Becoming a high density, expensive, urban city
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6/3/2019
We moved to Flower Mound on a relocation from out of state for my job over 20 years ago. At that time Flower Mound was a very rural, green, peaceful, spot. It has easy and immediate contact to DFW airport in the southern part of town (where we live). It also has quick access to 635, 114 and other major roadways. House lots were well sized and home prices reasonable. The culture was a mix of tech folks, airport staff, service industry folks, retirees, farmers, and young families. There was virtually no crime. Unfortunately, now things have changed. Many of the green areas have been cut down and those in power have sought to urbanize the town. Tiny lots, many well under under 5000 square feet, hold 3000-6000 square foot homes with new ones costing well over $500,000. The urbanization includes the development of high rise (and high price) condos, and the creation of Riverwalk, a high density apartment/condo endeavor which will support thousands of people....but with little to no parking spaces. All the trees and green were wiped out over many acres to create it. Developers were supported by town "benefits" and funding. Schools, paid for by homeowners, are well rated, and students are welcome in from neighboring cities and towns, creating a tax burden for the town property owners who are footing the bill. Property taxes are huge. Along with the march to urbanization has come increased crime, traffic congestion and driving habits common to large urban centers. There are no highways running through the town, and, with the huge development of homes in the only remaining land in the north and west sections of the town, and in the towns north and west of us, the traffic issue has become a nightmare. The roads on the south side of town have become congested speedways, and there has been more than one associated death. The south side of town is now overdeveloped with just about every lot filled with jammed-in dwellings, apartments, restaurants, nail salons, as well as ugly large industrial complexes siting on track of land formerly occupied by farms and green spaces. Many here feel the development is out of control. The demographics have taken a negative turn accordingly. Sadly the desire to urbanize is a financial windfall to select folks, to the detriment of it's citizens. The town is beginning to look more like places people are trying to flee. People are now fleeing from here as well, and are cashing in and moving further away. We have hope that with the recent change in FM government, remedies will be sought so we are holding on.
Tom | Flower Mound, TX