Crestview (Austin, Atlanta, Burnet: apartments, rentals, high crime)

[roverchris]

We're thinking of buying a home in Crestview and were curious about the safety of the neighborhood. We found something in Wooten Park, but heard some bad things about that area. We're looking around Richcreek/Yates area. My main thing is I could walk to the Top Notch....but that's another store.

[TexasHorseLady]

I have friends who've lived in Crestview for a couple of decades now and they've never had any problems or reported any from their numerous friends (neighbors) who live there.

[geoquiz3000]

I own a rent house in Crestview (Grover+St John) and lived there for a while... generally a very safe neighborhood. Some speeders along Woodrow and on busy boundary streets (Burnet, Lamar) but overall I haven't ever had any issues.

[achtungpv]

My wife lived in Crestview for around 10 years. No problems whatsoever.

[blusteel]

We've lived here for the past 10+ years. It has been an area undergoing change. Yes, there were problems in parts of the area in the past, but probably no different than most any urban neighborhood. But the past couple years have been great and I'm not aware of any problems at all. It is a great area to live where everything is so close. It is truly a walkable neighborhood with just about anything anyone needs within an easy walk or bicycle ride. We dumped our 2nd vehicle about 7 yr. ago because we found we didn't need it living here.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by roverchris

We're thinking of buying a home in Crestview and were curious about the safety of the neighborhood. We found something in Wooten Park, but heard some bad things about that area. We're looking around Richcreek/Yates area. My main thing is I could walk to the Top Notch....but that's another store.

It won't be any better or worse than any other close-in neighborhood of older homes. There is always going to be a higher rate of theft, break-ins, etc. than you'll find in suburban areas like Circle C, but that comes with the territory if you want to live in such a neighborhood.

but heard some bad things about that area.

Heard from whom? What did they say? How much weight do you give the source?

Wooten Park is an excellent up and coming neighborhood. Great location, mature trees, smaller homes but all homes in WP have 3 bedrooms. It is however in proximity to some cheaper apartments and low end rentals, so, like I said, that's what you get when you choose an areas that's going through a revitalization/change.

Steve

[TexasHorseLady]

Gee, Steve, you sound like you don't like the closer-in neighborhoods (or older homes)! I, personally, live in the country, but wouldn't mind living in a closer-in neighborhood (though I'd have trouble living that close to other people again - I've gotten used to having my neighbors so far away that it doesn't matter what I wear when I run out to the car to get something).

All close-in neighborhoods aren't the same, by the way - Barton Hills is not Crestview is not SOCO, for example - all close-in neighborhoods of older homes, but very different at the same time. And all suburban neighborhoods aren't crime-free.

[austin-steve]

Gee, Steve, you sound like you don't like the closer-in neighborhoods (or older homes)!

Not sure how you got that impression. I LOVE older homes and close in neighborhoods.

I also know that if I live in Hyde Park or Travis Heights or Barton Hills or Crestview, I'm more likely to have my car or home broken into than I am out where I live in Oak Hill. This is simply "data" that is available from the Austin Police crime stats, it's not my opinion.

That said, it would be of little or no concern to me when I deceide to move back to Central Austin some day (when we're empy-nesters). In other words, it's not something that I would even think about or worry about, personally, but others may. I notice that people who relocate from other parts of the country, especially high crime metros, seem to have a higher level of crime awareness than the locals.

I was just answering the question.

Steve

[orngkat]

Funny but the only time our car was broken into was when we lived in Oak Hill. I'm in Allandale now across from Crestview but both have very active neighborhood associations and listserves to keep one abreast of any suspicious activity to look out for. It seems to be Rosedale that has had the most trouble lately.

[atlanta hope]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

In other words, it's not something that I would even think about or worry about, personally, but others may. I notice that people who relocate from other parts of the country, especially high crime metros, seem to have a higher level of crime awareness than the locals.

That would be me! I'm tired of being an urban pioneer and I don't want to end up in the same situation that I have here in downtown Atlanta. We do worry about the crime -- but I think any part of Austin is safer than our current 'hood.