Denton: A Money Magazine Top U.s. City

[PlummMeanGreen]

This in the Sunday Dallas Morning News HomeCenter--Section N:

Money magazine recently named Denton as one of the country's best places to live on its 2006 Best Small Cities list.

The magazine considered over 745 cities with populations over 50,000.

The magazine looked at "small livable cities that had the best possible blend of good jobs, low crime, plenty of open space, rational home prices and lots to do."

.................................

The article went on to say the only thing Denton seemed to be lacking was a 40,000 seat (minimum) NCAA D1-A college football stadium, but it added that good news would soon be on the way for that, too. (Well, uh .............this last sentence was not part of the article at all but it is certainly part of many long time dreams, now isn't it )?

Edited February 4, 2007 by PlummMeanGreen

[UNTflyer]

They obviously didn't try to merge on I-35E on a Saturday afternoon.

[UNTFan23]

If you think traffic sucks now, wait until they start reworking I35E ... whenever that is.

[Green Mean]

Traffic will get bad but they dont plan on closing lanes do they? If they do then I would not be surprised if some people started moving out of Denton. The traffic is mad rediculous there.

[UNT_playmaker]

This in the Sunday Dallas Morning News HomeCenter--Section N:

Money magazine recently named Denton as one of the country's best places to live on its 2006 Best Small Cities list.

The magazine considered over 745 cities with populations over 50,000.

The magazine looked at "small livable cities that had the best possible blend of good jobs, low crime, plenty of open space, rational home prices and lots to do."

.................................

The article went on to say the only thing Denton seemed to be lacking was a 40,000 seat (minimum) NCAA D1-A college football stadium, but it added that good news would soon be on the way for that, too. (Well, uh .............this last sentence was not part of the article at all but it is certainly part of many long time dreams, now isn't it )?

Plumm, I think you meant to say a 40,000 to 45,000 seat two-tier stadium.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Traffic will get bad but they dont plan on closing lanes do they? If they do then I would not be surprised if some people started moving out of Denton. The traffic is mad rediculous there.

Of course, if the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would move on with their plans to widen I35E (especially in the Fouts Field vicinity) this could alleviate many of Denton's congestion.

Will be interestesting to see all the new road configurations as to how our fans will get in and out of the Mean Green Village to both interstates when that new "2 tier 40-45,000 seat stadium" is completed.

I highlighted the "lots to do" in the initial post for all those UNT students thru the years who said there was nothing to do in Denton. Of course, some might ask: Just what is it that they want to do that they can't do in Denton?

And its like one of new MG Coach Todd Dodge's most recent recruits said (and I paraphrase): "I came up there to see the campus and I saw much more than I would have ever believed."

Folks, we really do have a most sellable campus and also the city which is headquarters for our main campus (at least Money magazine seems to think we do).

[ColoradoEagle]

The main problem with Denton is (and has been for a while) the lack of a decent mall. Now that this new company has bought GTM and is saying they'll be putting $50 million into it, as well as Rayzor Ranch opening over the next few years, it shouldn't be much of a problem for too much longer. I'm sure it'll be a while before you get nearly everyone staying in town, and even then, you have a lot of freshmen every year who can't resist the temptation of going home every weekend for something familiar.

I think what it'll take is the school taking away the right of freshmen to park their cars on campus, the two malls being ready to go, and an improved transit system to keep people in town. But by then I bet the train will be complete and you'll have an all new ability to easily get to lower greenville from Denton very cheaply. Who knows.

Edited February 5, 2007 by ColoradoEagle

[Green Mean]

Do you think $50 million dollars is enough to really save that mall? I really think the city should consider in getting a new mall but get a big one like Vista Ridge in Lewisville, Grapevine Mills, or perhaps something like a Firewheel in Rowlett/Garland. I think GTM is a little too small so I think putting $50 million to GTM would be like spending the proposed $30 million or so dollars in the Cotton Bowl. I think they need to go with a big mall with a alot of food places, and even a theatre. That would totally give Denton yet another facelift and would benefit the whole area. Maybe I am just thinking too big here but if you're gonna do it you might as well do it right and think for the future.

[ColoradoEagle]

The plans call for a new food court and an IMAX theater. All of Stonebriar Center in Frisco was $200 million from what I remember, so $50 million is nothing to sneeze at for a structure that already exists.

[PlummMeanGreen]

The plans call for a new food court and an IMAX theater. All of Stonebriar Center in Frisco was $200 million from what I remember, so $50 million is nothing to sneeze at for a structure that already exists.

Of course, $50 million can go a long ways in doing so many things.

[UNTflyer]

If you think traffic sucks now, wait until they start reworking I35E ... whenever that is.

Last I heard is the widening project will start in 2012.

[meangreendork]

While they fix I35E, they should go ahead and rework the on and off ramps. Those things are deathtraps! Have you guys seen the southbound on-ramp at Ft Worth Dr? It's not a ramp, it's a house driveway!

[ColoradoEagle]

It's either that one or the one at Teasley where you have to make such a sharp turn to the right that, depending on your car, you can't go above 30-40mph and then have to gun it to 60-70 to merge within about 25 feet. The cops should monitor traffic through town more on I35E. They could rake in the cash.

Edited February 7, 2007 by ColoradoEagle

[untbowler]

one thing I definately do not miss about Denton/DFW is the traffic. Littl Rock is a such a breeze going same distance.

[meangreendork]

It's either that one or the one at Teasley where you have to make such a sharp turn to the right that, depending on your car, you can't go above 30-40mph and then have to gun it to 60-70 to merge within about 25 feet. The cops should monitor traffic through town more on I35E. They could rake in the cash.

You can do that in a car with a low center of gravity, but not in an SUV. The Ft Worth Dr ramp makes you turn left to get onto it at an odd angle, so that you can't accelerate beyond 35 as you get near it, and then it cuts onto the freeway so you have to slow down again, then hammer the pedal to get up to speed. It's to the point where I just find a straight line onto the ramp (rubbing the small curb a bit) and just gun it the whole way, hoping I don't get clipped by some 18-wheeler going at 70mph or slam into the back of grandma, going at 35mph.

I won't even get started on the CONTINUING mess that is Loop288. I've seen entire overpass junctions (such as the 635/75 central meetup) built in less time than 288 has taken to switch from a 2-lane bridge, to a 2-lane surface, then to another 2-lane surface on the other half and...blast it.

[mean gruene]

I worked in the mall from 2002-2006 and the problem with the gtm is that its known around the metroplex as the sell mall. The reason for this is because the people that shop the mall will not buy at full price. Due to this trend in shopping a number of stores have moved out to the 288 loop area or just shut their doors for good. This is also a problem in malls like Collin Creek too.

[NT Drummer]

While they fix I35E, they should go ahead and rework the on and off ramps. Those things are deathtraps! Have you guys seen the southbound on-ramp at Ft Worth Dr? It's not a ramp, it's a house driveway!

Obviously some of the ramps have never been changed since the interstate was built in the '50s - undoubtably the frontage roads were all two-way back then.

It's the Dallas Drive southbound merge which scares me - it was bad back in the early '80s when cars were smaller and the speed limit was 55, and they've never changed it?!

[CaribbeanGreen]

I walked through GTM the other day, and it has gone on a downward spiral of epic proportions even since I graduated in '03. Empty stores, those awful non-chain horribly cheap looking "independent" stores like "LEATHER CHAIR GALLERY!", and shoddy one-story trashed out anchors. It's a dead mall. The renovation would have to be massive with so many good options close by.

Believe me, I have fond memories of GTM (back in the Old Country Buffet/Oshman's days of the late 90's) but it is a festering pile of s at this point.

At this rate, maybe it could rival that "thing" in east Plano where the Garden Ridge anchors this one creepy hallway of like 3 stores... or Richardson Square Mall.. is that thing still around??