Writer/Editor/Journalist considering relocation to SA/AH?

[js63]

Hmm.
According to this thread

https://www.city-data.com/forum/san-antonio
/26058-new-highrise-condo-alamo-heights-area.html

they're planning to tear down the Sunset Ridge apartments and put up a condo. Hate to hear that. Usually when I rent an apartment I stay put there for awhile--3-6 years at least.

Does anyone know anything about Mahncke Park as a place to live? I see lots of Craigslist ads for that area.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by hello13685

Hello there, I will think of suggestions, but in the meantime, is it really true that there was an entire stretch of bookstores along Broadway?

Hello...."stretch" is hard to define, but there are some gems on Broadway. Mom and Pop stores. Cheevers is awesome and has some rare used books. Also the Antiquarian. The owner of that store has a private collection of books he purchased when Brocks closed. It's opened by appointment only. It's in a building upstairs behind his shop.It's musty and dusty and hot, but it's great fun to dig! I also love the Half Price books on Broadway because you get an "older" mix of used books and even rare ones with the clientelle that brings books there.

The Twig is interesting and eclectic....but mostly newer books.

[js63]

I've been in the front building at Antiquarian, but not the back one. I used to work at Half-Price Books in Bryan/College Station and one of my co-workers was friends with the people who own Cheever's. But I've not been in there or The Twig either. Although I think a former co-worker of mine at a school and at a children's bookstore in Austin (yes, both of us worked both places) works in the children's department there.

[hello13685]

Awesome, thanks for the bookstore suggestions. Sorry to hijack the topic!!

[googie2525]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Beer and pool preside at the Broadway 50/50 and one of the citys best wine lists calls Niles Wine Bar home.

Nile's has been closed for many years. I WISH it was still around, loved that place. There's a cool newish joint in the Quarry though that is kinda remiscient in atmosphere to Niles - 20 Nine Restaurant & Wine Bar. Nice place.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by googie2525

Nile's has been closed for many years. I WISH it was still around, loved that place. There's a cool newish joint in the Quarry though that is kinda remiscient in atmosphere to Niles - 20 Nine Restaurant & Wine Bar. Nice place.

Thanks googie.....good to hear about this new place. I also miss Niles.

[adiddasdude19]

I actully live at Sunset Ridge and I love it! The staff is great, I know my neighbors which I love during the summer we usally hang out on the pourch and BBQ. They do allow dogs and cats.Wish the apartments were a little bigger but they aren't a bad size. They are thinking about eventully tearing down the apts and building condos but first they have to get them re-zoned. plus they just redid the apts a few years back. They are easily safe for a few years. Oh Yeah and I love the pool! 10ft deep

[fierce_flawless]

Some friends of mine lived in Sunset Ridge and loved it too, but for your budget I'd say go with Mahncke Park instead. I never can spell it right, sorry. I am a spelling-cop too, but I'm too lazy to remember that one for some reason.

Anyway, Mahnke park is close to all the AH stuff and close to downtown as well. There are some pockets that are not quite 'revitalized' yet (M park used to be a pretty rough section of town), but it's overall all on the way up and will be much more affordable than AH. The closer to the park itself, the better, but I would also consider many places down closer to Mulberry, Eleanor, etc.

Much of what you'll find there are homes split into 4plexes... there are some apartment complexes too but not many. I have no idea what they rent for now, but a couple of years ago we found an absolutely charming one bedroom with study in a 4plex over in Mahnke park, gorgeous wood floors, high ceilings, lots of molding, came with appliances too, and it was $600 a month.

You should check Craigslist often, and the Current, as well as the classifieds in the Express News.. most of those won't be found via a locater.

There is another pocket (part of Gov't Hill I think??) past M-Park, but before Grayson. I lived on Grayson for a year (near Sam's Burger Joint but on the opposite side of Broadway) or so and the rent was cheap (but there were lots of prostitutes walkin')... I never had any trouble and liked being so close to everything. I paid $400 for a 2 bedroom, but I had a PSYCHO landlady so it was not worth the bargain in that regard.

Good luck. I wholeheartedly recommend Mahnke park. Also, the other side of the highway gets you over into Tobin Hill which has some charming places too, and is not that far from the Broadway shopping or downtown. Since it's close to San Antonio College there are a lot of students but the rents are reasonable. We lived there for 2 years a couple years ago, and prior to that I lived up the road a bit in Alta Vista. I've always loved all of these areas personally.

[js63]

Dear Fierce,

Yes, I'd much rather have an older apartment with architectural character than one of those just-built brand-new things built of particle board and drywall, with granite counters and a spa. Many parts of SA remind me of what LA used to look like in those old noir movies of the 40s.

I check Craigslist daily, and have a few leads I will pursue if I ever land a job.