restaurants like Twisted Root Burger Co. and retail space to the mixed-use development. 

The arrival of a new DART Light Rail station in Las Colinas also provided a new public transit option. Close proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport makes Las Colinas an even more desirable office location, and the DART rail line goes to the airport.

While there are thousands of apartment units and houses located in Las Colinas, some people still prefer to live a bit further from work. Nearby suburbs, including Coppell, Grapevine, and Farmers Branch, are family-friendly towns with great schools. But they also offer great access to the airport and shorter commutes from Las Colinas. 

Farmers Branch is already getting ready for the future growth. The Mercer Crossing mixed-use development is planned for 3,000 residents and will have hundreds of houses and apartment homes. Mercer Crossing will also include a 93-acre commercial district which will include retail and restaurant options.

Coppell rated among the best places to live in Time magazine, which lauded the town for its friendly atmosphere, 500 acres of park land, an aquatic center, and two community gardens. The town also has a farmers market in the Old Town Coppell district.

Grapevine is a commuter’s dream. With easy access to multiple state highways like 121, 114, and 635, you can get to any place you need to be without a lot of effort. It’s also right next to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Grapevine has highly-rated schools, a lake, vineyards, and a charming downtown area. 

According to the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, the amount of leased office space in the first quarter of 2018 in Las Colinas is more than triple what was leased in Downtown Dallas. That amount of leasing activity suggests we’ll see much more growth in the areas surrounding Las Colinas as well, such as Coppell and Farmers Branch.