Alamo Heights or Terrell Hills? (San Antonio, Olmos Park: house, neighborhoods, new construction)

[professorsenator]

My wife and I are considering a move to San Antonio. We've done quite a bit of research and have narrowed our neighborhood choice down to Alamo Heights (AH) or Terrell Hills (TH).

Much has been written back and forth in this forum about these communities, but I'd like to have a better understanding of these places vis-a-vis one another.

My wife and I are professionals with advanced degrees. We are well-traveled and earn c.$300K per year. We are socially liberal (pro-gay marriage, for exammple), but not tree-hugger/metrosexual/cutting-edge folks. Indeed, we are definitely NOT trendy, and are not very in tune with TV, pop culture, etc. Nor are we especially religious.

We are seeking an established community of successful, welcoming people. We prefer understatement and sophistication to loud flash. We want a large, well-constructed, comfortable home in a safe, established, well-to-do area. Yes, we want to be in an upscale area (on this point I will confess to being a bit of a snob)

Using some commonly known symbols, we want a community that is...
...more old New England than Beverly Hills
...more Brooks Brothers than Prada
...more Upper East Side than SoHo
...more Patek Philippe than Rolex

We want to avoid flashy, gaudy wealth. We don't want "I have more diamonds than you" neighbors. We don't want McMansions in a brand new development. We also do not want to raise our children surrounded by racists, nor, frankly, are we fond of the Texas-superiority complex that sneers at other parts of the nation.

I anticipate spending $500K-$700K on a house, and dropping another $100K into renovations/updating, etc.

So where's the best place for me? AH or TH?

[pr57001]

As far as the people in either city, I think you will find the attitudes to be similar. I live next to both cities and for all intents and purposes consider it all one area. The architecture of the neighborhoods varies a bit, which you can easily see by driving the streets. At the risk of being flamed, I would say the homes in Alamo Heights TEND to appear more modest, on average.

[ciJay]

Prof. Sounds like you just described Stone Oak. I consider AH and TH to be one in the same, also check out Olmos Park, they all seem to be your type of area. All are in the AH school district, IMO best in town & diverse, no racism in the area that I've seen.

[Insomniac]

In order:

1. Terrell Hills
2. Alamo Heights
3. Shavano Park
4. King William
5. Monte Vista

[Eleanor Rigby]

AH, TH and Olmos Park are very similar in demographics and housing stock, with some variation. Olmos Park is very manicured with large front lawns and winding streets (it was a planned development started in the 30s). Alamo Heights is much less homogenous, with a range of housing stock built over a wide range of time, but tending towards 40s-60s with new constructions mixed in. It tends to be more naturalistic than Olmos Park. Terrell Hills is even more diverse - it's the sort of neighborhood where you find huge mansions next to small ranches, which some people like and some people find annoying.

Really, in the tri-cities, it's more about finding a street and a house you like than deciding in between AH and TH. They are more alike than not.

[martinez4]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

...more Patek Philippe than Rolex

That leaves me out.....Rolex wearer

[smuboy86]

Alamo Heights is older. You will find cottages and 20's bungalows in AH. Terrell Hills (and olmos park) you will find more mansions. AH has more tear-down than Terrell Hills, although the ones in TH don't look as out of place as the ones in AH. I think you will find Texans in the major metro areas surprisingly open minded, although there is going to be Texan pride among natives, and that is nothing to be ashamed about.

[ShaneSA]

I'd go for Terrill Hills, King William or Olmos Park for what you describe. If the choice is between the AH or TH choice, go for Terrill Hills.

[imaterry78259]

For my money , Olmos Park is the best of the lot

[infinity & beyond]

I agree, Olmos Park is the best looking, with Terrell Hills a close second - I personally don't care much for Alamo Heights.

I think with you being relatively "old school" in values, mindset, and lifestyle preferences, San Antonio, and specifically the Tri-Cities areas are exactly what you're looking for. San Antonio is an old fashioned city, set in it's ways, and not particularly progressive or cosmopolitan.

While I agree that the Alamo Heights area is not flashy, it most certainly is very pretentious. There's an air of inflated self-importance among many who live there, and that, to me atleast, is it a definite turn off. Regarding the issue of racism, I do not think the area is particularly racist, however, don't expect your kids to be exposed to many differing ethnicities.

But I think you'd prefer TH or OP.