Why so many homes for sale in Travis Heights?

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by FueledByBlueBell

I'm noticing a lot of pretty nice, newly renovated homes for sale in Travis Heights. They are also sitting on the market for quite some time. Anyone know why? Is this related to the crime in the area?

the longer they wait, the lower the price they will get for the houses.

Austin is going down. matter of time.

[centralaustinite]

AISD doesn't "bring in " students to Travis Heights elementary, there are three large publicly subsidized apartment complexes that are within the THE attendance zone -- and they have been for decades. Travis Oaks for example was built in the early 1960s. The attendance zone is much larger than what people think of as "Travis Heights". Although you are right, there are many older couples and singles whose kids finished school long ago. There has been a longstanding pattern where couples moved to Travis Heights, had a kid, then had a second baby, and then moved when the first kid reached age 5 for a newer home with closets (hello Circle C) and better schools.

77% percent of the student body at THE is considered "economically disadvantaged" and even more troubling is that THE has a highly mobile student body, so high turnover from year to year. So the kid that teachers worked with all year moves out (and is tested somewhere else) and a brand-new student appear in its place.

THE is now "recognized" as is nearby Dawson elementary which is 91% "economically disadvantaged." I have volunteered at THE and it is a good school with great teachers and an effective principal. There is a growing group of upper-middle class families who are staying in Travis Heights and who are working incredibly hard at improving the school.

But it will never be a suburban school with all the students drawn from the same narrow economic band.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by blf53

The main reason they are sitting for a long time is that they are far overpriced (up to over $1 mil). Many are priced in the $600K - $900k range, which considering the difficulty to obtain financing, makes them out of reach. They will sit on the market for a very long time.

Owners need to remember this is Austin, Texas, NOT the San Francisco Bay Area. Jobs are limited here even in a good economy.

There are some reasonable one's priced below $500k, you just have to look for them.

Travis Heights is a great neighborhood although it is changing. Whether that is for the better or the worse depends on your perspective. Crime is not the issue. It is a low crime area and the police department maintains a quick response in the area if there are any issues. People just have to let them know when there is a problem. It still maintains it's quaint and friendly roots, although as more "yuppie-types" move in the feel is less friendly.

As far as schools, the problem has been that as the population has aged, there are fewer children from the neighborhood attending the schools there. As a result, and for what ever reason, the AISD has been bringing in kids from lower income neighborhoods and overcrowding schools that were built in the 1930's for kids in the neighborhood. This drives the quality down. A real effort needs to be made to force the AISD to improve the schools there by creating a better racial and socio-economic balance while remembering that these schools were built for students in that neighborhood, not from everywhere else. On that note, I will say that there has been some real improvement with the changes in some of the school principles and staffing. I know for a fact that Lisa Robertson, the principle at Travis Heights Elementary School, has done a tremendous job of improving that school over the last few years.

Marilyn Butcher transformed Travis Heights Elementary in the late 90s. She instituted multi-age classrooms, quality health services and instructional practices that would address the needs of of all, including children who had to overcome significant barriers, such as homelessness. She laid the groundwork for a nationally-recognized program.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by capcat

Marilyn Butcher transformed Travis Heights Elementary in the late 90s. She instituted multi-age classrooms, quality health services and instructional practices that would address the needs of of all, including children who had to overcome significant barriers, such as homelessness. She laid the groundwork for a nationally-recognized program.

And THEN?

The multi-aged classrooms were a highly disputed issue, many wealthier "neighborhood" parents hated the idea and the slow drip of involved parents transferring their kids or moving gained speed. Forgione ended the multi-aged classroom within a year of his arrival, and there was a series of interim principals. AISD does not seem to have endorsed her approach.

The school has been through a lot and I think that it is definitely on the upswing but reputations lag and it will take years for most buyers and real estate agents to get the message that the school has improved.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

And THEN?

The multi-aged classrooms were a highly disputed issue, many wealthier "neighborhood" parents hated the idea and the slow drip of involved parents transferring their kids or moving gained speed. Forgione ended the multi-aged classroom within a year of his arrival, and there was a series of interim principals. AISD does not seem to have endorsed her approach.

The school has been through a lot and I think that it is definitely on the upswing but reputations lag and it will take years for most buyers and real estate agents to get the message that the school has improved.

I wasn't involved in this as parent or through AISD, it was through observation for a University of Texas graduate class in alternative models of service delivery. I don't know what the wealthier parents thought of it.