The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex currently is one of the nation's hottest job markets. Throughout the last 20 years, this region of North Central Texas has experienced phenomenal growth -- so much growth, in fact, that suburbs have become cities unto themselves. It used to be that residents of Metroplex suburbs had to travel to the cities to peruse upscale shops or enjoy an excellent meal at a non-chain restaurant. That's not the case anymore. While city leaders and residential developers have made considerable progress in their attempt to draw residents back into the cities, many corporations have chosen to head to these self-contained suburbs. With their jobs, homes, schools and entertainment clustered within short distance of one another, residents hardly feel the need to make the drive to the cities anymore.

Addison is one such example. This 4.5 square-mile town in North Dallas is, indeed, part of Dallas; but in a sense, it's a world unto itself. Businesses have sprouted up left and right in Addison, drawn here by comparatively lower rents. Retailers have either based themselves here or have recognized the merits of opening new locations in the Addison area. The town's residents are, in general, successful, relatively young professionals. The multihousing market has exploded within this small area; deposits are put down before the dust has even cleared on new developments. Rents have risen steadily but still remain lower on average than downtown and Uptown Dallas.

Addison is conveniently located within spitting distance of several major arteries that transport residents south (to downtown Dallas, approximately 10 miles away), north (to Plano and other developing suburbs) and west (to D/FW International Airport, located 15 miles away, and beyond to Fort Worth). This proximity to major highways is a distinct advantage for Addison-based corporations, a growing list that includes Mary Kay Cosmetics, Excel Telecommunications, Price Waterhouse, CapRock Communications, CompUSA and Pizza Hut. Just a short distance away is Legacy Park in Plano, home to Electronic Data Systems, Fina, Dr Pepper and other multinational corporations. Addison also has its own airport for private and corporate aircraft. Addison Airport is now the third largest general aviation airport in the United States.

Perhaps most striking about Addison is its extraordinary array of amenities. At first glance, the town's huge selection of retail shops, movie theaters, hotels and, above all, restaurants seems a bit superfluous. Nevertheless, you'll find on any given day in Addison that the stores are full and the restaurants even fuller. At last count, some 135 restaurants were open for business in Addison. One of the hottest areas for restaurateurs is North Dallas Tollway, where an unusually high number of steakhouses have opened, most of them commanding high prices for their cuts of beef. Businesspeople cut deals over their steaks right alongside young families and twenty- and thirty-something singles out for a night on the town. Eating out is something of a spectator sport in Addison; residents flock to the latest eatery with the hippest crowd, and they hardly seem to mind the steadily increasing prices on the menus. Restaurant developers are paying more and more to build their eateries, recruiting world-class architects, artists, menu designers, and chefs (a hot commodity in Dallas) to create the aura that will captivate locals.

Shopping in Addison is of world-class caliber. Texans who reside in other cities have been known to reserve hotel rooms in Addison for the weekend and complete their holiday shopping during a two-day spree within this 4.5 square-mile radius. The town's spectacular Galleria mall houses four levels of shops including Tiffany & Company, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as an ice rink, movie theater and several restaurants. The top level of the Galleria contains a private athletic club, and immediately adjacent to the Galleria is the Westin Hotel and commercial office space. The number of hotels in Addison hovers somewhere near 20, and more are in the works. They range in style from reasonably priced, family-oriented accommodations to practical corporate housing to high-dollar luxury suites.

Addison has been experimenting in new styles of housing. Addison Circle, a mixed-use development containing more than 340,000 square feet of office space and 65,000 square feet in retail space, also offers luxury apartments built on top of retail space. It's a unique concept for Dallas. The development resembles a self-contained town. Within Addison Circle, residents and businesspeople have access to restaurants (but of course), dry cleaners, a fitness center and even a conference center at their fingertips. Phases II and III are in the works. When completed, this European-style development will comprise some 2 million square feet of office space, 50,000 square feet of commercial space, and is estimated to bring 5,000 new residents to the town of Addison.

Newcomers to Addison will be surprised at the diversity of housing they find -- and the reasonable asking prices. Single-family housing styles range from three-, four- and even five-bedroom homes to zero-lot-line patio homes, townhomes and luxury condominiums. Asking prices cover the entire spectrum, from the lower $100s to mid-$300s. A few exclusive gated communities are asking $1 million and above, and are having no problem finding takers. As mentioned earlier, apartments are plentiful. Rents have crept upward steadily in recent years and average between $650 and $700 for a one-bedroom apartment, although some cheaper properties are available, as well. Crime rates are low within Addison's town limits, and schools are of good quality. Students living in Addison generally attend Plano, Carrollton or Farmers Branch schools, all of which have been recognized for their high performance.

The growth of Addison reflects a larger trend in progress within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. This sprawling metropolis has prospered so much that incoming residents have moved further out into the surrounding areas, encouraging the development of more homes, schools, retail shops, restaurants, and ultimately, corporations and hotels, as well. It's a positive sign of a booming economy. And while Dallas and Fort Worth will never lose their appeal to North Texas natives, the convenience of towns like Addison, which allow residents to enjoy a full range of amenities without leaving the immediate area, is adding greatly to their quality of life.

Published: March 27, 2000

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