Personal (South) Austin neighborhood advice needed (Houston: fit in, apartment complexes, lease)

[writeonedown]

So I have read and reread the posts about which South Austin neighborhoods various people should choose, but I still need to personalize the situation for myself I think to get a clear picture.

I am 33, single mother of a 5 year old daughter. my tattoos are easily hidden for work, and my nose is pierced.
I guess I am a grown-up, slightly jaded bohemian type. I don't need a lot of clothes shopping around, and I think new developments are eye-sores. I prefer turn-of-the-century (and older) to mid-century-modern architecture to live in and be around. Since music preference says a lot about someone, I love reggae, blues, jazz, hiphop, bluegrass, punk including hardcore, post-punk (or indie, i think it's called now), house, metal, jungle, old country/rockabilly, and dub-step.

Originally from Ohio, I lived in Uptown Minneapolis for 5 years, if anyone is familiar, which I loved... excepting the weather and a few smaller things.

Without living in a college area, I would like to find a neighborhood:
-that is walkable. (or at least kind of walkable... record/music shop, coffee shop, market/co-op, yoga studio, book store, art galleries, smaller live music venues/bars, parks, a few restaurants, etc...)
-safe (I know how to be safe myself, and I know any neighborhood can have its problems, but you know..)
-near a good school starting at kindergarten (an independent montessori preferably)
-natural greenery within 15-20 minute drive
-with neighbors that earn some sort of income
-that is diverse in almost every way. where I am not surrounded only by young married couples, young families, and yuppies (i would like some families around, but also singles and single parents, older/retired people, a bit of everything... except i don't need a lot of conservative types around)

I will be renting. duplex, smaller apartment building, small house. a private outdoor space would be wonderful too.
2-3 bedrooms. $1100 is my max. If I could have all of this for $900, that would be a lot better. I am not set on South Austin so any areas that you think I should check out, please let me know

Any help is greatly appreciated... especially from those around my age with similar interests and concerns
Thanks!!

[writeonedown]

and based on what i just read in
Is Austin a Good Place for Young Black Professionals? (Houston: crime, job market)[LEFT]
Read more: [URL]//www.city-data.com/forum/austin/772591-austin-good-place-young-black-professionals.html#ixzz1DGATU1r1[/URL]

Maybe I should mention that I consider myself black and that my daughter is multi-racial. ??? sad.
For those that said Austin is not a good place for black professional, should meet more different types of people and try to refrain from advising me in this matter. Not all black people with a job are the same.
[/LEFT]

[Jennibc]

This is tough because with all of the characteristics you are looking for, you probably won't find it at your price range. "Walkability" is rare commodity in Austin and as such is priced accordingly.

There are very few buildings that are turn of the century here as well.

For the school, are you looking for a public montessori, because if so, I am not sure one exists here.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by writeonedown

So I have read and reread the posts about which South Austin neighborhoods various people should choose, but I still need to personalize the situation for myself I think to get a clear picture.

I am 33, single mother of a 5 year old daughter. my tattoos are easily hidden for work, and my nose is pierced.
I guess I am a grown-up, slightly jaded bohemian type. I don't need a lot of clothes shopping around, and I think new developments are eye-sores. I prefer turn-of-the-century (and older) to mid-century-modern architecture to live in and be around. Since music preference says a lot about someone, I love reggae, blues, jazz, hiphop, bluegrass, punk including hardcore, post-punk (or indie, i think it's called now), house, metal, jungle, old country/rockabilly, and dub-step.

Originally from Ohio, I lived in Uptown Minneapolis for 5 years, if anyone is familiar, which I loved... excepting the weather and a few smaller things.

Without living in a college area, I would like to find a neighborhood:
-that is walkable. (or at least kind of walkable... record/music shop, coffee shop, market/co-op, yoga studio, book store, art galleries, smaller live music venues/bars, parks, a few restaurants, etc...)
-safe (I know how to be safe myself, and I know any neighborhood can have its problems, but you know..)
-near a good school starting at kindergarten (an independent montessori preferably)
-natural greenery within 15-20 minute drive
-with neighbors that earn some sort of income
-that is diverse in almost every way. where I am not surrounded only by young married couples, young families, and yuppies (i would like some families around, but also singles and single parents, older/retired people, a bit of everything... except i don't need a lot of conservative types around)

I will be renting. duplex, smaller apartment building, small house. a private outdoor space would be wonderful too.
2-3 bedrooms. $1100 is my max. If I could have all of this for $900, that would be a lot better. I am not set on South Austin so any areas that you think I should check out, please let me know

Any help is greatly appreciated... especially from those around my age with similar interests and concerns
Thanks!!

I think it is going to be hard for you to find all of your criteria. Seems to me that if you have a 5 year old you would want to live around children. Why so discriminating against couples with children? I understand you want variety and I think you can find that. But, your post just seems kind of strange saying you don't want to be surrounded by certain types of people only. You should look in East Austin if that is your price range. Central Austin is full of families and a lot of them are couples. I'm sure they are friendly and wouldn't look down on you because you are a single Mom.

[writeonedown]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

This is tough because with all of the characteristics you are looking for, you probably won't find it at your price range. "Walkability" is rare commodity in Austin and as such is priced accordingly.

There are very few buildings that are turn of the century here as well.

For the school, are you looking for a public montessori, because if so, I am not sure one exists here.

thanks!! hmmm... what area and price range would i need to get as close as possible to this?

the school doesn't have to be public. independent or private is my preference. i have found a few online, but without a neighborhood narrowed down, i can't research the educational options fully.
i guess i don't "need" walkable per se, but i like the sense of community walkable towns bring.

[Jennibc]

The areas that I know of where you would have comparative "walkability" in the south of downtown area (just south of the river) on South first, South congress, and South Lamar. There are lots of comparatively walkable neighborhoods in the areas surrounding the University too. There are other neighborhoods that other can chime in on. I've only been back the last two years so I am not as knowledgeable as others on this board.

[TexasHorseLady]

I was actually looking at lease prices in the Barton Skyway/South Lamar area a couple of days ago, and I think you might be able to find something there in your price range, and you'd certainly fit in (would have for the past couple of decades, in fact).

There's also a couple of duplexes currently available in Crestview, which is north, but would also be a good fit, that are in your price range.

Either one of those would meet your criteria for the most part.

[writeonedown]

Originally Posted by llkltk

I think it is going to be hard for you to find all of your criteria. Seems to me that if you have a 5 year old you would want to live around children. Why so discriminating against couples with children? I understand you want variety and I think you can find that. But, your post just seems kind of strange saying you don't want to be surrounded by certain types of people only. You should look in East Austin if that is your price range. Central Austin is full of families and a lot of them are couples. I'm sure they are friendly and wouldn't look down on you because you are a single Mom.

is this site for local area advice or for judging others on their preferences?

please note that i said i don't ONLY want to be around couples and young families. and i believe i said i want to surrounded by many different types of people... this includes married couples, unwed couples, those with kids, etc... my only discriminating note was that i don't want to be fully surrounded by conservative people. to each his/her own, right?

of course i want my daughter to be around other kids and people in general... ideally from varied backgrounds and lifestyles. i don't see how it would do either of us any good to be surrounded only by 2 income households.
it would be nice to have some other working single mothers around... not a difficult or "strange" request i don't think.

at our previous residence, we lived in a 6 unit building with a same-sex couple with a baby, a hetero couple with dogs, an interracial couple, a slightly militant vet, and two recent college grads (east indian & black).

my daughter is used to being around many different types of children of varied nationalities, economic ranges, and spiritualities. she has started learning mandarin chinese. she will also meet other children through school, dance class, and other activities. they don't have to live next door... a few in the same neighborhood would be sufficient.

maybe this takes some of the strange out of my initial post. i am going to continue to be fully honest about my preferences though.

i can give up on the turn of the century building... i thought it was a long shot anyway.

i have noticed plenty of places within my price range in south austin on various websites... most of them being larger apartment complexes. but some were duplexes. ??

i ruled out East Austin at the beginning of my search... seems to be "block-by-block" around there. a bit run down. heard it's beginning to be gentrified. if there are nice areas that i am not aware of, please let me know.

thanks and additional input would be very helpful.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by llkltk

I think it is going to be hard for you to find all of your criteria. Seems to me that if you have a 5 year old you would want to live around children. Why so discriminating against couples with children? I understand you want variety and I think you can find that. But, your post just seems kind of strange saying you don't want to be surrounded by certain types of people only. You should look in East Austin if that is your price range. Central Austin is full of families and a lot of them are couples. I'm sure they are friendly and wouldn't look down on you because you are a single Mom.

How on earth did you get this from the OP's list of criteria? She said she wanted to be around a wide range of people, not just all the same, and you turn this into a charge of discrimination against couples with children?

Really, how did you get this?

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

How on earth did you get this from the OP's list of criteria? She said she wanted to be around a wide range of people, not just all the same, and you turn this into a charge of discrimination against couples with children?

Really, how did you get this?

From what she said about not wanting to be around all couples. I mentioned in my post that I understood that she wanted variety and thought she could find that. Perhaps you should read my post more throughly before responding. "I don't need a lot of conservative types around", she doesn't want to be around all couple families. I mean, what if she found all of her criteria but there were all couple families in the neighborhood, egads, could she not survive.