Looking to move for SMU job

Posted by Hot_Saguaro@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 20 comments

My partner is looking at potentially taking a job at SMU. We would want to be in walking or biking distance of the campus along with having restaurants and breweries in walking distance as well.

I'm not too wild about moving to TX as where I grew up we would not be welcomed; unmarried, liberal, no kids, 2 pitties. He keeps telling me Dallas is different but I think he has academic blinders on. What say you?

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DoubleBookingCo@reddit

Dallas is huge and full of liberals. You'll find your crowd here. I have a huge and varied friend group of mostly artist and creative types and rarely meet people that have offensive political views. I know the trumpers exist here, but I don't really encounter them in the places I frequent.

I would recommend visiting for a week and getting your bearings. SMU as a campus is walkable, and sandwiched between two generally walkable developments/shopping centers: Snyder Plaza and Mockingbird Station.

Mockingbird Station is a stop on our light rail line that gets you to more shopping, bar, and restaurant options Uptown and Downtown pretty quickly. It is also on the Katy Trail, a bike/walking trail that connects to Uptown and Oak Lawn, and ends in Victory Park (Downtown neighborhood).

You'll want to look up our trail system and DART rail map if you plan on not using a car. Although it is possible to live here without a car, life is made much easier with one.

Neighborhoods that are within somewhat easy bike access of the SMU Campus that have bars/restaurants around are listed below, with bike travel times:

Lower Greenville / M Streets (5-10 mins via streets)
Lowest Greenville (15-20 mins via streets)
Knox / Henderson (7-10 mins via Katy Trail)
Mockingbird Station [Development] (2-5 mins)
The Village [Mega Apartment Development with cool community] (10 mins via streets)
West Village (12-20 mins via Katy Trail, 5 mins via DART Rail to Mockingbird Station)
Turtle Creek / North Oak Lawn (15-20 mins via Katy Trail or Streets)

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roses_are_red_001@reddit

I moved here recently and I believe you’d find plenty of people welcoming!

I’m a dog walker/sitter and have cared for numerous pitties and have never had anyone bat an eye while I have been out and about with them! Plenty of people have them and accept them!

I’m from Denver which I will say is a bit more liberal than here but I have found most people here are very understanding of different views. I am living with my fiancé (boyfriend when we moved) and we don’t have kids and almost everyone I’ve met doesn’t bat an eye when I say we live together. I have even told plenty of people I work with that we don’t want kids (they asked when we got engaged) and none have really cared? Or at least didn’t say anything?

My main concern has been safety. I’ve felt unsafe here quite frequently compared to other places I live. SMU area will probably be better and with the appropriate safety precautions I’ve been fine but it is something to consider

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Klutzy_Opportunity53@reddit

You could bike there from Lower Greenville. I moved here in Jan and would have a lot of positive things to say about Dallas. Walkability would not be one of them

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jerichowiz@reddit

I will say that the only issue would be breweries, as there isn't a brewery within walking or biking unless long distance biking is your thing. But they are plentiful, and some really good ones: Peticolas, Manhattan Project, Oak Cliff, Texas Ale Project, Four Corners, Celestial, Lakewood, Oak Highlands, Odd Muse, Bitter Sisters, Four Bullets, 3 Nations, Vector, On Rotation, with two meaderies and a cidery, all within reasonable driving distance.

*Note: To anyone that is going to say I missed this brewery or that, it is probably I haven't been to it, and I am not going to bash a brewery on this sub.

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fridahl@reddit

He’s right.

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Due-Coast-TX@reddit

Dallas is different. Lived in Dallas for 50 years, went to SMU for undergrad and worked in various areas and I can say you will feel at home as long as you are social and open. To me it feels small for a large city. Consider living around Cedar Springs, used to be called something I will not repeat here but you will love the vibe and places to eat and drink. It’s very close to SMU and everything else.

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SFAFROG@reddit

Gayborhood?

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Xnuiem@reddit

That's my guess. Unless they are old enough to remember when that stretch was not a great place.

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Hot_Saguaro@reddit (OP)

Thanks you are making me hopeful!!!

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nihouma@reddit

I used to live right off Mockingbird station, which is a transit station/mixed use development within walking distance of SMU. I'm gay, and have never had issues existing as my authentic self in Dallas, or over next to SMU.

I don't think you'll encounter many people who will judge you for being liberal in Dallas, or unmarried, or without kids. And if you do encounter those people, fuck 'em, because they are sad, miserable people looking to make you the same. If that's your only fear about living in Dallas, you'll be fine. Dallas is very liberal

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MyDentistIsACat@reddit

I can’t think of anyone in dallas that would bat an eye at your home life. I mean people might just assume you’re married but they’re not going to clutch their pearls and faint when you correct them.

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donteven3@reddit

SMU pay is notoriously bad for staff.

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Aster007@reddit

Lower Greenville and cedar springs would be good. Are you gonna rent or buy? There are many renting options! For buying, it depends on your budget…we have some condos from our office listings in that area…you can DM me for details on those or any help with real estate. My details are in the profile.

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NintendogsWithGuns@reddit

Almost every major city in Texas is blue. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, etc. It’s the podunk town and wealthy suburbs that lean right, but even then I know plenty of queer people that live out in the sticks with zero issue. In fact, the only time my brother-in-law had ever been called a homophobic slur was after he moved to Denver, which is stereotypically a “liberal” place.

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txchiefsfan02@reddit

You'll be fine, as long as you live east of 75/Central Expressway.

It's a different world from the bubble around the main SMU campus, which is in University Park, an enclave of stuff you won't be as wild about. You'll have plentiful options within a ~20 walk to campus, and SMU runs shuttles that run through most of the popular rental areas east of 75. If you're looking to buy immediately, there are some older midrise condos/townhomes, and single family homes a bit further to the east across Skillman.

The city is spending a lot of $$$ on the new University Crossing Trail that connects SMU with the eastern trail system, and allows you to go all the way to White Rock Lake (arguably Dallas's best feature). There is also a DART stop at Mockingbird Station on the edge of the SMU campus, if you're inclined towards public transit.

The only thing you'll have to travel for is breweries, but there are plenty if that's your jam. Start with Peticolas in the Design District.

I've lived in this area for more than a decade, so feel free to ask any more specific questions.

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spargonaut@reddit

Hello.

Your post is missing some details.

DFW is BIG and has a lot to offer.

Please update your post to include:

Your budget, or the price range you're looking for

You'll get better responses from the community if you're more specific and follow some of the suggestions in the pinned thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/askdfw/comments/blnkzt/posting_a_question_be_specific/

You might also have a look around in this subreddit to see if anyone else has already asked or answered your question

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evanallenrose@reddit

Check out “lower” Greenville avenue, south and east of the corner of Mockingbird and Central Expressway/US 75. SMU is in a different city, University Park, and housing prices and politics are far different on that side of 75 than the east side. Lower Greenville has the blue, bars, and vibes you’re looking for and though walking and biking aren’t usually recommended, it’s doable and close to SMU

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Hot_Saguaro@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much!!!

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DistributionStreet58@reddit

expensive apartments and duplexes near SMU easily walkable, bikeable. Plenty of restaurants, no breweries nearby. University Park community is well to do, family oriented and very Republican. Not a lot of diversity. “Cheaper” housing would be 20-30 minutes away by car.

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Ineffable2024@reddit

Dallas is different. Cities generally are. I wouldn't worry about this at all. I'm not completely familiar with the area around SMU, but from what I recall, if you are in walking or biking distance to there you will also have restaurants and breweries around.