Sunset Valley (Austin, West: sales, apartments, crime)

[kaliforniachick]

My sister is looking to relocate to Sunset Valley... the information is minimal on this town... can I get some opinions on it? It looks clean, quaint and safe from what I have read but some good, down to earth, honest opinions would be very helpful.

She is relocating for a job so that is not so much of a concern... but how are the housing prices, schools, weather?

Thank you to anyone who could help!

[achtungpv]

Sunset Valley is a separate city from Austin in name and sales tax rate (hence all the shopping centers) only. It's landlocked by Austin, is part of Austin ISD, and I'd bet that 80% of Austinites don't even know Sunset Valley exists. It really is just part of Austin. I dunno what part of it would be considered quaint since all it is is a couple of arterial streets, a highway, shopping centers, chain restaurants, and apartments.

[Trainwreck20]

Sunset VAlley straddles Brodie lane in south Austin, between Hwy 290 and Wm Cannon. Don't know the exact boundaries, because, as achtungpv points out, it is completely engulfed by the city of Austin.

There are some large tracts of propery with older houses on them that are probably selling for some huge value. There was a working ranch/farm there that for many years held out against the commercial offers, but just recently decided to sell off at least part of their land.

While some of these properties could be very nice in of themselves, the traffic on Brodie is horrendous and getting worse. There may be some back ways in or out, but I don't know of any.

[austin-steve]

The residential streets east of Brodie and south of Jones Rd. are mostly older homes on larger 1+ acre lots. There are also some newer homes being built behind the Brodie shopping center close to Brodie and 290 and there is another section south of the shopping areas and east of Brodie that is about 5 years old and resembles a regular subdivision, and another even older section south of that.

You pay no city property taxes in Sunset Valley because the city collects so much in sales tax. Also, if you shop there, the sales tax rate is about a penny lower.

There is a small community dump and recycle center free to residents. Sunset Valley has its own police department.

Geographically, I don't know of a closer in location with 1+ acre homesites. It's really a hidden gem of a neighborhood.

[austin-steve]

There may be some back ways in or out, but I don't know of any.

You come in from Westgate/Jones Rd. just past the Central Market shopping center. You can also come in from behind the Brodie shopping center on that road. You can also get to Jones Rd. from the 290 frontage rd. when heading east, via a connecting rd. near the AISD bus barns.

[McJ]

They have a Farmers Market every Saturday in the school parking lot that is cool. It's not the largest FM I've ever been to but it's still nice to have. sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org

[tashina]

I live in SW Austin (Oak Hill) and I think of Sunset Valley as "downtown" for my local shopping. It's where most people in SW Austin go to shop at the big box stores like Linen's N Things, Barnes and Noble, Michael's, Petco, and tons more. I think of it as the opposite of quaint. There are very few locally owned small stores and lots of mega national chains in big strip malls set back from the street with acres of parking in front.

I did know it was a separate city, but like others have said, that's just on paper. When you drive around Sunset Valley, there is no demarcation between Sunset Valley and South/SW Austin. I'm sure there are some houses back in there somewhere as others have said, but ask people about Sunset Valley and 8 out of 10 will just know it as Big Box Central for S/SW Austin

[austin-steve]

I think of it as the opposite of quaint.

I agree, with regard to the commercial stuff along Brodie.

The old homes back there south of Jones Rd. are very quaint, however, as the neighborhood has an extremely laid back country feel.

It is somewhat of a contrast, the commercial section of Sunset Valley vs. the tucked away homes. They did keep the old barn there on Brodie though. I'm not sure how it's being worked into the new commercial section.

[kaliforniachick]

How is crime in S.W. Austin - Sunset Valley? I noticed a small police dept.

[jread]

Sunset Valley is a fully incorporated and separate city from Austin, though it is landlocked. Many communities do this when they want to have their own rules/tax base (West Lake), but still benefit (leach) off the population base of the larger city near them. I won't shop in Sunset Valley just out of principle.

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

There was a working ranch/farm there that for many years held out against the commercial offers, but just recently decided to sell off at least part of their land.

That's the Weaver Farm. It was sold off as both the owners recently passed away (the husband a few years ago and the wife just a year or so ago). I was so proud of them for hanging in there as there is no telling what they've been offered for their land over the years. It is very sad to see the place bulldozed for more big-box retail.