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CENTRAL
Allandale
By Jackie Potts
An active, involved neighborhood association is
the heart and soul behind the successful sense of
community spirit that inhabits the Allandale
neighborhood. Phyllis Brinkley, the editor of the Allandale Neighborhood
Association's newsletter, The Allandale Neighbor, lists numerous
improvements that the neighborhood has been instrumental in making a reality
since she and her family moved to Allandale over 40 years ago.
"We're the 28th largest neighborhood group," Brinkley says proudly. "Our
annual Fourth of July Parade started in 1960, but it wasn't until October of
1973 that we organized the neighborhood association. Since then, we've been
very active in making our community a good place to live." In addition to the
Fourth of July Parade, they also sponsor an annual "Candy Cane Lane" at
holiday time, and a Shoal Creek Cleanup event. Allandale was just recently Zone: Central
redistricted, and is bounded by Anderson Lane on the north, by Shoal Creek at MLS Area: 2
45th Street (from MoPac to the Shoal Creek waterway, and following the Zip Code(s): 78757
waterway to Hancock Drive) to the south, with Burnet Road as its eastern
boundary and MoPac as the western boundary. Zip Code 78757
Demographic Profile
The word "active" is almost an understatement
when applied to the Allandale Neighborhood Population: 21,197
Association. The neighborhood association has Median Housing
$162,725
been responsible for, among other things, Value
working with the city to have a retention pond Avg HH Size: 2.13
built in 1986 to prevent flooding, having new Median HH Income: $48,818
bridges built to for flood control, working with Median Age 37.8
the congressman's office to keep trains from % Married: 47%
stopping over in the neighborhood and noisily idling their engines for days on % of HHs with
20%
end, and building sewer line improvements under Shoal Creek Boulevard that Children:
would prevent harming its namesake, Shoal Creek. % with College
42%
Degree:
Other improvements brought about by the neighborhood association include % Owner Occupied 53%
the opening of the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library in what Housing
was once the old Americana Theatre. "We also raised $20,000 of the total Median Yr Dwelling
1964
$80,000 expense to improve (Beverly Sheffield Park). Improvements include was Built
new children's playground equipment, sidewalks, and restrooms." Brinkley
points to the library, the Northwest Recreation Center and its facilities, and the Source: Claritas 2006
neighborhood churches as sure signs that Allandale is a thriving community.
Parks:
Beverly Sheffield Park
includes Olympic-size
swimming pool, children's
"We're also in an excellent location, close to wading pool, children's
downtown, and close to all the shopping and playground; picnic areas,
retail in North Austin. We used to be tennis courts, and a pond.
considered Northwest Austin. Now, with all the
growth, we're Central Austin," laughs Brinkley. Northwest Little League park
"We have a pretty good section of middle class includes several baseball
folks living here in the Allandale–it's a pretty fields.
good mix of older people, young business
professionals, and young families. Our house Shoal Creek Boulevard and
values (averaging $250,000-$300,000) have stayed pretty steady." Great Northern offer lanes
designated for bicycles.
But, as Brinkley points out, economics come and go. Neighborhoods are
forever. "A lot of people who move here hate to ever have to move out. We A large off-the-leash dog park
have pretty good local schools–Gullett Elementary and Lamar Middle School surrounds a water runoff area
are on the neighborhood association's "Adopt-A-School" program, and we between Shoal Creek
support them through the donation of money and school supplies. We have Boulevard and Great Northern.
McCallum, the arts magnet school, as our high school. We have bike routes, The sidewalk in this area
swimming pools, parks, ball fields for little league–there are a lot of things provides access to Far West
here for the whole family. It's a well-rounded neighborhood. There's always Boulevard.
something going on in this neighborhood.
Two scenic pedestrian bridges
span Shoal Creek.
Schools Resources
Amenities Austin Independent School
Austin Independent Allandale's neighborhood
Northwest District's Professional
School District Association Search articles
Recreation Center Development Academy
Gullett Elementary mentioning
Beverly Sheffield features a children's play area
Lamar Middle School Allandale in the Austin
Park and a soccer field.
McCallum High American-Statesman's archives.
Shoal Creek
School Find area restaurants on Austin360
Bryker Woods
By Jackie Potts
It was the physical beauty of Bryker Woods -- with its lovely old trees and
charming old homes -- that attracted Jim Nelson to the neighborhood. It was
the family atmosphere that kept him there.
Nelson and his wife are raising three children in the home they bought in 1984.
And they are staying put.
Zone: Central
"I love being near downtown but still away from it," Nelson said. "I can be at MLS Area: 1B
work downtown in 10 minutes. But because of its well- defined geography, Zip Code(s): 78703
Bryker Woods is confined. There are advantages to that."
Zip Code 78703
That confinement makes him feel safe since there is little through traffic. Demographic Profile
However, some parts of the neighborhood -- such as on 29th Street -- are
seeing more traffic as motorists attempt to find shortcuts between MOPAC Population: 16,109
Boulevard and Interstate 35 to downtown. Avg HH Size: 1.95
Median HH Income: $69,882
Bryker Woods is bordered by Westover on the south, 35th on the north, Shoal Median Age 38.7
Creek on the east and MOPAC Boulevard on the west. It was developed % Married: 48%
between the 1930s and 1950s, mostly with bungalows and a few larger homes % of HHs with
18%
surrounded by large, shady trees. Children:
% with College
73%
"People who buy here are looking for a neighborhood like the one they grew Degree:
up in," said George McGee of George Sears McGee, Realtors. "They want the % Owner Occupied
54%
charm of an older neighborhood. They tell me to exhaust looking here before Housing
they'll consider Median Yr Dwelling
1954
looking was Built
elsewhere."
Source: Claritas 2006
Shoal Creek Park has
distinguishable features
include a large covered picnic
pavilion, an "outdoor
classroom" under a giant live
Casis Elementary School on Exposition oak tree, Zeriscaped gardens
and a section of the Shoal
McGee said the price is mainly for the land. He has started to see some tear- Creek Hike & Bike trail.
downs.
Bailey Park features include
Buyers are mainly young professionals -- with and without children, McGee outdoor tennis courts (with
said. Many work in various medical facilities in and around Seton Medical lights), a sand volleyball court,
Center which is nearby. The University of Texas and downtown offices are a flagstone covered pavilion
minutes away. Grocery stores and small retail establishments are close-by built in the 1930's, park
along 35th/38th streets and Lamar Boulevard. swings, childrens wading pool
and an area for baseball or
Because of the convenient location, many homeowners stay in the softball. The park also has a
neighborhood for several years before deciding to move into larger quarters or wide open space for flying
add. kites and other large field
activities.
Nelson said that's the issue he and his wife are grappling with now that their
three children are older. Nelson said he doesn't want to leave the neighborhood. Seider's Springs Park has
picnic tables and park benches.
"The emphasis has always been on family," he This park begins the Shoal
said. "People are always walking, including at Creek Hike & Bike trail
night. A lot of people who move here stay a leading to downtown and
long time. It's stable. But there is always an Town Lake. Actual springs
influx of new families moving in." continue to flow from the
limestone ledge on the east
Because of the emphasis on families, the side of the creek.
neighborhood boasts a very active PTA at
Bryker Woods Elementary as well as an active
neighborhood association.
Part of the attraction for young families is the schools, McGee said. Half of the
elementary school-age children attend Bryker Woods Elementary and the other
half attend Casis Elementary. Of the students taking the Texas Education
Agency's Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test in 1995-96 at Bryker
Woods, 91 percent passed all portions. At Casis, 90 percent passed all portions.
Respective junior and high schools are Martin Junior High or O'Henry Middle
and Austin High School.
When not studying, children play in the many nearby parks such as Seider's
Springs Park, Bailey Park, and Shoal Creek Park.
Schools Resources
Austin Independent Brykerwood's
School District Amenities Neighborhood Association
Bryker Woods Seider's Springs Park Search articles mentioning
Elementary Bailey Park Bryker Woods in the
Casis Elementary Shoal Creek Park Austin
Martin Middle School Bryker Woods American-Statesman's
O. Henry Middle Neighborhood Association archives.
School Find area restaurants on
Austin High School Austin360
Crestview
By Donna Lin
Once considered remote from the hubbub of downtown Austin, Crestview is
today a centrally located neighborhood, featuring elegant, gracefully aged
homes built along shaded, tree-lined blocks.
Longtime resident Chip Harris says he and his wife were attracted to the
Crestview area because of the mature trees, the quiet atmosphere and the nice
mix of ages of people who live there.
"When you move into a new subdivision, a lot of the people there are of the
same age. Being an older neighborhood, the diversity of ages was nice. There
are people who live there now that could tell you about when Anderson Lane
Zone: Central
was a gravel road, they've lived there for 50 years," he says.
MLS Area: 2
Zip Code(s): 78757
Though some residents of Crestview have lived there for decades, newcomers
are attracted to the tranquil, serene environment this community offers.
Zip Code 78757
Demographic Profile
Generally recognized as an ideal environment for families, Crestview is
bordered by Anderson Lane to the north, Justin Lane to the south, North Lamar
Population: 21,197
Boulevard to the east and Burnet Road to the west. It is located north of the
Avg HH Size: 2.13
city's urban core.
Median HH Income: $48,818
Median Age 37.8
A quiet, friendly neighborhood, Crestview's streets are speckled with locally
% Married: 47%
owned businesses. "We probably have more barbershops per capita than
% of HHs with
anywhere else," Harris says, laughing. "If you throw a rock, you'll probably hit 20%
Children:
one. It's the same for churches, too."
% with College
42%
Degree:
% Owner Occupied
54%
Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
Harris says a few places residents frequent include a small restaurant called 1964
was Built
The Little Deli, and the Crestview Mini-Max, a small grocery store located in
the center of the neighborhood.
Source: Claritas 2006
Gary Knippa, of Knippa Properties, says Crestview's location is ideal for
Beverly S. Scheffield
homeowners wanting an older home without the high price of other established
Northwest Park features a
neighborhoods.
baseball field, basketball,
tennis and volleyball courts,
"The young professional-type crowd typically buys homes in Crestview, the
playground, picnic table,
type that doesn't mind rolling up their sleeves and making their homes suit
picnic pavilion, bar-b-que pits,
their individual tastes," he says.
wading and swimming pool,
and a fishing pier.
Typical homes in the area range from 1,100 to 1,200 square feet, and most
homes are pier and beam construction, Knippa says most Crestview homes are
2 bedroom, 1 bath, or 3 bedroom, 1 bath. About three-quarters of homes in the
neighborhood have been converted from standard air conditioning window
unites to CA/CH systems.
Brentwood Elementary is just across Justin Lane from Crestview in the
Brentwood neighborhood and features a small city pool, ball fields and a
playground. Beverly Sheffield Park also is nearby. A much larger public
facility, this park offers a public pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, barbecue
areas and basketball court.
"People enjoy the neighborly quality of living in Crestview," Knippa says.
"My sister lived in Crestview for years, and always talked about how everyone
knew everyone, and helped each other."
Residents of the neighborhood enjoy an active neighborhood association that
hosts several different annual events. Harris says a several notable events
include an ice cream social held in July, and National Night Out events in
August.
These nights are part of a program that
encourage one person on each block to host a
get-together on their front lawn the first
Tuesday in August, for neighbors to get to
know one another.
Harris says the neighborhood is not as
ethnically diverse as he would prefer, but things
are slowly changing. "There are different
socioeconomic groups in the area, because there's a large amount of rentals in
the neighborhood," he says.
Children in the neighborhood attend Brentwood
Elementary School, Lamar Middle School, and
McCallum High School. Utilities are provided
by the city.
Resources
Schools
Search articles
Austin Independent Amenities
mentioning
School District Beverly S. Scheffield
Crestview in the Austin
Brentwood Elementary Northwest Park
American-Statesman's
School The Arboretum
archives.
Lamar Middle School Northcross Mall
Find area restaurants on
McCallum High School
Austin360
Down Town
Downtown Austin is home to many things, but for an increasing number of
residents, it is simply home.
A vibrant mecca of commerce and culture, the downtown cityscape has grown
significantly in the past five years to include a variety of living quarters that
put residents within walking distance of dining, entertainment, recreation and
retail destinations.
"The residential population is approximately 5,300 people," says Charlie Betts,
executive director of the Downtown Austin Alliance. "Presently, there are ZONE: Central
1,500 announced units on the drawing boards." MLS: 1B, 4
ZIP: 78701
While residential quarters run the gamut from small efficiency apartments to
posh lofts, Betts says a typical downtown residence is a condominium Zip Code 78701
measuring 1,200 to 1,400 square feet with two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, Demographic Profile
living room and a great view. Sale price per square foot would be about $300,
he said. Population: 4,296
Avg HH Size: 1.44
Kevin Burns, a real estate broker and owner of UrbanSpace Realtors says Median HH Income: $46,431
people are drawn to downtown living for a variety of reasons. Median Age 39.0
% Married: 34%
"Most (residents) are location-driven," he says. "They want to be close to the % of HHs with
trail, restaurants and bars. Whole Foods is a major amenity. People who live in 3%
Children:
Austin City Lofts or the Nokonah can walk there. I actually live in the Austin % with College
City Lofts and I walk to Whole Foods." 47%
Degree:
% Owner Occupied
Natalie Smith, a three-year resident at Railyard 36%
Housing
Condominiums and an active participant in the Median Yr Dwelling
Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, 1976
was Built
says her life and leisure have become more
integrated since Source: Claritas 2006
moving
downtown. Zilker Park includes sand
volleyball courts, a nine-hole
"Going out is Disc Golf Course, 9 Soccer
not as much of a production," she says. "I can Fields, 1 Rugby Field, 2 Multi-
step outside and catch a band any day of the use Fields, miniature train ride,
week. I can step outside and be on my way to canoeing, natural spring pool,
dinner. There are so many things to do down dog park, and more.
here. You've got the arts, Town Lake, community events like symphony in the Barton Hills Playground
park, art openings..." features a basketball court,
multi-purpose field, trail miles,
Another often cited reason for living downtown is ease of mobility. playground, and picnic area.
"Generally, people can do away with two cars and get by with just one," Betts
says. "You can eliminate your commute time and the stress that goes with it." Umlauf Sculpture Garden
features outdoor art and statues
While living downtown may cost more per with a trail.
square foot than living elsewhere, Burns
contends that the trade-off of stress, automotive Austin Nature and Science
wear-and-tear, commute times and a simplified Center is a non-profit
lifestyle are well worth the extra dollars. community center that
provides nature exhibits and
"A lot of people natural science education
are sick of living resources for all ages.
in the suburbs
and dealing with long commutes," he says. "I Zilker Botanical Gardens
work downtown, live downtown and play features many different
downtown. I'm a real estate broker and I haven't gardens planted by different
been in my car today. local designers.
"People are more willing to give up their Barton Springs Pool features
gameroom and walk to Alamo Drafthouse or give up their exercise room to go natural spring swimming area,
run on the trail," he adds. "I see no end to the popularity of living downtown. sunbathing, concession, and
It's where the culture of Austin is." lifeguards on duty.
Schools
Pease
Resources
Elementary
Down Town's
School
Neighborhood
Mathews
Association
Elementary Amenities
Search articles
School Barton Greek Greenbelt Barton Springs
mentioning
Zavala Pool Deep Eddy Pool Shoal Creek
Barton Hills in
Elementary Greenbelt Town Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail
the Austin
School Zilker Gardens Zilker Park Theater/Arts
American-
O'Henry Bass Concert Hall Paramount Theatre &
Statesman's
Middle State Theatre Zach Scott Theatre
archives.
School
Find area
Austin High
restaurants on
School
Austin360
University of
Texas
Hyde Park
By Donna Lin
A leisurely springtime stroll in Hyde Park might begin with a morning cup of
fresh-brewed coffee from Austin-bred Quack's Coffee House on 43rd Street. It
might wind through several blocks, all the while shaded by tall, stately trees
arching overhead and crossing the wide streets to say hello to neighbors.
Eventually, it might come to an end with a purchase of breakfast tacos at
NeWorlDeli on Guadalupe Street.
That's one of Glen Coleman's favorite things to do in Hyde Park. A resident of Zone: Central
Hyde Park since 1996, Glen knows all the hot spots of the neighborhood. He MLS Area: 2
also serves as co-president of the Hyde Park Neighbors' Association. Zip Code(s): 78751
A relatively small neighborhood, with tree-lined streets and historic houses left Zip Code 78751
and right, Hyde Park is known for its hodgepodge of residences. It is bordered Demographic Profile
by 48th Street to the north and 38th Street to the south, Guadalupe Street to the
west and Duval Street to the east. Population: 13,450
Avg HH Size: 1.84
Glen says when he moved to the neighborhood, he chose it because it was a Median HH Income: $33,786
community where he could walk to the store or local coffee shop, and could Median Age 39.9
have neighbors of all different ages, ethnicities and income levels. % Married: 29%
% of HHs with
10%
He chose the right place. Convenience stores, restaurants, FreshPlus Grocery Children:
Store and Laundromats are just a few blocks away. % with College
55%
Degree:
"Although Hyde Park is Central Austin's densest neighborhood, it's a place % Owner Occupied
26%
where you know your neighbors by name because you've seen them at the Housing
store, at the Laundromat and outside watering their yards," he says. Median Yr Dwelling
1963
was Built
Hyde Park is not only one of the densest neighborhoods in the city's urban
core, it is also one of the earliest established. According to the neighborhood Source: Claritas 2006
association's Web site, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Land and Town Co.
founded Hyde Park in 1891. Elizabet Ney Museum is a free
museum which includes
Under the guiding hands of Monroe Martin sculptures from the late
Shipe, Hyde Park originally featured large Elizabet Ney in her original art
residences geared towards the affluent. studio.
Sluggish land sales later pushed Hyde Park to
become a neighborhood for the middle and Shipe Park and Pool features
working classes. basketball, multi-purpose and
tennis courts, a playground,
Gradually, majestic homes gave way to smaller, picnic and bar-b-que areas, and
more modest houses, resulting in the graceful a swimming and wading pool.
blend of apartment complexes, small bungalows, large residences and office
buildings you see today. Hancock Golf Course, the
oldest golf course in the state
Glen attributes such contrasting landscapes to the unique combination of an of Texas, is a par 35 and 9 hole
ideal location and a rare commitment to historical preservation. While golf course.
residents strive to maintain their ties to Monroe's 1891 community, Hyde Park
is continually touched by the spread of urban life.
"You can see some of Austin's most modern buildings, and look back 100
years in time all at once within one square block in Hyde Park," he says. A
typical Hyde Park block includes everything from Craftsman houses to Tudor-
style homes, new office buildings and apartment complexes.
Shipe Park
Jody Lockshin, broker for Austin real estate company Habitat Hunters, says
that homes sold last year ranged from the mid $200s to the mid $400s. Homes
varied from 1,000 square feet to 2,000 square feet.
Due to the wide variety of dwellings available, apartments and homes are often
leased. Apartments last year began at rents of $400 per month, and 3,000-
square-foot houses at $2800 per month.
"Hyde Park caters to all needs, from those who want apartments, to condos,
duplexes, houses. It accommodates everyone. That's why the prices range so
drastically, because there's so much to offer," she says.
Paige Flick, Habitat Hunters realtor, says the biggest attraction to the
neighborhood is its family and owner-oriented environment. "It's quiet, the
neighbors are friendly, you're within walking distance of restaurants and
grocery stores and just two blocks away from the bus," she says.
Elisabet Ney Museum on 44th St.
Hyde Park offers more than just a convenient location to its residents; it offers
a lively community lifestyle. The neighbors are friendly, the neighborhood
association is active and involved and there is plenty to see and do.
Each year, the neighborhood association hosts its annual Hyde Park Homes
Tour. The tour highlights several notable homes within the neighborhood, and
at the same time raises money for the organization.
The association offers free consulting services for builders and homeowners, to
ensure they will develop property within the guidelines of community zoning
codes. Advice is given concerning elements such as building height,
impervious cover and parking requirements.
Children in Hyde Park attend Lee Elementary School, Kealing Junior High
School, and McCallum High School in the Austin Independent School District.
While electricity, water and trash are provided by the City of Austin Electric
Company, cable is provided by Time Warner.
Resources
Amenities Hyde Park Neighborhood
Schools
Elizabet Ney Association
Austin Independent School
Museum Search articles mentioning
District
Shipe Park and Hyde Park in the Austin
Lee Elementary School
Pool American-Statesman's
Kealing Junior High School
Hancock Golf archives.
McCallum High School
Course Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Old Enfield
By Matt Griffin
It had been over 25 years since she first resided in the Old Enfield
neighborhood as a student at the University of Texas, but when Nona Kean
returned to Austin to raise her two children in 1991, she said it was the same
nostalgic charm of the neighborhood that made her want to come back. "Other
neighborhoods are more concerned with size and acreage," Kean said, "here
it's the charm of the houses and the history involved in our neighborhood. It's
quality rather than quantity."
Zone: Central
The neighborhood, also known as Old West Austin, is bordered by West 24th MLS Area: 1B
Street on the north and Enfield Road on the south. Lamar Boulevard serves as Zip Code(s): 78703
the east border and MoPac Boulevard is the west border. The neighborhood is
conveniently located five minutes from downtown and is accessible to major Zip Code 78703
thoroughfares MoPac, Lamar Boulevard, and Enfield Road. Demographic Profile
Old Enfield is home to many of the oldest colonial style homes in Austin, Population: 16,109
including the historic Pease Mansion, built by Governors Mansion architect Avg HH Size: 1.95
Abner Cook. The landmark now privately owned and undergoing restoration Median HH Income: $69,882
serves as a neighborhood centerpiece, and it is one of the few properties left in Median Age 38.7
the city built before the Civil War. For Nona Kean, the history of the % Married: 48%
neighborhood is what makes Old Enfield so special, but what she is most % of HHs with
18%
proud of is how well that history has been preserved. "Many of the houses are Children:
very old," Kean said, "but they are built so well and preserved by our % with College
73%
neighbors that it Degree:
really is % Owner Occupied
54%
amazing." Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
1954
All of Old was Built
Enfield was part
of a 320-acre Source: Claritas 2006
land grant given
to C.S. Parish in The Old Enfield Homeowners
1841 by the Association throws an annual
Republic of picnic for you to mingle and
Texas during the presidency of Mirabeau Lamar. The land went through a meet new neighbors.
series of owners and was subdivided in 1910 by the Enfield Realty and Home
Building Co. The Caswell Tennis Center has
facilities which offer public
Kean returned to Old Enfield to raise her children not only for the chance to play, lessons, leagues and
live in a beautiful neighborhood, but also because of the outstanding schools in tournaments. Reservations may
Old Enfield. "The schools are very parent-oriented and offer higher level be made two days prior.
classes, which was very important for me," she said. Casis Elementary, O.
Henry Middle School, and Austin High School provided her children both an Pease District Park provides
excellent education and a unique multicultural experience. Old Enfield Residents with
softball fields, volleyball and
multi-purpose courts,
playground and picnic areas,
disc golf holes, a wading pool,
While many of the residents have lived in the trails, and a dog park.
neighborhood more than 25 years, the
neighborhood is currently attracting young West Enfield Park, an
families as well as a few students and singles. additional park just west of
Ninety percent of the homes in Old Enfield are MoPac, features softball and
owner-occupied. "I've never felt unsafe or multi-purpose fields,
unwelcome," Nona Kean said of Old Enfield. basketball, tennis and multi-
purpose courts, neighborhood
The neighborhood's charms have attracted swimming pool, and picnic
University of Texas students as well as local celebrities. Former Mayor Kirk areas.
Watson, former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, and actor Luke Wilson have all called
Old Enfield home. The neighborhood is a favorite at Christmas time, when the Visit the Old West Austin
columned porches and majestic balconies are decorated magnificently. Historic District at
www.owahd.org
Historic Pease Mansion
Old Enfield easily blends its smaller two bedroom, one bathroom cottages with
the larger, six to eight bedroom mansions, which are architecturally diverse.
Giant trees and Pease Park assist the soothing aesthetic of the neighborhood.
Many of the houses were built between 1910 and 1950, and homes start in the
$200,000s and have sold for more than $500,000.
What are the best things about living in Old Enfield? For Nona Kean it's been
the same reasons since the 1960s. "I'd say the charm, the schools, and the
convenience of being in Central Austin," Kean said, "plus I get to keep my
friends I've made throughout the years."
Resources
Schools
Amenities Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School
Caswell Tennis Old Enfield in the Austin
District
Center American-Statesman's
Casis Elementary
Pease District Park archives.
O.Henry Middle School
West Enfield Park Find area restaurants on
Austin High School
Austin360
Rosedale
By Jackie Potts
Charming and old-fashioned while embracing and adapting to the inevitable
changes that the times bring, Rosedale is a stand-out neighborhood symbolic
of the "old Austin" meeting the "new Austin" as it finds itself incorporating
new elements to its neighborhood mélange.
"Rosedale certainly is a strange combination of old and traditional and new
and funky," says Mark Brucks, co-president of the Rosedale Neighborhood
Association. Brucks says the neighborhood's rise in popularity has attracted
new residents emblematic of the "new Austin," but the neighborhood still has Zone: Central
many homeowners that have stayed in the neighborhood for decades. MLS Area: 2
Zip Code(s): 78756
The starting price for a home in Rosedale is in the high $200,000's, says realtor
Socar Chatmon-Thomas of REMAX Austin Skyline, and can be described as Zip Code 78756
"charming cottages" or "quaint bungalows." Homes average about $200 per Demographic Profile
square foot, with the median price in the mid $300,000 range. Many of the
new residents moving into Rosedale are typically of the upwardly mobile set. Population: 7,473
"With Rosedale's north central location, it's perfect for many young Avg HH Size: 1.77
professionals who want to be close in to Austin, but still want that cozy, Median HH Income: $40,663
homey feeling. Rosedale has quite a few homes that are 2-1, which is the Median Age 37.3
perfect 'starter home' size for a single person or a couple." % Married: 35%
% of HHs with
14%
Children:
% with College
51%
Degree:
% Owner Occupied
36%
Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
1959
was Built
26 Doors Shopping Center on W. 38 St. Source: Claritas 2006
Older homes were just built smaller then, agrees Karen McLinden, secretary- Rosedale, perfectly located in
treasurer of the Rosedale Neighborhood Association, and Rosedale is no North Central Austin, has
exception. Some residents have made additions and adjustments to their homes amenities you and your family
over the years to accommodate growing family needs. "If you just walk will love. Ramsey Park, the
through the neighborhood, you'll see the typical Rosedale bungalow from the "heart of Rosedale" has a
front, and you'll see this two story addition at the rear of the house." McLinden swimming pool, playground
says that when many Rosedale residents decide to expand their homes, they do and new landscaping to offer.
so in the back of the home because many home lots have the room to do so in Rosedale's residents can also
the backyard but not enough to go side to side. enjoy lovely neighborhood
walks, since the community
Rosedale is located in north central Austin, and its 1,200 homes are bounded works to keep traffic out of the
by 38th Street to the south, Shoal Creek to the west, North Loop / Hancock neighborhood. Rosedale with
Drive to the north, and Lamar Boulevard to the east. The area receives City of its "charming cottages" and
Austin utilities, and is part of the Austin Independent School District. Students "quaint bungalows" is an
in south Rosedale attend Austin High School, O. Henry Middle School and enjoyable community for your
Bryker Woods Elementary School. Students in the north Rosedale new home.
neighborhood attend McCallum High School, Lamar Middle School and
Highland Park Elementary School.
Ramsey Park
If there were a heart of Rosedale, it would have to be Ramsey Park. With its
swimming pool, playground and now its new landscaping provided as part of a
project by a neighborhood Eagle Scout, Ramsey Park has been literally at the
center of the neighborhood and its activities for years.
Brucks credits Rosedale's older citizens as giving the neighborhood a sense of
place in Austin's history. "There's an added sense of uniqueness that we really
like. We have so many long-time residents here in this neighborhood, and they
possess so much neighborhood lore. Florence and Forrest Preece, for example,
might be our longest-lived residents. They know who built many of these old
homes and who lived in them. They provided invaluable information when
Michael and Karen Collins decided to renovate and restore the Moore-
Hancock Farmstead at 4811 Sinclair Avenue."
Moving away from the historic restoration of the Moore-Hancock Farmstead,
other residents have been doing their best to maintain the spirit of "Keep
Austin Weird" - or at least unique. From the "castle home" at 44th Street and
Ramsey to celebrated author-gardener-cook Lucinda Hutson's delectably and
eclectically styled home, a drive around Rosedale confirms that Rosedale is
indeed a mix of traditional styling meets free-thinking bohemia.
Ramsey Park
Another charming aspect of Rosedale is that like many other older Austin
communities, it is considered a "walking neighborhood." New developments
along Burnet Road are carefully monitored, as the Rosedale Neighborhood
Association tries to maintain the integrity of their community.
"One of the things the neighborhood likes is to have businesses and places to
walk to - that's one of the things we try to preserve," says Brucks. "When
there's a new business being developed, there's the question of 'cut-through'
traffic in the neighborhood, and we try to keep traffic moving along the major
arteries and off the neighborhood streets."
McLinden agrees with Brucks that vigilance is necessary to maintain
Rosedale's integrity. "One of the struggles for any close-in neighborhood is
protecting your edges, and when you have a neighborhood like we do there's
always a risk that people will buy a home property and then try to get a
variance to tear it down and put up an office or a parking lot," says McLinden.
We have neighbors who for years have fought anything that will ruin the
integrity of this neighborhood. One of our themes is to make a nice place to
come home to stay that way, and we intend to make sure that it stays that
way."
Amenities
Schools Ramsey Park
Austin Independent Shoal creek greenbelt
Resources
School District Mayfield Park
Search articles mentioning
Bryker Woods Elementary Mt. Bonnel
Rosedale in the Austin
Highland Park Elementary The Elisabet Ney
American-Statesman's
O. Henry Middle School Museum
archives.
Martin Jr. High School 26 Doors Shopping
Find area restaurants on
Lamar Middle School Center
Austin360
McCallum High School Central Park Shopping
Austin High School Center
Lamar Village
Tarrytown
By Matt Griffin
For Austin Realtor Debbie Gainer, who has lived and worked in Tarrytown for
the past 20 years, the answer never changed to the question, "Why
Tarrytown?" "You just can't beat it," Gainer said, describing her neighborhood
as a quaint little town centrally located in the middle of Austin.
Gainer said she returned to the area where her husband had spent his
childhood, and the two have enjoyed the convenience of living in Central
Austin, with easy access to North Austin, South Austin, and downtown. Zone: Central
Tarrytown, considered by many to be Old West Austin, is bordered by West MLS Area: 1B
35th Street on the north and Enfield Road on the south. MoPac Boulevard is Zip Code(s): 78703
considered the east border, and Tarrytown is bordered on the west by beautiful
Lake Austin. Zip Code 78703
Demographic Profile
Gainer describes the makeup of the
neighborhood as mostly families of all ages Population: 16,109
with some college students renting in the area. Avg HH Size: 1.95
Many of the homes are cottages from the Median HH Income: $69,882
1920s, and Tarrytown blends Southern style Median Age 38.7
homes along with more modern designs. The % Married: 48%
homes vary in size in the neighborhood with its % of HHs with
smaller cottages and many larger homes, 18%
Children:
although many of the smaller homes are being % with College
torn down for new larger houses. Nearly all are owner-occupied. "It's a 73%
Degree:
friendly neighborhood, where people run into each other all the time and are % Owner Occupied
always friendly," Gainer said. 54%
Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
Among the many amenities of Tarrytown are 1954
was Built
Deep Eddy Pool, Laguna Gloria Art Museum,
Mayfield Park, Reed Park, Triangle Park, and Source: Claritas 2006
Lions Municipal Golf Course, where pro golfer
Ben Crenshaw plays when he's in town. After Deep Eddy Pool has
your 18 holes, you can head down to the Hula recreational swimming,
Hut, a local favorite restaurant, and sip swimming lessons, life guards,
margaritas on Lake Austin. Other celebrities and lap swimming and is
such as Lance Armstrong and Matthew usually open from February to
McConaughey, as well as Governor Rick Perry and President George W. Bush September.
have all called Tarrytown home.
At the Laguna Gloria Art
"The schools and churches are very important to all of us," Gainer said, citing Museum, visitors can tour the
Tarrytown's outstanding schools and churches. Casis Elementary is a four-star, restored 1916 Italianate-style
parent-oriented school that gives its kids a great start before they go on to O. villa, view art exhibitions, and
Henry Middle School and Austin High School. "All of the schools are every stroll the grounds overlooking
parent-oriented," Gainer said. Tarrytown United Methodist Church is where Lake Austin
President George W. Bush worships with his family when he is in town.
Reed Park features a softball
field, picnic areas, and a
swimming and wading pool
Lions Municipal Golf Course
is one of the oldest and most
historic public golf courses in
Texas. This 6,000 yard, 18-
hole course is open 364 days a
year. There is a driving range,
Casis Elementary School on Exposition personal golf lessons, and
restaurant on the premises.
A favorite of Tarrytown residents, the West Austin Youth Association is a
privately funded organization that provides athletic activities for kids and See for yourself at
places for active kids to go and play. "It's like a "Y" in the middle of our www.tarrytownnews.com
neighborhood," Gainer said, "We have really enjoyed it." Recreational
activities for boys and girls include soccer, baseball, basketball, football, Visit the West Austin Youth
volleyball, and gymnastics, just to name a few. Association at www.waya.org
Tarrytown is considered the most expensive Visit the Old West Austin
real estate in Austin, with houses ranging from Historic District at
$300,000 to $3,000,000, but the amenities, www.owahd.org
location, schools, and charm make Tarrytown a
strong candidate for any homebuyer.
What makes Tarrytown the best place to live?
Debbie Gainer answered, "The convenience of
where we are, the fact that we are a little
community within the city, and all of the things to do here. You really just
can't beat it."
Amenities
Resources
Schools Deep Eddy Pool
Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School Laguna Gloria Art
Tarrytown in the Austin
District Museum
American-Statesman's
Casis Elementary Mayfield Park
archives.
O. Henry Middle School Reed Park
Find area restaurants on
Austin High School Lions Municipal Golf
Austin360
Course
UT Area
By Olga Angelo
Mike McHone has lived in the UT area for 35 years, but he says it only feels
like one. "You can never grow old here because there are always 50,000 young
faces around you." But this area, which centers around one of Austin's oldest
and most prestigious institutions, the University of Texas, in not just a
stomping ground for multitudes of college students. With homes ranging from
quaint one-bedroom bungalows to large estate mansions hiding behind Zone: C
imposing gates, tons of activities and amenities, and a rich heritage which can MLS Area: 4
still be seen in some home's architecture, the UT area has something for Zip Code(s): 78705
everyone.
Zip Code 78705
The UT area is made up of a number of small neighborhoods, just minutes Demographic Profile
north of another one of Austin's prestigious institutions, the State Capitol. This
community is defined by IH-35 to the east, Lamar Blvd. and Shoal Creek to Population: 24,913
the west, Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. to the south and 38th St. moving up Avg HH Size: 1.76
toward Duval St. and 45th St. to the north. Median HH Income: $15,500
Median Age 21.5
"Within a five mile radius, you have anything you could ever want," said % Married: 12%
McHone, realtor and Vice President of the University Area Partners. The UT % of HHs with
3%
area is close to major shopping with large shopping amenities such as Central Children:
Market and the Hancock Center, as well as smaller, funky, independently % with College
74%
owned businesses located primarily along Guadalupe Street. Cultural events Degree:
are also at residents' fingertips with university facilities open to the public such % Owner Occupied
12%
as Bass Concert Hall, the Harry Ransom Housing
Center, and the LBJ Library. Median Yr Dwelling
1970
was Built
As for outdoors activities, the possibilities are
endless. The UT area is home to numerous Source: Claritas 2006
parks including Pease Park, Wooten Park,
Adams Park, Hemphill Park, Hancock Park and Pease Park includes a softball
the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike. There is even a field, volleyball court,
nine-hole golf course located near the Hancock playground, wading pool, disc
Center. Additionally, most neighborhoods in golf, picnic tables, and trails.
the area offer community pools. Along with the
dizzying number of activities and amenities located in the area, a equally Wooten Park includes softball
dizzying number of housing possibilities exist. Scattered throughout with field, multi-purpose field,
student apartments, this area is home to efficient condominiums, modest basketball court, volleyball
1950's ranch style homes, elegant estate homes, tiny cottages, and anything in court, playground, and picnic
between. Many of the homes in this area are older, which according to Evelyn tables.
Herczeg, realtor at Prudential Owen Realty, gives them even more appeal to
buyers. "Many buyers would rather have a Adams-Hemphill Park includes
vintage house with one-of-a-kind features that softball field, multi-purpose
were crafted by hand." field, basketball court, and
picnic tables.
However, houses in this area are limited and
expensive. "Proximity of the few available Shoal Creek Hike and Bike
houses to downtown and the university makes Trail includes a 4.62 mile trail.
them very appealing to those who can afford to
buy a house in this area," said Herczeg. "On average, single family houses in Bass Concert Hall features
this area have about 2,271 square feet of living space, and so far in 2004, the venues for film, music, ballet,
'average' house here will sell in about 60 days for $478,000, or about $210 per and more.
square foot of living space," said Herczeg. Condominiums (which are
numerous in the area) are a popular alternative for those who want to live in The Harry Ransom Center
the UT area, but are looking for something more modestly priced. According features an historical collection
to Herczeg, the average UT area condominium sold in 2004 has about 1,557 of books, photographs, art and
square feet of living space and cost about $139,985. the very first photograph.
Children living in the area attend Bryker Wood
or Lee Elementary, O'Henry or Kealing Middle
School and Austin or McCallum High. All of
the above schools are within the Austin
Independent School District, and some
particularly stand out; Lee Elementary is a Blue
Ribbon winning elementary school, Kealing is
a magnet middle school, and Austin High is the
school that President Bush's daughters attended.
The UT area has been a popular place for quite
some time. "Some of the oldest neighborhoods
in Austin exist here," said McHone. Veterans of
the Texas Revolution were granted land in the
area as a reward for battles fought. These tracts
of land were then turned in sprawling
plantations with large mansions and estates. In
fact, remnants of that past still exist in the area
today such as the Wooten Mansion (which has
been transformed into a hotel) on MLK and the Neill Cochran House (now a
museum) on San Gabriel. "This is a great place to observe older homes that
still reflect architectural trends and tastes from the 20th century," said Herczeg.
"Many of the homes built in the early 1900's have been well-preserved and
some have historic significance."
So whether you're looking for a historic home near one of the area's verdant
parks or a newer condominium just a short bike ride away from an art exhibit,
the UT area probably has something for you. But hurry, they don't last long.
This area is attractive to homebuyers as it's ever been.
Amenities
Schools Bass Concert Hall
Austin Independent School Harry Ransom Resources
District Center Search articles mentioning
Bryker Woods Elementary LBJ Library UT Area in the Austin
Lee Elementary Pease Park American-Statesman's
O. Henry Middle School Wooten Park archives.
Kealing Middle School Adams-Hemphill Find area restaurants on
Austin High School Park Austin360
McCallum High School Shoal Creek Hike
and Bike
Cat Mountain
By Ann Guidry
One of Austin's most prestigious residential developments, Cat Mountain, is
bordered by Cat Mountain Drive on the north, FM 2222 on the south, Mesa
Drive on the east, and Westslope Drive / Twin Valley Drive on the west.
Developed primarily in the late 1970s and early 80s, Cat Mountain has
experienced a recent surge of interest and undergone something of a boom in
new home starts. As a result, empty lots are few and far between. Many homes
along Westslope / Twin Valley Drive provide homeowners stunning
panoramic views of the Colorado River and the iconic 360 bridge. Other
unique characteristics of the area include many zero lot line homes - typically
the lowest priced homes in the neighborhood - and several multi-acre lots. Zone: Central
MLS Area: 1A
Cat Mountain's location allows homeowners close proximity to many Zip Code(s): 78731
professional and recreational destinations. For example, a quick 10-minute
drive will get you into downtown Austin, or, going in another direction, The Zip Code 78731
Arboretum for shopping, restaurants and an independent movie theater. Demographic Profile
Boating enthusiasts can launch their vessels a mere 5-minute drive away at the
boat ramp along the river, and techies are a hop, skip and a jump from the high Population: 26,231
tech corridor. Further, thrill-seeking mountain bikers will find themselves right Avg HH Size: 2.00
at home in the neighborhood as there are Median HH Income: $69,656
plentiful trails to explore. The Cat Mountain Median Age 41.2
Home Owners Association serves the entire % Married: 53%
community and charges $42/month. The dues % of HHs with
18%
allow members access to the clubhouse, Children:
community pool, tennis courts, a basketball % with College
71%
court, playground and picnic area, all of which Degree:
are within walking distance of most homes. % Owner Occupied
57%
Residents also enjoy the heavily wooded Housing
natural beauty that defines the Texas hill country, including cohabitation with a Median Yr Dwelling 1979
large population of deer. was Built
Homes range from the mid $200s to over Source: Claritas 2006
$1,000,000 with the median price hovering
around $450,000. The houses themselves vary For $42/month members of the
in size from under 1,500 square feet to well Cat Mountain Home Owners
over 5,000 square feet. Most homes are built Association members have
with an average of two living areas, four access to the clubhouse,
bedrooms, and community pool, tennis courts,
2-car garages. a basketball court, playground
Twenty-six and picnic area, all of which
percent of the homes come with a swimming are within walking distance of
pool. According to Kevin Scanlan, Cat most homes.
Mountain homeowner and real estate agent,
"Homeowners saw huge leaps in market value Residents also enjoy the
during Austin's tech boom in 1999-2000, but heavily wooded natural beauty
unlike many areas in the city, this neighborhood that defines the Texas hill
did not see a significant decrease in home country, including cohabitation
valuations with the subsequent recession. In most cases, increases in value with a large population of deer.
have been more common." Texas Gas Service is the main provider of gas,
while the City of Austin takes care of electricity, water, and wastewater Just North is North North Cat
services. Austin Energy, a department of the City of Austin, provides the Mountain Greenbelt if you just
electricity and manages the customer service center for City of Austin utilities need to get back to nature.
that includes billing as well as starting and stopping service.
The homes in Cat Mountain are served by the Austin Independent School
District. Students attend Highland Park or Doss Elementary Schools, Lamar or
Murchison Middle Schools, and Anderson or McCallum High Schools. St.
Theresa's Catholic School, a private religious and academic institution,
provides education to pre-kindergarten through middle school students and is
located in the neighborhood.
Schools
Austin Independent Cat Mountain's
School District Neighborhood Association
Highland Park Resources
Amenities
Elementary Search articles mentioning
North Cat Mountain
Doss Elementary School Cat Mountain in the Austin
Greenbelt
Lamar Middle School American-Statesman's
The Arboretum
Murchison Middle archives.
School Find area restaurants on
Anderson High School Austin360
McCallum High School
NORTH CENTRAL
Barrington Oaks
& Laurel Oaks
Longtime Barrington Oaks resident Elizabeth Smith was drawn to the
neighborhood back in 1992. "My husband and I moved here when we were
newly married because it was affordable. We knew that Laurel Mountain was a
great school and that was important to us. We were sure there would be
children in our future."
Zone: W
Twelve years later, affordability and good schools are still the primary MLS Area: 1N
attributes that attract prospective homebuyers to this north Austin subdivision. Zip Code(s): 78759
Located in both the City of Austin and the highly acclaimed Round Rock
Independent School Districts, homes sold in the last six months have ranged in ZONE: NC
price from $105,000 to $210,000 and average $97.01 per square foot. Mary
Battaglia of Coldwell Banker United is a real estate agent specializing in the Zip Code 78759
area. She says, "All the schools, North Oaks Elementary, Laurel Mountain Demographic Profile
Elementary, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School, are
Presidential Blue Ribbon Schools. Westwood High is ranked in the top 20 high Population: 39,251
schools in the nation academically. North Oaks elementary is rated in the top Avg HH Size: 2.03
three elementary schools in the Round Rock Median HH Income: $66,451
Independent School District and Canyon Vista Median Age 36.5
is the highest ranked middle school. You can't % Married: 52%
go wrong." % of HHs with
21%
Children:
With easy access to Highway 183 and % with College
64%
Spicewood Springs Road, Barrington Oaks is in Degree:
close proximity to shops, major employers, % Owner Occupied
45%
recreational areas and medical facilities. Housing
Demographics of the subdivision reveal there are an equal number of married Median Housing
couples with children, married couples without children and single people Value of Owner $234,906
without children living in the neighborhood. Furthermore, the majority of Occupied Housing
homeowners are college graduates with professional occupations. The area's
very active homeowners association, the Laurel Oaks Neighborhood Source: Claritas 2006
Association (LONA), keeps residents informed about local events and issues
and is currently raising money for a new subdivision entrance sign. There's a Barrington Oaks is within
YMCA a little over a mile away, and Oak View Park, the heart of the close proximity to shops,
neighborhood, has tennis courts, a playground, a hike and bike trail and picnic major employers, recreational
areas. In the summertime, residents of Barrington Oaks head to the swimming areas and medical facilities. It
pool at nearby Canyon Vista Middle School to cool off. is also connected to its natural
surroundings by a hike and
Most of the homes on the large lots of Barrington Oaks were built in the 1970s bike trail.
through the mid '80s so the vegetation has matured into the lush landscape you
see now. Battaglia says, "Barrington Oaks' cable and electrical lines have been
laid underground, creating a clean look. Its streets are comfortably wide with
curbs, gutters and sidewalks and there is a refreshing variety of home styles,
from contemporary to traditional." Predominantly a single-family residence
neighborhood, the homes received their water and electrical utilities from the
City of Austin, have three to four bedrooms, two-car garages and generous
yards with stands of trees. The aforementioned hike and bike trail is not only a
big draw to those seeking outdoor recreation, but it also serves to define the
neighborhood's connection with its natural surroundings.
But outstanding schools, affordable, attractive homes and easy access to
shopping centers and employers are not all that Barrington Oaks has to offer.
"We've pondered the thought of moving to our ranch out in San Saba,"
Elizabeth Smith says, "but our son loves his school. He's got lots of friends in
the neighborhood and he plays on the baseball team, so we'll probably be here
a while." Her son isn't the only one tied to the area. "There are some originals
on the block, people who've lived here since the beginning. We all get along
really well. We look out for each other." Now isn't that what home ownership
is all about?
Schools Resources
Round Rock ISD Amenities Search articles
North Oaks Laurel Oaks Neighborhood mentioning
Elementary Association Bryker Woods in the
Laurel Mountain Oak View Park Austin
Elementary American-Statesman's
Canyon Vista Middle archives.
School Find area restaurants on
Westwood High Austin360
School
Copperfield
Do you dream of buying an affordable home that's close to Dell and Samsung,
hundreds of restaurants and shops and a greenbelt? Think it's one of those
impossible dreams? Well, fear not. The Copperfield neighborhood in north
Austin boasts all of these amenities and more. Bound by Yager Lane to the
north, IH35 to the west, Dessau Road to the east and Walnut Creek to the
south, Copperfield allows for easy access to IH35, 183 and Mopac
Expressway.
These connections allow for more than just access to shopping - though the
shopping and entertainment options in the area are vast and growing. Once
you've entered one of these major thoroughfares, you're literally minutes from Zone: NC
downtown, Georgetown and Cedar Park. Groundbreaking on the subdivision MLS Area: NE
began in 1982 when the area was sparsely populated and there were few shops Zip Code(s): 78753
or businesses. Since that time, the region has grown into a hotbed of commerce
and industry that's recast the once sleepy outpost into a highly desired central Zip Code 78753
location. Residents now love being mere minutes from downtown, but still far Demographic Profile
enough from the hustle and bustle of big city life. You just can't beat this
winning combination. Population: 42,542
Avg HH Size: 2.68
Median HH Income: $44,534
Its prime location is arguably Copperfield's Median Age 30.9
biggest draw, but the affordability of the homes % Married: 51%
ranks a close second. Craig Allen of The Allen- % of HHs with
35%
Lancaster Company says, "The major attraction Children:
is that you can get a lot of home for the money. % with College
23%
The subdivision is composed of different Degree:
sections that are distinguished by the years they % Owner Occupied
45%
were built. Many of the older homes have been Housing
updated, which is appealing to many first time Median Yr Dwelling
1983
homebuyers." Though most of the homes were built in the '80s, new was Built
construction continued up through 2003 to keep up with demand, thus the
distinct locations and home styles. Because the area has been established for Source: Claritas 2006
some time, the trees, foliage and landscaping have matured into lush fullness.
Besides the obvious aesthetic benefit, the full-blown greenery provides shade The Copperfield neighborhood
that becomes critically important during Austin's sweltering summer months. is close both to high-tech
The houses themselves average 1,388 square feet with a mean price of $86.44 companies and a greenbelt. It
per square foot that brings current home prices in the area to roughly $120,000. also allows for easy access to
Electric utilities, water and wastewater are provided by the City of Austin, and IH35, 183 and Mopac
gas service comes from TXU Gas. Expressway, making it easy
access to shopping, parks and
An important consideration for people looking to buy a home and start a family downtown.
is the quality of schools serving the neighborhood. Though located in Austin
proper, Copperfield lies in the Pflugerville Independent School District. To the
uninitiated, Pflugerville ISD has earned a "Recognized" rating from the Texas
Education Agency for the third consecutive year. Outstanding achievement in
2001 TAAS testing earned four campuses in Pflugerville ISD an "Exemplary"
and nine campuses a "Recognized" rating for 2001-2002.
The highly acclaimed schools that Copperfield students attend include
Pflugerville Elementary, Dessau Middle School and Connally High School.
So, there's Dell and Samsung, shopping and restaurants, great schools and
affordable homes, quiet streets and easy access to downtown. Could you ask
for anything more? What about a greenbelt and a sprawling metropolitan park?
Would you like that? Well, Copperfield boasts those things, too. The Big
Walnut Creek Greenbelt and Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park are central to the
neighborhood and one of the highlights of living there. Walnut Creek
Metropolitan Park, with a swimming pool, three softball fields, six miles of
hike and bike trails, a basketball court, a volleyball court, 41 picnic tables, a
barbeque grill, a picnic pavilion and an outdoor facility that may be reserved
for family and neighborhood gatherings allows Copperfield residents to stay in
the neighborhood when most others have to make the trek to far-flung Zilker.
Schools Copperfield Resources
Pflugerville ISD websiteAmenities Copperfield Neighborhood
Pflugerville Big Walnut Creek Association
Elementary Greenbelt Search articles mentioning
Dessau Middle Walnut Creek Allandale in the Austin
School Metropolitan Park American-Statesman's
Connally High archives.
School Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Gracy Woods
The Gracy Woods neighborhood in north Austin is a great place to begin
searching for a home if both value and location are high on your list. Bound by
Bittern Hollow and Lincolnshire Drive to the north, Braker Lane to the south,
Metric Boulevard to the west and Lamar Boulevard to the east, Gracy Woods
is situated close to many high tech employers, shopping centers, the Northridge
Austin Community College campus, a number of parks and a treasured
greenbelt. Joe Williams of Keller Williams Realty recommends the
neighborhood to first-time homebuyers especially. "If you don't mind buying a
little older house, you can afford to live close in. I think Gracy Woods is one of Zone: SW
the best neighborhoods in Austin to buy a conveniently located starter home." MLS Area: 2N
Zip Code(s): 78758
Zip Code 78758
Demographic Profile
Population: 45,662
Avg HH Size: 2.32
Median HH Income: $44,985
Median Age 30.6
% Married: 42%
% of HHs with
24%
Children:
Williams was just getting his feet wet in the real % with College
32%
estate game back when Gracy Woods was being Degree:
developed. "It was built in the 1970s," Joe says. % Owner Occupied
29%
"It fed off the early success of Quail Creek but Housing
with larger homes and more varied home styles. Median Yr Dwelling
1984
They built lots of condominiums, single-family was Built
houses and town homes. Its development
matched that of the Metric corridor." Craig Source: Claritas 2006
Allen, also of Keller Williams Realty, speaks to
the Gracy Woods/Gracy Farms area of today. "The addition of Gracy Farms Gracy Woods is ideally located
Plaza Retail Center that's gone up right down the street from the Austin close to many high tech
Community College campus has really enhanced the environment of the area." employers, shopping centers
Other amenities include a major hospital and lots of shopping, from businesses and parks which include
along IH35 to those in and around The Arboretum - both areas being easily swimming pools, softball
accessible from the heart of Gracy Woods. But don't let all the commercial fields, nature trails and more.
amenities fool you. One of the best things about living in Gracy Woods is its
access to the Gracy Woods Park and the Big Walnut Creek Greenbelt system.
Having a greenbelt that boasts a mile and half of natural trails is a real treat,
but the neighborhood's biggest outdoor recreational draw has to be Walnut
Creek Metropolitan Park. With a swimming pool, three softball fields, six
miles of hike and bike trails, a basketball court, a volleyball court, 41 picnic
tables, a barbeque grill, a picnic pavilion and an outdoor facility that may be
reserved for family and neighborhood gatherings, residents need look no
further for recreational facilities.
Though located in Austin proper, the schools of Gracy Woods are served by
the Pflugerville Independent School District, a plus for homeowners concerned
about the quality of education their children receive.The kids and young adults
of Gracy Woods attend River Oaks Elementary School, Westview Middle
School and Connally High School. Residents are also lucky to have a relatively
new community college campus in the neighborhood, the aforementioned
Northridge location of Austin Community College.
The majority of homes range from 1,000 to 1,600 square feet (perfect for first-
time homebuyers), and range in price from $137,000 to $155,000 or $81.47 per
square foot. The streets are quiet and the yards are generous. Due to the
development's longevity, this established area is blessed with mature trees that
enhance the landscape and provide much needed shade during Austin's trying
summer months. Residents are proud of their active homeowners association,
the North Gracy Woods Neighborhood Association, which sponsors a dinner
club, a garden club, and a babysitting co-op. Neighbors are encouraged to take
part in community-spirit-building activities like Gracy Woods' annual summer-
time ice cream social, a neighborhood-wide garage sale in the fall, and a
holiday lighting competition during the holidays.
Prospective homebuyers interested in value, location, great schools, easy
access and natural resources in the neighborhood need look no further than
Gracy Woods.
Schools Amenities Parks
Pflugerville ISD The Arbortetum Gracy Woods Park
River Oaks Gracy Woods Neighborhood Big Walnut Creek
Elementary School Association Greenbelt
Westview Middle Walnut Creek
School Metropolitan Park
Connally High School
Lamplight Village
By Karima Ashinhurst
Nearly 30 years have passed since Lamplight Village was first established, and
the neighborhood's Parmer Lane location, above, continues to make it
desirable. The community is made up of single-family homes that were built
between 1976 and 1983 and have from two to four bedrooms.
Zone: North
Though Lamplight Village's Parmer Lane location puts it in the heart of North MLS Area: N
Austin, when the neighborhood was founded nearly 30 years ago, it was Zip Code(s): 78753, 78727
outside of the Austin city limits. Ten-year resident and President of the Zip Code 78753 (primary)
Lamplight Village Area Neighborhood Association (LVANA), Kim Johnson, Demographic Profile
recalls her first impressions of the neighborhood: "It was not part of the City of
Austin then and had a 'country' feel. It felt safe and was affordable." Population: 42,542
Avg HH Size: 2.68
Though Lamplight Village is no longer in the 'country' - it was annexed by the Median HH Income: $44,534
city in 1996 - it has maintained its legacy of reasonably priced homes. Median Age 30.9
According to Shelley Sundermann, a Realtor with JB Goodwin, Lamplight % Married: 51%
Village consists of single-family homes built between 1976 and 1983 that % of HHs with
35%
feature two to four bedrooms, one or two bathrooms and one- or two-car Children:
garages. The homes measure from 1,100 to 1,700 square feet and prices range % with College
23%
from $90,000 to $130,000. Degree:
% Owner Occupied
45%
"Whether you're buying your first home or investing in rental property, Housing
Lamplight Village should prove to be a good value," says Sundermann. Median Yr Dwelling
1983
was Built
Bordered on the north and east by the newer developments of Scofield Ridge
and Scofield Farms, and on the west by Tomanet Trail, Lamplight Village also Source: Claritas 2006
counts Parmer Lane as one of its boundries. The many restaurants and retail
stores on Parmer Lane make shopping and dining out a breeze for area Demographic profiles for other
residents. "There has been substantial recent growth nearby," adds zip codes:
Sundermann, "including the MoPac and Highway 45 extensions, new homes 78727
and many new stores and services." The community's close proximity to both
MoPac and Interstate 35 puts it in the middle of a popular and vibrant area of Walnut Creek Metropolitan
the city. Park includes softball and
soccer fields, basketball and
Though Lamplight Village has seen an increase volleyball courts, playground,
in commercial and residential development on picnic tables, bar-b-que pits,
its borders, and a concurrent rise in property swimming and wading pools,
values, Johnson says the neighborhood still and trails.
maintains "its integrity as a good place to live
and raise a family." She cites demographic
diversity and an active neighborhood
association as a few of the neighborhood's high
points. "(LVANA) works on building
community togetherness by hosting different events throughout the year, such
as garage sales, Night Out parties and socials," says Johnson.
Lamplight Village is in the Pflugerville school district and is served by Parmer
Lane Elementary and Westview Middle schools, both of which are within
walking distance of the community. Connally High school is accessible by bus.
Parmer Lane and Connally are rated "recognized" and Westview features a
quarter-mile paved track and other amenities that are available for public use.
The property tax rate is 2.83%
Lamplight Village is an established neighborhood with wide streets,
impressive yards and large trees. This well-maintained, working-class
community offers a convenient location and reasonable pricing that makes it
ideal for single buyers and young families. If this sounds like what you are
looking for, shine a light on Lamplight Village.
Resources
Search articles
Schools
Amenities mentioning
Pflugerville Independent
Walnut Creek Lamplight Village in the
School District
Metropolitan Park Austin
Parmer Lane Elementary
Lamplight Village American-Statesman's
Westview Middle School
Homepage archives.
Connally High School
Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Milwood
By Donna Lin
It's a typical Austin summer day. The fluffy white clouds meander slowly
across the bright blue sky, vivid green trees wave gently in the breeze. Men
and women leave the coolness of their air-conditioned home to stroll down
symmetric sidewalks, bordered by perfectly manicured lawns, to check their
mailboxes.
Very few homes display "For Sale" signs on their front lawns. An occasional
"For Lease" sign sprouts up here and there, but it seems Milwood residents are Zone: NC
happy right where they are. MLS Area: N
Zip Code(s): 78727
Why wouldn't they be? With easy access to the rest of Austin, a gorgeous
Zip Code 78727
neighborhood and amenities of all sorts just Demographic Profile
within reach, Milwood seems to be a good
choice to purchase a house in. Milwood is Population: 26,021
bordered to the North by Parmer Lane, to the Avg HH Size: 2.28
South Duval, East Amherst and the Railroad Median HH Income: $66,645
tracks to the West. Median Age 33.8
% Married: 53%
The houses are generally modern one-story % of HHs with
28%
homes placed on small, grassy plots of land. Children:
Neighbors are just a stone's throw away, watering their lawns and taking care % with College
52%
of small shrubs in their front yards. Degree:
% Owner Occupied
53%
Harvey Pikoff, a Realtor with Re/Max, says a lot of first-time homebuyers Housing
choose Milwood. "These are people who have lived in Austin for a year or Median Yr Dwelling
1995
two, and have been renting. They choose to buy a house in Milwood," he says. was Built
It makes sense. Homes range from the $145s to the $160s, with an average Source: Claritas 2006
range of 1,600 square feet of space. While they are modestly sized, they are
well-maintained and boast an extremely reasonable price tag. Balcones District Park offers
Milwood residents a basketball
"One of the appeals is there's a lot of mature trees in the neighborhood, and it's and volleyball court, a softball
a neighborhood where you can get a modestly priced house without having to field, playground, picnic area,
really travel into Williamson County," he says. "With the prices these homes swimming and wading pool
have, they're more affordable than buying brand-new houses." and trail miles.
If price alone isn't enough to lure potential homebuyers, Milwood's location isThe Milwood Home Owners
sure to reel them in. The neighborhood is bordered by Parmer Lane, Amherst Assocaiation plans many
Drive, the county line and northwest toward RM 620. events for the community.
Each Fourth of July, the
Convenient access to Interstate 35 and Loop 1 make Milwood an ideal location neighborhood association hosts
for those looking to ease their commute to and from work each day. a picnic and parade. The group
also organizes a neighborhood-
Several shopping centers and convenience stores are available for Milwood wide garage sale, and
residents. A few highlights include the Cool River Café, the Balcones Park and publishes a newsletter for
Pool for residents of all ages and the Milwood Branch Austin Public Library. community members.
Pikoff, having specialized in the Milwood area for 20 years, says another
appeal of the area is the neighborhood's image. The picturesque landscape of
Milwood makes it an ideal location to raise a family.
In addition to a nicely laid-out community, Milwood offers a strong and active
neighborhood association. Membership is offered to all residents who pay
annual dues.
The Milwood Neighborhood Association organizes several committees aimed
to improve the community, including beautification, crime and safety,
membership and social, newsletter, Web site and zoning information
committees.
Each Fourth of July, the neighborhood association hosts a picnic and parade
for the entire community. The group also organizes a neighborhood-wide
garage sale, and publishes a newsletter for community members.
In addition to neighborhood-wide activities of this sort, the association also
offers scholarships for graduating high school seniors.
Children in the area attend Summit Elementary, a school Pikoff says is highly
rated, Murchison Middle School and Anderson High School. Utilities are
provided by the city.
Resources
Schools
Search articles
Austin Independent
Amenities mentioning
School District
Balcones District Park Milwood in the Austin
Summit Elementary
Milwood Neighborhood American-Statesman's
Murchison Middle
Association archives.
School
Find area restaurants on
Anderson High School
Austin360
Great Hills
For people who like beautiful views, winding roads and living on a cul de sac,
Great Hills is a great neighborhood. The 18-hole golf course, along with areas
of rugged terrain, dictated that the neighborhood streets follow an irregular
pattern. The resulting home sites offer panoramas highlighted by creeks, trees,
fairways and other homes in the distance.
Realtor Lakki Brown, an agent with Amelia Bullock Realtors, bought her
house in Great Hills in 1992. "I wouldn't live anywhere else," she says.
Brown had just started in the real estate business when construction in Great Zone: nc
Hills began. MLS Area: 1n
"I remember Zip Code(s): 78759
when they
opened Great Zip Code 78759
Hills in the late Demographic Profile
'70s," she says.
"They brought Population: 39,251
us over here in a Avg HH Size: 2.03
Jeep because the Median HH Income: $66,451
roads were not Median Age 36.5
in. I remember thinking 'this is going to be neat % Married: 52%
place.'" % of HHs with
21%
Children:
Today there are many things Brown appreciates % with College
64%
about the neighborhood. "It's so convenient to Degree:
everything," she says. "If I need a gallon of % Owner Occupied
45%
milk, the Randall's and H-E-B are right here Housing
along with great shopping centers and theaters." Median Yr Dwelling
1987
Other nearby businesses include Home Depot, Container Store, all the stores in was Built
The Arboretum, Sam's Club, Costco and many restaurants. "There must be at
least 20 restaurants in the area," Brown says. There are two movie theaters in Source: Claritas 2006
the area, Arbor Theatre shows art films and Gateway 16 plays major releases.
The Great Hills neighborhood
Homes in the neighborhood are typically two stories with lots of brick or stone has many amenities that your
on the exterior. The style is traditional though some homes feature more family will love. The
contemporary designs. "Most of the homes were built in the '80s," Brown says. Arboretum offers shops,
She says the price range for homes in Great Hills is $320,000 to $450,000 restaurants and services. Hill
though she sometimes finds homes priced at more than $500,000. Sizes range and Bull Creek parks have
from around 2,000 square feet to about 3,400 square feet. basketball courts, playgrounds,
swimming, fishing and nature
For recreation, there's Austin Hills Park off Floral Park Drive. It features a trails.
rugged nature trail for hiking. Bull Creek Park and its greenbelt are 5 minutes
away. Much of the recreational facilities actually in Great Hills are found at the
country club.
"You don't have to play golf to belong to the country club," Brown says. "They
have social memberships." There are three levels of membership - stockholder,
tennis and social. The stockholder level requires an equity purchase in the club
and includes all the facilities including unlimited use of the golf course and
driving range. A social membership provides access to the swimming pool and
clubhouse. The tennis membership includes swimming pool, clubhouse and
tennis courts.
The country club is at the heart of the original Great Hills neighborhood. That
original neighborhood roughly has U.S. 183 as an east boundary, Loop 360 to
the south, Bluegrass to the west and Rain Creek Parkway to the north.
Determining the boundaries of Great Hills is a difficult proposition. As the
area bounded by Spicewood Springs Road, U.S. 183 and Loop 360 has filled in
with houses (new homes continue to be built in the area) new neighborhoods
have grown up contiguous to Great Hills. Consequently there are numerous
neighborhood associations in the area in addition to Great Hills Homeowner's
Association.
Children living in Great Hills may attend school
in either the Round Rock Independent School
District or Austin Independent School District
depending on where they live.
Residents in AISD attend Hill Elementary,
Murchison Middle School and Anderson Hill
School. Those in RRISD attend North Oaks Elementary, Canyon Vista Middle
School and Westwood High School.
"It's very confusing," Brown says. "I remember one guy who bought a house
and thought the kids were going to go to Anderson and it was Westwood.
Anybody buying up here should check it out thoroughly."
City of Austin provides electricity, wastewater and trash pickup. Texas Gas
Service provides gas to most homes though some have propane tanks.
Schools
Austin Independent School
Resources
District
Amenities Search articles
Hill Elementary
The Arboretum mentioning
Murchison Middle School
Great Hills Country Club Great Hills in the
Anderson High School
Great Hills Homeowner's Austin
Round Rock Independent
Association American-Statesman's
School District
Austin Hills Park archives.
North Oaks Elementary
Bull Creek Park Find area restaurants
Canyon Vista Middle
on Austin360
School
Westwood High School
NORTH
Block House Creek
By Karima Ashinhurst
As a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United, Cecilia Roberts not only sells homes in
Block House Creek - she lives in one. In fact, she and her family were one of the first
residents to move into the community when it opened for homeowners in 1983. Though
the community was in its infancy ("there was a hole in the ground for the pool"), Roberts
was impressed by the potential of Block House Creek, a potential that is now almost
fully realized.
Block House Creek, named after the waterway that runs
through the community, is within 20 houses of being fully Zone: NW
built out, Roberts says. At build out, Block House Creek MLS Area: LN
will be home to approximately 2,200 residences. In Zip Code(s): 78641
addition to the namesake creek, and attendant greenbelt,
Roberts says that Block House Creek features "every Zip Code 78641
amenity that you could possibly want." The community is Demographic Profile
home to five parks (for residents' useonly) that are
maintained by the Block House Municipal Utility District Population: 33,775
(MUD), of which Roberts is vice president. The jewel of Avg HH
2.97
Block House Creek is the 21-acre Tumlinson Park, home Size:
to a beach-entry pool with water slide, and Walker House. Median HH
$64,068
Income:
Walker House, which is available for residents to reserve, Median
32.8
is located on the site of the former Walker Ranch. Apache Age
Park features a year-round heated pool, home base of the community swim team, the % Married: 69%
Tidal Waves. Between them, the parks at Block House Creek feature lighted tennis, % of HHs
basketball and skate courts, hike-and-bike trails, ball fields and even a dirt-bike jump. with 49%
Children:
Homes in Block House Creek range in size from approximately 1,100 to 2,800 square % with
feet, Roberts says, and are priced from about $100,000 to upward of $180,000. The College 26%
houses were built over a nearly 20-year time period, from 1983 to the present, which Degree:
gives the community a varied look and feel. % Owner
Occupied 89%
Block House Creek, which counts U.S. 183, a major Austin-area thoroughfare, as one of Housing
its borders, is far from remote. The neighborhood is becoming more centrally located Median
everyday. Roberts remembers when residents had to go six miles to get to the nearest House $131,015
convenience store. These days, shopping of all kinds is only a stone's throw away from Value
the community's entrance.
Source: Claritas
Block House Creek Elementary, part of the exemplary Leander Independent School 2006
District, is on-site. The remaining schools that serve the community are Artie Henry
Middle and Vista Ridge High schools. Tumlinson Park
offers residents a
So what else attracts newcomers to this pioneering master-planned community? Roberts range of activities,
has no trouble making a list: "reasonable, affordable housing with awesome amenities, from community
heavily treed parks, the greenbelt, the creeks, and the schools." Roberts predicts that, events to private
with the opening of a planned extension to U.S. 183, even the traffic will improve. parties. It includes
Roberts says Block House Creek has something a little more intangible to offer, as well. playscapes, skate
"When I drive in, I feel safe," she says. "I feel home. I feel like it's a community." areas, courts for
tennis or basketball,
a baseball field,
nature and jogging
trails and a bike MX
track. Tumlinson
Pool features a slide
and a splash
structure. Comanche
Schools Amenities Resources Park has four acres
Block House Creek Block House Municple Utility at the entrance to
Search articles mentioning
Elementary District Web Site Block House Creek
Barton Hills in the Austin
Artie Henry Middle General Park and Recreational with trails
American-Statesman's archives. and a
Vista Ridge High Information scenic view.
Find area restaurants on Austin360
Tumlinson Park Tonkawa Park is a
Walker House 14-acre park under
planning for baseball
fields.
Cat Hollow
By Karima Ashinhurst
On a warm afternoon, it's not unusual to see a new mother walking down one
of Cat Hollow's tree-lined sidewalks with her infant in a stroller. Or you may
catch a glimpse of a grandfather and grandson crossing one of the community's
wide streets. As Round Rock and Austin grow to meet it, the well-kept secret
that is Cat Hollow is out of the bag.
The star of this community has been rising for about a decade. Once a fairly
secluded bedroom community on the outskirts of Round Rock, Cat Hollow
counts RM 620, now a major Austin-area thoroughfare, as one of its
Zone: NW
boundaries. Great Oaks Drive and Liberty Walk complete the community's
MLS Area: RR
triangular shape.
Zip Code(s): 78681
Jenny Santiano has been a Cat Hollow resident since 2000. Cat Hollow's
Zip Code 78681
proximity to Santiano and husband's tech jobs was definitely a draw, she
Demographic Profile
recalls. The closeness of the Round Rock Medical Center and an H-E-B
supermarket put necessities near by without detracting from the "suburban"
Population: 40,189
and secluded feel the Santiano family appreciated.
Avg HH Size: 3.06
Median HH Income: $81,000
In the short time she has been a resident, Santiano has seen Cat Hollow
Median Age 33.2
become more and more centrally located. In addition to the grocery store and
% Married: 70%
hospital, the area around Cat Hollow now features banks, restaurants, varied
% of HHs with
services and shops and much more. 52%
Children:
% with College
"When we got here, it was mostly cows," she recalls. "Already it's gone from 44%
Degree:
cows to construction."
% Owner Occupied
84%
Housing
Santiano has grown to love Cat Hollow, she
Median Yr Dwelling
says, and the friendliness of the residents is top 1993
was Built
on the list of things she adores. Making note of
active neighborhood watch groups, play groups
Source: Claritas 2006
and block parties, Santiano describes Cat
Hollow as a "very connected community. All
Amenities include two
the neighbors have really been very supportive
community pools, three large
of one another."
parks, lit tennis and basketball
courts, and easy access to IH-
Another Cat Hollow attraction is also what Ron Mason, a Realtor with JB
35, Hwy 183 and Parmer Lane.
Goodwin, considers the neighborhood's top draw - numerous recreation areas.
"(Cat Hollow) has all the neighborhood amenities," Mason says. "Parks, pools,
playgrounds, jogging trails - everything is there."
Brushy Creek MUD, which provides water and
waste water services to Cat Hollow, maintains
eight parks, four greenbelts and several hike-
and-bike trails within a few miles of the
neighborhood. Mason notes that three parks,
Cat Hollow Park and Pool, Community Park
and Pepper Rock Park, and two greenbelts are
within Cat Hollow boundaries. There also are
several city- and county-maintained parks and
outdoor activity areas nearby.
There are around 1,200 homes in Cat Hollow, according to Mason. That
number is bound to grow as Capital Pacific and Wilshire Homes continue to
build in the development. Mason says the majority of the homes were built
from 1994 to the present and range from 1,200 to 4,500 square feet. While
there are homes in the $300,000-plus price range, Mason notes that the average
home price falls somewhere between $150,000 to $250,000.
"The price range has been a good middle range
- not too low, not too high," he says. "It appeals
to a lot of people."
Cat Hollow is served by Round Rock
Independent School District. Most elementary
schoolers attend the award-winning Great Oaks
Elementary School, but a sizeable percentage
attends Brushy Creek Elementary, as well.
Cedar Valley Middle and McNeil High schools round out the public schools
that serve Cat Hollow.
Gay Puckett, another Realtor at JB Goodwin, easily sums up Cat Hollows'
appeal. "In a transient environment, it's awfully hard to put down roots," she
says. "Cat Hollow makes it easy."
Schools Resources
Amenities
Round Rock Search articles
Homeowner's Association
Independent School mentioning
Round Rock Parks and
District Cat Hollow in the
Recreation
Brushy Creek Austin
Cat Hollow Park & Pool
Elementary American-
La Frontera Shopping Center
Cedar Valley Middle Statesman's archives.
Dell Diamond, Home of the
School Find area restaurants
Round Rock Express
McNeil High School on Austin360
Forest Creek
By Karima Ashinhurst
When Chris Couture, the current president of the Forest Creek Homeowner's
Association, decided to move with his family to Forest Creek in 1997, he
recalls that one of the things that attracted him to the neighborhood was its
relative isolation. "There was only one Dell building at the time. The Wal-Mart
had just been built," says Couture. "You used to be able to exit the freeway and
go all the way to Forest Creek in seven minutes - only three stop signs, no
lights."
These days, Forest Creek isn't quite as remote as it used to be. Situated in
Round Rock, west of County Road 122 and a few miles east of Interstate 35,
Forest Creek is bounded by Gattis School Road to the south. U.S. 79 is north
of the community by only a few minutes. The upscale community is close Zone: North
enough to Round Rock to be convenient, yet far enough away to maintain its MLS Area: RR
own identity. Zip Code(s): 78664
A large part of Forest Creek's identity can be found in the Forest Creek Golf Zip Code 78664
Club. The par 72, 7,147-yard golf course is the centerpiece of the community. Demographic Profile
Debbie Kelsey, a Realtor with Re/Max Round Rock, notes that the course has
been "nationally recognized as one of the finest public golf courses in Texas." Population: 67,908
For the avid golfer, there are a total of three public courses within seven miles Avg HH Size: 2.89
of the community. Median HH Income: $66,668
Median Age 30.8
Another feature that helps define the % Married: 67%
community is the on-site school, Forest Creek % of HHs with
Elementary, which maintains an exemplary 48%
Children:
rating. Along with the golf course, Couture % with College
believes that the elementary school is a big 31%
Degree:
draw for newcomers. The school undoubtedly % Owner Occupied
plays a major role in the abundance of families 70%
Housing
with young children. As a parent, Couture Median Yr Dwelling
recalls that Forest Creek Elementary, and the 1997
was Built
favorable reputation of the Round Rock school district, were considerable
factors in his decision. Ridgeview Middle School and Stoney Point High Source: Claritas 2006
School are the other nearby schools that serve Forest Creek.
Forest Creek Golf Course is a
As a growing community, Forest Creek is home to new construction as well as par 72, 7,147 yard golf course
resale homes with a variety of price points. A number of builders are active in which has been nationally
Forest Creek, including Toll Brothers, Clark Wilson and Ryland Homes. recognized as one of the finest
According to Kelsey, prices of closed sales in 2003 ranged from $143,500 to public golf courses in Central
$575,000. Homes sold ranged from a two- Texas. Other amenities include
bedroom townhouse measuring 1,265 square a snack bar/cafe, a three-tiered
feet to a sprawling six-bedroom, single-family practice range, putting green,
home measuring 5,000 square feet. The tax rate and a short game area.
for the area is 2.7233 percent.
As Round Rock has grown, it has brought a
wealth of recreation and shopping options to
the residents of Forest Creek. Kelsey calls the area surrounding Forest Creek a
"shopper's paradise." The La Frontera shopping center is within shouting
distance and offers numerous places to have a meal, spend a few dollars or
spend some time. In addition to shopping and dining, Round Rock is home to
the minor-league baseball team, the Round Rock Express, at the nearby Dell
Diamond. Dell Computer and a host of high-tech employers are close by.
As an established resident, Couture laments the traffic snarls that the rapid
growth has caused, but he realizes that Forest Creek's location is a big part of
its allure. "The fact that the neighborhood is away from the city center gives it
a unique sense of togetherness," says Couture. "We are our own community."
With its mature trees, numerous amenities and idyllic setting, Forest Creek
makes a great place to call home. "Forest Creek is a great community to raise
your family," says Kelsey. "It's quiet, friendly and, most of all, inviting."
Resources
Schools Search articles
Amenities
Round Rock Independent mentioning
Forest Creek Golf
School District Forest Creek in the Austin
Course
Forest Creek Elementary American-Statesman's
Round Rock
Ridgeview Middle School archives.
Express
Stony Point High School Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Wells Branch
By Karima Ashinhurst
Special sections staff
A large part of the appeal of the Wells Branch
neighborhood is its excellent location. Situated
in north Austin, halfway between MoPac and Interstate 35, Wells Branch is a
vibrant community in its prime.
Mike Baker, a residential real estate agent with the Allen-Lancaster team of Zone: N
Keller Williams, notes that in addition to its central location, a substantial MLS Area: N
component of the allure of Wells Branch is the "broad price range" of the Zip Code(s): 78728
homes.
Zip Code 78728
Baker notes that Wells Branch buyers can find a home in the "$90,000 range" - Demographic Profile
no mean feat in Austin's hot real estate market.
Population: 19,813
Starting in the $90s, homes in Wells Branch are priced up into the $250s. The Avg HH Size: 2.22
varied prices reflect the age of homes in the community - from 1982, the year Median HH Income: $58,640
Wells Branch opened, until 2003 - and a size range of about 800 to 3,000 Median Age 31.1
square feet. % Married: 50%
% of HHs with 28%
In addition to I- Children:
35 to the west % with College
46%
and MoPac to Degree:
the east, Wells % Owner Occupied
38%
Branch also Housing
counts Grand Median Yr Dwelling
1995
Avenue was Built
Parkway to the
north and Wells Source: Claritas 2006
Branch Parkway to the south as its boundaries. This puts this established
community an easy distance from the shopping, dining and recreational Wells Branch has much to
facilities of the La Frontera, Gateway and Arboretum shopping centers. offer its residents. In addition
to be 10 minutes from
Major north Austin employers, including many in the high-tech arena, are also downtown, this neighborhood
within a comfortable distance. is close to the La Frontera,
Gateway and Arboretum
As Baker points out, depending on traffic, Wells Branch residents are "only shopping areas. The Wells
about 10 minutes from downtown." The area in and around the sprawling, Branch Recreation center also
3,000-plus-home community has its own share of amusements, however, many offers a basketball court and
of which are provided by the Wells Branch Municipal Utility District (MUD). exercise equipment. Two
parks, Katherine Fleischer Park
"One of the reasons for (Wells Branch's) success is the MUD," Baker says. and North Mills Park are
located within the community.
In addition to providing water and wastewater services, the MUD provides
residents with numerous recreation opportunities, including a rec center,
community center, parks pool and more.
The Wells Branch Recreation Center features a full-size basketball court, a
workout room with exercise machines and free weights, and multi-purpose
rooms for fitness classes and meetings. Wells Branch is home to two
swimming pools, the junior-Olympic sized Willow Bend pool and the
Katherine Fleischer pool at the park of the same name. Also at Katherine
Fleischer Park is the Homestead, an 1850s-era cabin complex available for
tours and festivals in the community. North Mills Park is the second park in
the community.
In addition to the Wells Branch Community Garden, which gives residents a
chance to exercise their green thumbs and enjoy the great outdoors, Baker
mentions another opportunity to enjoy nature, the hike-and-bike trails. Several
miles of trails, complete with Frisbee golf, wind through the community.
Most of the kids in Wells Branch attend the schools of the Round Rock
Independent School District, but a few attend Pflugerville ISD schools. The
majority of children attend Wells Branch or Northwest elementary schools,
Deerpark Middle and McNeil High schools. In addition to the utilities the
MUD is responsible for, TXU Gas provides gas. TXU Energy and The City of
Austin share in providing electricity. The tax rate is 2.956 percent.
Wells Branch is a community with much to offer anyone looking for a warm,
inviting place to call home.
"When you drive through the neighborhood, it has appeal," says Baker. "It
looks like someplace you'd want to live."
Schools Amenities Parks
Wells Branch Elementary Wells Branch Municipal Katherine Fleischer
School Utility Distict Park
Northwest Elementary Wells Branch Recreational North Mills Park
School Center
Deerpark Middle School La Frontera
McNeil High School The Arboretum
Pflugerville
By Michele Chan Santos
Pflugerville's housing market, which has risen and fallen with the fortunes of
Dell Inc., is slowly recovering from the effects of the 2001 tech bust.
More than 400 existing homes are on the market in the area, and more than 30
percent are vacant -- 10 percent is normal -- according to local real estate
agents. The high inventory, plus competition from new home developments,
has made it harder to sell a house.
Zone: N
"Three years ago, the average number of days on the market for our team was MLS Area: PF
27. Now, it's 100," said Larry English, who owns ReMax Greater Austin, Zip Code(s): 78660
which gets 90 percent of its sales from the Pflugerville area.
Zip Code 78660
English said home construction in the area, which remains above 1,000 houses Demographic Profile
a year, is affecting existing home sales. He said builders are offering incentives
that put existing home sellers at a disadvantage. Population: 53,723
Avg HH Size: 3.17
"I would not say we have fully recovered until all the vacant houses have been Median HH Income: $71,723
sold," English said. "The key here is jobs." Median Age 32.8
% Married: 65%
Still, there is hope that the market is past its worst days. % of HHs with
53%
Children:
Low mortgage rates helped bring a new wave of home buyers into the Central % with College
32%
Texas market, and more than 900 existing homes in the Pflugerville area were Degree:
sold in 2003, reaching levels last seen in 2000. % Owner Occupied
91%
Housing
And city leaders and real estate developers are hoping that Texas 130, the toll Median Yr Dwelling 1998
highway under construction along the east sides of Travis and Williamson was Built
counties, will open new opportunities to attract new residents and, importantly,
new employers. Source: Claritas 2006
The city's largest employer is the 16,500-student Pflugerville school district, As a member of the
but many of those 1,500 jobs are outside the city limits. The city is 25 square Pflugerville Recreation Center
miles; the school district covers 100, including parts of North Austin, Round you have access to the
Rock, Manor, Taylor and Hutto. gymnasium, fitness room
(Circuit Training, Free
In grocery stores, at the sidelines of soccer and baseball games, and at City Weights, Cardio Equipment),
Council meetings, people are talking about Texas 130 and Texas 45 North, game room (Ping Pong, Pool,
which will connect Pflugerville and Cedar Park -- and the opportunities they Foosball, Air Hockey), and a
will bring for retail and commercial development. Both roads are scheduled to track.
open in 2007.
"What has held Pflugerville back all these years is that we didn't have the big
roads that Round Rock and Georgetown had," said John Pfluger, a broker and
descendant of the city's founder.
Boom and bust
No town is a better example of the type of bedroom communities that sprouted
up around Austin and Round Rock during the tech boom.
Pflugerville's population more than tripled during the 1990s as builders quickly
put up houses for the burgeoning number of employees of Dell and other
nearby companies. In 1999 alone, work began on 1,695 houses.
But when the tech boom lost steam, thousands of Dell employees were laid off,
and many had to put their houses up for sale.
Like other areas of Central Texas also hit by layoffs, the number of existing
homes added to the listings in the Pflugerville area saw double-digit
percentage point increases after the tech bust.
In 2001, nearly 1,500 existing homes were put on the market. In 2002, 1,700
new listings were added. Last year, it rose to 1,987.
But the number of sales slid from 930 in 2000 to 800 in 2002; they rebounded
to 926 in 2003.
In the region overall, sales did not slip.
Low mortgage interest rates helped the Pflugerville market recover last year, in
part by drawing first-time buyers such as Mark and Shannon Willy.
The Willys and their children Callie, 5, and Mason, 1, moved to Pflugerville
last September from an apartment in South Austin.
Mark Willy is the store director of the Pflugerville Albertsons grocery. He said
he loves the fact that he lives 10 minutes away from his job and no longer has
to commute on Interstate 35 or MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1).
Shannon Willy is a manager for Bank of America in Cedar Park. But the
family chose to live in Pflugerville, citing the award-winning school system
and family amenities.
"When I took the store over, I just loved the community," Mark Willy said. "I
thought this would be a great place to raise a family."
The city offers "a sense of safety and security," he said. "There are lots of
soccer fields and lots of activities for kids."
The Willys bought a 2,000-square-foot house in the The Park at Blackhawk, a
new subdivision on the north side of Pflugerville.
Much of the new home construction over the past year has been around the
area near the intersection of Pecan Street, Pflugerville's main drive, and FM
685.
Work was started on more than 1,000 houses in the Pflugerville area in 2003,
and more are on the way.
The city has approved 14,000 lots as future home sites, and hundreds are
already in various stages of planning and construction.
And even farther east on Pecan Street, a new master-planned community is in
the works.
More change coming
Last month, Tejas Viejo Land Co. announced that it had 1,600 acres near the
intersection of Pecan Street and Texas 130 under contract.
Wayne "Sandy" Rea, Tejas Viejo's president, said that Texas 130, which will
stretch from Georgetown to Seguin, south of Austin, and companion toll-road
project Texas 45 North, which will connect Pflugerville and Cedar Park, are
the reasons why he and other developers are looking at Pflugerville in a new
light.
"In every city that I've been in, everything goes out to the freeways. The
restaurants, the shopping, everything," Rea said. "This will totally and
completely change Pflugerville."
Pfluger, the broker, helped bring together 15 landowners to sell their properties
to Tejas Viejo. The project could grow by another 400 acres.
The mixed-use development also will bring commercial and retail space to a
city that hasn't seen the same retail growth that has occurred in other parts of
Central Texas, including in North Austin at the city's edge.
At a recent City Council work session, city planners made a list of their top
priorities for economic development. They include industrial and business park
development and improving roads leading to Texas 130 and Texas 45 North.
As the transportation and infrastructure gets better, retail opportunities will
improve, city planners hope.
Commercial development along the Texas 45 North and Texas 130 corridors
"will give us the opportunity to have a well-balanced city instead of just living
on rooftop taxes, property taxes," said David Buesing, Pflugerville's acting city
manager and police chief. "We will, hopefully, have businesses out there
generating sales taxes to give us a well-rounded and well-balanced budget."
That prospect, plus the recovering economy, gives Buesing hope that his city is
finally working its way out from under the recession.
"It's been felt by a lot of people out here," he said. "Most of these people work
in Round Rock or Dell or somewhere; they don't really work in Pflugerville.
With (Texas) 130 coming, we will have the opportunity to have jobs here."
Resources
Amenities
Resources
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Search articles mentioning
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Pflugerville in the Austin
Pflugerville Independent School Pflugerville
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SOUTH CENTRAL
Travis Heights
By Evelyn Valdez
Quaint houses with a lot of charm are what you will find in the community of
Travis Heights. Although this neighborhood is rather aged, almost anyone can
feel very much at home. The houses are well taken care of and many have
been renovated to accommodate modern day needs. This established
neighborhood is one of Austin's first dating back to the early 1890's when it Zone: 1B
was officially annexed by the city of Austin. MLS Area: C
Zip Code(s): 78704
If you are searching through Travis Heights for "For Sale" signs in the
neighborhood, look very carefully and don't be fooled by the large "American Zip Code 78704 (primary)
for Peace" signs that look very similar and demonstrate the liberality of the Demographic Profile
residents. Travis Heights is known around Austin as having an eccentric and
unconventional vibe. According to Carrie Bills, owner of Green Mango Real Population: 41,241
Estate and resident of Travis Heights, "the make-up of the community is very Avg HH Size: 2.00
mixed and diverse". Median HH Income: $40,887
Median Age 33.0
% Married: 35%
% of HHs with
18%
Children:
This is not a cookie-cutter neighborhood by any % with College
42%
means; the houses are very unlike each other Degree:
and most have large backyards. Bills has been % Owner Occupied
30%
in the real estate business for 25 years and Housing
explains that the neighborhood is "mostly made Median Yr Dwelling
1972
up of two-bedroom and one-bath bungalows was Built
being expanded but there are also a few
mansions in the area as well". Extensive front Source: Claritas 2006
porches with different sounding wind chimes
and swings hanging from huge trees are common descriptions of homes in South Congress provides great
Travis Heights. shopping, night life and
restaurants all within proximity
This area is great for people who love the outdoors also; Big Stacy and Little to Travis Heights. Every first
Stacy Park have a great hike-and-bike trail with a low level of difficulty that Thursday of the month shops
residents can be seen jogging at in the early morning or walking their pets in open their doors until 10pm
the afternoon. There is also Stacy Pool that stays open year-round and jungle which includes events and
gym for the kids to play. "The residents here are really active and are not activities.
hesitant to take initiative," says Bills. She describes an instance where families
in the neighborhood organized a summer concert to help raise money for Stacy
Pool.
Families are not the only make up of Travis Heights; people with diverse
backgrounds and interesting occupations such as artists, film makers, teachers,
and business professionals reside here as well. When asked of what attracts
people to buy a home in Travis Heights, Carrie Bills said, "the topography
with hilly streets and an interesting layout brings people to this community".
As you drive through the winding streets you will see many cobalt blue boxes
for recycling on the curbs of a lot of homes. Speed bumps throughout the
neighborhood can ensure that drivers with lead feet or noisy cars will not
bother your slumber in Travis Heights.
Close proximity to South Congress's great shopping, restaurants, downtown,
and Interstate 35 make Travis Heights a very popular place to live. The actual
borders of Travis Heights are Riverside Dr. on the north, Interstate 35 on the
east, Oltorf on the South, and South Congress Ave. on the west. Be aware that
a great location also comes with a price; homes in Travis Heights range from
$200,000 to $1,000,000 with the average being at $275,000. Carrie Bills says
that while other neighborhoods in Austin experienced a downfall in the real
estate business last year, Travis Heights held its own quite well.
Amenities Resources
Schools
Big Stacy Park Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School
Little Stacy Travis Heights in the Austin
District
Park American-Statesman's
Travis Heights Elementary
First Thursday archives.
Fulmore Middle School
South Find area restaurants on
Travis High School
Congress Austin360
Barton Hills
The character of old Austin is alive and well in
Barton Hills where creative architecture, lush
greenery and Hobbit-inspired rock gardens
stand in sharp contrast to much of today's
cookie-cutter housing. Located in Central
Austin south of the colorful Restaurant Row on
Barton Springs Road, the area known as Barton Hills is a charming collective
of bordering neighborhoods where winding roads lead through majestic, tree-
covered hills and home sites.
Zone: SC
"It's an interesting terrain," says Ali Carter, an agent with Green Mango Real MLS Area: 7
Estate. "There are a lot of mature trees and each street feels different because Zip Code(s): 78704
the area is so hilly." Homes come in all shapes and sizes (and eye-catching
colors), and nearby Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool and Town Lake offer Zip Code 78704
plenty of Austin's laid-back respite. Demographic Profile
Its natural beauty, enchanting charm and proximity to downtown, make Barton Population: 41,241
Hills a great place to call home. "The proximity to the greenbelts is a huge Avg HH Size: 2.00
draw," adds Carter. "I show quite a few homes to people drawn to the Median HH Income: $40,887
elementary school there. Barton Hills Elementary is an exemplary school." Median Age 33.0
% Married: 35%
Established in the 1940s and 1950s with construction continuing through the % of HHs with
18%
1970s to the late 1990s, Barton Hills is dotted with all kinds of homes. "There Children:
are quite a few homes built in the late '70s and early '80s," Carter says. "There % with College
42%
are lots of ranch-style homes. The homes built in the '70s or '80s are typically Degree:
three bedrooms, two baths although there are some that are four bedrooms, two % Owner Occupied
30%
baths. I would say they are in the range of 1,700 square feet, generally." Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
1972
George Butler of Butler Properties says in most cases, homes cost anywhere was Built
from $200,000 to $500,000, although some can be found closer to $100,000.
Home size ranges from 1,600 to about 3,000 square feet. "In the last year, there Source: Claritas 2006
were 22 sales and the homes sold from $110 per square foot to $219 per square
foot," Carter says. "The turnover of homes isn't that great because families tend Zilker Park includes sand
to stay here for a long time." volleyball courts, a nine-hole
Disc Golf Course, 9 Soccer
The children of those families attend Barton Hills Elementary, O. Henry Fields, 1 Rugby Field, 2 Multi-
Middle School and Austin High School. Zilker Elementary School also is use Fields, miniature train ride,
nearby. canoeing, natural spring pool,
dog park, and more.
Easy access to Lamar Boulevard, MoPac and Barton Springs Road offers
residents a wealth of shopping, dining and entertainment options. If character Barton Hills Playground
and old-Austin charm make you feel at home, visit the quiet and quirky features a basketball court,
community of Barton Hills. multi-purpose field, trail miles,
playground, and picnic area.
Schools Amenities Resources Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Barton Hills Zilker Park Search articles features outdoor art and statues
Elementary school Barton Hills Neighborhood mentioning with a trail.
Kealing Magnet Association Barton Hills in the
School Austin Nature and Science Austin Austin Nature and Science
Stephen F. Austin Center American-Statesman's Center is a non-profit
High School Barton Springs Pool archives. community center that
O. Henry Middle Barton Hills Greenbelt Find area restaurants on provides nature exhibits and
School Zilker Botanical Gardens Austin360 natural science education
resources for all ages.
Zilker Botanical Gardens
features many different
gardens planted by different
local designers.
Barton Springs Pool features
natural spring swimming area,
sunbathing, concession, and
lifeguards on duty.
Battle Bend Springs
By David Glessner
Proximity to downtown is often billed as a selling point for Austin area
neighborhoods, but only a drive in rush-hour traffic can measure the true
accuracy of such a claim. Battle Bend Springs, a close-knit south Austin
community established in the 1970s, is that rare slice of neighborhood quiet
just minutes from Austin's vibrant downtown. Located on a tree-covered plot
of land bordered by Interstate 35, South Congress Ave., Stassney Lane and St.
Elmo, Battle Bend Springs is a secluded oasis of tranquility located just a few
traffic lights from the sights and sounds of downtown Austin.
Zone: South
MLS Area: 10
"It's close-in and conveniently located," says Gerry Vanover, GRI, ABR with Zip Code(s): 78745
Coldwell Banker United Realtors. "It's got easy access to employers,
downtown and area grocery stores. It's an older neighborhood so it's got
Zip Code 78745
mature trees."
Demographic Profile
Joan Costello, CRS with Keller Williams Population: 53,096
Realty and a longtime resident of Battle Bend Avg HH Size: 2.51
Springs said school teachers, retired military Median HH Income: $46,772
personnel and working class families with kids Median Age 34.0
comprise a large portion of the community. "A % Married: 49%
lot of our buyers are the children and some
% of HHs with
grandchildren of the original owners," says 30%
Children:
Costello. "It's like a small-town neighborhood." % with College
25%
Degree:
Many homes in Battle Bend Springs feature % Owner Occupied
51%
large back yards - some even back to stretches Housing
of greenbelt and Williamson Creek. Average Median Yr Dwelling
1978
square footage is 1,300. The neighborhood, was Built
which was once on the edge of the city limits
and surrounded by cow pastures, is tended to by Source: Claritas 2006
a 30-year-old neighborhood association.
Battle Bend Park includes
Neighborhood activities include holiday multi-purpose fields, a
decoration awards, holiday basket delivery, greenbelt Easter egg hunt, semi- basketball court, playground,
annual neighborhood garage sales, newsletter distribution and various and picnic and bar-b-que area.
gatherings for special activities. "The neighbors
here care for one another," Costello says. Williamson Creek Greenbelt
"They're friendly, caring people." As for it's
location, Costello says, "it's especially good for Neighborhood activities
people who work in San Marcos. It's a good include holiday decoration
location for anyone traveling south." awards, holiday basket
delivery, greenbelt Easter egg
The southern boundary of Battle Bend is Battle hunt, semi-annual
Bend Blvd, western boundary is Suburban Dr, neighborhood garage sales,
northern boundary is Fort Mason, and east to IH35. The neighborhood, which newsletter distribution and
offers two nearby parks and stretches of greenbelt, was established in the early various gatherings for special
1970s. Today, Battle Bend Springs is occupied by working class families and activities.
is considered close to downtown.
Resources
Schools Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School Amenities Battle Bend Springs in the
District Battle Bend Park Austin
Galindo Elementary Williamson Creek American-Statesman's
Porter Junior High Greenbelt archives.
Travis High Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Cherry Creek
By David Glessner
In a city that's plowing ahead in the name of progress, one southwest Austin
community retains much of the colorful character and laid-back lifestyle that
shapes the South Austin mystique.
Cherry Creek features an expansive collection of well-kept one- and two-story
homes, peaceful winding roads and a wealth of beautiful oak trees. Like a quiet
contradiction, Cherry Creek sounds and feels removed from the busy and
vibrant city, but is actually within close proximity of shopping, employment, Zone: South
entertainment and highway access. MLS Area: 10
Zip Code(s): 78745
"It's close to everything," says Tonya Nieto of
Coldwell Banker Realty. "For price per square Zip Code 78745
footage, you can't beat it." Demographic Profile
Nieto says Cherry Creek homes range from Population: 53,096
approximately 1,300 to more than 2,500 square Avg HH Size: 2.51
feet. Many were built in the 1970s while others Median HH Income: $46,772
are less than 3-years-old. Median Age 34.0
% Married: 49%
"They were primarily built through the '70s to % of HHs with
30%
the late '90s," says Marcella Keller, a Realtor Children:
with ERA Broker Network, "but it's been an % with College
25%
ongoing development of residential houses. Degree:
They're still doing some homebuilding in that % Owner Occupied
51%
area." Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
1978
Prices range from about $130,000 to more than was Built
$200,000, according to Nieto. That pricing
coupled with location, character and nearby schools have made Cherry Creek a Source: Claritas 2006
desirable community for more than 30 years.
Silk Oak Park and Ellen
An expansive community with numerous Higgins Park include picnic
subdivisions, Cherry Creek is accessed by such areas, playground, and
major roadways as William Cannon, Manchaca, volleyball.
Stassney, and Brodie Lane, West Gate, MoPac
and Interstate 35. The community also features Cunningham Playground, Silk
several bus routes. Oak Park and Cherry Creek
Park are all playgrounds for
Nearby Garrison Park offers a peaceful family children.
retreat and features picnic tables, barbecue
grills, basketball court and children's playscape set among shade trees. Garrison Park includes
baseball, softball and multi-
"The trees are also an attraction," Nieto says. "In most new neighborhoods they purpose fields, a basketball
tear them down, but here they're mature." court, swimming pool, picnic
and bar-b-que areas, and a
trail.
Dick Nichols District Park
Amenities includes softball and multi-
Cherry Creek Park purpose fields, basketball,
Schools Silk Oak Park Search articles mentioning tennis and volleyball courts,
Austin Independent School Cunningham Cherry Creek in the Austin playground, picnic and bar-b-
District Playground American-Statesman's que areas, swimming pool, and
Cowan Elementary School Ellen Higgins Park archives. trail.
Covington Middle School Garrison Park Find area restaurants on
Bowie High School Dick Nichols District Austin360
Park
Karst Preserve
Shady Hollow
By Jackie Potts
On a summer afternoon in Shady Hollow you can find children playing
basketball in their nicely landscaped front yard or an elderly man taking his
dogs for a walk. Debbie Peterson and her family have lived in South Austin
since 1981. They decided to move into a neighborhood close to good schools,
with large trees and a "small-town feel to it." They found all this in Shady
Hollow.
"I love Shady Hollow," said Peterson, treasurer of the long established Shady Zone: South/Southwest
Hollow Homeowners Association board. "We've got great neighbors, a good MLS Area: SW
swim team and lots of opportunities for people to get involved in activities Zip Code(s): 78749,78739,
throughout the year." Residents can stay involved in their neighborhood by 78748
reading their monthly issue of the Shady Hollow Highlights. The June 2004 six
page newsletter includes short articles of volunteer projects preformed by Boy Zip Code 78748 (primary)
and Girl Scouts in the neighborhood, services that area residents provide the Demographic Profile
community, advertisements of nearby businesses, and upcoming events.
Population: 28,826
Shady Hollow is in Southern Travis County and straddles Brodie Lane. El Avg HH Size: 2.74
Dorado Trail marks the southern border, Squirrel Hollow is the northern border Median HH Income: $64,911
and Doe Run marks the eastern border. The west side of the subdivision Median Age 34.2
borders on Lost Oasis Hollow. % Married: 63%
% of HHs with
42%
Alice Niven with JB Goodwin Realtors said Children:
Shady Hollow is an established neighborhood % with College
35%
built in the early 1980s that remains popular Degree:
because of its large front and back yards, huge % Owner Occupied
75%
shady trees and proximity to good schools and Housing
Austin's metropolitan area. Median Yr Dwelling
1989
was Built
"It's a good, family neighborhood," said Niven,
who has sold homes in the neighborhood since Source: Claritas 2006
1986. "It sells well because of the schools - especially Bowie, which is a Blue
Ribbon School." Students in Shady Hollow attend the new Baranoff Demographic profiles for other
Elementary School, Bailey Middle School and Bowie High School. zip codes:
78749
Some of the older homes are on larger lots 78739
ranging from 125 feet by 175 feet to 205 feet by
202 feet. The rest of the homes are on lots The community center and
about 60 feet by 125 feet. Prices on homes in pool are the focal point of the
Shady Hollow can range from $170,000 to neighborhood. Many
$370,000. youngsters are on the
neighborhood swim team. The
Most homes have three or four bedrooms, community center is also the
although some have five bedrooms. Most have gathering point for events such
two or three bathrooms. They mainly have his and hers walk-in closets, as the 4th of July parade, the
skylights and baths with cultured marble. Kitchens have Formica or tile. Most Memorial Day celebration,
homes have two living areas, although a few have as many as four living areas. Easter egg hunt, scouting and
Shady Hollow is only expanding with new homes being built in the quiet Fall Fajita Fest.
family neighborhood as well.
Peterson said the community center and pool
are the focal point of the neighborhood. Many
youngsters are on the neighborhood swim team.
The community center is also the gathering
point for events such as the 4th of July parade,
the Memorial Day celebration, Easter egg hunt,
scouting and Fall Fajita Fest.
"Neighbors are great," Peterson said. "They are
willing to get involved in events and help you out. It really feels like a
community." Peterson, who has children in Bowie and Bailey, said the nearby
schools also help foster that sense of community. "When you go to open house
at school, you see people you know who are your neighbors," she said.
Peterson said neighbors are also good about attending neighborhood
association meetings and learning about issues affecting Shady Hollow. The
issues of rodent and vector control in the neighborhood are current issues of
concern. Brodie Lane is the only major artery into Shady Hollow. Motorists
can get to MoPac Boulevard or Interstate 35 via Slaughter Lane. Or they can
drive farther north on Brodie to reach William Cannon Drive or U.S.
290/Texas 71.
Resources
Schools
Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School
Shady Hollow in the
District Amenities
Austin
Baranoff Elementary Circle C Metropolitan
American-Statesman's
School Park
archives.
Bailey Middle School
Find area restaurants on
Bowie High School
Austin360
Southeast Austin
The wide swath of land that entails the 78744
ZIP code is characterized by a unique and
diverse grouping of commercial real estate,
residential neighborhoods, and stunning natural
resources. Boundaries of the area commonly
referred to as "Southeast Austin" are Ben White
Boulevard to the north, IH 35 to the west, Colton Boulevard to the south, and
U.S. Highway 183 to the east. Largely undeveloped, this area is home to Dove
Springs, Wagon Crossing, Silverstone, Franklin Park, Yarrabee Bend,
Williamson Creek, Peppertree Park, Onion Creek Plantation, Kensington Park Zone: SC
and Indian Hills. Though decidedly urban, this part of the city also contains a MLS Area: 11
generous amount of open space, picturesque Onion Creek, and McKinney Zip Code(s): 78744
Falls State Park. The 744.4-acre park, just 13 miles from the capital, allows
visitors the opportunity to camp, hike, mountain bike, picnic, fish, and observe Zip Code 78744
the preserved ruins of founder Thomas F. McKinney's homestead. On a Demographic Profile
smaller scale, those living in the Kensington Park neighborhood enjoy spring-
fed natural ponds that flow into Williamson Creek before reaching McKinney Population: 36,668
Falls. The area is also home to the Jimmy Clay & Roy Kizer Golf Courses Avg HH Size: 3.41
which are located adjacent to the state park and are part of the Williamson Median HH Income: $39,648
Creek community. Most shopping needs can be met in the western portion of Median Age 27.9
the area, along William Cannon and IH-35, very near the local multiplex % Married: 53%
cinema, Cinemark Tinseltown 17. % of HHs with
45%
Children:
Like 78741, its neighbor to the north, 78744 was developed relatively late and % with College
13%
is just now shedding its "fringe" status. Following the trend found in other Degree:
parts of the city, single-family housing has been overlooked as a building % Owner Occupied
54%
alternative. Instead, apartment homes and low-income housing projects have Housing
been on the rise, especially since the City of Austin began offering intense Median Yr Dwelling
1985
subsidies on those types of structures. Historically, the Dove Springs area has was Built
been characterized by its predominance of duplexes, 4-plexes, and apartment
homes resulting in a landscape that is slow in changing. That's not to say Source: Claritas 2006
single-family homes can't be found. The average sale price of a home in the
78744 ZIP code is roughly $100,000, the highest being $145,000, the lowest Southeast Austin is home to
$25,555. Half of the homes in the area were built in the 1970s, 30% in the '80s, stunning parks including
17% in the '90s, and only 1% in the 2000s. Homes are generally characterized Onion Creek and McKinney
as 3-bedroom, 2-car garage units with 1 living area. Texas Gas Service is the Falls State Park. This park
main provider of gas in the area, while the City of Austin takes care of includes the ruins of a cabin
electricity, water, and wastewater services. Austin Energy, a department of the and homestead, camping,
City of Austin, provides the electricity and manages the customer service hiking, mountain biking,
center for City of Austin utilities that includes billing as well as starting and picnicking and fishing.
stopping service. Swimming is also allowed in
Onion Creek. This area also
Both Austin and Del Valle School Districts serve the community by offering offers is residents multiple golf
elementary education at Houston, Pleasant Hill, Widen, Langford, Rodriguez, courses as well as shopping
Palm, Baty, Hillcrest, and Smith elementary schools. The middle schools and services along I-35 and
include Mendez, Paredes, John P. Ojeda and Del Valle middle schools, while William Cannon.
high school students attend Travis, Akins, and Del Valle high schools.
Active neighborhood associations in the area include the Kensington Park
Homeowners Association, the Franklin Park Neighborhood Association, the
Dove Springs Neighborhood Association, the Peppertree Parkway
Neighborhood Association, and the Silverstone Neighborhood Association.
Resources
Search articles
Schools Amenities mentioning
Austin Independent McKinney Falls State Southeast Austin in the
School District Park Austin
Del Valle Independent Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer American-Statesman's
School District Golf Course archives.
Find area restaurants on
Austin360
NORTHEAST AUSTIN
Harris Branch
By Walter Brewer
Harris Branch used to be a best-kept-secret sort of neighborhood, but Austin's growth
has made it hard to miss. A prime location between U.S. 290 to the south and Parmer
Lane to the north makes Harris Branch accessible to many fast-growing areas including
Manor and Pflugerville.
"All the big box stores at Parmer and I-35 are just 10 minutes away," says Larry Geller,
a Realtor with JB Goodwin who lived in the neighborhood for 10 years before a recent
move. "Dell, Samsung and Parmer Lane are right there. When I lived there in '92 there
was nothing. Now it's at your fingertips."
With all the growth, including a housing boom in nearby Manor, Geller says Harris
Branch retains its neighborhood charm. Zone: NE
MLS Area: NE
"I lived on a cul-de-sac and I knew all my neighbors," Geller says. "I find it a very safe Zip Code(s): 78754
part of Austin. There are a number of people working for the Austin Police Department,
the fire department and sheriff's office who own homes there. It's secluded and quiet. Zip Code 78754
Demographic Profile
"Very few homes are leased out," he says. "Most homes are owner occupied. There's
also a huge on-site day care. Many parents are double-income parents. Applied Population: 8,643
Materials is within Harris Branch and Samsung is in the Manor school district; with Avg HH Size: 2.32
those two taxables, the schools really benefit." Median HH
$57,522
Income:
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade attend Median Age 35.3
Bluebonnet Trail elementary in the community. % Married: 62%
Older children attend Manor Middle School and % of HHs with
28%
Manor High School. The high school is fairly new Children:
and Geller says it has a great theater arts % with College
33%
department. Degree:
% Owner
Occupied 63%
Community facilities include a Junior Olympic-size
Housing
swimming pool; fitness center; tennis and one-on-
Median Yr
one basketball courts. There are walking and
Dwelling was 1999
jogging paths through the community and it's dotted
Built
with small lakes and large ponds. One of the ponds is at the entrance on U.S. 290.
Many homes are built around the ponds or small lakes.
Source: Claritas 2006
Homeowners pay annual dues of $316 annually. That covers fees for the recreational
facilities. Harris Branch offers a junior
Olympic swimming pool, hiking
and jogging trail, fitness center,
Geller says Harris Branch is a master-planned
lighted tennis courts and a
community or a planned-unit development. That
regulation-size basketball court.
means it is designed to accommodate retail sites,
single-family homes, apartments, schools, churches
and libraries. "It's a city within a city," Geller says. Surrounding Harris Branch are
Applied Materials' high-tech manufacturing facility is a number of lakes including:
within Harris Branch. Town Center Lake, Bluebonnet
Lake, and Lake Primrose.
It consists of six different residential sections at this
time. The first two sections are Lakewood north and
south. The other four sections are Meadowview, Thistle Hill, Bellhaven and Speyside.
Prices for existing homes range from the low $120s to the low $200s. Geller says it is
very affordable. Sizes range from 1,530 square feet
up to more than 4,000 square feet.
Bluebonnet Electric Co-op provides electricity; The
City of Austin provides water and sewerage for
Harris Branch. Gas is provided by Texas Gas
Service. An architecturally appealing City of Austin
fire station is in the neighborhood. Emergency
Medical Services has a station there as well.
Tax rates per $100 valuation are: City of Austin -
$.4928; Travis County - $.4918; Manor ISD -
$1.7291; and Austin Community College - $.0771.
"Harris Branch is great for families and empty nesters," Geller says. "It's a very nice
place to live. Everyone leaves you alone, but they're all together in terms of
community."
Harris Branch is located north of HWY 290, south of Parmer Lane, east of Giles Lane,
and west of Parmer Lane.
Schools
Manor ISD Resources
Amenities
Austin Independent School Search articles mentioning
Town Center
District Harris Branch in the Austin
Lake
Bluebonnet Trail Elementary American-Statesman's archives.
Lake Primrose
Manor Middle School Find area restaurants on
Bluebonnet Lake
Manor High School Austin360
Travis High
EAST CENTRAL AUSTIN
East Austin
By David Glessner
Austin's downtown skyline may garner a glut of glamorous postcard publicity,
but the area east of Interstate 35 is quickly becoming a hotbed of revitalization
and growth.
From cosmopolitan chic to longstanding mom-and-pop corner shops, Austin's
East Side is a melting pot of urban cultures, historical significance and
economic development. It also is home to Huston-Tillotson College, the Texas
State Cemetery and such landmark destination restaurants as Juan-in-a- Zone: EC
Million, Joe's Bakery, Gene's, Hoover's and El Azteca. MLS Area: 5
Zip Code(s): 78702, 78721
Not surprisingly, the 78702 and 78721 ZIP
codes have seen an influx of development and Zip Code 78702, 78721
revitalization as local singles, musicians, artists Demographic Profile
and young professionals turn their eyes toward
East Austin's affordable housing and prime Population: 33,200
proximity to the downtown entertainment Avg HH Size: 3.22
district, Towne Lake and Interstate 35. Median HH Income: $29,112
Median Age 30.8
"Once I get a % Married: 44%
home listed, it will sell within a week," says % of HHs with
34%
Jesse Torres, a Realtor since 1964 and a native Children:
Austinite who grew up in the area before % with College
7%
founding Torres Home Quest. "It's a hot area." Degree:
% Owner Occupied
58%
And it's only getting hotter. While slick, new Housing
condos such as the Pedernales Lofts (priced Median Yr Dwelling
1967
from $96,000 to $200,000) have attracted a lot was Built
of attention, it is the decades-old homes that comprise the majority of the area's
housing. Torres says many of the homes in the 78702 area are small in size and Source: Claritas 2006
are in need of repair. However, these are precisely the qualities that are
attracting the area's growing new population. East Austin is seeing a
revitalization in the area. Not
"Most houses are two bedrooms and average only are the housing prices
800 square feet," Torres says. "They sell for attractive but this area also
about $121 per square foot. A lot of the homes offers an abundance of parks as
are 80-years-old. Most of them don't have well as the French Legation,
garages or air-conditioning, and they may need which hosts community events
foundation work." throughout the year. The
George Washington Carver
Homes in the 78721 ZIP code are newer and Museum is also located in the
area and has the distinction of
average about $80,000, Torres says. the being the first African
American neighborhood
"They were built about 15 to 20 years ago," he says, noting that he predicts museum in Texas.
"tremendous growth and renovation" throughout the East Austin area.
The 78702/78721 ZIP codes in East Austin are roughly bordered by Interstate
35 on the West; Martin Luther King Blvd. on the North; Ed Bluestein Blvd. on
the East and Town Lake to the South.
Schools
Austin Independent
School District
Allan Elementary
Brooke Elementary
Campbell Elementary
Govalle Elementary
Metz Elementary Resources
Norman Elementary Search articles mentioning
Amenities
Oak Springs Elementary Willow Creek/East Riverside
French Legation
Ortega Elementary in the Austin
Carver Museum
Sanchez Elementary American-Statesman's
Rosewood Zaragoza
Sims Elementary archives.
Center
Zavala Elementary Find area restaurants on
Kealing Junior High Austin360
School
Martin Junior High
School
Johnson High School
Huston-Tillotson College
Texas State School for
the Deaf
French Place
By Donna Lin
Best described as a mixture of the past, present and future, French Place is a
hodgepodge of greenery, homes, businesses and people. Small, one-story
houses intersperse larger, multiple-story dwellings along wide streets, shaded
by a wide variety of trees, bushes and in some places, bamboo.
Children play in their front yards under the morning sun, as parents stand by.
Residents are outside watering their lawns, walking from place to place and
greeting nearby neighbors. Zone: East Central
MLS Area: 3
French Place is often mentioned in conjunction with the neighborhood Zip Code(s): 78722
Cherrywood. It is in actuality a subdivision of the neighborhood Cherrywood
located in zip code 78722, and includes the pricier Wilshire Woods. Zip Code 78722
Demographic Profile
Cherrywood is defined by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Manor Road on
the south, Airport Boulevard to the east and Interstate 35 to the west, and is Population: 5,484
located a few miles from the University of Texas and downtown Austin. Avg HH Size: 2.10
Median HH Income: $42,536
French Place was originally owned by the Giles Median Age 34.4
family in the 1940s. Once known as Giles Two, % Married: 31%
the area expanded slowly until the 1980s, a % of HHs with
15%
period of change and extreme growth in the Children:
neighborhood. % with College
47%
Degree:
Today, French Place houses a diverse group of % Owner Occupied
45%
residents, ranging in all ages and all Housing
backgrounds. Median Yr Dwelling
1955
was Built
Its central and convenient location, coupled with the environment residents
have cultivated, make French Place one of the most attractive neighborhoods Source: Claritas 2006
in central Austin for homebuyers of all types.
French place provides
Residents have quick access to neighborhood residents with downtown
restaurants, grocery stores and other retail convenience and shopping, like
services. Among a few neighborhood highlights the Hancock Center which
are the supermarket Fiesta, and the local eatery features HEB, Old Navy,
Hoover's. Freebirds, Sears, Wendy's,
Jason's Deli and much more.
French Place is generally known as one of
Austin's older neighborhoods, containing a Alamo Park features softball
great deal of "starter homes," mostly two- and multi-purpose fields,
bedroom, one-bathroom homes with 900 to 1,200 square feet of living space. basketball, volleyball and
Prices for the homes range from $150,000 to $250,000. Realtor Tom Polk, of multi-purpose courts, and a
Stanberry & Associates, says he doesn't think there is any one type of picnic and playground area.
purchaser. "It has to do with what French Place does for the purchaser. It has a
really neat name, it's kind of a cool area to be in," he says. Patterson Park also serves the
French Place area with softball
Children in the neighborhood attend and multi-purpose fields,
Maplewood Elementary, Kealing Junior High basketball and volleyball
School and McCallum High School. Area parks courts, and a playground and
include Alamo Parkland Recreation Center and picnic table area.
Patterson Park.
Utilities are provided by the City of Austin.
Polk says the high demand of French Place
residences is shown through the low availability of homes for sale.
"It's not a big area. These homes are older and have character, and over the last
years people have placed their own personal value in them," he says. "They
remodeled them, kept them up, and when you put that together with a nice
looking, vintage neighborhood, the extreme convenience of it, you have a
winner."
Resources
Schools
Amenities Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School
Alamo Park French Place in the Austin
District
Patterson Park American-Statesman's
Maplewood Elementary
Hancock Center archives.
Kealing Junior High School
Shopping Find area restaurants on
McCallum High School
Austin360
NORTHWEST
Canyon Creek
By Walter Brewer
Gene and Dorie Dillard sell a lot of homes in Canyon Creek. Their interest in
the neighborhood goes beyond their business as a husband-and-wife team with
Coldwell Banker United Realtors -they also live in Canyon Creek.
"We've been here 10 years," says Gene Dillard. "We've watched the
community grow from 350 homes to almost 1,200 homes."
Canyon Creek is in Northwest Travis County off RM 620 and Boulder Lane Zone: NW
David Weekley Homes and Standard Pacific are still building new homes in MLS Area: CL
the neighborhood. The Dillards say all phases of the Canyon Creek community Zip Code(s): 78726
will be complete in about a year.
Zip Code 78726
About four years ago Beshara Shaleesh bought a new Standard Pacific home in Demographic Profile
Canyon Creek. His is a four-bedroom home with a game room in about 3,500
square feet. Population: 10,336
Avg HH Size: 2.97
There are a lot of things he enjoys about the neighborhood. "It has very quiet Median HH Income: $102,794
streets and the streets are wide," he says. "The lots in the section where I am Median Age 37.7
are big and there are a lot of trees." % Married: 77%
% of HHs with
50%
The natural setting is enhanced by the community's proximity to the Balcones Children:
Canyonland Preserve. The preserve serves as the eastern boundary wrapping it % with College
67%
from southwest side up to the northeast side. The neighborhood is accessed Degree:
from RM 620, which is its primary boundary on the west side. Anderson Mill % Owner Occupied 78%
Road is to the north of the neighborhood. Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
2001
"It's a gorgeous neighborhood," Dillard says. was Built
"It's got great topography. It's not flat and the
trees are preserved. The focus is on quality of Source: Claritas 2006
life."
Canyon Creeks has great
Shaleesh has a 7-year-old daughter and he amenities such as two parks, a
appreciates the family-friendly nature of the huge swimming pool, a new
community. elementary school, US
Exemplary schools. It is close
"The people are awesome," he says. "Most homeowners are families." to shopping, lakes, rivers,
beaches, and Austin high
Canyon Creek's location makes it ideal for employees of companies such as technology employment
3M, which is right around the corner on RM 2222 and Dell, which is centers.
accessible from RM 620. Trailhead Park amenities
include a
"We have a lot of people from Motorola and soccer/football/baseball field, a
Dell," Dillard says. "We have state employees, large children's playscape, a
sheriff's deputies, school teachers and doctors. covered pavillion with a
These are nuclear families with two adults with bathroom, numerous barbeques
two to two and half children. More than 50 with grills, a half-court
percent of them are college educated. It's a basketball court, two sand
young community with an average age volleyball courts, and the
somewhere between 35 and 50." nature trail leading down to a
wilderness area alongside a
Canyon Creek sits in the 78726 zip code. According to 2003 research by year-round flowing creek.
Claritas, the population for that zip code is 6,806 people, the median age is
35.7, median household income is $107,815 and children live in 47 percent of Canyon Creek Park, owned by
the households. the Homeowner's Association,
has a junior Olympic
Dillard says prices for homes in the neighborhood range from $215,000 to swimming pool with a separate
more than $500. baby splash pool and waterfall,
a covered pavillion with
showers and bathrooms, a
Schools tennis court, full-court
Resources basketball court, sand
Round Rock Independent Amenities
Search articles volleyball court, and children's
School District Canyon Creek Site
mentioning playscape.
Leander Independent Canyon Creek
Canyon Creek in the
School District Homeowners Association
Austin
Canyon Creek Elementary Balcones Canyonlands
American-Statesman's
Grisham Middle School Nature Preserve
archives.
Canyon Vista Middle Trailhead Park
Find area restaurants
School Canyon Creek Park
on Austin360
Westwood High School
Liberty Hill
By Walter Brewer
Driving from the Congress Avenue Bridge to the edge of Liberty Hill takes
about 40 minutes on a holiday. That's 33 miles and a world away from
downtown Austin.
Sitting a few miles from the western edge of Williamson County, Liberty Hill
has gained plenty of attention from Central Texas residents seeking a small-
town atmosphere in the increasingly urban Austin area. Liberty Hill is a small
town with a long history. People have been living in the town for well over 100 Zone: NW
years. However, the town was only incorporated a few years ago. Today there is MLS Area: LH
a mayor and city council. Zip Code(s): 78642
"Most of the people we sell homes to today like the fact that this is a small Zip Code 78642
town," says Shane White, broker/owner of Re/Max Town & Country. "The Demographic Profile
school district is a huge selling point. The test scores are consistently good and
the class sizes are relatively small." Population: 6,071
Avg HH Size: 3.04
Numerous small businesses are clustered along the Liberty Hill stretch of Texas Median HH Income: $62,860
29. This is some of the town's more valuable real estate. "We've seen prices of Median Age 35.1
property on anything with 29 frontage go up in last couple of years," White % Married: 69%
says. While there are plenty of businesses on the highway, there aren't many big % of HHs with
43%
name retailers. White attributes this to the fact that Liberty Hill's sewer system Children:
is still a few years away from creation. He says many franchises won't open % with College
19%
stores unless a septic system is available. Degree:
% Owner Occupied
87%
Despite a busy presence on the four-lane Texas Housing
29, the town's quiet-side lies just off the shoulder Median Yr Dwelling
1990
of the highway. The center of the old town of was Built
Liberty Hill features quaint buildings made of
native stone some of which are probably a Source: Claritas 2006
hundred years old. A railroad track runs through
Liberty Hill. These tracks carry the Austin Steam Foundation Park is near the
Train Association's sightseeing train. There's a Liberty Hill Junior High
trackside restaurant near downtown that had a School and features baseball
good breakfast crowd on a recent morning. fields, walking, jogging
tracks and a playscape. There
White says many of the people moving to Liberty Hill today want a home that are basketball courts and
sits on an acre or more. The Sundance Estates and Sundance Ranch soccer fields near Sundance
neighborhoods feature homes with brick or stone exteriors and traditional Ranch.
designs on large lots. Reytex Homes, Mercedes Homes and several custom For outdoor enthusiasts, the
builders build new homes in the neighborhoods. The Sundance neighborhoods Highland Lakes are nearby.
are on the north side of Texas 29 while the older part of Liberty Hill is on the Marble Falls is 25 to 30
south side of Texas 29. This part of town is surrounded by small homes of minutes away and Burnet is
varying ages and designs. 10 to 20 miles away. Lake
Georgetown is less than 15
Because homes in Liberty Hill can range from minutes away.
small and manufactured to spacious and site-
built, the range is great.
"Some of the smaller houses and manufactured
houses start at $50,000 or $60,000 and go up to
$100,000," White says. "If it's site-built, prices
start around $100,000 and go up to $500,000.
The majority of homes sold are between
$150,000 and $250,000."
White says the majority of homes that are sold in Liberty Hill range from 1,700
square feet to 2,700 square feet.
Foundation Park is near the Liberty Hill Junior High School and features
baseball fields, walking, jogging tracks and a playscape. There are basketball
courts and soccer fields near Sundance Ranch. None of the subdivisions have
community pools. Liberty Hill has a public library.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Highland Lakes are nearby. Marble Falls is 25 to 30
minutes away and Burnet is 10 to 20 miles away. Lake Georgetown is less than
15 minutes away.
Area students attend Liberty Hill Elementary,
Liberty Hill Intermediate, Liberty Hill Middle
School and Liberty Hill High School.
Garbage collection is handled by independent
contractors. Information is available at
www.ci.liberty-hill.tx.us/. A volunteer fire
department assists with emergency services in
Liberty Hill. It is part of the Williamson County
Emergency Service District #4. Electricity is provided by Pedernales Electric
Cooperative. Water service for residents inside the city is handled by Liberty
Hill Water Supply and outside the city limits it is handled by Chisolm Trail
Water Supply.
Schools Amenities Resources
Liberty Hill Independent Foundation Park Search articles mentioning
School District Sundance Ranch Crestview in the Austin
Liberty Hill Elementary Duhram Park & American-Statesman's
Liberty Hill Intermediate Pool archives.
School Find area restaurants on
Liberty Hill Middle School Austin360
Liberty Hill High School
Marble Falls
Ann Guidry
The very name evokes iconographic images of the
Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1887 by General
Adam R. Johnson, Marble Falls is named for a
twenty-foot fall over marble ledges high above
the Colorado River. Of its many assets, the town's
location stands out as its biggest draw. Residents
enjoy the serenity of the Hill Country in a small
town setting (the current population stands at
6,480), and the advantages inherent to having two Zone: NW
large cities nearby. (Austin is a short forty-seven MLS Area: LN
miles to the east, San Antonio lies 85 miles to the Zip Code(s): 78654
south.) Further, Marble Falls is rooted in the heart
of the Highland Lakes, the largest chain of lakes Zip Code 78642
in Texas. Miles of waterways and area rock Demographic Profile
formations didn't just suggest the name, they
continue to define the very nature and character of the place. Population: 20,957
Avg HH Size: 2.49
According to the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce, "it was here that the Median HH Income: $44,711
famed pink granite of the State Capitol Building was quarried, a donation from Median Age 42.2
progressive area citizens in exchange for a rail connection with Austin." Today, % Married: 67%
the rock of the region continues to fascinate. Enchanted Rock State Park (where % of HHs with
28%
you can climb the second-largest granite dome in the United States), and Children:
Longhorn Cavern State Park, as rich in geological formations as the Texas % with College
22%
folklore associated with them, are both just a short drive away, while Granite Degree:
Mountain looms over the western edge of town. % Owner Occupied
77%
Housing
Lake-lover? You'll feel right at home here. Median Yr Dwelling
1985
Centrally located amongst the Highland Lakes of was Built
Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis and
Austin, just about every conceivable water sport Source: Claritas 2006
can be enjoyed without having to head out of
town. Golfer? There are seven all-year courses Foundation Park is near the
within a twenty-mile radius, including "fifty-four Liberty Hill Junior High
holes of Robert Trent Jones' finest work at School and features baseball
Horseshoe Bay." Tennis facilities, swimming fields, walking, jogging
pools and horseback trails only begin to round out the picture. There's the Marble tracks and a playscape.
Falls Rodeo Association, the Hill Country Community Theater, several area There are basketball courts
vineyards, including Fall Creek, Flat Creek and Lost Creek, a first-run theater, and soccer fields near
restaurants that include the "world-famous" Bluebonnet Café, and an historic Sundance Ranch.
downtown shopping district along Main Street featuring more restaurants, For outdoor enthusiasts, the
antique and gift shops. Highland Lakes are nearby.
Marble Falls is 25 to 30
Marble Falls students are educated within the family of public schools run by the minutes away and Burnet is
Marble Falls Independent School District. Easy to remember, the schools are 10 to 20 miles away. Lake
Marble Falls Primary School, Marble Falls Elementary, Marble Falls Middle Georgetown is less than 15
School, and Marble Falls High School. Private schools include Faith Academy of minutes away.
Marble Falls and St. Peter's Lutheran School. Higher education is taught at Texas
Tech University Hill Country, Highland Lakes.
The City of Marble Falls provides water and
wastewater services to the Marble Falls
community. Residential and commercial
customers also receive curbside garbage pickup
services that the City of Marble Falls contracts
out to BFI Waste. Utility accounts cover all City
services and are presented to customers in one
convenient bill.
Home prices range from the $70s to the $100s,
unless you're looking for lakeside living for which
you'll have to pay extra. For example, residences
in the gated community of Meadowlakes on Lake
Marble Falls begin at $110,000 but can go as high
as $700,000 for waterfront sites, while luxury
homes in Horseshoe Bay along Lake LBJ start at
$200,000. Home styles range from 1920s-built
cottages and ranch houses to contemporary
dwellings built from the '70s up to present day. According to Suann Adkins,
longtime Marble Falls real estate agent, "New areas are popping up everywhere."
No wonder, considering that the rapidly growing metropolitan areas of San
Antonio and Austin continue to expand in the direction of Marble Falls.
According to recent economic and growth reports, within a 10-mile radius, the
area's population is expected to jump from its current 24,426 residents to 29,454
in 2010. "We've got a Home Depot, a Hampton Inn, a Chili's. For a small town in
the Hill Country, we have a lot of amenities associated with larger cities, but in a
more relaxed atmosphere," Adkins says.
Schools
Amenities
Marble Falls
Enchanted Rock
Independent School Resources
State Park
District Search articles mentioning
Longhorn Cavern
Marble Falls Crestview in the Austin
State Park
Elementary American-Statesman's archives.
Horseshoe Bay
Marble Falls Middle Find area restaurants on
Blue Bonnet Café
School Austin360
Marble Falls
Marble Falls High
Rodeo Association
School
The Hills of Lakeway
Set only a short mile from the shores of Lake Travis under the bluest of Texas
skies, The Hills of Lakeway offers its residents the best that life has to offer.
With amenities that include a country club, golf, tennis, hiking trails, a fitness
center and more, it's no wonder that this community is considered a real value
for those who appreciate living in the Texas Hill Country.
"This particular community is a great choice for anyone who enjoys an active
lifestyle, and likes to get out in the great outdoors," says Doug Land, broker and
owner of Capital City Sotheby's International Realty. "The area is astoundingly
beautiful, so much so that it actually encourages people to get out and have fun.
Life here is very much focused on the outdoors, and so many people play golf or
tennis, because it's literally right in their back yard."
Land says residents here have their choice of shooting a game of hoops at the
basketball courts, or packing a picnic lunch and taking the family to the pavilion
area, where there are picnic tables and a playground for the kids. Tennis
enthusiasts will love the 18 outdoor courts and the two indoor courts that let
them play all year round. They may also opt to enjoy the fitness center and
swimming pool located just outside the gated area.
Zip Code(s): 78738
Friendly, laid-back and easy are some of the words that describe the residents
here in this close-knit, gated community where families mix with "empty- Zip Code 78738
nesters." Children in the community attend schools in Lake Travis ISD, with its Demographic Profile
many recognized and exemplary schools as designated by the Texas Education
Agency. The recent boom in development in Lakeway has resulted in 95 percent Population: 7,233
of the subdivision being built out, with a handful of lots still available. Bounded Avg HH Size: 2.85
on the north by Lakeway Blvd., on the east by Lohmann's Crossing, and to the Median HH Income:$127,496
west by Serene Hills Drive, the southern border of The Hills of Lakeway leads Median Age 41.6
into its sister subdivision, Flintrock Falls. % Married: 78%
% of HHs with
Home prices for this 25-year-old community run about $275,000 to more than 42%
Children:
$1 million for a single family home, while Land says there is a small section of % with College
condominiums that range from $150,000 to $300,000. Pedernales Electric and 64%
Degree:
City of Austin Electric are the electrical utility companies for the area, and % Owner Occupied
residents pay a property tax rate of 2.76 percent. 93%
Housing
Median Yr
Perhaps the biggest draw to living in The Hills of Lakeway is The Hills Country Dwelling was Built 1999
Club and Lakeway Golf Club. The Lakeway course offers an 18-hole course, in
addition to a golf shop, driving range and practice putting green, as well as golf Source: Claritas 2006
instruction and clinics headed by PGA professionals.
But golf isn't all that life in The Hills of Lakeway has to offer. In many ways,
The Hills Country Club serves as the heart of the community.
"There are several neighborhood functions that everyone comes out to," Land
explains. "Many of them are centered around The Hills Country Club. They
have regular activities such as a Friday Night Barbecue, a Beer and Bingo
Night, and all sorts of kids functions, in addition to big celebrations, like Fourth
of July. There are kids' movies in the dining room of the clubhouse, bridge
groups, exercise groups and all kinds of ways for people to plug in, get involved
and get active."
Resources
Amenities
Search articles mentioning
Schools The Hills Country Club
Hills of Lakeway in the
Lake Travis The Village Park and Nature Trail
Austin
ISD City of Lakeway Parks and
American-Statesman's
Recreation
archives.
Flintrock Falls
Located in the tranquil beauty of the Texas Hill Country, Flintrock Falls is a
gated Lakeway community offering a fantastic lifestyle. Quiet and peaceful, and
away from the hustle and bustle of urban living, the Flintrock Falls lifestyle
lends itself well to its outdoor-loving residents, with its own golf course, tennis
courts, country club and close proximity to a marina on Lake Travis.
"The living here is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts," says Doug Land, broker and
owner of Capital City Sotheby's International Realty. "In addition to the golf
course, there are 16 tennis courts available at the World of Tennis Sports
Complex, as well as easy access to Lake Travis for boating. Many move here
from Houston or Dallas for the comfort, ease and beauty of the area. They love
the laidback lifestyle here, and the low crime rate. And it's a nice balance of
retirees and families living here."
As a a part of the City of Lakeway, residents of Flintrock Falls enjoy access to
the public parks, lake access, community skatepark and swimming pool.
Bounded on the east by Flintrock Trace, to the west by Serene Hills and to the
south by Flintrock Road, Flintrock Falls shares its northern border with its
neighboring community, The Hills of Lakeway, and can be found just off
Highway 620 and Lohman's Spur. Children attend Lake Travis ISD schools, and Zip Code(s): 78738
residents pay a property tax rate of 2.9 percent. Utility services are provided by
City of Austin Electric and Sharp Propane. Zip Code 78738
Demographic Profile
"This is a newer subdivision that just opened in 2000," says Land, "and it's only
about half-way built out at this point. There are approximately 330 lots in the Population: 7,233
subdivision, and these homes are very upscale, with garden homes in the Avg HH Size: 2.85
$400,000 to $500,000 range, and single family homes going for anywhere from Median HH Income:$127,496
$500,000 to $1.5 million. More than half of the homes in Flintrock Falls front Median Age 41.6
the golf course, and all of the homes offer incredible hill country and golf course % Married: 78%
views." % of HHs with
42%
Children:
There is more to life than just golf in Flintrock Falls, but it does seem that life in % with College
this Lakeway community revolves around the fabulous Flintrock Falls golf 64%
Degree:
course designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus II. The course takes % Owner Occupied
advantage of the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country, with its mature live 93%
Housing
oak and cedar trees, curling around Hurst Creek (which provides a natural water Median Yr
hazard), and offers a spectacular waterfall at the number 2 hole. 1999
Dwelling was Built
To really get the family golf enthusiast's heart to beat faster, just mention that Source: Claritas 2006
the Flintrock Falls course is located next to The Hills of Lakeway golf course,
also designed by Nicklaus in 1980. Both courses together have a total of 36
holes, and in turn provide one of the best training and practice facilities in the
country. The quality and close proximity of the two courses were two reasons
they were selected as the home of The Academy of Golf Dynamics, a nationally
known school dedicated to helping golfers improve their golf game.
Land says club membership allows residents of Flintrock Falls full access to
both courses. They also have the option to have their membership status
upgraded to include the Live Oak Golf Course and the Yaupon course at
Lakeway Resort. "It's a great deal," says Land. "Residents have the option to
quadruple the number of courses they can play."
Resources
Flintrock Falls community
Amenities
Schools Website
City of Lakeway Parks and
Lake Travis Search articles mentioning
Recreation
ISD Flintrock Falls in the Austin
The Hills Country Club
American-Statesman's
archives.
WEST
River
Place
By Ann Guidry
River Place on
Lake Austin,
one of the few
areas left in the city in which homebuyers can purchase lots with direct access
to Lake Austin, is one of the city's most naturally beautiful master-planned
communities. The rough boundaries of this waterfront/country club community
Zone: N
include FM 2222 to the north, the Balcones Canyon Lands Preserve to the west
MLS Area: RN
and Westminster/Glen Lake to the east. In other words, the development can
Zip Code(s): 78730
be reached by heading west on FM 2222 and taking a left (before you reach
Highway 620), into the main entrance on River Place Boulevard.
Zip Code 78730
Demographic Profile
Just a twenty-minute drive from downtown Austin, River Place appeals to both
urban dwellers and nature lovers alike. Of the 1,440 acres owned by the
Population: 6,617
homeowners association, half is dedicated to preserved land never to be
Avg HH Size: 2.51
developed. The natural beauty of the unspoiled land, bass fishing, swimming
Median HH Income: $143,044
and boating, a marina with private slips for non-waterfront residents, rare
Median Age 38.1
preserve home sites situated along the hills overlooking Lake Austin, a park
% Married: 72%
with youth soccer fields, tennis courts, fifty acres of nature trails and a fishing
% of HHs with
pond, century-old pecan trees, close proximity to River Place Country Club 32%
Children:
featuring Tom Kite Golf Course, nearby shopping, and a supportive, active
% with College
neighborhood association make River Place an estate community that seems to 71%
Degree:
have it all.
% Owner Occupied
73%
Housing
Construction began in 1990 when a Houston development team bought the
Median Yr Dwelling
acreage from the government. Fourteen years later, River Place is comprised of 1997
was Built
1,200 to 1,250 single-family homes including 100 to120 lots that have yet to
be developed. Prices run from $330,000 to well over $1,000,000 with
Source: Claritas 2006
mandatory membership to the homeowners association, River Place
Residential Community Association, Inc. Resa Watson, association manager,
Woodlands Park includes 3
noted that the population of the area runs the gamut from "newly-marrieds to
youth soccer fields, 2 tennis
empty-nesters. The community includes a diverse group of active people who
courts, hike and bike trails,
are drawn to the wide spread of price ranges and home and lot sizes that River
picnic areas, and a fishing
Place offers." Illustrating Watson's description of River Place as a "nice
pond.
community made up of concerned people who eagerly participate in the
schools and the neighborhood", events hosted by the association and the River
World-class golf, shopping,
Place Municipal Utility District include an annual Easter egg hunt ("about a
entertainment and dining all
thousand people showed up this year," she says), Fourth of July parade and
located just minutes away from
barbeque, and a fall hoedown.
each home site
On-premise boating, fishing
and skiing
In addition to the residential aspect of the Just nearly 2 miles away from
community, River Place includes an office River Place Country Club
park. River Place Pointe, a business/technology featuring (Tom Kite Golf
office campus, takes up 47.9 of the 1,440 acres Course, swimming, tennis,
and houses seven buildings right next door to fitness and dining facilities).
River Place Country Club. Further, an upscale
shopping center is scheduled for construction at
the River Place entrance sometime next year.
Utilities are partly served by the City of Austin, partly by the River Place
MUD. The Municipal Utility District handles the water and wastewater
services for newer homes as well as two expansive parks and the nature trail,
while the City of Austin takes care of the rest. Austin Energy supplies River
Place with its electricity. The development is under the Leander Independent
School District so children attend either Laura Bush or Steiner Ranch
Elementary Schools, Cedar Park Middle School or Cedar Park High School.
Schools
Resources
Leander Independent
Search articles
School District
Amenities mentioning
Laura Welch Bush
River Place on Lake River Place in the
Elementary
Austin Homepage Austin
Steiner Ranch
River Place Country Club American-Statesman's
Elementary
Woodlands Park archives.
Cedar Park Middle
Find area restaurants on
School
Austin360
Cedar Park High School
Bee Cave
Out of the mouths of babes can come the most
creative and life-changing ideas - just ask the
Gifford family. The Giffords were traveling
back to Dallas through Austin after a family trip
to the Gulf coast when their then eleven-year-
old daughter made the comment that if the
family were to move anywhere, why not move to Austin?
"My wife and I were both Dallas born and bred, and had gone to school at the
University of Texas here and had loved living here at that time. Our daughter Zone: SW
made that comment, and we just looked at each other. We had just put our MLS Area: 8W
house up for sale in Dallas. A month later after that, we were here and we've Zip Code(s): 78738
never looked back," says family patriarch Jeff Gifford.
Zip Code 78738
Gifford, now a real estate agent with the Keller Williams Southwest Market Demographic Profile
Center realty office, settled his family in the Bee Cave's Camelot subdivision,
where they've lived happily ever since. Population: 7,233
Avg HH Size: 2.85
"The main reason we moved to Bee Cave was Median HH Income: $127,496
because of the excellent reputation of the Eanes Median Age 41.6
Independent School District, and then we % Married: 78%
lucked into this funky old neighborhood that's % of HHs with
42%
very affordable," said Gifford. "Here in Bee Children:
Cave you can find homes that start at around % with College
64%
$200,000 and up. Many of the homeowners in Degree:
our area are the original owners, and as time % Owner Occupied
93%
goes on younger people are moving in and Housing
fixing up the homes here." Median Yr Dwelling
1999
was Built
Gifford finds living in Bee Cave offers the best of country living with city
amenities. "It's like living in the country. Our home sits on two acres and we Source: Claritas 2006
have wonderful hill country views - yet we're close in and only minutes away
from shopping and downtown Austin. We're only five minutes away from the Bee Cave, positioned close to
boat launch by the 360 Bridge, and only 25 minutes away from Pace Bend the boat launch at the 360
Park or Mansfield Dam." Bridge and only 25 minutes
away from Pace Bend Park,
Bee Cave is bound on the north by Lake Austin, on the east by Loop 360, on also provides its residents the
the west by the Village of Bee Caves, and on the south by the Barton Creek proximity to all the Lake
Tributary, Barton Creek Blvd. and Lost Creek Blvd. Utilities are provided by Austin has to offer from water-
the City of Austin and Pedernales Electric Cooperative. skiing and boating to
swimming.
In addition to Camelot, the Bee Cave community includes a wide variety of
older neighborhoods such as Rob Roy, Lost Creek, Cuernavaca, Austin Lake
Hills, Barton Creek West and newer ones such as The Uplands, Lake Pointe
and The Homestead. In addition to the Eanes Independent School District, the
area is served by the Lake Travis Independent School District, which also
boasts an excellent scholastic reputation with outstanding academic
accomplishments and fine facilities.
Gifford says the mix of old and new neighborhoods makes for an equally
interesting mix of people in Bee Cave, and his family has a wide variety of
friends and acquaintances from many different backgrounds.
"The perception of other Austinites is that a lot of people who live here are
snobs, but that's not true," says Gifford. "Our feeling is that one of the things
we love about Bee Cave is that it really does cross so many different social
boundaries - like other places, there are people here who have a lot of money
and people here who have none.
Schools Resources
Eanes Independent School District Search articles mentioning
Amenities
Austin Independent School Bee Cave in the Austin
Lake
District American-Statesman's
Austin
Lake Travis Independent School archives.
District Find area restaurants on
Austin360
Lake Pointe
By Walter Brewer
Almost overnight, Lake Pointe went from a
fledgling neighborhood with a few houses in
the hills between Austin and Bee Cave to an
established community complete with schools,
parks and pools. Established in 1995, there are no new lots available in Lake
Pointe, only existing homes.
A great Hill Country location has made Lake Pointe popular with home buyers
and successful for home builders. The terrain is rolling and beautiful. It's near Zone: W
Lake Austin and Lake Travis, yet it's not too far from Austin (about a 20 to 25 MLS Area: LS
minute drive to downtown.). With the growing availability of shopping and Zip Code(s): 78733
entertainment in the area, including a planned Galleria mall complex, that
proximity will be less important. Zip Code 78733
Demographic Profile
"The Galleria will be right up close to there and that will have a lot of
shopping and entertainment," says Bill Sill, a Realtor who works in the area. Population: 8,486
"That will add to the value of Lake Pointe as well as the other subdivisions that Avg HH Size: 3.13
are growing around the Lake Pointe area." Median HH Income: $117,195
Median Age 37.6
Sill adds that those subdivisions have a "higher price point than Lake Pointe % Married: 69%
and that helps raise the value of Lake Pointe properties." % of HHs with
56%
Children:
The three sections of Lake Pointe are Lake Pointe, Vista Pointe and The % with College
69%
Pointe. The homes in Lake Pointe range from $215,000 to $425,000; the Degree:
homes in Vista Pointe range from $650,000 to $850,000; homes in The Pointe % Owner Occupied
89%
are priced at $1 million or more. The Pointe is closest to Lake Austin, Vista Housing
Pointe is on a hillside with excellent views of the Hill Country and lake. Median Yr Dwelling
1991
was Built
There are approximately 750 homes in Lake Pointe.
Source: Claritas 2006
Lake Pointe offers the appeal of an established neighborhood coupled with the
contemporary home styles that blend traditional, contemporary and classic Hill Selma Huges Park offers shady
Country. picnic areas with views of
Lake Austin and includes
The typical home offers between 1,700 and 4,000 square feet of living space in fishing, sunbathing, swimming
a two-story design with four bedrooms, two or three baths and a two-car and picnicking.
garage. Cul de sac streets are common. This makes the area particularly suited
for families with young children. Mary Quinlan Park includes
boating, fishing, nature study
Chip Gist, director of golf at Circle C, likes the family-friendly atmosphere in and picnicking. This small
Lake Pointe. park offers miles of rolling
hills and hundreds of feet of
Lake Pointe is all about family to me," Gist says. "We've got two young kids - shoreline access.
8 years old and 6 years old. We live there because it's like a throwback. Our
kids can go to great schools in the community. They can play outside without
us having to watch them. The people that we've met through the kids and while
we've been there make us feel at home. We wouldn't trade it for the world."
Children attend Lake Travis Independent School District schools. Sill says the
school district is one of the best in Central Texas and is rated exemplary.
The boundaries of the neighborhood are Resaca Blvd. on the east, Bee Caves
Road on the South, Bayton/Sonoma on the West, and Lake Austin/open land to
the North.
Water and wastewater is provided by the Lower Colorado River Authority.
Austin Energy provides electricity.
Resources
Search articles
Amenities
mentioning
Selma Hughes Park
Schools Lake Pointe in the
Lake Austin
Lake Travis Independent Austin
Mary Quinlan Park
School District American-Statesman's
Lake Point Homeowner's
archives.
Association
Find area restaurants
on Austin360
Steiner Ranch
Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, Steiner
Ranch is distinctive among Austin luxury home
communities for its striking natural beauty.
Known as the "Land Between the Lakes,"
Steiner Ranch offers a wide range of amenities
guaranteed to keep its residents busy and
happy.
"You can look at other neighborhoods in Austin," says Stovall, "but you won't
find anything like Steiner that offers as much as we do. The rolling hills, the Zone: NW
lakes, the water-this is what Austin is all about." MLS Area: CL
Zip Code(s): 78726
Situated between two of the most popular recreational lakes in the area, Steiner
Ranch attracts active people who appreciate a natural environment. Nature Zip Code 78726
enthusiasts will love the more than 12 miles of nature trails, and 819 acres of Demographic Profile
nature preserve and pocket parks within the community itself. It is this
dedication to nature that helped Steiner Ranch cinch a Commercial Real Estate Population: 10,336
Award as "Best Master-Planned Community" in the greater Austin area from Avg HH Size: 2.97
the Austin Business Journal in 2004. Median HH Income: $102,794
Median Age 37.7
"When you buy a home at Steiner Ranch, you're getting much more than just a % Married: 77%
house-you're getting a lifestyle," says Charles Stovall of Newmark Homes, a % of HHs with
50%
Steiner Ranch homebuilder. "You have a natural setting with over 12 miles of Children:
hike and bike trails, and six neighborhood parks % with College
67%
with playscapes, picnic areas, and outdoor Degree:
grills, and we're surrounded by the 27,000 acres % Owner Occupied
78%
of the Balcones Canyonland Conservation Housing
Preserve."
Source: Claritas 2006
Amenities include two community centers, a
private Lake Club on Lake Austin, three Steiner Ranch, situated
basketball courts, six tennis courts, and full- between two of the most
time on-site activities. Several of the newest neighborhoods under popular lakes in the area and
development are located within the gates of The University of Texas Golf surrounded by nature trails,
Club, the official home of The University of Texas Golf Teams. Roy Bechtol parks and preserves is the
designed the 7,154-yard, 18-hole golf course, which provides a beautiful perfect neighborhood for
backdrop and exquisite views for these homes. nature enthusiasts. Steiner
Ranch amenities also include
Steiner Ranch is in the acclaimed Leander school district, with two elementary two community centers and the
schools, Steiner Ranch Elementary and Laura Welch Bush Elementary, and a University of Texas Golf Club.
new middle school, Canyon Ridge Middle School, within the community
itself. High school students attend Leander High School.
Steiner Ranch is accessible from RR 620, and new homes start from the
$190,000's and go to over $2 million, with the median price in the mid-
$350,000's. Besides Newmark, other homebuilders include Morrison,
Plantation, David Weekley, Toll Brothers, Drees, Partners in Building, Taylor
Woodrow and Mercedes.
Pedernales Electric Co-Operative provides electrical service to the area, and
water and wastewater services are by the City of Austin. Southwestern Bell
services Steiner Ranch with state-of-the-art fiber optics to handle the high-tech
demands of the area.
Schools Resources
Leander ISD Search articles
Amenities
Steiner Ranch mentioning
University of Texas Golf Club
Elementary Steiner Ranch in the
Lake Austin
Laura Welch Bush Austin
Lake Travis
Elementary American-Statesman's
Balcones Canyonland
Canyon Ridge archives.
Conservation Preserve
Middle School Find area restaurants on
Leander High School Austin360
West Lake Hills
"The reason why we moved here was that it felt like we were living in the
country, but we were only five minutes from downtown," says realtor and
Westlake resident Cheri Price of Choban & Associates, Realtors. "West Lake
Hills has such a nice quiet feeling that it's almost like living in the country,
even though it's pretty much in the middle of town."
Living close in to Austin has many advantages, especially when looking at
increasing drive time as Austin's population continues to increase. But for
those who want the joys of rural living, buying a home close to downtown and
the university area means buying a home in West Lake Hills. Zone: W
MLS Area: 8E
"I think people here appreciate the natural beauty, the native landscaping, and Zip Code(s): 78746
the very well maintained traditional landscaping in the area," says Price. "With
all of the deer in the area, the native landscaping works best, because it makes Zip Code 78746
use of the kinds of plants that the deer don't want to eat." Demographic Profile
The city of West Lake Hills is comprised of four square miles, and is located Population: 28,032
west of Austin approximately between 3300 Bee Cave Road and east of Loop Avg HH Size: 2.60
360 on Bee Cave, with a population of more than 3,000 and approximately Median HH Income: $100,267
1,000 homes and 200 businesses. Utilities are provided by the city of Austin. Median Age 39.2
% Married: 65%
In addition to its close proximity to Austin, % of HHs with
39%
another reason many families are attracted to Children:
living in West Lake Hills is that it is part of the % with College
76%
outstanding Eanes Independent School System, Degree:
which has received the rating of "exemplary" % Owner Occupied
67%
by the Texas Education Agency. Currently, Housing
there are six elementary schools, Hill Country Median Yr Dwelling
1985
Middle School and West Ridge Middle School, was Built
and Westlake High School.
Source: Claritas 2006
"There's a very strong feeling of community here, and support is particularly
strong for the schools and its students. There are annual arts functions hosted West Lake Hills offers the
by Eanes ISD that we turn out for, and we've been to some of the plays that are benefit of living in the country
put on by Westlake High School," Price says. but also being close to
downtown and many
But a more compelling reason to live in West amenities. The school district
Lake Hills than the school district is the people, is another reason to live in
according to Price. "The thing I like best is that West Lake Hills since the
there's a great cross-section of age groups and Eanes Independent School
nationalities," says Price. "It's never been a lot System received a rating of
of people living here, and while some feel that "exemplary" by the Texas
this area appeals only to a certain economic Education Agency.
group, and it is an expensive place to live, I
don't think that's true. The cultural diversity and
the different age groups are one of the strongest things about this community.
You can take a walk in the evening and see your neighbors - there's always
people walking and jogging in the area."
Price says that homebuyers can find bigger lots in West Lake Hills compared
with other similar neighborhoods, and that $350,000 is the average
homebuyers can expect to spend to purchase a home.
"Most of the homes that were built in the
Seventies have gone through some updating,
and it's a really nice neighborhood to live in.
There are homes that are less expensive, and
certainly there are homes that are much more
expensive, but for an entry level into this
neighborhood, it's $350,000," says Price. "The
market has been softer lately, and there is more
property on the market now than in recent
years, so this is a very good time to consider buying a home in West Lake
Hills."
Another advantage to purchasing a home in West Lake Hill's is the city's
restriction on new home subdivision development, which specifies a minimum
lot size for any new home construction of one acre. "There are no such
restrictions for older, developed lots," says Price. "But this is the requirement
for new home development, so it provides a lot of land area per home on the
average, and keeps the area looking natural and beautiful."
Schools Resources
Eanes Independent School Search articles mentioning
System Amenities Bryker Woods in the Austin
Barton Creek Elementary West Lake American-Statesman's
Bridge Point Elementary Hills archives.
Cedar Creek Elementary Find area restaurants on
Eanes Elementary Austin360
Forest Trail Elementary
Valley View Elementary
Hill Country Middle School
West Ridge Middle School
Westlake High School
SOUTH
Onion Creek
By Evelyn Valdez
Tall pecan, cypress, and live oak trees welcome you to the Onion Creek
community which was built in 1974. If you can imagine swinging from a
hammock, sipping tea, and overlooking a beautifully landscaped golf course
from your backyard, this may be the neighborhood for you! On a typical day
people can be seen walking or jogging on the sidewalks through the
neighborhood while the wind rustles through the well developed trees.
Before moving to Onion Creek in 1999, John McNabb who is President of the Zone: South
Homeowner's Association, searched for 6 months with his wife for a new MLS Area: SC
neighborhood to retire in. John says that he was attracted to the country club Zip Code(s): 78747
atmosphere and the intrinsic value of the properties. The residents are engaged,
active, and social at Onion Creek. Zip Code 78747
Demographic Profile
Onion Creek Club is nestled in the Onion Creek neighborhood and is the
center of activity for many residents. Membership to the club provides access Population: 7,643
to a junior Olympic sized pool, tennis courts, a fitness center, and 27-hole golf Avg HH Size: 2.63
course. The club also boasts of its myriad of activities for members of all ages. Median HH Income: $65,121
Median Age 41.4
% Married: 68%
% of HHs with
27%
Children:
% with College
40%
Degree:
% Owner Occupied
90%
Housing
Median Yr Dwelling
1989
Onion Creek Club Golf Course was Built
Shiela Mustin, with Mustin and Porter Co., specializes in Golf Course Source: Claritas 2006
Communities and says that 65% of residents are retirees which Onion Creek
greatly caters to. "There are bridge games going on all day at the Club andMcKinney Falls State Park has
many amenities to offer. It has
buses come in to provide tours to the symphony or ballet in Austin". Although,
it is apparent that families with growing children reside here as well. On ascreened shelters with bunk
sunny summer day, the pool is filled with kids splashing in the water. When beds, 84 campsites with water
not on summer vacation, Onion Creek's children attend Menchaca Elementary, and electricity, walk-in water
Paredes Middle, and Akins High School. sites, picnic site, hiking and
mountain biking, youth group
Sheila describes homes in Onion Creek as having common characteristics camping area, a group camp,
while not being duplicated in style. For dining hall (capacity 80),
example, all homes are over 2,000 square feet, amphitheater that seats 50
have 2 car garages, 25 foot setbacks, and 75%- people, and much more.
100% are brick homes but all have very distinct
floor plans. Springfield Park includes
fishing and picnic areas.
According to Sheila, homes in Onion Creek on
average cost $225,000 up to $700,000. Streets Onion Creek Club, a member
surrounding this area are Wild Dunes on the only club, has a golf course,
north side, Pinehurst on the south end, IH-35 and River Plantation make up the fitness center, tennis courts,
west and eastern sides. swimming pool, fine dinning,
and more.
Homeowners receive gas utilities from Southern Union Gas, electricity and
water from the City of Austin, although waste water is handled through the
Onion Creek Waste Water Corporation. Amenities for cable are available with
Time Warner and telephone services are offered with Southwestern Bell. The
Onion Creek Home Owners Association also provides 24-hour private
security, street lighting, trash pick-up, and landscape maintenance.
Area churches are St. Albans Episcopal, Manchaca United Methodist, and
Manchaca Southern Baptist. Running errands and grocery shopping is
conveniently located in several shopping centers at William Cannon traveling
just a few minutes north of Onion
If you would like to see this wonderful
community, simply drive south on IH -35 and
exit number 225 toward Onion Creek Parkway,
make a left after exiting the freeway and you
will arrive at Onion Creek's main entrance.
This is a perfect place to live for retired folks
and expanding families who enjoy peace, quiet,
and a good round of golf. If you wish to live
"like being in a resort", as Sheila adds, you can do so at Onion Creek.
Onion Creek is bound by River Dunes on its north side, Pinehurst on its
Southside, and with I-35 and River Plantation as the western and eastern
boundaries respectively.
Amenities
Schools Onion Creek Sports Resources
Austin Independent School Complex Search articles mentioning
District Onion Creek District Onion Creek in the Austin
Menchaca Elementary Park American-Statesman's
School McKinney Falls State archives.
Paredes Middle School Park Find area restaurants on
Akins High School Springfield Park Austin360
Onion Creek Club
San Marcos
By Jackie Potts
Halfway between San Antonio and Austin is a place where youthful energy
and the charm of yesteryear coexist in a scenic snapshot of the Texas Hill
Country. Welcome to San Marcos, the Gateway to the Texas Hill Country and
home to Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University)
and the magnificent San Marcos River. Here, visitors and residents enjoy a
wealth of recreational opportunities, academic pursuits and historical
architecture and landmarks. Even with its urban growth, the city remains rich
with downtown allure.
"Downtown has shopping, eating, medical facilities and, with its proximity to
the university, it has an active nightlife," says Kelly Franks, manager of the
Main Street revitalization program. "It's very popular for its loft apartments. I MLS Area: HS
think there are 71 residences in the downtown area. People can walk to campus Zip Code(s): 78666
or walk to the grocery store."
Zip Code 78666
While downtown continues to thrive, so does new-home construction in the Demographic Profile
surrounding areas. Ted Berg, a regional sales manager for KB Home says San
Marcos' lack of big-city congestion is a major draw. "It's not too big, but it has Population: 63,286
everything a big town can offer" he says, noting that its appeal will likely lead Median Housing
$102,020
to continued growth. Berg also says three- and four-bedroom homes ranging in Value
price from the $100s to the $140s will continue being built by his company Avg HH Size: 2.48
and others. "It's a sweet little town with a neat university, lots of cultural stuff Median HH Income: $36,104
and two great rivers," says Henry Skinner-Larsen, sales counselor with Pulte Median Age 25.8
Homes, which is building in the Mockingbird Hill community. "This place is a % Married: 40%
gem waiting to be discovered," he says. % of HHs with
25%
Children:
A gem that was long ago discovered and to this % with College
28%
day remains treasured is the beautiful San Degree:
Marcos River. Besides its evident splendor, the % Owner Occupied
43%
river also is home to a handful of endangered Housing
species and historical lore. "The San Marcos
River is an historical river," Franks says. Source: Claritas 2006
"Different tribes of Indians considered it a
sacred place. Our river has always been part of Halfway between Austin and
our folklore." San Antonio, San Marcos
offers a rich downtown
As are the historical buildings and cemeteries experience, the beautiful San
that are being revitalized for the so they can be Marcos River and an array of
appreciated by current and future generations. shopping opportunities with
"People want to see a building from the 1800s the outlet mall located nearby.
and what it looks like," Franks says. "We've got Housing opportunities vary
buildings with iron fronts, pressed tin, square from downtown lofts to new
nails and other things you just don't see communities.
anymore. Maintaining the integrity of these
buildings is important to us. We like to say that
the great accomplishments from our past are the inspiration for our future."
Holly Mullins, senior planner for the City of San Marcos, says the city has four
locally designated historical districts and is in the process of designating two
more. "(The designation) ensures that any changes to the buildings would not
destroy their historical character," she says. "One developer in particular has
rehabilitated two (downtown) buildings. There are a surprisingly large number
of residences in the downtown area. In the last couple of years, they've brought
an increase in the number of downtown businesses."
There also is an increase in new housing being
offered in the outlying areas, says Skinner-
Larsen. "Normally, to find these kinds of
homes at these prices ($100, 000-$150,000),
you have to go out to the middle of nowhere,"
he says. "Here, we've got nice houses,
shopping, a 14-screen movie theater, the outlet
mall .... once this places catches on, it's going to
take off. A person can find an 1,800-square-
foot, three-to-four-bedroom home with all kinds of upgrades in the $130s."
Dr. Gwen K. Smith, a native of San Marcos and longtime member of
numerous civic groups, says the city's wide range of opportunities will feed
continued population growth. Change is inevitable, she says, noting that the
increase in population is the biggest change she's see in more than 50 years as
a San Marcos resident. "Population growth happens everywhere, but we try to
keep a small-town atmosphere," she says.
Resources
Amenities
Search articles
Schools San Marcos River
mentioning
San Marcos Unified School Tanger Factory
Allandale in the Austin
District Outlet Mall
American-Statesman's
San Marcos Consolidated Prime Outlet Mall
archives.
Independent School District City of San
Find area restaurants
Marcos
on Austin360
Kyle
Accessibility and affordability are the two major qualities that make Kyle
attractive to those new to the Central Texas area. Easy access to I-35 and
employers and businesses in Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio, as well as the
lower housing costs has helped provide a "one-two punch" to make Kyle one of
the fastest growing communities in Hays County.
Kyle's small town charm has tremendous appeal for those who long for small
town life, but desire close proximity to shopping, businesses and schools found in
larger cities says Jerry Hendrix, the director of communications with the City of
Kyle.
"Our main appeal is for young families. Parents are excited about living within the
Hays Consolidated School District and having the opportunity to secure quality
education for their children," says Hendrix. "We're a little friendlier here, so if
you're worried about getting lost in the big city, Kyle is the place to be. Although
we are experiencing tremendous growth and development, there's still a small
town feeling to our community that people love."
ZONE: South
ZIP: 78640
Zip Code 78640
Demographic Profile
Population: 29,265
Avg HH Size: 3.31
Median HH
$60,865
Income:
Median Age 30.6
Courtesy of City of Kyle. % Married: 65%
% of HHs with
51%
Hendrix says that Kyle's appeal doesn't stop with young families. "We see a lot of Children:
retirees moving here," he says. "We're more affordable than the larger cities for % with College
16%
older folks on fixed incomes, and our laidback atmosphere is very appealing to Degree:
them as well as people who are just starting a family or buying a home for the first % Owner Occupied
83%
time. We have something for just about every demographic here. Our location is Housing
ideal - we're close to San Marcos and San Antonio, and only a half hour away Median Yr
2000
from Austin." Dwelling was Built
The numbers bear out Hendrix's assertion that Kyle is growing by leaps and Source: Claritas 2006
bounds. Hendrix says the estimated population is 27,500 for 2007, compared to
only 5,000 in 2001. "We're adding about 80 to 100 new utility accounts each
month," he says. Kyle's electricity provider is Pedernales Electric Cooperative,
while solid waste collection is supplied by Texas Disposal Systems. The City of
Kyle provides water to its residents through a number of resources.
Courtesy of City of Kyle.
In addition to its population explosion, Kyle has also been experiencing
significant commercial and retail growth. "We have a booming population, and
the infrastructure in place to serve them," says Hendrix. "We are also working to
bring in more retail and commercial businesses and move away from the 'bedroom
community' reputation we have as we become a full-service city.
"We also have an H-E-B Plus store that opened in June, and we have announced
that the Seton Family of Hospitals and SCC Development will construct a major
mixed use project featuring a hospital, professional office buildings and retail. We
have been driving specific efforts to develop Kyle's infrastructures, such as our
roads and city water system, and we're now starting to step into large-scale
commercial-type development. Our goal is not to be a bedroom community. We
want to be a thriving, independent community where people can live, play and
work within our city," Hendrix explains.
Courtesy of City of Kyle.
Kyle recently struck a unique deal with Response-Service-Initiative (RSI), Inc. to
bring two of the manufacturing company's divisions to Kyle. Under the
agreement, RSI will bring as many as 200 jobs into Kyle over the next five years.
In turn, the Kyle will reimburse RSI, Inc. for their land purchase based on the
number of jobs created and retained. The reimbursement is doubled if the person
holding the job lives in Kyle. RSI's products support military, aerospace, oil,
homeland security, and medical markets.
No matter how large Kyle becomes over the years, Hendrix believes Kyle will
always maintain a close connection to its small town roots. Hendrix points to
Kyle's many celebrations and community-wide activities throughout the year that
are enjoyed by both long-time residents and newcomers alike.
Courtesy of City of Kyle.
"In April we have the Kyle Easter Egg-stravaganza every April with free games,
train rides and music, as well as the Kyle Volksmarch, when we encourage people
to come walk along our scenic trails," says Hendrix. "Every summer we have our
'Movies In The Park' series that runs from May through August, and in October
we have our Fair On The Square and Kyle Birthday Celebration as well as our
Halloween Carnival and Haunted House. And, of course, we have our annual
Santa Visit, City Tree Lighting and School Choir Concerts on the first Wednesday
after Thanksgiving."
Bastrop
Surrounded by beautiful pine trees and scenic vistas, Bastrop is best known as Central Texas'
own emerald jewel, and rightfully earning it the name "Home of the Lost Pines." Located just 30
miles east of Austin in Bastrop County and nestled along the banks of the Colorado River,
Bastrop offers a variety of choices for those looking to make a home in a small-town setting. In
fact, going by the numbers and looking at the current growth trends, it doesn't look as though
Bastrop's newfound popularity will end anytime soon. With a current population of a little more
than 7,000 inside the city limits and nearly 70,000 within the county, Bastrop is second only to
Williamson County in percentage growth and positioned for even more as people find its natural
beauty, good schools and affordability offer a cost-effective option to living in Austin.
"Business-wise, many people think we are where Round Rock was 15 years ago," says Joe
Newman, President and CEO of the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation. "We're a
good-sized community now, and we think we're poised for quite a bit more growth. We have a
lot of big shopping centers looking at us, and we don't mind having more of the Big Box retailers
locate here - we'll roll out the red carpet for them. We're just waiting for a Dell Computer to
show up and put their headquarters here," he laughs.
"We've got a lot of good things going for us," Newman continues. "When the Austin Bergstrom
International Airport opened, it fueled a lot of our growth. We're only 22 miles from the airport,
and with four 18-hole golf courses, we have a lot of pilots and airport personnel who have
figured out they can live a laidback lifestyle in the piney woods, enjoy a game out on the links,
and then get to the airport quickly and easily."
Pilots aren't the only ones who have figured out that the living is good in Bastrop. "We've got a
mix of everything and everyone," says Newman. "We've got artists and musicians, good ol'
boys, hippies and professionals, LCRA workers and UT professors - we even have a former ZONE: South
Texas Chief Supreme Court Justice living here." ZIP: 78602
Housing options in Bastrop are just as diverse as its population. Those who prefer old Zip Code 78602
fashioned country living with a home on some acreage for a "get away from it all" feeling will Demographic Profile
find Bastrop's historic charm irresistible, while whose who prefer convenience and affordable
housing choices are drawn in by Bastrop's housing development boom and its easy Population: 23,863
accessibility to Austin. Retail stores ranging from the cute little boutiques in Bastrop's historic Avg HH Size: 2.62
downtown to the Super Wal-Mart and H-E-B provide convenient shopping for residents. School- Median HH Income: $54,818
age children attend classes in academically recognized schools in the Bastrop Independent Median Age 35.5
School District, one of the largest school districts in Texas. A recent $23.4 million school bond % Married: 61%
issue passed in 2005 that will allow for the renovation and expansion of Bastrop High School. % of HHs with
35%
Children:
With all of the new construction there is an underlying pride in the settlement founded by % with College
21%
Stephen F. Austin and named in honor of his friend, the Baron de Bastrop. The historic Degree:
downtown area boasts of 135 historic homes on the national registry, and is home to the % Owner Occupied
78%
Bastrop Opera House, originally built in 1889 and now home to theatre productions, children's Housing
theater shows and Bastrop's annual Yesterfest Pioneer Heritage Festival. Median Yr Dwelling
1990
was Built
Newman says that one of Bastrop's goals is to attract new businesses to the area. "About a
third of the people in Bastrop go to Austin for work. Our goal is to attract more companies to Source: Claritas 2006
move here so that people don't have to make the drive," he says. "We find that communities
really thrive and that people are just generally better citizens when they have more time to
spend with their children and families, to get involved with schools and P.T.A and local
activities, and to do that well that means having more jobs closer to home."
Bastrop was successful in persuading Hyatt Regency to build the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines
Resort and Spa near its city limits. Newman says it took six years to negotiate, plan and build
the $135 million luxury resort that now offers visitors three swimming pools, canoeing, kayaking,
horseback riding, championship golf, meeting facilities and, of course, a world-class spa.
"We have several ideas on how to entice companies here, such as offering free land as an
incentive, and we have a zero percent loan deal. We are very interested in bio-tech or high-tech
companies - we already have four bio-tech companies here and we would like to expand on
that. And, of course, we'd love to have a Dell here too," he chuckles.
SOUTHWEST
Circle C
By Karima Ashinhurst
When asked what continues to attract buyers to
the master-planned community of Circle C
Ranch after nearly 20 years of existence, Keller
Williams Realtor Kevin Scanlan narrows it
down to three things: location, affordability and community.
With an idyllic southwest Austin location, between the Ladybird Johnson
Wildflower Center and the Circle C Golf Course, Circle C Ranch offers its Zone: SW
residents Hill Country beauty and commuter convenience. MLS Area: SW
Zip Code(s): 78739
"It's about 20 minutes from downtown," says Scanlan. "It's fairly convenient
for folks who work there." Zip Code 78739
Demographic Profile
Circle C also counts Davis Lane to the north and FM 1826 to the west among
its boundaries. Population: 11,823
Avg HH Size: 3.29
Prices in Circle C, which Scanlan says range from the $180s to the low $500s, Median HH Income: $117,584
entice a diverse group of buyers to this established community and encourage Median Age 36.9
them to stay. Many buyers have moved up and moved down in home style as % Married: 75%
their needs have changed. % of HHs with
59%
Children:
"Because of the wide price range, you see everything from first-time home % with College
65%
buyers to larger families," Scanlan says, noting that Circle C is home to many Degree:
empty nesters, retirees and single buyers, as well. % Owner Occupied
97%
Housing
The median price for homes in Circle C hovers in the $250s, with a price-per- Median Yr Dwelling
1996
square-foot range of about $75 to $145 feet, Scanlan adds. Homes measure was Built
anywhere from 1,500 to 4,500 square feet and four bedrooms with 2.5 baths is
the norm. In addition, new homes are being built by a number of builders, Source: Claritas 2006
including Newmark, D.R. Horton, Streetman and more.
A safe, family-friendly
In addition to the wildflower center and the golf course, Circle C fosters a neighborhood, Circle C has
sense of community with its numerous amenities. The Circle C Swim Center is many amenities including the
home to the only heated, outdoor, Olympic-sized pool in Central Texas, says Lady Bird Wildflower Center,
Scanlan. With its park-like grounds and well-equipped facilities, the swim the Circle C Golf Course and
center is the site of a number of major swim meets and offers residents a great Swim Center and the Veloway.
place to relax. The Veloway, a three-mile track for bicycling and rollerblading, There are also a wide range of
will be extended an additional three miles in the homes in this one community
near future. The Circle C Child Care Center and and is home to many empty
Slaughter Creek Park are additional community nesters, retirees and single
amenities that help make Circle C a well- buyers.
regarded community.
"Circle C has never really been about a country-
club atmosphere, but it does have all the same
amenities," Scanlan adds.
Children in Circle C attend the on-site elementary school Kiker Elementary, as
well as Bailey Middle and Bowie High schools. The tax rate is approximately
2.675 percent.
So what does the future hold for Circle C Ranch? Scanlan believes the
community trend is moving toward higher-end homes. He notes that one of the
newest neighborhoods, The Hielscher, features home prices that start in the
$400s. A new section of golf course homes is scheduled to open in the near
future, and Scanlan believes they will be priced in the $600s to $700s.
"You'll really have a nice, wide range of homes in one community," he notes of
the addition of homes in the upper-end of the price scale.
Though Circle C has grown in scale and popularity since it was founded in
1988, fortunately for home buyers, some things haven't changed.
"The concept of Circle C has remained a constant: a well-maintained, safe,
family-friendly neighborhood," Scanlan says.
Amenities
Resources
Circle C Ranch
Schools Search articles mentioning
Lady Bird Wildflower
Kiker Elementary Circle C in the Austin
Center
Bailey Middle American-Statesman's
Circle C Golf Course
School archives.
Circle C Swim Center
Bowie High School Find area restaurants on
Veloway
Austin360
Slaughter Creek Park
Shady Hollow
By Jackie Potts
On a summer afternoon in Shady Hollow you can find children playing
basketball in their nicely landscaped front yard or an elderly man taking his
dogs for a walk. Debbie Peterson and her family have lived in South Austin
since 1981. They decided to move into a neighborhood close to good schools,
with large trees and a "small-town feel to it." They found all this in Shady
Hollow.
"I love Shady Hollow," said Peterson, treasurer of the long established Shady Zone: South/Southwest
Hollow Homeowners Association board. "We've got great neighbors, a good MLS Area: SW
swim team and lots of opportunities for people to get involved in activities Zip Code(s): 78749,78739,
throughout the year." Residents can stay involved in their neighborhood by 78748
reading their monthly issue of the Shady Hollow Highlights. The June 2004 six
page newsletter includes short articles of volunteer projects preformed by Boy Zip Code 78748 (primary)
and Girl Scouts in the neighborhood, services that area residents provide the Demographic Profile
community, advertisements of nearby businesses, and upcoming events.
Population: 28,826
Shady Hollow is in Southern Travis County and straddles Brodie Lane. El Avg HH Size: 2.74
Dorado Trail marks the southern border, Squirrel Hollow is the northern border Median HH Income: $64,911
and Doe Run marks the eastern border. The west side of the subdivision Median Age 34.2
borders on Lost Oasis Hollow. % Married: 63%
% of HHs with
42%
Alice Niven with JB Goodwin Realtors said Children:
Shady Hollow is an established neighborhood % with College
35%
built in the early 1980s that remains popular Degree:
because of its large front and back yards, huge % Owner Occupied
75%
shady trees and proximity to good schools and Housing
Austin's metropolitan area. Median Yr Dwelling
1989
was Built
"It's a good, family neighborhood," said Niven,
who has sold homes in the neighborhood since Source: Claritas 2006
1986. "It sells well because of the schools - especially Bowie, which is a Blue
Ribbon School." Students in Shady Hollow attend the new Baranoff Demographic profiles for other
Elementary School, Bailey Middle School and zip codes:
Bowie High School. 78749
78739
Some of the older homes are on larger lots
ranging from 125 feet by 175 feet to 205 feet by The community center and
202 feet. The rest of the homes are on lots about pool are the focal point of the
60 feet by 125 feet. Prices on homes in Shady neighborhood. Many
Hollow can range from $170,000 to $370,000. youngsters are on the
neighborhood swim team. The
Most homes have three or four bedrooms, community center is also the
although some have five bedrooms. Most have gathering point for events such
two or three bathrooms. They mainly have his and hers walk-in closets, as the 4th of July parade, the
skylights and baths with cultured marble. Kitchens have Formica or tile. Most Memorial Day celebration,
homes have two living areas, although a few have as many as four living areas. Easter egg hunt, scouting and
Shady Hollow is only expanding with new homes being built in the quiet Fall Fajita Fest.
family neighborhood as well.
Peterson said the community center and pool
are the focal point of the neighborhood. Many
youngsters are on the neighborhood swim team.
The community center is also the gathering
point for events such as the 4th of July parade,
the Memorial Day celebration, Easter egg hunt,
scouting and Fall Fajita Fest.
"Neighbors are great," Peterson said. "They are
willing to get involved in events and help you out. It really feels like a
community." Peterson, who has children in Bowie and Bailey, said the nearby
schools also help foster that sense of community. "When you go to open house
at school, you see people you know who are your neighbors," she said.
Peterson said neighbors are also good about attending neighborhood
association meetings and learning about issues affecting Shady Hollow. The
issues of rodent and vector control in the neighborhood are current issues of
concern. Brodie Lane is the only major artery into Shady Hollow. Motorists
can get to MoPac Boulevard or Interstate 35 via Slaughter Lane. Or they can
drive farther north on Brodie to reach William Cannon Drive or U.S.
290/Texas 71.
Resources
Schools
Search articles mentioning
Austin Independent School
Shady Hollow in the
District Amenities
Austin
Baranoff Elementary Circle C Metropolitan
American-Statesman's
School Park
archives.
Bailey Middle School
Find area restaurants on
Bowie High School
Austin360
Wimberley
With its location in the
heart of the fabled
Texas Hill Country,
Wimberley is an obvious
choice for those who
want to make paradise
their home. Designated by Travel Holiday Magazine as one
of "America's Ten Best Small Towns," Wimberley's deep
roots hearken back to a time when life moved at a slower pace and neighbors knew neighbors -
a place where old-fashioned "Texas Friendly" is a lifestyle.
"Wimberley is an oasis," says Jim Henderson of Jim Henderson Real Estate. "We manage to
maintain a quaintness that everyone loves."
Located in Hays County just off RM 12, Wimberley is within easy access of San Marcos and is
only a short 50-minute commute from downtown Austin. With a population that tops out at more
than 4,000, the beauty and peaceful lifestyle here is viewed by all as the area's main attraction.
"Here we still have small town living," says Henderson. "People in other places forget what it is
to have clean air and clean water. Our sky at night is filled with stars, and some people don't
have that anymore in the big cities where they live.
"A lot of people choose Wimberley as their home, and they feel safe here," explains Henderson.
"People from all over Texas hear about us, come here, and fall in love. They may decide to
purchase a second home or buy a retirement home here."
But while Wimberley is popular with the empty-nester set, don't forget its appeal with families Zone: SW
says Henderson's wife, Jean, who has lived in Wimberley since 1971. "We have excellent MLS Area: 8W
schools here, and Wimberley is a great place to raise a family. Wimberley ISD is a AAA school Zip Code(s): 78676
district and we have won multiple state championships in football and volleyball competitions."
Zip Code 78676
The Hendersons say that just because life here might be slower, there's no reason to assume Demographic Profile
the living here is dull. During the summer, residents can take advantage of the many local
swimming holes such as Blue Hole. "Wimberley is situated at the confluence of the Blanco River Population: 11,261
and Cypress Creek, so there's a lot of water to enjoy, and the most valuable property here is Avg HH Size: 2.45
waterfront property," says Henderson. "Outdoor enthusiasts find the place lively with native Median HH Income: $64,737
Texas wildlife such as white-tailed deer, songbirds and the more than occasional armadillo." Median Age 47.5
% Married: 67%
Wimberley is home to a thriving arts community, from musicians and visual artists to artisans % of HHs with
29%
working in pottery, metal arts and more who find Wimberley's beautiful setting the perfect Children:
inspiration to fire their creativity. The Wimberley Valley Art League is a collection of nationally % with College
40%
and internationally known artists representing a number of artistic genres. Degree:
% Owner Occupied
82%
Housing
Wimberley hosts several music festivals throughout the year, including the Annual Wimberley
Median Yr Dwelling
Gospel Music Festival in the fall and the Annual Wimberley Winter Jazz Festival every 1987
was Built
February. And residents know to look forward to the last Saturday of April, when the town's own
Cypress Creek Café sponsors its annual Crawfish Festival.
Source: Cl
Those who love the performing arts will love the EmilyAnn Theatre, an outdoor venue hosting
events year round, and known for its annual summer event, Shakespeare Under the Stars. The
EmilyAnn Theatre also hosts the Spring Fling Butterfly Festival which includes butterfly
releases, butterfly art, live music and more.
Another fun summer pastime celebrating Wimberley's unique take on life is the Corral Theatre,
an "outdoor walk-in" theatre at Rocky River Ranch, where moviegoers can see first-run movies
from Memorial Day to Labor Day while sitting in the comfort of lawn chairs under the stars. "It's
totally open like the old drive-in theaters," says Henderson, "and it's really a lot of fun. We like to
say that you can see the stars under the stars. It's just one of the many things we do here that
creates a special, magical atmosphere that you just can't find anywhere else."
