It is a very rainy morning in Downtown Dallas today, and the coffee shop at the Joule Hotel is still very animated. Most people are connected to some sort of device, but there is also a loud crowd that colors the scene: Young kids walking around and stopping by for a coffee or fashion lovers shopping at the store next door. I found that odd for some reason. If this was downtown New York, LA, London, any other big city, this type of crowd would go unnoticed, but during my last 11 years spent here I was always under the impression that Downtown was mostly a ghost town, especially during mornings like this. Not too many people walking, not too many shops and especially not too many options for a good coffee. Things are slowly changing and I am so excited to see Dallas becoming the city it deserves to be! As I am starting this blog, I realize how much I really don’t know about Dallas, the place I have been calling home for over a decade, but I also realize it is the first time I am excited to find out where it came from and especially where it is going. Our city is growing fast and in new dimensions. There are 7000 people moving here daily, helping transform and transition Dallas into an international metropolis. Reasons? The strength of the local economy is becoming undeniable even to the most skeptical investors. No concerns for capital here and the job growth combined with the low cost of living are attracting people from all over the world. In the upcoming blog series “Metamorphosis” I will be featuring Dallas’ neighborhoods and trends, so stay tuned, but there are some things that are certainly moving us into a whole new direction:
REAL ESTATE:
The low purchase prices in the commercial and residential aspect are still attracting investors. New faces moving here bring cultural diversity, changing the Real Estate trends. If few years ago people were eager to buy the big beautiful house in the suburbs, now the cool thing to do is to own a pad in the city. Older neighborhoods around Downtown are reviving! New and exciting high-rises are being built and the architectural landscape is more daring than ever. There are approximately 30000 apartments under construction in DFW this year and they are ready to satisfy every requirement one might have, from amazing city views to dog parks and rooftop pools.
LOCAL ECONOMY:
Texas’ strong local economy has always been undeniable, but in the last few years the younger generations are consciously supporting it. Enjoying a Texas brewed beer at a restaurant using local raised produce is the thing to do on a Friday afternoon, while neighborhood coffee shops are everyone’s favorite meeting spots. We really think everything made in TX is better!
HOME OF THE BIG CORPORATIONS
Whether it is Neiman Marcus, American Airlines or Toyota, just to name a few, all these giants love Dallas for their home base. Low taxes and the advantage of a Central Time Zone, combined with a very well operated DFW Airport- which allows anyone to catch a 3hrs flight to any major city in the US- offer the perfect business setup.
TECH INDUSTRY:
Dallas has been named by Smart Asset, the country’s fourth best Tech city in which to work. Home of the TX Instruments and Mark Cuban’s Shark Tank fame, Dallas has many fast growing VC-founded companies with IT service provider.
THE ARTS:
The Dallas Arts District is the largest in the nation, laying over 68 acres and covering 19 streets. It took 30 years in the making and it includes performance halls, residences, corporate offices, churches, restaurants, museums and even a school.
PARKS AND LANDMARKS:
The Dallas Park System is one of the largest in the nation, with 381 parks and includes everything from signature parks, grand public places, trail systems, dog parks and open spaces.
If I managed to get your interest in what Dallas has to offer and how it is transforming, please make sure to follow my monthly blog where I will be uncovering and rediscovering Dallas and hopefully make you fall in love, just like I did!
Written by DENISA ULLOA
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