Austin DUers: How is the Swede Hill neighborhood?

[rainbow4321]

My college age daughter has moved into a rent house in that part of Austin and I was just wanting to get the opinion of locals about the area. Relatively safe area? Any local news about the area (good or bad)?

Thanks in advance

[Lithos]

1. It's the area just east of UT

It includes the Frank Erwin and up through about 21st Street. Very close to UT.

The area used to be fairly rough but the area residents are working on it. It is undergoing a bit of gentrification and has a mix of original residents, college kids and people who work downtown. I would say it is generally safe if one takes the usual precautions. The biggest problem, IMHO, is that it is on 35 which means that it is easily accessible from the highway.

There is a neighborhood association:

http://centraleastaustin.org/home

[sonias]

2. Swede Hill is changing

This neighborhood is in East Austin but very close to downtown and it's undergoing a lot of gentrification. You have very expensive homes being built but you still have a mix of older homes. There are a lot of historic points of interest in the surrounding neighborhoods. Some of it is listed in the National Register of Historic Districts. Here is the Swede Hill history from the Handbook of Texas Online.

Here is an example of those very expensive homes taking over. Swede Hill Row with prices ranging from $580,000 to $760,000. Ouch!

A lot of new businesses are being established - restaurants, retail etc. Since the neighborhood is in flux, crime might be a little higher than some parts of the city. I would advise your daughter to keep cars and home locked. I would recommend this for any part of the city though. She should get to know her neighbors, even if they rent too. Your best protection in any neighborhood is having your neighbors watch out for each other.

It's not a bad idea for your daughter to keep up with the local neighborhood association. This page has a listing for them
www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/hsneighb.htm

I'm assuming she'll be attending UT, and if that's the case she'll be very close to the University area.

Sonia