bad areas of austin, tx (Houston, San Diego: high school, live in, restaurants)

[cls88]

Now, does this mean that something is "wrong" with the "east end"? .....hardly......it DOES mean that anglo relocatees feel far more comfortable in established areas where they can feel comfortable shopping, sending their kids to school, hanging around in general, etc.....and the vast majority of relos moving to Austin indeed ARE anglo.......

The fact of Anglos feeling more comfortable on the west side does not make the east side a bad area to avoid. I'd not assume that every poster asking about Austin bad area is an Anglo. And for what it worth out of 5 closest my neighbors on the east side, 4 are Anglo families.

While technically I can't call LASA an east side school, but it is located on the east, a few minutes from my house and my kids are getting great educations there.

[MSLITTLE]

I don't really care about the hippie thing.I am a single mom and my main concern is good high schools. I like an area that is laid back, no drug dealers,safe area. I can only afford about 650 for a 2bdrm so if anyone knows a better area in that price range please let me know. Thanks

[MSLITTLE]

I don't care about the hippie wierd part. I am a single mom of a 14 year old so good high schools are important. I like a laid back safe neighborhood without drugs and crime. not near colleges. I would like to stay around 650 for a 2bdrm apt. so if anyone knows of a better area in this price range please let me know. Thanks

[MSLITTLE]

sorry I didnt know how to delete second one

[passionatearts]

Austin is a pretty safe city overall, but it does have its bad areas. The worst areas are:

-Southeast Austin (especially the area east of I-35, north of Oltorf, south of the river and west of 183)
-Northeast Austin (the area around Capitol Plaza and especially Reagan High School is known for being really rough)

Sadly, the eastern part of the downtown entertainment district has also gotten very rough in the last 5 years. If you go downtown at night, avoid parking in the area north of 6th St east of Trinity St, south of 10th st and west of I-35. I've seen these shady characters hanging around in the area who will come up to you after you've parked and ask for your money so they can "watch" your car. If you don't give them money, they might break into your vehicle. Also, if you go walking around that area late at night, make sure you're in a group. The lowlifes who hang around in this area can be very aggressive and intimidating and being in a group will make you less of a target.

The Austin Chronicle had a whole story about the rise in crime in this part of town.

[McDavis]

Originally Posted by passionatearts

Sadly, the eastern part of the downtown entertainment district has also gotten very rough in the last 5 years. If you go downtown at night, avoid parking in the area north of 6th St east of Trinity St, south of 10th st and west of I-35. I've seen these shady characters hanging around in the area who will come up to you after you've parked and ask for your money so they can "watch" your car. If you don't give them money, they might break into your vehicle. Also, if you go walking around that area late at night, make sure you're in a group. The lowlifes who hang around in this area can be very aggressive and intimidating and being in a group will make you less of a target.

That part of downtown has been really sketchy as long I can remember. They were pulling the old "I watch your car for you..." bit when I moved here 15 years ago, so I don't think it's necessary an indication of an uptick in crime in that area.

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by McDavis

That part of downtown has been really sketchy as long I can remember. They were pulling the old "I watch your car for you..." bit when I moved here 15 years ago, so I don't think it's necessary an indication of an uptick in crime in that area.

I've been in Austin since 1984, and yes, I know that the Red River area has always been dodgy, but it really does seem to have gotten a lot worse in the last 5 years.

[CptnRn]

Crime in Austin
Crime in Austin

Downtown Violent Crime
Austin Police have just released some startling new numbers regarding downtown violent crime

Crime, or lack of it, in SW Austin Robberies and burglaries up in SW Austin 2007 vs 2008

Austin Crime Stats - by zip code (http://malford.ci.austin.tx.us/police/zipcode/zipcode/zip_2008.pdf - broken link)

[RampageInAZ]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

"Bad areas" is a relative term. There isn't a real dangerous "ghetto" area in Austin.

The east side is low-income and mostly industrial and minority, so it's associated with being a "bad" part of town. However, there's not a terrifcally high crime rate in East Austin compared to other cities.

There is no industrial area in austin. There are no chemical plants or refineries here. Working class area is more like it.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by RampageInAZ

There is no industrial area in austin. There are no chemical plants or refineries here. Working class area is more like it.

That is not true, there is a lot of industry in East Austin along the railroad tracks, along Ed Bluestein Blvd and SE along Ben White Blvd.

It is not as heavy as Houston but it is there.