Broadway/Hildebrand - High rise living (Pros/Cons) (San Antonio, Austin: condos, house)

[BlacknRedGT]

Was looking at "The Broadway" high rise condos. I have been making a list of Pros/Cons but had some questions:

1) Is it safe to walk around this area during the day/night. Traffic seems like it is pretty bad but I am more worried about what kind of other people are roaming around. Seems like it would be a lot of college students but I am not familiar with the area.

2) How are the following schools:

Elem: Lamar
Middle: Mark Twain
High: Fox Tech

I have always heard horror stories about Fox Tech but it looks like more of a technical high school now? I am wondering what the future would be like if I had kids down the road. Would I need to send them to a private school?

Let me know if you have any pros/cons for this area that I can add to my list as well. Thanks.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by BlacknRedGT

Was looking at "The Broadway" high rise condos. I have been making a list of Pros/Cons but had some questions:

1) Is it safe to walk around this area during the day/night. Traffic seems like it is pretty bad but I am more worried about what kind of other people are roaming around. Seems like it would be a lot of college students but I am not familiar with the area.

Daytime - definitely safe. I park near there and walk all over and have no concerns. I walk in the early evening (just after dusk), biggest worry is crazy drivers. Nighttime I think is fine, but it's not too populated after dark.

[GEM-Texas]

With no offense, for the money that condo would cost, you could be in a very nice house in districts with better schools. I can't see a high rise condo in that neighbor. There is really nothing special. A couple of nice restaurants and a lot of mediocre ones. You could walk to Central Market but is that a draw. If there is another economic crash, condos don't do well and that one is not attractive. The condo on Huebner off I-10 was a flop.

I can see expensive condos in NYC or downtown Austin - but Broadway here?

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by GEM-Texas

With no offense, for the money that condo would cost, you could be in a very nice house in districts with better schools. I can't see a high rise condo in that neighbor. There is really nothing special. A couple of nice restaurants and a lot of mediocre ones. You could walk to Central Market but is that a draw. If there is another economic crash, condos don't do well and that one is not attractive. The condo on Huebner off I-10 was a flop.

I can see expensive condos in NYC or downtown Austin - but Broadway here?

I'd actually agree somewhat - the area itself isn't that exciting, unless you worked near there. But not everyone wants a house in the suburbs and the only way to continue to improve our schools is if families commit to them by moving into these areas.

I'd probably pick a condo downtown or at the Pearl or at St Benedicts if I wanted condo life.

[BlacknRedGT]

Thanks for the update (GEM, Chaka). I do have a nice house in a good school district right now but I also have acreage I have to take care of. My options were to get in a house with little to no landscaping or get into a condo where I do not have to worry about anything. My problem is that I work right outside NE San Antonio so the downtown condos are really not an option. The Broadway condos are about the same distance I am driving now although I am sure the traffic is much worse then my current commute.

I like the idea of condo living where I can just take the elevator to the gym, pool, outdoor grilling area, etc but I agree with the above statements. The Broadway area does not have some of the great reasons to live there as some of the condos in Austin would have. Just trying to weigh all of my options.

[Willsatx]

I remember touring the place before they opened, very nice and pricey. For what you are paying there you would think there would be better schools. Good luck to you.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by BlacknRedGT

Thanks for the update (GEM, Chaka). I do have a nice house in a good school district right now but I also have acreage I have to take care of. My options were to get in a house with little to no landscaping or get into a condo where I do not have to worry about anything. My problem is that I work right outside NE San Antonio so the downtown condos are really not an option. The Broadway condos are about the same distance I am driving now although I am sure the traffic is much worse then my current commute.

Traffic would probably be easier as it's more of a reverse commute, but Broadway itself is never pretty...

The schools are not ideal. Not horrible, but they are SAISD and not the few gems. That said, the families in the area are starting to work at improving the schools, so there is some hope. I think that because there are so many private schools in the area, people have tended to turn towards private, but there is progress, at least with Lamar and Mark Twain. I've heard Fox Tech has changed recently, but don't know much more beyond that.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Traffic would probably be easier as it's more of a reverse commute, but Broadway itself is never pretty...

The schools are not ideal. Not horrible, but they are SAISD and not the few gems. That said, the families in the area are starting to work at improving the schools, so there is some hope. I think that because there are so many private schools in the area, people have tended to turn towards private, but there is progress, at least with Lamar and Mark Twain. I've heard Fox Tech has changed recently, but don't know much more beyond that.

I take Broadway from Austin Hightway to Hildabrand every morning and afternoon and never have a problem. It takes me between 3-5 minutes.

That said this property is in a good location to me. 5-10 miles away you have the DT, Pearl, The Quarry, and all the shopping along Broadway and Sunset Blvd. The issue would be the price.

[austindoxie1972]

I've never toured the property, but I did watch the it develop. The condos seem wonderful, with lots of amenities. I always viewed them as more for people 55+, or those with kids in high school attending private school. I know it's down the road, but when you have kids, you could always try and get into the Alamo Heights school district. I just think it's easier to have a yard with kids, so they can run around, etc.

I'm no fan of SAISD or SASD, whatever the name is now. I'd seriously reconsider sending a child into one of the schools. And, yes, I attended SASA schools, so I speak from experience. I was lucky to go to a great college, where I had to work hard to catch up to my colleagues. I would never do that to my kids. Ugh.

[pr57001]

The building is very nice. Views from higher floors are great. If I didn't want a yard and wasn't worried about the public schools, I'd do it. Location is great between Quarry / Alamo Heights and downtown.