Southwest Austin versus North Austin (Houston, Dallas: apartment, houses, neighborhoods)

[llkltk]

Which do you prefer and why? Most people seem to agree that living in SW Austin feels more like a part of Austin than North Austin. I'd like to see what everyone else thinks?

[atxcio]

It's a draw. I've lived in both places, and South Austin feels most like Austin used to be. SW Austin is close to that, and closer to downtown, which makes it a great area to live. I'd break the pros/cons like this:

SW Austin
pros
- Closer downtown and South Austin, which is where the Austin vibe is strongest
- Scenic
- New, not overly expensive but high end feel
cons
- Doesn't get the latest and greatest first (shopping, roads, rail)
- Doesn't have the old Austin feel

NW Austin
pros
- Close in neighborhoods, like NW Hills or Shoal Creek area, also embody an aspect of the "old" Austin. The mid-century houses in rolling hills and under a canopy of trees are really, really cool and very much Austin-like
- Attracts more new chains/new shopping. North Austin always gets things first
- Has more employers
cons
- Extends so far out, that places that feel nothing like Austin can still be categorized as "NW Austin"
- Scenic places are EXPENSIVE
- Older housing

[jimmyjack]

North or South, it doesn't matter. What Austin feels like is based on attitude, not location.

[Falcorockme]

Definitely prefer SW Austin from my experience so far. Less traffic, less strip mally, more trees, less asphalt, few buildings, less sprawl, fewer massive parking lots. SW Austin has had the advantage of developing under stricter restrictions for impervious cover, etc. so every grocery store or even strip mall down in SW Austin will have a lot of trees and green space. When they developed North Austin they were still operating just like Dallas or Houston, so they'd just mow down all the trees and pave it over.

The cons of SW Austin, to me, is that for some reason the locally-owned eateries like Trudys, Kirby Lane, and other cool places refuse to build restaurants down here. I don't understand why, but every new place that opens is a chain from the midwest or the north. For example, Red Robin burgers, Which Wich, Panera Bread, Village Inn.... as opposed to: Dans, Huts, Kirby Lane/ Magnolia Cafe, Curras, Taco Deli, etc. The good news is, those places all exist in South Austin which is pretty close. But I just don't understand why, when a new Kirby Lane is built, for instance, it's all the way north or northwest. I mean they already have them up there! Why does the south west get the shaft on local places?

But again I would never move north.. I fell in love with south and southwest Austin and it's perfect for our family. Now if I can just figure out exactly where to buy a house!

[LoveATX]

Its a very personal choice, and nobody is more correct than the other. The arguments on SW feeling more like Austin are exactly that, feelings. Sure there are the facts like traffic flow (in my opinion far worse in SW on the roads I travel) and who gets what first but its the feeling you get when you walk into that home in that area that will tell you in what area you want to live. I work SW and love it, but I recently purchased a home in Sendero Springs (Round Rock) because I loved the home, liked the area, and my entire family lives north. Sure I could have moved to Bee Caves (thats were I work) but in the end I asked myself about whats important to me. One more thing to consider, everyone on this board will defend the area or neighborhood they live in animately because they made that very personal choice.

[mimimomx3]

Shrug....
It really depends on where you work. The most amazing family oriented, tree filled, view ful neighborhood is a big bust if you have to drive 2 hours to get there. There are gorgeous neighborhoods North and South (and East and West) with great Austin vibes.

[TexasHorseLady]

I've been chasing "Austin" for the last 40 years. It's moved out from under me (or while I wasn't looking) several times and it always takes me a while to find it again. Latest move (for Austin, not me - I live WAY north, out in the country, now) was south of the river, but not exactly Southwest (except that it jumped to Dripping Springs, sort of) - it has hung on in South Austin for quite some time now, really.

[Trainwreck20]

Chuy's is opening soon in southwest Austin - Yeah!

There are pros and cons of both SW and N (or NW) Austin. SW Austin has developed more recently, and as such is/has 'grown up' in a slightly different environment. Also, the SOS has created/allowed quite a bit of green space. From my personal observations, the buildings in SW Austin were subject to more building codes with stricter 'Aesthetic' requirements. In addition, Sunset Valley is the big black hole for box stores, which helps draw them away from some of the surrounding areas.

[angielt]

You can find a Kerby Lane south at 2700 Lamar --not far from Matt's El Rancho, it has been there for a very long time, smaller than the north location on 183.

[timmy38]

what are the apartment costs like in SW Austin? I'm planning on moving there at the end of the summer and still looking for the right location there for me.
Is UT near the SW part? Id probably be looking for a studio apt. there,

thanks in advance.