South Austin vs North Austin (Round Rock, Allen: renting, house, buying)

[atlanta hope]

[quote=jobert;19108286]The same thing happens on the northside - once you go north of Koenig, the area becomes more run down with more crime until you reach Parmer lane.
quote]

I'd move the Koenig line up to Anderson -- but there is a nice neighborhood north of Anderson and west of Burnet. I think Wooten is still sketchy though. Crestview doesn't seem run down and crime-ridden to me.

I think the areas just south of Ben White are improving too. I know a lot of families that live down there.

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

It is a shame that the North Austin versus South Austin across-the-river tug of war has not continued to be an annual event.

Those were fun times. But back then, there was a strong dilineation between Bubbaland south of the river and all the new growth north. Now to me, it all just blends together. Hell, at one time, you actually had to drive out of the city to get to Round Rock and Cedar Park - now they are just extensions of N and NW Austin.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

I'd move the Koenig line up to Anderson -- but there is a nice neighborhood north of Anderson and west of Burnet. I think Wooten is still sketchy though. Crestview doesn't seem run down and crime-ridden to me.

I think the areas just south of Ben White are improving too. I know a lot of families that live down there.

The neighborhoods hugging Mopac are a lot better than those near Lamar. In my experience, everything north of the Triangle goes down hill rather quickly.

[atlanta hope]

I bet all the hoods south of 183 in North Central become gentrified and nice eventually. I watched it happen in Atlanta -- hoods that were full of crack houses and boarded windows turn over into nice updated homes. The proximity to downtown can't be beat as cities grow bigger. People hate commuting and paying high gas prices.

I'm too old to be an urban pioneer (been there, done that) so I'm looking for a house in a Mopac hugging hood. If I could afford it, I'd live in Barton Hills to be close to downtown and Zilker -- and access to good public schools (if they don't shut them down with budget cut issues).

[jobert]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

I bet all the hoods south of 183 in North Central become gentrified and nice eventually. I watched it happen in Atlanta -- hoods that were full of crack houses and boarded windows turn over into nice updated homes. The proximity to downtown can't be beat as cities grow bigger. People hate commuting and paying high gas prices.

I'm too old to be an urban pioneer (been there, done that) so I'm looking for a house in a Mopac hugging hood. If I could afford it, I'd live in Barton Hills to be close to downtown and Zilker -- and access to good public schools (if they don't shut them down with budget cut issues).

I could see that. The shutting down and repurposing of Highland Mall needs to happen and sooner rather than later. On the south side (78745), it going to take urbanites or developers to come in and flip or tear down about 80% of the stock.

[WoodyTX]

If you like to live by other peoples' estimation of what's 'cool', then South Austin.

If you really do like to follow your own path, then you wouldn't be asking on a public forum, would you?

(For what it's worth, I live in Cedar Park. People are very nice and friendly here.)

[mimimomx3]

Depends on what you mean by 'north' and 'south'. Everything that sits between 183/35/360/290 is considered central and is pretty much the same. What lies outside of that band is where you get differences...is there really a difference between Round Rock/Leander/Pflugerville/Kyle/Buda/Dripping Springs? In my book, no. They tend to be more conservative, more rural, more laid back. The exception is West, outside of 360, which is what I would consider 'Californicated'.

[llkltk]

South. Used to live North and hated it. It's too crowded. Southwest Austin is close to the city. The new Alamo Drafthouse and Whole Foods are coming. North Austin is uninteresting. SW Austin is the beginning of the Hill Country and is more appealing to the eye. But, the house prices are more than north Austin so be prepared.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by llkltk

South. Used to live North and hated it. It's too crowded. Southwest Austin is close to the city. The new Alamo Drafthouse and Whole Foods are coming. North Austin is uninteresting. SW Austin is the beginning of the Hill Country and is more appealing to the eye. But, the house prices are more than north Austin so be prepared.

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

[noellestar]

I didn't read the entire thread but my vote is South. I lived North for a year and I hated it.