I am a 36-year-old mom of 2 and I need to move my family. I know Austin is a big city and so maybe it has what we need??? I didn't go to college and I'm trying to raise my kids alone without much money. Everyone talks on here a lot about the really super-rich neighbors and suburbs....is there anywhere that's just decent enough????? I mean like not the most awesome part of town ever but okay enough that I don't have to worry about my children and where they can get a good education??? Sometimes I feel like the whole world is just rich mansions and then like housing projects!!! Isn't there someplace I can work hard and take care of my kids??

Looking online, I found that before Temple Mall opened, there was another mall on I-35 near exit 299 (Dodgen Loop). From what I can tell, it's called Outdoor America Mall now, and it has RoomStore and a now closed RV dealer. I can't find a shred of information about it online, though, and would like to know its history. What anchor stores did it have, first of all? They almost look like maybe Woolco and a supermarket.

There's a term for those kind of balconies, but I can't remember what it is. Something to do with Romeo & Juliet. Basically allows you to open the big doors on the exterior of the unit without actually having a full balcony space.

The top-floor units and the corner units all have huge balconies, so I suppose it's also something of an incentive/bonus for people getting bigger apartments.

Hmmm, interesting thread (of course I'm discovering it probably a year too late). I've not been to Tyler in quite a long time, so I definitely don''t want to claim "expert status" on that city. But in reference to the other two, I know enough...

Texarkana... it's slowly becoming much more than the "bi-state rest stop" of the past. I went to college about an hour away from there in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and so I have a lot of friends from the area, and spent a fair amount of time there. The near completion of the full loop is pretty awesome, and I'm quite proud of how well the twin cities are cooperating to improve their infrastucture. It shouldn't just stop at I-30 though; hopefully a northern portion will be built with something that connects into US 71 towards Ashdown on the AR side, and OK on the Texas side (I-69 plans perhaps?). Aside from the roads, the biggest news is how awesome the job market is there... people are really starting to MOVE to Texarkana for decent work! My favorite project is the massive expansion of TAMU Texarkana, b/c this region NEEDS a powerhouse university, especially considering that the closest comprehensive schools (public) are 75 miles away!!

Longview... I've got a lot of love for this little Texas city. Beautiful setting in the east Texas woods, and lots of great people. Longview's growth is spurred by it's excellent location between Tyler and Shreveport also, and as the city continues to peel off industries that are unique from Shreveport's, it will keep growing from that metro's support. Again, another decent-sized university would spur Longview's development, but UT Tyler is serving as a great outlet for the Longview area.

I think I'd have to go with Texarkana (b/c it's twice as nice LOL), but I reserve my final opinion until I've gotten a chance to visit Tyler again.