South Austin vs North Austin (Allen, Spring: apartment, Home Depot, established neighborhood)

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by sinking

It's interesting... I lived in south Austin and hated it because it was too crowded now I live NW and hate it less.

NW Austin is WAY more crowded than SW Austin!

[mimimomx3]

Oh, I forgot to vote- neither. I prefer central.

[senormatt]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Oh, I forgot to vote- neither. I prefer central.

Agreed. Central is more important than north or south. I'd be happy north-central or south-central with preference leaning towards south central.

[passionatearts]

I'll take North Central Austin over South Central Austin. South Central Austin was fun and cool 10 - 15 years ago, but more recently has gotten outrageously expensive (for Austin) and overrun with tourists and pretentious stores.

[Austinofficespace]

If you are talking about a cool place to live then I would say South Austin (North of Benwhite..aka 71)........ You can't go wrong with Soco!

Between downtown and 183 (5 miles North of Downtown Austin)there are some cool places to live also.

[UTHORNS96]

North Austin. It's more diverse and laid back and is more "subtly Austin". North Austin still has the vestiges of what Austin used to be, before it became hipster mania and everyone was concerned with being "weird" and "austiny".

Here's a word of advice, anything people describe as "hip" or "funky"...STAY AWAY FROM! It's usually highly overrated and only caters to a very small amount of people.

Though I'm an old East Austin boy myself.

[N. Olikee]

By North Austin and South Austin, are you referring to Austin itself, or the exurbs? I like both areas of "just to the north of downtown" Austin and "just to the south" of Austin. Both are interesting in their own ways.

If you're talking about Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, etc......well, you're not talking about Austin.

[heavyhappiness]

I just got back from house hunting in Austin. North, specifically NW hills or Highland Hills is awesome! If you like LEAFY, winding quiet roads, and a mix of homes built in the 60s and newer mod homes- then go for it. You can find loads of hip all over Burnet road and in Allendale/Rosedale. I ended up with a home in the South - Barton Hills. Lamar and S Congress have tons of cool shops and you're close to Barton Springs / Zilker. I went everywhere while I was home shopping and fell in love with the smaller (still affordable) 1960s housing stock in BH. Good luck! Are you renting or buying?

[RowdysMom]

My preference would be to NOT have to cross the river to go to work, from either direction. I live north and work around the University. I would just throw up if I had to get into the traffic I see going south on I35 from the University area. It is slow and backed up every single day. Before I moved here back in the early 80's, someone told me to live on the side of the river where I worked and I am grateful every day for that advice.

[lina2401]

I'll be working in the area near the University. Actually I've checked the area around Barton Springs / Zilker and I really found some cool complexes but I'm not sure about the area itself? is it safe? easy access to downtown? do you recommend any complexes?