SW Austin vs RR/Cedar Park? (Anderson Mill, Anderson: HOA fees, home, neighborhood)

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Ah ha! They finally did a google streets for my neighborhood. For some reason that left that out in the last pass.....and my car is in the driveway ! Those pictures must be from last fall, before we trimmed our big tree, but not much older than that.....

Yeah, it's a bummer that street view came by Austin during winter in a drought! Everything looks brown and bare. Still, you can get a general idea.

[ladylonghorn2]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Keep in mind that those in Mueller are on very tiny lots. They are essentially condos. That's not evident in the photos on the builder site (when are those ever accurate,huh?)... better to get an idea with Street View:

At over 2000 sf I'd hardly call them condos. Yes the yard house lots are very small, but trust me, I live in a tiny apartment now and one of those houses would be a mansion in comparison. Anyway, I'm not interested in living in Mueller because of the uncertain school situation.

But I love that style of architecture as opposed to the (in my opinion) more bland suburban style of houses in Cedar Park. Of course those houses are nice and big but they don't have much character. I love this plan especially:

Armstrong

If homes in this sort of bungalow/craftsman style are being built in RR or SW, I'd love to know more!

[ladylonghorn2]

Originally Posted by atxcio

No good street view of Ash Creek's similar homes, I think they are too new. But this was the community I was thinking of in NW Austin: Ash Creek Homes - Austin area homebuilder for over 25 years

Those are cute!! I bet this development has been talked about a lot on this board.. going to do some searching.

What about in Circle C? Anything similar?

[ladylonghorn2]

hominatx, thanks for the honest feedback. We have the age old dilemma... we want the vibe of the city but can't afford a big enough space... I'm trying to keep an open mind about the suburbs because I know there are a lot of plusses. Especially since we're priced out of so many central neighborhoods.

[centralaustinite]

It sounds like you might like Vintage Place in Circle C. Might be just above your price range but worth a look.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Ah ha! They finally did a google streets for my neighborhood. For some reason that left that out in the last pass.....and my car is in the driveway !

LMAO


hmmm, an undesirable...

[llkltk]

Again, to each his own. Don't let this post sway you from checking out SW Austin, it is beautiful down here. Hardly what I would call Purgatory, remember that's just this poster's opinion. Come and take a look for yourself, I'm sure you will find it to be nice.

Originally Posted by homeinatx

"If I want to avoid the strip mall / shopping center / chain store / olive garden vibe of the suburbs, am I better off in one or the other or neither?"

Lady Longhorn 2. If you want to avoid what you describe above, the only honest answer is neither. If you expect anything like an urban life, the difference btw RR/CP and SW Austin is the difference between Hell and Purgatory. SW is purgatory - it is a little prettier and easier to get out of. Most of the Austin Metro is exactly what you say you want to avoid. If some kind of urban as opposed to a suburban vibe is your priority - you need to be north of oltorf, south of 2222, actually south of 53rd street, but I am feeling generous, and the North Loop area is increasingly walkable and interesting, east of Mopac and west of Airport Boulevard, and even there, with the exception of downtown proper - the river to MLK, and Lamar to I35, and the areas adjacent to the U.T. campus, these are mostly just older first ring suburbs, but there will be sidewalks, better public transport, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment options that you can walk to, and you don't have to get on a highway to go downtown. To be in these areas, you will pay a lot of more - some places more than others and the schools are more uneven than in RR/CP or SW, but if you want to avoid the "vibe of the suburbs," good luck doing that outside central Austin. Not really intending to flame here, just trying to answer the OP truthfully.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Yes, Steve that's what I was talking about, the shops west of Mopac. Also, the new Parkside Village with the Drafthouse and also Wildflower Commons near the Wildflower Center that is going to be totally green built.

I guess I've never seen those!

[jhwest]

OK, let me just say that Cedar Park is NOT like RR! RR is massive urban sprawl and Cedar Park most defintely is not. All the big box stores are either in the Lakeline Area (which is Austin technically) or up on 1431, where there is not much residential.

The new parts of Twin Creeks off of Anderson Mill in Cedar Park are really darling craftsman style home in all sizes. Some of them have gorgeous hill country views.

There is a light rail station in Leander and one in Lakeline behind Kohls. Hopefully they'll be running this summer.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

"If I want to avoid the strip mall / shopping center / chain store / olive garden vibe of the suburbs, am I better off in one or the other or neither?"

Lady Longhorn 2. If you want to avoid what you describe above, the only honest answer is neither. If you expect anything like an urban life, the difference btw RR/CP and SW Austin is the difference between Hell and Purgatory. SW is purgatory - it is a little prettier and easier to get out of. Most of the Austin Metro is exactly what you say you want to avoid. If some kind of urban as opposed to a suburban vibe is your priority - you need to be north of oltorf, south of 2222, actually south of 53rd street, but I am feeling generous, and the North Loop area is increasingly walkable and interesting, east of Mopac and west of Airport Boulevard, and even there, with the exception of downtown proper - the river to MLK, and Lamar to I35, and the areas adjacent to the U.T. campus, these are mostly just older first ring suburbs, but there will be sidewalks, better public transport, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment options that you can walk to, and you don't have to get on a highway to go downtown. To be in these areas, you will pay a lot of more - some places more than others and the schools are more uneven than in RR/CP or SW, but if you want to avoid the "vibe of the suburbs," good luck doing that outside central Austin. Not really intending to flame here, just trying to answer the OP truthfully.

I think this is a very fair assessment. We lived in-city when we were in Seattle but moved here for a less expensive existence. To do that we had to abandon in-city living. Despite my husband working north we are purchasing SW because 1) it is still close enough in that when I go back to work, I will have a manageable commute 2) we like the topography here better, and 3) while it's still the suburbs, it just feels less suburby then when we looked up in RR and Cedar Park. It think 3 has more to do with being able to get to downtown in 10 minutes rather than 30.