Belterra Information (Austin, Spring, Pflugerville: new home, neighborhoods, buy)

[Ryanphllp]

My fiancee and I are thinking about moving to Belterra and I was hoping some of you might be able to help me find out what the community is like. We drove around the Belterra community and it looks great, but we have some concerns.

I work SW and she works NE. My commute isnt an issue, but I am wondering how bad the commute to NE might be for her?

We are also worried about the area of Belterra not being very interesting and wondering if any new commercial development is in the works. Do any of you know what is being built out there? Bars, Grocery Stores, Movie Theatres, Restaurants, Night Life. What is out there?

Also what other concerns are there for Belterra that we might not have heard about?

Or what are all of the positives. Any information you could give me would be great. Thanks

Ryan

[Trainwreck20]

but I am wondering how bad the commute to NE might be for her

Pretty bad, depending on exactly where she is going. Really bad or kind bad or awful, really.

[jobert]

where in NE? far NE? If so, you could live in SW austin, take 290 over to 130N to NE Austin. This would be the least amount of traffic. Or you could live in Pfluegerville, and reverse commute the same way mentioned above.

The roads to avoid during rush hour: Mopac, I-35, the "Y", and small highways west of town.

roads okay during rush hour: 130, Ben White east of Mopac, any tollway.

[CptnRn]

Previous discussions about Belterra

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...erra-info.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...questions.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...ar-chavez.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-start-up.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...highpoint.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...ighpointe.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-question.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-belterra.html

[FalconheadWest]

Where are you considering "NE Austin"? As many people interpret that differently.

[Ryanphllp]

North East Austin would be around 45th and 51st and I-35. We want to live in South West Austin. No way we would live in Pflugerville. Just wanting more information on whats around Belterra. Thanks

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Ryanphllp

North East Austin would be around 45th and 51st and I-35. We want to live in South West Austin. No way we would live in Pflugerville. Just wanting more information on whats around Belterra. Thanks

Ok, I'd call that North Central Austin, not North East (45-51 streets don't continue east of I35, so I'm assuming she's working on the west side of the hwy). From SW Austin, the straightest shot would obviously be 290/71 to I-35. With the horrible traffic on I35, though, Mopac to 38th or 45th street is another option. Those streets move E-W pretty well, even during rush hour (although there are many lights).

All I know about Belterra is that many people complain about the propane situation. Only one provider, and it is mandatory to use. The prices are supposedly jacked up. You can do a search on this forum to find many threads about it.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Ryanphllp

North East Austin would be around 45th and 51st and I-35. We want to live in South West Austin. No way we would live in Pflugerville. Just wanting more information on whats around Belterra. Thanks

Ok I live in Legend Oaks, just North of Circle C. and East of what most people think of as Oak Hill (the Y). Belterra is a little closer to Dripping Springs then it is to Oak Hill, 8 miles versus 9 or so.

However the Oak Hill area as well as Legend Oaks/Circle C offers a fair amount of shopping, restaurants and grocery stores that are relatively easy to get to from Belterra.

The hospital at Seton SW Hospital at Camp Ben Mucullough Road just South of Hwy 290 is excellent. Took my wife there twice for emergencies and received excellent services.

hospital - Google Maps

From Belterra, take Nutty Brown Road to Camp Ben Mucullough Road to Slaughter Lane & Escarpment Blvd. Check out the area for a great HEB, Natural Planet Grill, Austin Scoops Ice Cream, Mail Store, coffee shop and other shops, banks, etc.

Taking Slaughter Lane further East to Brodie Lane to a nice Randall's Grocery store, CSV Pharmacy and a bunch of good restaurants like Galaxy Cafe, Maudies Hacienda, Brick Oven, Tino's Greek Cafe, Wok on Fire, and several fast food places.

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by Ryanphllp

My fiancee and I are thinking about moving to Belterra and I was hoping some of you might be able to help me find out what the community is like. We drove around the Belterra community and it looks great, but we have some concerns.

I work SW and she works NE. My commute isnt an issue, but I am wondering how bad the commute to NE might be for her?

We are also worried about the area of Belterra not being very interesting and wondering if any new commercial development is in the works. Do any of you know what is being built out there? Bars, Grocery Stores, Movie Theatres, Restaurants, Night Life. What is out there?

Also what other concerns are there for Belterra that we might not have heard about?

Or what are all of the positives. Any information you could give me would be great. Thanks

Ryan

Many others are commenting on the commute issue, so I'll leave it to them to offer alternatives, but, yes a commute from Belterra to NE Austin would be hard. A similar commute the other way would be just as bad. Since you are working in opposite corners of the city, one will have a long commute. However, keep in mind that depending on where you are coming from, and what you are used to, a "bad" commute in Austin may seem quite mild to you.


Right now there is nothing right outside of Belterra, except for the Nutty Brown cafe right on the corner. They have live outdoors music nightly, and good food. There are a number of other restaurants and bar type of places on 290 between Austin and Dripping Springs. Not very fancy, but friendly, and the food has been good at all the ones I have tried. Flores is a new Mexican restaurant on 290 about 5 minutes west of Belterra. There are signs showing a planned small retail complex on 290 outside of Belterra at the corner of Sawyer Ranch, but there has been no progress on it so far.

Based on my own research of Belterra, and knowing people who live there, the strong points are the community itself, various parks, trails, green spaces and the community center and pool. The elementary school is right in the neighborhood and is brand new. I can't give you any detailed information on it other than I have never heard any complaints.

Have you looked at any other neighborhoods besides Belterra. Similar ones are HighPointe and Sawyer Ranch on Sawyer Ranch Road (just the other side of Belterra), and Ledge Stone which is just across 290. HighPointe is very similar to Belterra, Sawyer Ranch has larger lots and is more open, Ledge Stone has smaller houses and lots.

If you go through the threads identified in the previous post, you will read both the pro's and con's of Belterra. The only con identified so far is the so-called 'propane scam". Beterra is on a community propane system so the residents do not have a say in who they buy propane from. Some object to this, others do not. None of the people I know in Belterra have ever mentioned it as a problem.

The city (town) of Dripping Springs is just 10 minutes west of Belterra. There is new retail construction going on and includes a new Home Depot, Walgreen's, McDonalds, a Japanese/Asian restaurant called Koi Lantern, and several other smaller shops. There are plans for an HEB (grocery) to be built, but these seem to be shrouded in mystery right now as to when they will break ground. I also saw a line item about a Best Western being built on 290 near Sunset Canyon. Not sure if that is true or not.

If you want to head towards Austin for shopping or entertainment, there is an HEB at the Y which will take you about 10 minutes in non-rush hour traffic. You are 15 - 20 minutes from The Galleria in Bee Caves, and a big box plaza just across the street that contains Lowe's, Best Buy, and other stores. 15 - 20 minutes the other way will get you to Barton Square Mall. 30 - 35 minutes will get you right downtown to the clubs, restaurants and other things.

We find that living in Dripping Springs (outside of Belterra) gives us the best of all worlds.

• Country Living.
• Good School District
• An involved community
• Easy access to required shopping (Home Depot may be 6 miles from my house, but I get there faster than my old house which was 2 miles because I am not going through city or suburb level traffic)
• Easy commute to work in the SW
• Can be downtown in under 40 minutes any time we want to go. (every 1 - 2 months)

The biggest problem about that area is that you are driving 5 - 10 minutes to get a jug of milk. If they put some small shops near Belterra that will really help the situation.

There are lots of options available all around Austin. Good luck with your selection.

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

From Belterra, take Nutty Brown Road to Camp Ben Mucullough Road to Slaughter Lane & Escarpment Blvd. Check out the area for a great HEB, Natural Planet Grill, Austin Scoops Ice Cream, Mail Store, coffee shop and other shops, banks, etc.

Another great place for groceries or grabbing a bite, but I find it is faster to just head down 290 from Nutty Brown and then turn onto Camp Ben Mucullough (1826). I originally took Nutty Brown and 1826 to get to the Escarpment area, and it seem to take forever. However, 1826 is a much nicer and calmer drive.

Don't forget the report that they are putting in an Alamo Drafthouse there. That will take care of the movies requirement.