Neighborhoods near Zilker park (Austin, Spring: fit in, rent, condos)

[Minier]

Can you name some of the neighborhoods near the park?

What are some of the pluses/ minuses of living near the park (I'm imagining price would be one of them? what else?)

[TexasHorseLady]

Pluses, you're right by the park if you're someone who likes to spend a lot of time there, close to restaurants, close to downtown for work and/or nightlife without being right smack dab in the middle of it. A bit more "old Austin" than some places.

Minuses, cost and traffic. Sometimes loud music from music events at the park (that could be a plus or minus, depending on if it annoys you or you think, "Cool! Free music!").

It also depends on what you mean by "near the park". We lived in (and still have a house in) Barton Hills, just uphill from an entrance to the Greenbelt, and my husband and daughter frequently walked down the greenbelt to Barton Springs Road and Zilker Park from there, or it's a quick bicycle ride away through the neighborhood. Less of the traffic problem (both from drivers and from people parking on your street during special events at the park).

Sort of hard to answer the question without knowing anything about you, because what you consider a plus or a minus could be very different from what someone else does.

[Trainwreck20]

There are fewer 'large' houses in that area, too (any many very small), and not many new houses. Ditto on the could be a plus or could be a minus.

[centralaustinite]

The two neighborhoods are Zilker neighborhood (Zilker Elementary) and Barton Hills (Barton Hills elementary) Both are excellent schools by the way.

There is lots of re-development and new condos in both areas. Can be a plus (bigger, newer homes) but some existing residents see it as a minus. The tiny houses of yesteryear are getting knocked down over there, right and left. Yards tend to be small but the proximity to the parks make up for it. Best schools in south central Austin. Close to restaurants etc. Traffic and noise can be a problem but you can walk down to the ACL fest, etc.

Active neighborhood associations in both areas, reliably democratic in voting. Land values are high and going higher so property taxes can be steep.

Oh, you can also consider Rollingwood as a neighborhood near the park, Eanes schools, larger homes, larger lots, much pricier, not in Austin City Limits.

[TexasHorseLady]

Then there's Bouldin, as well, of course.

Sad about the existing homes being knocked down. I've seen some lovely remodels (and some real monstrosities, as well) in Barton Hills that preserve the character of the neighborhood while allowing for the amenities that some need these days.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

T
Sad about the existing homes being knocked down.

Well in both the Zilker and Bouldin neighborhoods there were some very tiny houses (800 sq feet or so) and some of those didn't have ac or central heat! The kind of rent houses used by scores of UT grad students when tuition was $4 a credit hour (those really were the days). Anyway, it doesn't really make sense to remodel some of those. The newer stuff is a real mix, usually anything designed by an architect tends to fit in whether it is modern architecture or a bigger, faux bungalow. The worst IMO are those houses who plans were torn from a plan book of some generic suburban development. To my eyes, those look tremendously out of place. But variety is the spice of life! Certainly there is not a cookie cutter look to any of the central neighborhoods.

[renlouis]

How are the middle and high schools in the zilker park area?

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by renlouis

How are the middle and high schools in the zilker park area?

Very good! Barton Hills and Zilker Elementary go to O Henry Middle School and Austin High (as do the kids who live in Tarrytown, so these are schools with fairly high family incomes, although a fair amount of diversity as well).

Austin Independent School District : Schools
OHenry Parent Texas Association

Main School Web Site
Austin Independent School District : Schools
Fact page
Austin Independent School District : Schools
Global Studies Academy at Austin High School

And of course, if by "Zilker area" you mean Rollingwood, then the schools are Eanes.

As a die-hard south Austinite, I wish we had bought in the Zilker/Barton Hills area for the schools, as it is, my kids go to private schools.

[renlouis]

thanks so much Central - if we end up with a job offer, we will definitely look at that area first!! It sounds wonderful!