Older neighborhoods/suburbs in SA (Houston, Dallas: real estate, crime, houses)

[MPinSC]

Well, I've posted in the other forums that hubby and I were looking at a possible relocation to Austin or Dallas (with me rooting for Austin), but he has a tentative job offer at a hospital in SA that is VERY generous, salary-wise. (He's a doc.) We'd be foolish not to at least check it out.

I've been surfing here and reading the threads for info, but have a question. We completely despise new subdivisions and "planned communities" full of McMansions. Our preference is for older tree-lined neighborhoods. We especially love mid-century modern architecture, and failing that we love big ol' sprawling 50's ranches with potential for remodel/updating.

I know that there is some of that in the Terrell Hills area in SA, but is there a pretty good selection of older neighborhoods of that sort all around SA?

[210]

King William, Monte Vista, Olmos Park, Shavano Park (my first choice), and Alamo Heights have what you're looking for.

[Steel Man]

From ego.net/sanantonio:

San Antonio Neighborhoods
Downtown-The site of the Riverwalk, the Alamo and the cities oldest permanent neighborhoods.
King William- This historic neighborhood was named after the Prussian Kaiser Wilheim by rich German Merchants who built stately homes here. Tours are available.
Fort Sam Houston-The site of Fort Sam Houston and a middle class neighborhood.
Southtown-Hispanic neighborhood and commercial district. There are many mom and pop as well as upscale shops and restaurants here.
Alamo Heights-The wealthy suburbs of San Antonio. This area, dating from the late 1800's, is home to numerous country clubs and golf courses.
Medical Center-A sterile area of town which has built up around the cities medical community. Mostly commercial housing and business in this area.
Monte Vista-Set on a hill in the northwest part of the city. This neighborhood is home to Trinity University and many nice planned communities.

[210]

Weird description of Southtown. Southtown isn't a "hispanic" neighborhood, it's an arts neighborhood/district. As well as Monte Vista, it's not a on the northwest side, it's in Midtown and is just north of downtown.

That site needs to correct/update their information.

[MPinSC]

Thanks 210 and Steelman. And 210, I didn't mean to be disparaging of SA in my other post. The more I look at it, it looks like a pretty laid back accepting town. I'm taking copious notes - hubby does another long phone interview with the company on Monday, and then we'll decide if we want to pursue this. If so, we'll fly out for a weekend for an in-person interview and to check out SA. :-)

Southtown sounds kind of like a funky edgy mixed neighborhood. Off to google it....

[Sampaguita]

There are many beautiful upscale neighborhoods/communities in San Antonio. I've found SA to be the most charming of the bigger cities in TX (Houston, San Antonio, DFW area, Austin). Based on your "profile" from the other thread, I would think Austin the perfect fit for you & your family...but San Antonio has many great qualities. I am a soon-to-be transplanted Californian who is looking forward to going back to SA with husband in tow.

If you want more of a walking community, I would definitely check into Alamo Heights - there are many shops, restaurants, boutiques along Broadway & N. New Braunfels. It's within 10 minutes of downtown, has a nice mix of mid-century mod homes and craftsman and is definitely NOT a planned community.

A San Antonio realtor named [mod cut] has a website where you can search by area. Alamo Heights is within area 13 (zip - 78209) along with Terrell Hills. Monte Vista & Olmos Park are area 9.

[url]
You definitely need to get a good real estate agent who can steer you in the right direction. There are some areas within the 78209 zip that are rather iffy but by looking on-line, you probably wouldn't know it.

[210]

Also, for walking Monte Vista is a great choice. There's a lot of new retail along Main St. in Monte Vista. Also along San Pedro Ave. in Monte Vista.


Justin's Ice Cream, which used to be on the Riverwalk until their building was sold to Landry's, moved their store to a new store front retail center on Main St. in Monte Vista.

Justin's is world famous for its ice cream, ice cream that former President Bill Clinton had them ship to him from time to time.

It's now called Justin's on Main.

[210]

BTW, here's the link to a Southtown website:

http://www.southtown.net

[MPinSC]

From looking online and articles I've come across, it seems that SA is just beginning to look inward at some of their older neighborhoods and to begin revitalizing them. Many cities go through this cycle - everyone keeps moving out to the newer trendier suburbs, until eventually young couples begin to start eying the older, closer communities and their attractive pricing and location, and a sort of "gentrification" takes place.

That can be bad (and is often bemoaned in other cities), but if handled properly it's amazing how an old neighborhood can swing in the right direction once a few enterprising folks buy some houses and start sprucing up. Of course, one has to be careful, as in the initial stages of the process, there are patches of good and bad in those older areas. If you judge it wrong, you could end up in drug and crime central. A good realtor who KNOWS the city is a must.

Still, I personally love that cycle - the whole idea of revitalizing those charming old neighborhoods that have gone to seed and been abandoned. It seems, just from my cursory surfing, that SA is about 10 years behind some other cities in doing it, which makes for some great housing values if you can catch the curve just right.

Does my assessment seem fairly accurate to those of you who live there?

[urbansa]

Originally Posted by MPinSC

Thanks 210 and Steelman. And 210, I didn't mean to be disparaging of SA in my other post. The more I look at it, it looks like a pretty laid back accepting town. I'm taking copious notes - hubby does another long phone interview with the company on Monday, and then we'll decide if we want to pursue this. If so, we'll fly out for a weekend for an in-person interview and to check out SA. :-)

Southtown sounds kind of like a funky edgy mixed neighborhood. Off to google it....

Southtown (King William/Lavaca) would be a good pick. Lots of great restaurants, popular with docs working BAMC/Wilford Hall and inner hospitals. Much easier to integrate into the heighborhood and make freinds than it would be in some of the other areas (Alamo Heights/Terrell Hills for sure). Also see King William Association - San Antonio, TX - Home