Is Steiner worth the hype? Cedar Park? (Austin, Canyon: homes, neighborhood)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
By way of context, I will start out by saying that I do not live in Steiner Ranch. I fell short on a couple of our family's criteria, but we live next door in River Place (which I never hesitate to sing its praises).
I agree that one of the main reasons Steiner is mentioned so frequently here is because it has the biggest marketing machine. you just don't see the advertising for other communities the way Steiner does. It's on the forefront of people's minds when looking here because it's put there!
While I do think there is some "let's recreate Orange County in Steiner Ranch" going on, I don't think it is happening to the level suggested. Let's face it, Steiner Ranch has a lot to offer a LOT of families, not just people moving from California. What family doesn't want parks for their kids, and a community pool where you can meet people, and good schools, and places to walk and ride your bike? There is NOTHING wrong with that. Is it a bit homogenized? Probably, but a lot of suburbs in a lot of places are that way. Are there people driving minivans? Sure, but so what? I get frustrated that people who drive minivans are looked upon with disfavor as if they're lemmings following each other off a steep cliff .
And I'm pretty sure there are plenty of minivans and houses on small lots and pretty community pools and nice parks in Round Rock. And Cedar Park. And, and, and....yet Steiner gets all the flak!
I agree 100% that Austin started out a pretty eccentric and diverse place and maybe part of that is changing a little, but shouldn't we be happy that the folks who maybe aren't at an eccentric point in their lives and drive minivans and want to keep their kids safe are out in the suburbs instead of "sullying" and homogenizing downtown for the rest of everyone who wants to keep Austin weird? Think of it, they're doing you a favor!
In my opinion, the true soul of a city never really changes and I believe that Austin will always be Austin. I dont want this place to become Orange County, but I'd like to think there are good things about Orange County that could make life a little nicer here as well. there's always room for growth!
Exactly my problem with these corporate suburbs. There is a hysteria about safety, security and xenophobia that has swept over the nation, especially since 9/11. If that's what motivates you, then you're missing the whole point of why Austin is a great city. The tragedy of Austin's rapid growth is that it's being driven so much by people wanting an alternative to Orange County and other formerly-all-white suburban places. What I love about Austin is antithetical to the Steiner Ranch mini-van mentality. I love the roots, the culture, the diversity and creativity. Californians are moving here en masse with dreams of perfect tidy neighborhoods that look like the 1950s myth of America. Safe schools, it's all about protecting the children. Yet the fact remains that the biggest dangers to children aren't minorities or gangs, the dangers that people ignore are the most important ones:
- angry parents driving their children to soccer practice while talking on the cell phone in giant SUV's
- junk food
- keeping kids "safe" by not letting them ride their bikes around and explore the wonders of nature
- gadgets and entertainment that keep children inactive, fixated on digital devices that mesmerize them into a stupor
Call me a neo-Luddite, but I'd rather have children living in a ghetto with real life than a sterile suburb of soulless "safety" in an Orwellian world of sameness, lulled to sleep by a false sense of security. Life happens where there is less control. We're all too eager to give up our freedom in exchange for the government's (or a corporation's) promise for "safety." If it saves one child's life, it's worth giving up all our freedom. Isn't that the mantra of modern America?
Give me chaos over control and I'll give you children who are creative, empowered, well-educated and prepared to deal with the real world. Austin is being Californicated into conformity, and it's killing the soul of the city.
- What other communities (in the above profile) in Austin would you then recommend/mention ?
I am not trying to be a "smart a___" with that question. As you can say, I am new to Austin (its only been an year in Austin). Just being curious, so that i can understand the difference.
- What other communities (in the above profile) in Austin would you then recommend/mention ?
...Just being curious, so that i can understand the difference.
I assume you're asking me what neighborhoods I prefer over the subdivisions?
Central south (78704 is almost all too high-priced for most now, but if you can afford it, there's nothing better than Bouldin!) Further south from the 04 there's still a thriving craziness that has original Austin character.
Central east (between Airport Blvd., I-35 and Town Lake)
Various pockets of central city and slightly north
Depends on what a person wants, needs, priorities about aesthetics and size of house and many other factors.
I don't advocate banning anything, I'm fairly libertarian. But that's why I hate subdivisions where people get upset if you don't water your lawn properly or if you leave your car parked in the street. That, for me personally, is a nightmare. I want neighborhoods with sofas on front porches, yard art, crazy mixes of architecture and people, and all the other chaotic beautiful aspects of life outside of corporate control and conformity with the Stepford Wife mentality. And the fewer "Hank Hill lawns", the better.
I'm an Austin Native (Austinite) I will tell you there might be some long time Austin Natives that are heavily into the "keep it wierd' theme that goes on in Austin but generally, I don't think Austin Natives have anything against it. I think many people, actually wish they could live in that area. Just my .02
My neighbor and I were discussing Hutto today. What made them decide to move here instead of Manor, where they were looking, was that it wasn't as flat. There are some slow rolling hilly areas around here. Also, that they got more house here than they could get there, even on the golf course. They decided having some nearby was a good compromise (star ranch and blackhawk). The schools are good, and we like our neighbors. Yes, it's still a small town, but growing by the minute, and we may have to wait 10 years until we could resell, if we wanted. But she said she'd rather stay here, and maybe buy some really nice land and build on it to have a getaway, especially while the kids are in school. My husband and I will probably do the same thing.
the folks who maybe aren't at an eccentric point in their lives and drive minivans and want to keep their kids safe are out in the suburbs instead of "sullying" and homogenizing downtown for the rest of everyone who wants to keep Austin weird? Think of it, they're doing you a favor!
This is funny/true.
New slogan: "Keep Austin Weird - Live in Steiner".
You're right about the "stage of life" aspect. I got to Austin in 1985 when I was 23, and I've cycled through all the bohemian/slacker, just-earn-enough-for-beer, let's party, woops - time to settle down and get married, etc. stages of living in Austin.
Now as a Dad with kids, I hate to admit it, but places like Steiner and Belterra have strong appeal to me. I live in neither, but those are great types of neighborhoods to raise kids and hang out with other Moms and Dads.
Side note: I was driving through Steiner one day with my wife as school was letting out, and I noticed that the long queue of cars waiting for kid pickup was 99% SUV and Minivans. There must have been 50 cars in a row without a one single sedan in the mix. It was so funny, the stereotype=reality of it.
Austin-steve, can you explain to me what is wrong with driving minivan or SUV? Disclaimer: I have sedan right now but thinking of buying second car - either Minivan or SUV. Can't fit my kids' bikes into sedan ;-)
PS. Sounds ridiculous to me especially with ongoing campaign on encouraging people to drive fuel efficient cars. From DMV website: "In general, registering small trucks―even new ones―will cost less than registering even an older passenger-only vehicle. Texas is the land of pickup trucks, and passenger-only cars are considered, and taxed, as something of a luxury." :-)
We now live out near Marble Falls. However, Steiner Ranch is a great community. We lived in River Place for 4 years and really loved both communities. The environment is totally kid and family friendly. The parks are amazing and the schools I wouldn't trade for anything. I haven't checked this year but the schools in Steiner were some of the highest rated in the Austin area. Also, several of my friends in River Place sold and moved to Steiner. If we move back into Austin we will move back to either subdivision. Wherever we find a nicer home. Steiner is better because the schools are closer. Best luck to you and your family. Austin is a fabulous place to live. Anne
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. 
Steiner-Anti Austin?
