Elena R.

This is exactly the kind of conversation I come here for. Real local takes.

Different districts, different realities. Which part of El Paso are you in?

Does anyone know if there's an update on this? Asking for my neighborhood.

This is why I check this community daily. Information saves lives.

The value here compared to Waterview is significant. Our 2,800 sq ft home with a big backyard cost $395K. A similar house in Waterview would be $500K+. And our kids go to Dorsey, which is a great school.

I switched all my Amazon deliveries to the locker on Lakeview and have not had a single theft since. The minor inconvenience of picking it up is worth the peace of mind.

My favorite detail from 1996 Rowlett: the Rowlett phone directory was a single thin booklet. Everyone was listed. You could find anyone. The city was small enough that everyone was one degree of separation apart. I miss that, honestly.

That KitchenAid mixer for $150 is a steal. Those retail for $350+. I will be there at 8 AM.

We gave up on the bus after the first semester. Carpool with two neighbor families has been infinitely more reliable. Each family drives one week. Kids are happier too.

The city council angle on this is worth watching.

Pro tip: if the lot is full by the time you arrive, the church parking lot on Main St near the station has been allowing DART riders to park for free during weekdays. Unofficial arrangement but it has been going on for over a year. Be respectful and they keep allowing it.

Can someone from the north side weigh in? Curious if it's the same up there.

I let my kids wade at Paddle Point in the spring when the water is cooler and clearer. By midsummer we switch to the pool. That's been our routine for years and nobody's gotten sick.

Fishing license pro tip: if you just want to try it, the Texas one-day freshwater license is $11. Available at any Academy or online.

Primo's $6.99 fajita Monday is the best dinner deal in Rowlett. The fajita plate is legitimately good — not a "deal because it's cheap quality" situation. It's a deal because they want to fill seats on Mondays.

I moved to Rowlett in 2005. The 2006 snapshot is exactly right. No PGBT, no DART, and the question everyone asked was "when are they going to build the tollway?" It felt like we were waiting for something. When PGBT opened, the whole energy changed.

The DART station was the turning point. My property value went up $40K in the year after it opened. Rail access to downtown Dallas from a lake suburb is a rare combination in DFW.

Interesting timing on this. I was just talking about it with my neighbors.

This hits different if you've been in DFW for 10+ years.

For new residents who moved here after 2015: drive through the neighborhoods near Chiesa and Rowlett Rd. Notice how many homes look newer than the rest of the street. Those are the rebuilds. The tornado's path is still visible in the housing stock a decade later.

Been waiting for someone to bring this up. Good thread.

Leaving your worn shirt outside sounds crazy but it WORKS. Our indoor cat got out and came back 36 hours later. She was sitting on my wife's hoodie on the porch when we woke up.

This is exactly why I love this platform. Real DFW conversations.

The DART station crime concern was always overblown. People said it would bring Dallas crime to Rowlett. The data shows it did not. Transit access is a net positive.

Real talk right here. No sugarcoating.

Following. Want to see what others think before I weigh in.