Air quality concerns and finding a nice town near E. Sonterra Blvd. (San Antonio: appointed, low crime)

[benandgrace]

I'm trying to find a good price on a house near where I would be working, 607 E. Sonterra Blvd, San Antonio. I'm also looking for low crime, very good schools, and the usual family based criteria. I'm caucasion, my wife is Filippino, and our daughter is a mix of the two. Since Filippinos and asians in general aren't found often in TX, I'd like to find a public school for my daughter that is primarily white, but a small percentage of other races would be fine too. A few towns that caught my attention are Grey Forest, Hollywood Park, Hill country Village, and Bolverde. Any opinions on these places? Also, I'm concerned about the air quality of each of those places. AIRNow - Home has those places as ok but another site (I'm not allowed to mention it on this site) has those towns at 5 out 100 for air quality. I'm hoping someone can help clear things up for me.

[firstclassflyer]

What's the difference what the color of the other children's skin is? Most of us here see people for who they are...not their color. That being said, I don't know why you would be getting conflicting reports on air quality. Reminds me of something that someone posted last week. There was supposedly an article that listed SA as the worst city in the nation for allergies. Then,I just saw yesterday that we weren't even in the top 20. Go figure.

[AnthonySA]

Originally Posted by benandgrace

I'm trying to find a good price on a house near where I would be working, 607 E. Sonterra Blvd, San Antonio. I'm also looking for low crime, very good schools, and the usual family based criteria. I'm caucasion, my wife is Filippino, and our daughter is a mix of the two. Since Filippinos and asians in general aren't found often in TX, I'd like to find a public school for my daughter that is primarily white, but a small percentage of other races would be fine too. A few towns that caught my attention are Grey Forest, Hollywood Park, Hill country Village, and Bolverde. Any opinions on these places? Also, I'm concerned about the air quality of each of those places. AIRNow - Home has those places as ok but another site (I'm not allowed to mention it on this site) has those towns at 5 out 100 for air quality. I'm hoping someone can help clear things up for me.

San Antonio is a "melting pot" rather than a "tossed salad" with respect to races. That is, we're more of a blend of cultures than being another Epcot Center -- so whereever you choose, race will not be an issue. Each of the areas you've mentioned all have great schools with a high quality of education.

The air quality in our area is not the best, but it is also not the worst. There are days scattered in the summer where the particulates reach unhealthful levels and those who naturally have trouble breathing have to spend extra time indoors, but we're rated "Good" the rest of the year. Out of the areas mentioned above, I believe the air quality is generally the same.

[benandgrace]

FirstClassflyer, I'm not exactly sure how things are in SA in comparison to central IL (where I would like to move from). Here, I can't help but notice that racial and cultural boundaries exist, largely because a couple of the non-caucasion races want it that way, for the most part. Of course there are exceptions around here, individuals who mingle with anyone, but it's not the norm. On a side note, I'm curious, in SA is english generally the most common language spoken socially among children and teens?


Hey, is there any way you could PM me those lists of worst cities for allergies?

[benandgrace]

Originally Posted by AnthonySA

San Antonio is a "melting pot" rather than a "tossed salad" with respect to races. That is, we're more of a blend of cultures than being another Epcot Center -- so whereever you choose, race will not be an issue. Each of the areas you've mentioned all have great schools with a high quality of education.

The air quality in our area is not the best, but it is also not the worst. There are days scattered in the summer where the particulates reach unhealthful levels and those who naturally have trouble breathing have to spend extra time indoors, but we're rated "Good" the rest of the year. Out of the areas mentioned above, I believe the air quality is generally the same.

It's good to hear that SA is more of a melting pot. I suppose I've lived a bit of a sheltered life but I haven't experienced a melting pot of a city thus far. I think it's a good idea and I would like to experience it.

Well, so would I be right in guessing that long term effects from summer air in those small towns near northern SA aren't likely? If only a sellect few have only temporary problems (during summers) then the air in that area would work for me. So would blown dust be the majority of the particulates in that area? Or would it be industrial factories (or something else)? Thanks!

[AnthonySA]

Originally Posted by benandgrace

It's good to hear that SA is more of a melting pot. I suppose I've lived a bit of a sheltered life but I haven't experienced a melting pot of a city thus far. I think it's a good idea and I would like to experience it.

Yes, it's definitely worth getting used to.

(That reminds me... when you get here, many people have made the mistake of trying to make SA the same as the place they came from. This does not work and you'll end up being depressed/dissappointed -- you may have seen several threads that illustrate this. Your transition will be much easier if you embrace the differences and are willing to acquire a different lifestyle.)

Well, so would I be right in guessing that long term effects from summer air in those small towns near northern SA aren't likely? If only a sellect few have only temporary problems (during summers) then the air in that area would work for me. So would blown dust be the majority of the particulates in that area? Or would it be industrial factories (or something else)? Thanks!

We have some industry here, but the majority of the industry in Texas is along the Gulf Coast. Most of our pollution comes from automobile traffic.. it only gets bad when it's hot, humid, and theres no wind for the air to circulate -- thus making the polluted air more concentrated. Unfortunately, I cannot say that locally the air is more unhealthy in one area than another -- I'm pretty sure its a fairly uniform problem here.

Originally Posted by benandgrace

FirstClassflyer, I'm not exactly sure how things are in SA in comparison to central IL (where I would like to move from). Here, I can't help but notice that racial and cultural boundaries exist, largely because a couple of the non-caucasion races want it that way, for the most part. Of course there are exceptions around here, individuals who mingle with anyone, but it's not the norm. On a side note, I'm curious, in SA is english generally the most common language spoken socially among children and teens?


Hey, is there any way you could PM me those lists of worst cities for allergies?

English is indeed the primary language of San Antonio... but you will also hear your fair share of Spanish too. We do have a high hispanic population and we have plenty of tourists coming from Mexico.

[benandgrace]

Anthony, thanks a lot for all the help! Have a good rest of the weekend.

[AnthonySA]

Don't mention it! I wish the best for y'all on your move

[rd2007]

Might want to do more research on the allergy thing, because the allergy sufferers I know seriously suffer. One person gets so bad he has to take time off from work and I would say he spends at least half of his vacation time taking time off because he can't function at work.
As far as the air quality, look at the coal burning power plants around here.. might want to also read this Map Exposes Carbon Dioxide Hotspots In The U.S. | Tom's Hardware
As far as the race thing, most people don't like that mentioned around here. There are issues, but most people seem to pretend they don't exist..

[firstclassflyer]

Check out this thread regarding allergies:


http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...ng-here-2.html



Sorry I was a little harsh with you...but my family and I try to see people for who they are and not their skin color. If you do the same once you get here, you'll be fine. There are a lot of folks from Hispanic descent here. I'm not sure of what the percentage is (40%?). Just to clarify, my wife is Mexican (from Guadalajara) and that would make my son... well (half Mexican and half Gringo ) He will speak both English and Spanish.