Is a Black Man welcomed in Austin? (Houston, Dallas: low income, hair salon)

[love roses]

I do agree that Austin is pretty accepting, but still, there is a big East/West thing and as someone who lives North East of Austin, I feel it a lot. I had to rep jobert because I think he put it how I feel. You read it on this board all the time. Whenever someone expresses an interest in moving ANYWHERE East of 35 you read more posts on why they shouldn't than why they should. It gets frustrating to hear from people who barely step over the 35 line or who never have ventured East of 35 about how gross, flat, ugly, boring and going nowhere Anyplace East is, when those of us who live here don't see that. Regarding THL's post about the 98 homes West of 35, you can find 598 (just made that up, but I can't be far off) homes under 200k. A lot of people see that as a disadvantage. Eventually, we will move West or South but for now we love it here. For us now, living East has many advantages. Our house payments aren't killing us and we only bought just as much as we needed and use the rest for extras (boat, trips, etc...) instead of moving west into a more expensive house and eating hamburger helper every day. And I'm sure that even some of the wealthy ranchers out East of 35 that live in Million dollar plus homes out here must feel that discrimination too. Or the people in TeraVista or Star Ranch or some of the other more expensive neighborhoods out here with 200k or more houses. Personally, I think probably the small towns outside of Austin may be more tolerant than the central city is because it is more racially diverse out this way. I can even say truthfully that this little town was founded by a former slave. I also see it when someone says they are interested in moving to Georgetown, but then they get swayed by people saying "NO, look at Leander or West Georgetown". Leander is just as far North as Georgetown is, maybe even a tad further but people always say it's closer to Austin. I can't see how that can be.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by jobert

Everyone in Austin discriminates against each other for a myriad of reasons.

Originally Posted by jobert

The white collar newcomers discriminate against the indigenous people (homo slackus Austinius) and regard them as garbage but won't admit it. It goes beyond just racism, but is rather a mindset.

Wow, that's a rather impressive super power you have there. Knowing everyone in Austin: how they feel, and what they do.

[carolinajack]

where do you live, Love Roses? I too would like a place like that, more accepting of everyone not just liberal people in downtown who arent really that accepting of people who have different political views and think they should move to Dallas or Houston.

I like a place where there are affordable housing for all knds of people not just wealthy or cool hipsters, but middle income people and people who live on fixed incomes, people left right and center politically. that to me is the most open minded place

[love roses]

I'm in Hutto. Some people might think I'm a dork for liking it here because it's not their idea of a great place. It's pretty small, not too long ago was a one stop light town and it's not the most beautiful town in the Austin area but I don't really care too much about that as far as topography goes. There's some nice scenery off of 79 . It's grown a lot and also very racially diverse and I love all the friends I've made out here. It's just a bunch of middle class people not living in mansions doing whatever people in middle class neighborhoods do. We have parties, talk to our neighbors, go to church or don't go to church, football is a popular sport around here, there are artists and musicians in this region (Taylor, RR, Georgetown, Hutto). Politically, it is a mixed bag around here. Many of my neighbors vote Democrat and many don't. Noone beats anyone up over it (although, in Austin noone does either ) Some of the Real Estate Agents on this board don't like this area because the soil is clayish, unlike the rocky stuff West, but Many people I know haven't had any foundation issues. The only neighborhood that is having a problem is Hutto Parke and it's Lennar that was the builder. With the downturn in the economy, some of the bigger developments have been put on hold, but the city council and EDC are focusing their attention on a downtown and co op property redevelopment. The only thing that many people around here want is a grocery store, but it's not far to get to one when you need to. We did have a black mayor, but soon after he was re-elected, he suffered a heart attack and stroke and decided to turn the reins over to focus on his health. The mayor pro-tem will sit in until the next election. But, he's a good man too, with good intentions and goals for the town. The schools are rated recognized and acceptable, so if you are looking for an exemplary district, Nowhere East of 35 is going to have one, I don't think. But heck, recognized is only one level under exemplary. Wasn't it a kid from Bastrop who got a 1600 perfect score on his SAT's? And he's not the product of an exemplary school district. Actually, the parental involvement in the District here is pretty good, at least this year. Everone's goal is to upgrade our academic standings which I think should be commended. This may be from all the recent growth.

We aren't far from all the new colleges popping up in Round Rock (TeraVista), the hospitals and outlets (movie theatre as well). We're only abt. 30 minutes outside of Austin, so long commute isn't really an issue, especially with the toll roads, which don't bother me because I lived in Houston and drove the tolls all the time. I'm willing to pay for the shorter drive times I get by traveling them. I can see fireworks from Dell Diamond from my front yard, plus we're only a little over 5 minutes from the stadium if we want to check out a game. We have 3 festivals a year and have movies and concerts in the park during the summer and sports programs for the kids. There's lots more here but I'll stop before I turn this into a novel.

[carolinajack]

wow Hutto sounds great, will it be hear the new public transport train, i know it stops in Leander? whats the shopping like, strip malls or smaller shops in a small downtown? Is there a Whole Foods nearby? I want something like that, lil bit country and outside the city but with easier access into town, more mayberry than downtown.

my wife is a lawyer and college prof, i am a non profit administrator-so we are down to earth, right of center but dont care if our neighbors dont agree with us, as long as we can live peacefully along side others. we can drive to the good art stuff, but we desire small, racially diverse , economically common sense affordable

[love roses]

At this point, no. There is a plan for a train here. There was an article in our paper about it. The company wants to run it from San Antonio up through Round Rock and they were conducting studies. The Carmel Creek development is supposed to have an area set up for public transport, but all of this is on paper right now. Shopping is in both. We don't have anything major in Hutto, but are soon getting a Kohl's, it's a for sure deal, already in writing and about to break ground. There are some little shops in the downtown, but also a good share of businesses like a tax office, our local paper, dentist, insurance office, law office, Hutto Museum, a cafe. Pflugerville is pretty close and there is a development right on the I30 toll with all kinds of things going in. It's a little over 5 minutes away, maybe close to 10. Round Rock/TeraVista is supposed to get a whole foods, but not sure when. Whole Foods doesn't have many stores and the ones it has are in Austin itself, nearly downtown. You can look a lot of that up online. Have you also looked into Georgetown? There is Southwestern up there. It's a nice campus. Maybe check out the entire corridor from Pflugerville up to Georgetown, but not right off of 35. Take the toll road or just backroads. Anything right off of 35 looks the same from South of Austin to North of it. Leander, even though it is West is still pretty small so you may like the feel of it better than Cedar Park. CP is getting pretty big and doesn't give that mayberry feel.

[carolinajack]

Ok, well they should be finished with the train from Austin center to Leander in March 09. Capital Metro Transit - Austin, Texas and i can drive over to catch the train for work downtown.

so hutto or georgetown does have a mayberry feel to it, small downtown not too commercial? thats what i like, so where do you shop for groceries and clothing and home and garden supplies? Round Rock or in Austin proper?

[Trainwreck20]

Georgetown is probably has the most 'original' small town feel to it, but it still has a wally world, home depot, etc. The town square is still very original looking, but along I-35 things have really grown. For real small town feel, you probably have to get outside of Austin's commuter radius (or at least, easy commute) and look out at Salado, or Jarrel, or Johnson City.

[carolinajack]

thanks train

[love roses]

Not too commercial here. Georgetown has the best original downtown around here. Taylor also has a good sized one, but it hasn't really taken off as far as growth yet, so there's a TON of potential there. Here in Hutto we usually shop at the outlets or other stores in that vicinity.Someone opened a small boutique type store here that sells brand new items for reasonable prices, sort of like overstock. Near the outlets there is also a Dress Barn, Old Navy, and JC Penney's. That's for clothes. For groceries there are 3 HEB's within reasonable distance. Either HEB Plus on 79 in RR, HEB (smaller one) on Gattis School Rd. in RR, Randall's on Gattis School Rd. in RR, HEB in Taylor, or Walmart (Hutto/RR border, 5 mins away). Home and Garden supplies...Hutto has both a Lowes and a Home Depot. We also have 2 places that sell garden do dads..Dragonfly Floral and gifts and Deba-Ra's (antique store and she sells some garden iron work). There are also a spattering of nurseries around here for plants. For sporting goods, it's Round Rock or Taylor.