Your Expert Guide

The Cedars: Stunning skyline views and great art just south of downtown Dallas

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Dallas has received numerous accolades for its impressive skyline, and that's what led real estate global advisor JB Hayes to purchase her loft in the Cedars more than seven years ago.

"I love to watch the buildings in the skyline change their colors and messages to support local causes and sports teams," she says. "With the views of downtown, the easy access to all major highways, and its close proximity to downtown, the Dallas Farmers Market, and Deep Ellum, it was a no-brainer! And did I mention the views of the skyline?"

This area of Dallas, which is directly south of downtown and north of the Trinity River, has undergone tremendous growth in recent years — and even more is on tap for the future. "This area will be impacted by multiple projects: the new Convention Center District anchored by the new Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, The Ambassador Residences now under construction, and more," Hayes says.

The artist community is another big plus. During the annual Cedars Open Studios Tour held each November, artists open their doors for all to come stop by, shop, and see what this area is about.

Hayes offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in the Cedars. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Hayes enjoys meeting new neighbors while frequenting Four Corners Brewing Company, Lee Harvey's, Full City Rooster, Off the Bone Barbeque, and Zalat Pizza. She supports her friends at open mic night at Autonomous Society Brewpub and enjoys craft beer brewed in-house with live music provided by the neighbors.

Baby Back Shak, Opening Bell Coffee, and Johnny's Waffles also make her must-visit list.

She has been raiding the pantry stocked full of local goods at Val's Cheesecakes in the Piggly Wiggly building on Akard and looks forward to their pop-up dinners and events.

To sip and see the Dallas skyline from the Cedars, check out Gallery Rooftop Lounge at Canvas Hotel Dallas or the Vetted Well patio at the Alamo Drafthouse Cedars.

Where to play
A little-known fact, even to most Dallasites: There is an entrance to the Santa Fe Trestle Trail down the street from the historic Longhorn Ballroom, located at the southeast corner of the Cedars. The ballroom first opened in 1950 and has showcased a wide variety of legends, from Willie Nelson to Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, and more. Hayes says the Santa Fe Trestle Trail a great place to get outdoors with your pups, friends, and family. She has spotted turtles, butterflies and of course the skyline from the trail.

Speaking of pups, South Side Bark Park is a large green space for Cedars neighbors (and their furry friends) to use. Hayes also likes to create resin art and pottery with Erika Thornton at Artist Till Death Studios.

The Cedars is home to an Alamo Drafthouse location, as well as the popular Gilley's Dallas, but it's also close to AT&T Discovery District, Pioneer Plaza and the Dallas Farmers Market.

A favorite spot of Hayes' is Grey Gardens Florist: "It's my happy place, as flowers make me smile. I love to bring life to open houses with some of their amazing arrangements." Be sure to check out their Saturday “Stem Specials” as they mark down flowers sold by the stem.

Another hidden gem is Cactus Queen DFW, now located on Corinth near Park Ave. Find all sizes and shapes to add some greenery to your life.

Where to live
Here you'll find Victorian-style homes from the early 1900s, repurposed warehouses like South Side on Lamar (which was the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog merchandise center in a former life), industrial-style lofts like The Beat Lofts and Buzz Lofts, new-construction townhomes likeMirar at the Cedars, and various apartment options, with The Ambassador Residences under construction to open late 2026.

"This area is not cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all," says Hayes. "There is a little bit of everything for all ages and interests."

Those familiar with the Cedars know the Eagle Apartments on South Ervay Street, a structure that was built in 1924 and flaunts a big, red entry door. Hayes has had four sales in the building, two off-market, which is remarkable considering there are only eight units in the building.

Hayes’ most significant Cedars sale was in the summer of 2024. One of the penthouses she listed at The Beat Lofts sold for $220,000 more than any Cedars residential sale documented in MLS.

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JB Hayes lives, works, and plays in the Cedars. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email jhayes@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-334-3977.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Residents of The Cedars get to enjoy the skyline every day.

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full steam ahead

11 Dallas suburbs soar as fastest-growing U.S. cities in last decade

City Government of Celina, Texas - Facebook

Celina's population has soared over 300 percent in the last 10 years, according to the report.

It's no secret that Dallas-Fort Worth's population is growing faster than most other metros in the U.S., but now several surprising Dallas neighbors have been named among the top 10 fastest-growing suburb nationwide over the last decade.

Celina nearly led the nation with an astonishing 314 percent increase in population from 2014 to 2023, according to a recent growth study by marketplace platform StorageCafe. The far-flung suburb, which is located about 45 miles north of downtown Dallas, ranked No. 2 in the report's rankings of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities during the 10-year period.

The report said Celina was home to more than 27,000 residents in 2023, but now the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population has grown to more than 43,300 people.

"A mix of diverse housing options, proximity to city amenities, a strong local economy and access to top-rated schools and entertainment have made it one of the most attractive places to settle in the region," the report's author wrote.

This isn't the first time Celina has entered the spotlight for its exploding population: It was the No. 1 fastest-growing U.S. city in 2023, and recently came out on top of GoBankingRates' new study ranking of the fastest-growing affluent suburbs in America for 2025.

Four more Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs earned spots among the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. cities from 2014 to 2023: Melissa (No. 3), Princeton (No. 7), Prosper (No. 8), and Fate (No. 9).

In all, 11 DFW cities earned spots in the report, including:

No. 14 – Anna
No. 33 – Midlothian
No. 43 – Royse City
No. 45 – Forney
No. 58 – Little Elm
No. 72 – Frisco

Fate, Dallas suburb The small town of Fate has grown by 172 percent since 2014, StorageCafe says.fatetx.gov/

"Aside from Frisco, which is already a well-established suburb, the rest are smaller cities — six of which more than doubled in size during this period," the report said. "The remaining cities still saw impressive gains, with population increases exceeding 60 percent. Meanwhile, Dallas proper experienced more modest growth, with a 5 percent increase over the decade."

The report added that Dallas-Fort Worth's population surge has also led to a high demand for housing. Home prices in Celina stood at nearly $611,000 in November 2024, whereas Melissa's home prices were about $466,000 during that same period.

For comparison, the national average price of a home is $354,000.

Only three Dallas suburbs had the most affordable home prices out of the total 11 DFW suburbs on the list: Princeton ($326,299), Royse City ($332,537), and Forney ($323,229).

StorageCafe says the reasons for population shifts vary greatly, with many people seeking out cities with a more affordable cost of living, or those moving for socioeconomic factors like better employment opportunities.

"Population growth is far from even across the U.S. Some cities are experiencing significant increases, directly driven by steady in-migration, rising immigration and birth rates outpacing death rates," the report said. "But what’s fueling these trends runs deeper — economic and social forces like shifting job markets, the rise of remote and hybrid work and soaring living costs are all reshaping where people choose to live."

Other fast-growing Texas cities
Texas had the greatest number of cities to earn spots in the report's ranking of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities over the last decade, with 25 total cities making the cut with the highest growth rates nationwide.

Austin had five suburbs land on the list: Manor (No. 6), Leander (No. 16), Kyle (No. 53), Hutto (No. 54), and Buda (No. 68).

San Antonio also had five suburbs make the top 100, including Boerne (No. 63), Selma (No. 74), Fair Oaks Ranch (No. 70), New Braunfels (No. 77), and Canyon Lake (No. 99).

Houston only had four entries on the list, but Fulshear led the nation as the fastest-growing U.S. city over the last 10 years. The remaining Houston-area cities included in the report were Manvel (No. 24), Katy (No. 82), and Conroe (No. 83).

The top 10 fastest-growing cities over the last decade are:

No. 1 – Fulshear, Texas
No. 2 – Woodbridge, Virginia
No. 3 – Celina, Texas
No. 4 – Davenport, Florida
No. 5 – Melissa, Texas
No. 6 – Manor, Texas
No. 7 – Princeton, Texas
No. 8 – Prosper, Texas
No. 9 – Fate, Texas
No. 10 – Nolensville, Tennessee

celina celina growth frisco little elm prosper storagecafe suburbs us census bureau population growth