missingmagic

I've often found Montfort Drive to be an excellent alternative to The Dallas North Tollway or Preston Rd. when travelling through North Dallas. Montfort's appeal is limited, of course, to length in relation to your own travel needs. But, when living in North Dallas near Addison I found this drive invaluable for many of my own trips.
On its North-South run beginning (or ending, depending) near Jamestown Park it forms a fairly clear parallel to both The Tollway and Preston Rd. running smack down the middle of the two other pathways. This was vital to me particularly because not only is The Tollway (as the name implies) a PAY ROAD but it is also an incredibly CHAOTIC and often FRIGHTENING and FRUSTRATING ROAD. There certainly were times when that route was fine but obviously these were not during peak driving hours when I was more likely to be out also. Preston Rd. too has serious drawbacks including endless and innumerable traffic lights which, however, often INCREASED accidents instead of lessening them. I was in TWO wrecks in a THREE Month period while legally waiting for a red light to turn green. On both occasions the initial crash was escalated into a several car pile-up when confused drivers who had been gauging their braking only upon that of the car immediately in front of them began skidding into each other. And, yes, I was the one sitting at the light in the very first car BOTH TIMES. Essentially, I was hit by every car behind me X number of times calculated by some horrible mathematical mess I can't describe.
I was also still in partial heal of a leg break suffered in a separate scenario. Nonsense. At any rate, I think y'all can see why I tried to avoid both roads whether driving to the convenience store or making the haul to one of the major Dallas East-West thoroughfares. Montfort can take you to Beltline, Preston Oaks, Spring Valley, Arapaho and even LBJ. You can drive it to Valley View Mall and shop or skip right up to the tip of Addison for no reason at all.
I don't know anything about LIVING on Montfort Drive. But I DO KNOW about NOT DYING on Preston.
That's my two cents.

Verde Valley is a small stretch of Dallas, Texas blacktop wending its quiet way past the gated condominium communities that bump up against a wooden sign announcing the fact that another step will bring you onto the coveted lawns of Addison. I've often heard the word 'Addison' spoken of in hushed, reverent tones by those appealing for a loftier place on the social stair-master of Texas society. In other words, Verde Valley borders on the exclusive but does not really reach it.
Those who know the road either live there or took two wrong right turns after leaving Sherlock's Lounge late at night. Although the secured condos can rarely be seen from the street due to the high fences encircling them, one needed worry as they are nothing to write home about. Just normal apartment type condominium blocks where no one is ever home enough to barbeque or lounge by small pools. This does make for a quiet atmosphere but don't rent or buy there hoping to make new friends. Pets and children are also 'discouraged' if not actively limited.
However, a short, brisk walk towards Montfort (beyond which pedestrianism is NOT recommended) will bring you within reach of convenience stores, a couple of sports bars, an excellent jazz club, pool-halls, a nightly rock and roll joint/meat-market, several decent restaurants and even a hairdresser or optometrist. Nearby Beltline Rd. will get you to anything else you may need if Spring Valley doesn't. I'd advise anyone new to Dallas to learn Dallas Driving Methods immediately. Even if you have no plans to drive. Know that these folks are like no others on the road. I was once hit by a car while WEARING A WALKING CAST across only half a lane to a meridian...in a designated crosswalk...in broad daylight....with right of way. The woman driving didn't even slow down as I spun round in circles. Learn a lesson from this. Fast.
This being said, Verde-meaning 'Green'-Valley Lane is certainly no greener on the other side of the fence. Less so, actually, as developments such as those encourage the liberal use of macadam to treat annoying plant life. BUT, it IS an almost ideal spot to settle in for someone looking for the benefit of being both 'out of the way' and 'in the thick of things'.

Southpoint Drive, Dallas, Texas, is a cut-rate substitute for an already second-rate dream. This area presents the visitor with a cheap 'study' into semi-suburbanite psychology. I only assume that illusion is one which a homeowner can live with.
Southpoint is one of several short, curved virtual-clone roads (quaintly referred to as 'courts', 'drives', 'circles', 'lanes') networked into an attempt a sort of 'almost-upper-class-yet-still-neighborly' sense of itself. Though greenery DOES make a semi-shady appearance, still, lanes are more likely to be named after shrubbery than 'lined' by it. In fact, the great majority of canopy is found strategically 'screening' the disturbingly similar 'South-Western' style homes (complete with the ubiquitous late model vehicle). Mixed messages like these leave their slightly schizophrenic impression on the neighborhood in general. The lack of community activities/spirit here is simply a magnified image of the couple who hangs Norman Rockwell prints in the bathroom, but has never met their own neighbors. It's an ugly tug-of-war between block-party inclusion nostalgia and exclusionary strategies of the upwardly mobile.
Though winding avenues with just-sufficient shade trees, moderate traffic, and hypnotically similar red-tiled architecture seem pleasant enough for a quiet stroll, this is not a bright idea. The seclusion that this little suburbia offers is illusory. The quiet only lasts a few minutes, late model vehicles tend to take curvy lanes quickly, and drivers distracted with cellular phones often don't notice their own neighbor in the middle of the street…especially if they’ve NEVER seen you. Look both ways...several times.
A major culprit behind the strange neighborhood philosophy is the very literal 'box' in which it is located. In point of fact, the 'island' is entirely hemmed in by ‘the big city’ in the form of four of Dallas' more massive traffic ways. Preston Rd and Hillcrest form Western and Eastern borders, respectively, Arapaho guards the Southern flank and huge Campbell Rd shuts the Northern lid tight.
So, yes, it IS close to bus lines but no one who can afford to live here takes the bus. These giant thoroughfares guarantee that groceries are easily accessible, there's always a gas station when you need one, restaurants of all description can be found in all four directions, physicians abound, schools and parks and cinemas and nightclubs and hotels can be reached within minutes.
There’s NO REASON to stay home. That’s the problem.