Old Time Austinites: Ever Tempted to Find Greener Pastures? (Houston: apartment complexes, condo)

[supernaut112]

I've lived in Austin almost my entire life, with a brief foray outside of the state after college. Moreover, I've lived in West Austin (Clarksville). My mom remembered living here back when the neighborhood wasn't all that. I remember it too, although to a lesser degree. It had already shaped up by the time I had sentient memory.

My dear other lives in "NW Austin." No, not Allandale. Volente. So I get to spend a lot of time in this area. 620 is horrifying. Strip malls, strip malls and more strip malls, coupled with bland mega-apartment complexes. Try finding a local business in this area. Or even a local cafe. I've never done so much driving in my life. Twenty or thirty minutes to get anywhere. It's like living in a 'burb outside of Houston or Dallas.

I dunno. All of those nondescript incorporated areas are like The Sprawl in Anywhere, U.S.A. And yet so many people want to move to Austin because they consider it "unique." Um ... seriously—?

Sometimes I really feel like I want to live elsewhere, but my other's job is here and looks like it will be here indefinitely. So is mine. At least we can afford (for now) to buy in the central area, and we're looking at very small homes. The operative word is SMALL.

But I wonder "Should we?" What will Austin look and be like in 20 years? Will all of the beautiful old homes and businesses that have been in Austin for 25 years + be gone by the time I retire? Will anything about Austin be remotely "weird?"

Any old-timers here feel the same way?

[eepstein]

I can't imagine ANY old timer actually continuing to stay in this area after what a mess it's become over the past 20 years. You want a good indication of the "old Austin"....try Madison. Very similar to Austin back in the 70's (from what i've heard)

Yes, but please realize that the Austin sprawl and suburbs are different from Dallas' and Houston's. How you ask?? Umm, well they just are....ok???? Perhaps check with the COA for further clarification

Originally Posted by supernaut112

I've lived in Austin almost my entire life, with a brief foray outside of the state after college. Moreover, I've lived in West Austin (Clarksville). My mom remembered living here back when the neighborhood wasn't all that. I remember it too, although to a lesser degree. It had already shaped up by the time I had sentient memory.

My dear other lives in "NW Austin." No, not Allandale. Volente. So I get to spend a lot of time in this area. 620 is horrifying. Strip malls, strip malls and more strip malls, coupled with bland mega-apartment complexes. Try finding a local business in this area. Or even a local cafe. I've never done so much driving in my life. Twenty or thirty minutes to get anywhere. It's like living in a 'burb outside of Houston or Dallas.

I dunno. All of those nondescript incorporated areas are like The Sprawl in Anywhere, U.S.A. And yet so many people want to move to Austin because they consider it "unique." Um ... seriously—?

Sometimes I really feel like I want to live elsewhere, but my other's job is here and looks like it will be here indefinitely. So is mine. At least we can afford (for now) to buy in the central area, and we're looking at very small homes. The operative word is SMALL.

But I wonder "Should we?" What will Austin look and be like in 20 years? Will all of the beautiful old homes and businesses that have been in Austin for 25 years + be gone by the time I retire? Will anything about Austin be remotely "weird?"

Any old-timers here feel the same way?

[supernaut112]

Originally Posted by eepstein

I can't imagine ANY old timer actually continuing to stay in this area after what a mess it's become over the past 20 years. You want a good indication of the "old Austin"....try Madison. Very similar to Austin back in the 70's (from what i've heard)

Yes, but please realize that the Austin sprawl and suburbs are different from Dallas' and Houston's. How you ask?? Umm, well they just are....ok???? Perhaps check with the COA for further clarification

Yup. I've had friends who've moved on for the same reason ... they too don't understand why I stay when "Austin" is quickly shrinking. At least the colorful "weird" part of it. I'm blessed insofar that I'm in a neighborhood that's at least retained its old-time feel.

The 'burbs and sprawl are definitely newer and nicer than some I've seen in other big Texas cities, but in another 20 years, they won't be shiny and new. Retain property value? Hit or miss.

[senormatt]

Originally Posted by supernaut112

My dear other lives in "NW Austin." No, not Allandale. Volente. So I get to spend a lot of time in this area. 620 is horrifying. Strip malls, strip malls and more strip malls, coupled with bland mega-apartment complexes. Try finding a local business in this area. Or even a local cafe. I've never done so much driving in my life. Twenty or thirty minutes to get anywhere. It's like living in a 'burb outside of Houston or Dallas.

I dunno. All of those nondescript incorporated areas are like The Sprawl in Anywhere, U.S.A. And yet so many people want to move to Austin because they consider it "unique." Um ... seriously—?

It sounds like you dislike Volente, TX - not as much Austin, TX. The unique parts of Austin are mostly contained in the areas close to downtown. The further away from downtown you get, such as 30mins out in Volente, the quicker things change, the more 'sprawl' you get, and the trickier it gets to consider it Austin. If it takes 30mins to get downtown you're likely not living in an area where you can experience all those good things on a daily basis that are publicized about Austin. That's why it pains me when people like eepstein (sorry to pick on you) who live in the Cedar Park area complain how they dislike Austin and I wonder if they'd feel the same way if they lived in an older, diverse neighborhood somewhere in 78704 for example, that had character, local bars/restaurants/businesses, parks, and live music/entertainment all in the same neighborhood.

[supernaut112]

Originally Posted by senormatt

It sounds like you dislike Volente, TX - not as much Austin, TX. The unique parts of Austin are mostly contained in the areas close to downtown. The further away from downtown you get, such as 30mins out in Volente, the quicker things change, the more 'sprawl' you get, and the trickier it gets to consider it Austin. If it takes 30mins to get downtown you're likely not living in an area where you can experience all those good things on a daily basis that are publicized about Austin. That's why it pains me when people like eepstein (sorry to pick on you) who live in the Cedar Park area complain how they dislike Austin and I wonder if they'd feel the same way if they lived in an older, diverse neighborhood somewhere in 78704 for example, that had character, local bars/restaurants/businesses, parks, and live music/entertainment all in the same neighborhood.

I tend to agree with you. A lot of people who live in the outlying areas rarely get down to Austin proper, which makes me wonder, "What's the point?" May as well live in Georgetown or San Marcos. At least those places have an authentic "town" feel to them. But, I'd venture to say that there are far more people who are perfectly happy in the sprawl than there are dedicated city dwellers. Hence, why there's so damned much of it.

What worries me is that Central Austin will also lose its flavor. Developers are eating up every bit of green they possibly can. Every week, I hear about another local business going under — some of which have been here for decades — and being replaced by a chain store/bar/cafe. The quick turnover of ownership downtown is downright depressing.

Shopping at Whole Foods these days? Now, there's an experience. I shopped at the original. The niches it attracted were home-grown, hippie types wearing hep and Berkenstocks and ecologically-conscious students, like myself. Now the only people who look like they should be shopping at WF are the checkers!

[neddy]

Austin changing is the name of the game. Mom was born here during the 40s and Austin was always changing then and more than likely always will. We have stuff that is unique to the area that hopefully will make it but sometime its does not. Central Austin does not have a lock on what Austin is there are plenty of other parts that make up Austin also and the metro area is what some folks do like about Austin. If you look closely at those strip malls you do see a lot of mom and pop stores that need to be supported...

[senormatt]

Originally Posted by supernaut112

I tend to agree with you. A lot of people who live in the outlying areas rarely get down to Austin proper, which makes me wonder, "What's the point?" May as well live in Georgetown or San Marcos. At least those places have an authentic "town" feel to them. But, I'd venture to say that there are far more people who are perfectly happy in the sprawl than there are dedicated city dwellers. Hence, why there's so damned much of it.

The main reason is usually cost - the give and take between house and location. House usually wins, especially b/c the price of central homes are pricey compared to what you can get 30mins out. But you can still get an affordable home within 10-15mins of downtown. I'd much rather be somewhere like Oak Hill than Cedar Park.

[supernaut112]

Originally Posted by senormatt

The main reason is usually cost - the give and take between house and location. House usually wins, especially b/c the price of central homes are pricey compared to what you can get 30mins out. But you can still get an affordable home within 10-15mins of downtown. I'd much rather be somewhere like Oak Hill than Cedar Park.

A lot of people, at least from what I've read on these forums, want the big McMansion. Hmm, whatever, I guess. It would probably appall home-hunters to know the size of the house my mom lived in — and that I grew up in. We're talking under 1,200 sq. ft.

I'd rather live in the $250K condo in Clarksville than the big McMansion way out in bunk. I would in a heartbeat if I knew that Austin wasn't going away entirely.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by supernaut112

Old Time Austinites: Ever Tempted to Find Greener Pastures?

Nope, no need to find it, we know where it is. Green Pastures

[1mintjulep]

Originally Posted by supernaut112

I'd rather live in the $250K condo in Clarksville than the big McMansion way out in bunk. I would in a heartbeat if I knew that Austin wasn't going away entirely.

If you want the condo, get the condo. Nobody can be sure of what Austin (or anything else) will be like in 20 years.

The idea of living in one of those McMansion type houses in Steiner Ranch or a similar community horrifies me. I get people who have or want to have a gaggle of kids wanting to live out there and be around other families and good schools, yada yada yada. But that isn't me. I don't even want to be around kids, quite frankly. So yeah...give me the small place close into town.