Hey, Austinites!

[juliogotay]

My daughter and fiancee are thinking of a home purchase in Austin. Is the residential market still real strong there are there some bargains like elsewhere? They are looking for your basic starter home, they prefer older neighborhoods, in the $200-250,000 range. I fear that doesn't go far in Austin these days....any suggestions on neighborhoods they may want to consider? She works off of 290 near I-35, he downtown. Thanks, and I'll hang up and listen.

[JimR]

My daughter and fiancee are thinking of a home purchase in Austin. Is the residential market still real strong there are there some bargains like elsewhere? They are looking for your basic starter home, they prefer older neighborhoods, in the $200-250,000 range. I fear that doesn't go far in Austin these days....any suggestions on neighborhoods they may want to consider? She works off of 290 near I-35, he downtown. Thanks, and I'll hang up and listen.

they live here? don't they have access to newspapers and to real estate agents? wouldn't that be a little better info than from a message board?
i gave supply the name of a real estate agent.

[JackAstro]

I love my neighborhood, and it fits right into that price range, but it's on the opposite corner of town from where she works. Probably a deal breaker. MRaup will tell you that Austin doesn't exist south of the river anyway, but he's a divider, not a uniter.

I live in Westcreek, a small neighborhood from around 1980 tucked in between 71/290 and Mopac, around William Cannon. Lots of trees, good schools, easy access to the freeways (without being too close to them), and you can get into a nice 3/2 for around $190-215K. About 12 minutes to downtown with light traffic, about 20 minutes to downtown in rush hour for me. Across William Cannon is Western Oaks (the original, older sections), which is a step nicer, but still in the $200-250K range. Real estate is still strong here, and it seems to be that way throughout most of Austin.

[Taras Bulba]

Areas like Crestview and some parts of the NW Hills area have softened.  I'm not an agent, but I'm guessing it's a real good time to get into those areas if you are so inclined. 

Beware of predatory real estate moguls like JackAstro attempting to unload properties in South Austin infested with organic mulch and free range poultry.

[HudsonHawk]

My daughter and fiancee

That reads a little funny.

They are looking for your basic starter home, they prefer older neighborhoods, in the $200-250,000 range.

I'm still amazed that $250,000 will only get you an older basic starter home.  They should look into Detroit.  $250,000 will get you a GM exec mansion.

An no, I have nothing really to add to the discussion.

[subnuclear]

That reads a little funny.

I'm still amazed that $250,000 will only get you an older basic starter home.  They should look into Detroit.  $250,000 will get you a GM exec mansion.

An no, I have nothing really to add to the discussion.

$250k will get you a 1-bedroom condo in the glorious DC metro. 

[Noe]

I love my neighborhood, and it fits right into that price range, but it's on the opposite corner of town from where she works. Probably a deal breaker. MRaup will tell you that Austin doesn't exist south of the river anyway, but he's a divider, not a uniter.

I live in Westcreek, a small neighborhood from around 1980 tucked in between 71/290 and Mopac, around William Cannon. Lots of trees, good schools, easy access to the freeways (without being too close to them), and you can get into a nice 3/2 for around $190-215K. About 12 minutes to downtown with light traffic, about 20 minutes to downtown in rush hour for me. Across William Cannon is Western Oaks (the original, older sections), which is a step nicer, but still in the $200-250K range. Real estate is still strong here, and it seems to be that way throughout most of Austin.

As you start to go further out, like Williamson County, you will find more and more houses for sell in really nice neighborhoods for bargains.  The downside is you have to deal with driving to work.  The answer?  Don't drive to work, telecommute!  But I digress.  

My neighbor of 8 years put his house up for sell last weekend because the economic times has hit him hard.  He's a self-employed contractor and he can not find enough work to keep him afloat right now.  However, I have other friends who are in the same type of business and made plans to ride out the slow business.  One has three emergency funds and can ride out a year without work if he needs too... but I digress yet again.  Anywho, my neighbor is selling his house for 175 and that's got many a neighbor upset around here.  Houses in our community value at 200K on up.  He didn't care, he just wants to get out of being a home owner right now.

[HudsonHawk]

$250k will get you a 1-bedroom condo in the glorious DC metro. 

I read earlier today where DC is one of the best places to invest in real estate.  Right behind Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York (imagine that, the highest dollar cities).  I think the worst place was Cleveland.

[Noe]

Areas like Crestview and some parts of the NW Hills area have softened.  I'm not an agent, but I'm guessing it's a real good time to get into those areas if you are so inclined. 

Beware of predatory real estate moguls like JackAstro attempting to unload properties in South Austin infested with organic mulch and free range poultry.

And highway systems and general common sense thoroughfares no one down south seems to care to fix or bring up to modern standards.  North and South Austin is night and day in terms of how to "get there from here" type of situations.  Be advised that if you buy down south, you buy extra commute time and lots-o-cursing the dang blasted communities with their dang-fangled wussified care of their communities that they can't put a decent four lane street nowhere... *sigh*

[das]

I read earlier today where DC is one of the best places to invest in real estate.  Right behind Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York (imagine that, the highest dollar cities).  I think the worst place was Cleveland.

If you have cash and can invest, there is a mint to be made here in DC for those with time on their hands.  We're reasonably insulated from recession but home prices have come off 20-30% from their highs a year ago and are still going down.  It's a real buyers market out there.

[Waldo]

My wife and I spent the last five months looking at houses in NW Austin, so I feel somewhat qualified to respond.

It's a little further out from where they work, but they might want to look at the older sections of Milwood (Parmer/Amherst near Mopac).  These houses were built mostly in the 70s and are going for about $100-125/sq.ft. solid.

Areas like Crestview and some parts of the NW Hills area have softened.

My wife's grandmother lives in Crestview; 1300 sq.ft. pier and beam house, no significant improvements... appraised at $226k.  A house across the street just underwent major updates and the owner was asking for $375k (not sure if she got it).  Plus, one problem with Crestview is that you're starting to see old houses torn down in favor of ridiculous looking McMansions.

The Travis CAD web site can be helpful too.  http://www.traviscad.org

[HudsonHawk]

If you have cash and can invest, there is a mint to be made here in DC for those with time on their hands.  We're reasonably insulated from recession but home prices have come off 20-30% from their highs a year ago and are still going down.  It's a real buyers market out there.

I read the opposite was true, which was why it's a good place to invest.  I read where prices have not and will not go down, only up, which is why it's buy, buy, buy.  Of course the guy who wrote this piece could be full of shit.

[Noe]

My wife and I spent the last five months looking at houses in NW Austin, so I feel somewhat qualified to respond.

It's a little further out from where they work, but they might want to look at the older sections of Milwood (Parmer/Amherst near Mopac).  These houses were built mostly in the 70s and are going for about $100-125/sq.ft. solid.

A lot of folks who I work with live in that area.  They love it there!

[S.P. Rodriguez]

I moved to Pflugerville a little over 3 years ago.  While I can't speak for Austin, I can second Noe's response about housing costs north of Austin.  I keep an eye on housing costs in the area north of Austin, just as a habit, and 250k will buy you a very comfortable home, 4/2.5 maybe 4/3 with square footage upwards of 2500sqft.  And assuming your daughter or fiancee don't have an objection to toll roads, my commute time is minimal now that they are available. 

I like Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Pflugerville.  However, of those areas, my impression is Pflugerville is taking a bit more of a hit economically speaking.  I believe it qualifies as a "bedroom community" where somewhere close to 90% of the residents commute out of Pflugerville to work.  The implication being that without any major business related tax revenue, our primary tax driver is sales tax and that's taken a big hit due to the economic down turn.  To offset this revenue loss, the city officials have decided that to counter moderate property value decreases they will increase property tax rates (according to community newspaper).   

There are plans in place to counter that, with large amounts of commercial/retail development in progress now along with efforts to recruit further commercial/industrial development.  But I've read that the impact is 1 to 2 yrs away, at best.  To add further context, I believe RR and PVille have extremely high property tax rates, with a house in the 190k range having an annual tax value of $5500.  That said, I've been pleased with the school system and the community as a whole.   

And to add to Jim's offer, I can also forward my agent's name if you're interested.  He covers the entire Austin area, including RR and PVille. 

[HudsonHawk]

To add further context, I believe RR and PVille have extremely high property tax rates, with a house in the 190k range having an annual tax value of $5500. 

That doesn't seem all that high to me.  My house, here in suburban Houston, valued at $145,000 has about $5,500 in property taxes, about $3,000 of which is the school district.  Aside from that, my subdivision has the lowest PUD tax in the county and of course I don't pay city taxes.  Of course, I hear a lot of complaining about taxes all over Texas.  A friend of mine, who moved from California bitches about it all the time, saying he paid about $1,800/year on his $1.2 million house in California, but nearly $7,000/year on his $600,000 house in Sugarland.

[BizidyDizidy]

That doesn't seem all that high to me.  My house, here in suburban Houston, valued at $145,000 has about $5,500 in property taxes, about $3,000 of which is the school district.  Aside from that, my subdivision has the lowest PUD tax in the county and of course I don't pay city taxes.  Of course, I hear a lot of complaining about taxes all over Texas.  A friend of mine, who moved from California bitches about it all the time, saying he paid about $1,800/year on his $1.2 million house in California, but nearly $7,000/year on his $600,000 house in Sugarland.

Did you tell him that it beats paying 9% state income tax?

[HudsonHawk]

Did you tell him that it beats paying 9% state income tax?

He doesn't think that way.  Since he never actually *saw* the state income tax, he doesn't bitch about it.  His view is he never lost something he never had in the first place.  But the property tax...he has to write a check with money he's already put in the bank, so he bitches about it.  He also doesn't think about the difference between his 1,800 sf, 3 bedroom house in California that cost $1.2 million and his 4,800 sf, 6 bedroom with a $100,000 pool in Houston that cost $600,000.  He only says "yeah, the house costs less, but I'm getting killed in property taxes". 

[S.P. Rodriguez]

That doesn't seem all that high to me.  My house, here in suburban Houston, valued at $145,000 has about $5,500 in property taxes, about $3,000 of which is the school district.  Aside from that, my subdivision has the lowest PUD tax in the county and of course I don't pay city taxes.  Of course, I hear a lot of complaining about taxes all over Texas.  A friend of mine, who moved from California bitches about it all the time, saying he paid about $1,800/year on his $1.2 million house in California, but nearly $7,000/year on his $600,000 house in Sugarland.

I believe Houston is also among the highest property tax rates.  But isn't that heavily influenced by which school district you fall in?  Regarding the split you listed on the total tax bill, that's about the same here.  I'm not griping, personally, but some folks seem to object.  As long as I see productive results with the taxes I pay, I'm content.  We have good schools with new schools opening each year, w/ top of the line facilities and a focus on keeping the classroom headcount under 20 students, and smaller in the elementary grades.  The schools have some room to improve testing/accreditation wise but having spoken to the teachers and principal at the nearby school, I think they are doing the best they can in a rapidly growing community. 

Now that I think of it, my biggest complaint about PVille is I have yet to find a really good liquor store, like Spec's, in the area.  There are several local places, and one even turned me on to Tito's Vodka (good stuff, not that I'm an expert).  But I can't find a six pack of Shiner 98, when I get a craving, so I settle on XX Lager or Negra Modelo.  Those aren't bad but they are definitely poor substitutes when you are looking for 98.

[JimR]

I believe Houston is also among the highest property tax rates.  But isn't that heavily influenced by which school district you fall in?  Regarding the split you listed on the total tax bill, that's about the same here.  I'm not griping, personally, but some folks seem to object.  As long as I see productive results with the taxes I pay, I'm content.  We have good schools with new schools opening each year, w/ top of the line facilities and a focus on keeping the classroom headcount under 20 students, and smaller in the elementary grades.  The schools have some room to improve testing/accreditation wise but having spoken to the teachers and principal at the nearby school, I think they are doing the best they can in a rapidly growing community. 

Now that I think of it, my biggest complaint about PVille is I have yet to find a really good liquor store, like Spec's, in the area.  There are several local places, and one even turned me on to Tito's Vodka (good stuff, not that I'm an expert).  But I can't find a six pack of Shiner 98, when I get a craving, so I settle on XX Lager or Negra Modelo.  Those aren't bad but they are definitely poor substitutes when you are looking for 98.

Arbor Walk ain't far away for Spec's.

[HudsonHawk]

I believe Houston is also among the highest property tax rates.  But isn't that heavily influenced by which school district you fall in? 

Sure.  Since school districts are independent, the tax rate can vary grealy from one block to another.

Now that I think of it, my biggest complaint about PVille is I have yet to find a really good liquor store, like Spec's, in the area.  There are several local places, and one even turned me on to Tito's Vodka (good stuff, not that I'm an expert).  But I can't find a six pack of Shiner 98, when I get a craving, so I settle on XX Lager or Negra Modelo.  Those aren't bad but they are definitely poor substitutes when you are looking for 98.

You'll just have to plan better.  When you "go to town" every other Saturday, just make sure you stop off at the Spec's. 

[JackAstro]

Beware of predatory real estate moguls like JackAstro attempting to unload properties in South Austin infested with organic mulch and free range poultry.

My mulch is a synthetic compound of petroleum byproduct blended with lead and the ground-up good intentions of hippies, thankyouverymuch. And I have a long-standing policy against residing in any neighborhood in which I have seen or heard evidence that a chicken lives nearby. (This is actually true, and one of the things that makes me one of God's unique and special snowflakes.) I am predatory, though - that part is accurate.

And highway systems and general common sense thoroughfares no one down south seems to care to fix or bring up to modern standards.  North and South Austin is night and day in terms of how to "get there from here" type of situations.  Be advised that if you buy down south, you buy extra commute time and lots-o-cursing the dang blasted communities with their dang-fangled wussified care of their communities that they can't put a decent four lane street nowhere... *sigh*

Where are you going from/to? That sounds awful. I've lived all over town, and I've never seen that dramatic of a difference between commuting in the north and south sides. Just curious.

[Ty in Tampa]

My neighbor across the alley to the south has a chicken. One of the more exclusive neighborhoods in Tampa, Davis Islands, has at least 2 homeowners with chickens.

[JimR]

My mulch is a synthetic compound of petroleum byproduct blended with lead and the ground-up good intentions of hippies, thankyouverymuch. And I have a long-standing policy against residing in any neighborhood in which I have seen or heard evidence that a chicken lives nearby. (This is actually true, and one of the things that makes me one of God's unique and special snowflakes.) I am predatory, though - that part is accurate.

Where are you going from/to? That sounds awful. I've lived all over town, and I've never seen that dramatic of a difference between commuting in the north and south sides. Just curious.

depends on what time you "commute." IH 35 and Mopac are completely stopped headed south of the river from about 3 pm on.

[Noe]

Where are you going from/to? That sounds awful. I've lived all over town, and I've never seen that dramatic of a difference between commuting in the north and south sides. Just curious.

Just the idea that you are on a major highway system that turns into a two lane street to connect to another major highway is the silliest thing I've ever seen in my life.  The fact that if you get stuck in that mess, just to connect to a highway from another highway, and wait a good half hour sometimes is beyond silly... it's downright utter stupidity.  Has anyone ever thought "This is stupid!" and done something about it down south?

[JaneDoe]

My neighbor across the alley to the south has a chicken. One of the more exclusive neighborhoods in Tampa, Davis Islands, has at least 2 homeowners with chickens.

Hey, there is nothing like fresh eggs for breakfast---YUM!!

[Waldo]

depends on what time you "commute." IH 35 and Mopac are completely stopped headed south of the river from about 3 pm on.

To be fair, northbound Mopac at Camp Mabry blows.

[JackAstro]

My neighbor across the alley to the south has a chicken. One of the more exclusive neighborhoods in Tampa, Davis Islands, has at least 2 homeowners with chickens.

Move immediately, but not to Davis Islands. You're just going to have to trust me on this.

[JimR]

To be fair, northbound Mopac at Camp Mabry blows.

i go home (NW Hills) from downtown anywhere from 5-6:30 every day. it is crowded, sure, but it moves. if you try to go south, it does not move until you get out to around Barton Creek Mall or SW Parkway. i lived way south during the Bad Times before my divorce, and i hated it primarily because of trying to get home after work.

[austro]

To be fair, northbound Mopac at Camp Mabry blows.

Actually, by Mabry it's thinning out. Well, "thin" may not be the best word choice there, but it's a hell of a lot better than the stretch from Bee Caves to Enfield. And it doesn't seem to matter whether I leave the office at 4:00 or 6:30.

[BudGirl]

I can honestly say I hated Austin traffic more than I do Houston.

[JackAstro]

Just the idea that you are on a major highway system that turns into a two lane street to connect to another major highway is the silliest thing I've ever seen in my life.  The fact that if you get stuck in that mess, just to connect to a highway from another highway, and wait a good half hour sometimes is beyond silly... it's downright utter stupidity.  Has anyone ever thought "This is stupid!" and done something about it down south?

Possibly? Not sure where that is exactly. Certainly, it varies wildly by route, whether you're going north or south. I cover about 12 miles in 20 minutes at rush hour, going from downtown to Wm. Cannon & Mopac, by way of I-35 and Ben White. That doesn't bother me at all, but any trip across the lower half of downtown at rush hour makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs.

[JackAstro]

i go home (NW Hills) from downtown anywhere from 5-6:30 every day. it is crowded, sure, but it moves. if you try to go south, it does not move until you get out to around Barton Creek Mall or SW Parkway. i lived way south during the Bad Times before my divorce, and i hated it primarily because of trying to get home after work.

Man, that stretch from the river down to 360 on Mopac during rush hour has to be one of the circles of hell. I did that for a few years, and it was miserable. The scenery is nice and all, but holy fucking shit...

[Ty in Tampa]

Move immediately, but not to Davis Islands. You're just going to have to trust me on this.

I'll check with my realtor to see if he's done any chicken sweeps lately.

[austro]

Possibly? Not sure where that is exactly. Certainly, it varies wildly by route, whether you're going north or south. I cover about 12 miles in 20 minutes at rush hour, going from downtown to Wm. Cannon & Mopac, by way of I-35 and Ben White. That doesn't bother me at all, but any trip across the lower half of downtown at rush hour makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs.

Just guessing, but I suspect that Noe's talking about the stretch of 290 between Mopac and the Y. It's completely ridiculous.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Traffic is the one issue I don't have.  Thanks to the toll roads, my commute from PVille to Mopac and Braker takes 15 minutes, 20 minutes in traffic.  You folks living out on the west side of Austin have some pretty ugly traffic, in general.  But on the flip side, look at where you are living.  I'd love to move out there.    

And in comparison, I had the same distance of commute when I lived in Dallas and it would take me 45minutes to an hour, and absolutely no scenery but D/FW Airport to ease the bumper to bumper blues.

[JackAstro]

Just guessing, but I suspect that Noe's talking about the stretch of 290 between Mopac and the Y. It's completely ridiculous.

Oh, yeah. That would fit the bill. Those poor sons of bitches have been stuck in the loop over road planning and tolls for so long, I eventually just stopped paying attention. It sure looks gorgeous with all that right-of-way cleared out for the big-ass road that isn't there. I briefly feel bad every day when I exit immediately before that mess. Briefly.

[JimR]

Traffic is the one issue I don't have.  Thanks to the toll roads, my commute from PVille to Mopac and Braker takes 15 minutes, 20 minutes in traffic.  You folks living out on the west side of Austin have some pretty ugly traffic, in general.  But on the flip side, look at where you are living.  I'd love to move out there.    

And in comparison, I had the same distance of commute when I lived in Dallas and it would take me 45minutes to an hour, and absolutely no scenery but D/FW Airport to ease the bumper to bumper blues.

commute? you should be walking to work.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

commute? you should be walking to work.

Walking 12 miles to work is too time consuming but biking has crossed my mind.  The problem arises when you get off the Toll Road.  The traffic can be fairly dangerous for someone on a bike, or a motorcycle for that matter.  A friend of mine tried crossing 35 by car and biking from there but that didn't last long.  I should follow up on that. 

[ValpoCory]

At least we in North/West Austin will have a way to get on I-35 southbound south of downtown.  We have been waiting for the flyovers ever since they started the stack. 

That will cut a good 5 minutes off the trip to San Antonio.

[JimR]

Walking 12 miles to work is too time consuming but biking has crossed my mind.  The problem arises when you get off the Toll Road.  The traffic can be fairly dangerous for someone on a bike, or a motorcycle for that matter.  A friend of mine tried crossing 35 by car and biking from there but that didn't last long.  I should follow up on that. 

JOKE!

i'll wave my hand next time.

[Waldo]

Thanks to the toll roads, my commute from PVille to Mopac and Braker takes 15 minutes, 20 minutes in traffic.

The first six months of the Mopac toll being open did wonders for my commute home, and I didn't even have to take the toll.  I get on at 35th and get off at Parmer, and the toll road upstream alleviated much of the bottleneck that occurred right after Duval.  Saved me 10 minutes.  Then, after six months, it seemed like traffic everywhere got worse at the same time, and now Mopac going home seems worse than it was before the tolls.

I've actually found that the lights on Burnet are so well timed that it's faster than Mopac in the afternoon.

[strosrays]

My neighbor across the alley to the south has a chicken. One of the more exclusive neighborhoods in Tampa, Davis Islands, has at least 2 homeowners with chickens.

My younger brother lives about 5 blocks from me, on the toniest, most exclusive street in town (I realize this is relatively speaking - the folks in River Oaks, for instance, which his street is the rough Beaumont equivalent of, would likely sneer.)  Huge old mansions of every archetectural style, and a lot of the new "McMansions" Waldo speaks of.  My brother's house is modest for its surroundings, but large and very nice.  Meantime, the guy who bought the house next door, an attorney in a local firm who got a piece of this huge settlement with Toshiba in a class action suit a few years back, knocked down the existing house and had something built that looks like a cross between the Clampett's place in Beverly Hills, and Tony Montana's pad.  Huge, three stories, and ugly as shit.

So around then my brother decided it was time to become a chicken farmer.  He built an elaborate coop and pen complex in his backyard and had a couple dozen chickens shipped in by Fed Ex.  Before long, he had a full-blown laying operation going, he even formed a company with his kids and started selling eggs to some local independent cafes and such.  The neighbors were freaking out, but there was nothing legally they could do about it.  His kids loved it, and he got into it so much that now he has this huge pen that rolls around his backyard, so the chickens graze instead of eating feed and are essenially free range.  He moves the pen over every few days so they don't wear out the grass.  It is just funny to me to drive down his street and see these huge elaborate homes with impeccable lawns and no one out in the yard, and then pull into my brother's and see him out spreading a bag of rice hulls.

And, as someone mentioned, the eggs are great.

[JimR]

My younger brother lives about 5 blocks from me, on the toniest, most exclusive street in town (I realize this is relatively speaking - the folks in River Oaks, for instance, which his street is the rough Beaumont equivalent of, would likely sneer.)  Huge old mansions of every archetectural style, and a lot of the new "McMansions" Waldo speaks of.  My brother's house is modest for its surroundings, but large and very nice.  Meantime, the guy who bought the house next door, an attorney in a local firm who got a piece of this huge settlement with Toshiba in a class action suit a few years back, knocked down the existing house and had something built that looks like a cross between the Clampett's place in Beverly Hills, and Tony Montana's pad.  Huge, three stories, and ugly as shit.

So around then my brother decided it was time to become a chicken farmer.  He built an elaborate coop and pen complex in his backyard and had a couple dozen chickens shipped in by Fed Ex.  Before long, he had a full-blown laying operation going, he even formed a company with his kids and started selling eggs to some local independent cafes and such.  The neighbors were freaking out, but there was nothing legally they could do about it.  His kids loved it, and he got into it so much that now he has this huge pen that rolls around his backyard, so the chickens graze instead of eating feed and are essenially free range.  He moves the pen over every few days so they don't wear out the grass.  It is just funny to me to drive down his street and see these huge elaborate homes with impeccable lawns and no one out in the yard, and then pull into my brother's and see him out spreading a bag of rice hulls.

And, as someone mentioned, the eggs are great.

reminds me of a story Gordon Lakey told me about his neighborhood in Katy. some Middle Eastern types moved into a big house in a cul de sac and started operating a mosque out of the house. the neighbors were upset on several different levels, but the mosque operators ignored them and ignored the neighborhood association. finally, one of the neighbors started holding pig races in the cul de sac every weekend. it became a very big deal to attend these races, and it drove the Middle Eastern types absolutely crazy. eventually, the mosque ceased operations, but i do not know the status of the pig races.

[TheWizard]

I live right off I-35 in Austin, but I avoid it at peak times like the plague because you're better off having your grandmother push you in a shopping cart on the sidewalk, it'll be faster.  The on ramps, exit ramps, lanes.. everything is just not built to handle that type of traffic.

Anyone else ever heard the urban legend that an engineer of I-35 committed suicide because of how crappy it turned out?  I don't believe that, because despite the fact I know jack shit about building roads, I don't think there is one engineer who builds a highway.. just always found it funny.

[Hornstros]

Anyone else ever heard the urban legend that an engineer of I-35 committed suicide because of how crappy it turned out? 

Nah, that guy went on to design roadways in Ogdenville and North Haverbrook

[JackAstro]

Nah, that guy went on to design roadways in Ogdenville and North Haverbrook

Monorail! Actually, I think the project was overseen by Ed Bluestein. Anyone know where you can read about Ed? The wiki, it fails us.

[strosrays]

reminds me of a story Gordon Lakey told me about his neighborhood in Katy. some Middle Eastern types moved into a big house in a cul de sac and started operating a mosque out of the house. the neighbors were upset on several different levels, but the mosque operators ignored them and ignored the neighborhood association. finally, one of the neighbors started holding pig races in the cul de sac every weekend. it became a very big deal to attend these races, and it drove the Middle Eastern types absolutely crazy. eventually, the mosque ceased operations, but i do not know the status of the pig races.

When my next door neighbor moved in, 6-7 years ago (from Vidor), the first thing he did was fertilize his entire yard with pig shit.  Like, a whole low-boy full.  For anyone who does not know, that stuff can be pretty pungent, especially if the prevailing winds are incoming.

My wife was coming unglued, she wanted me to go over there and maim him.  But I had noticed him walking around the yard and spreading the manure with a big garden rake in one hand, and a bottle of Moose Head in the other.  Hmmm.  "Honey, let's not be so hasty to judge.  I'll go over and talk to him."  So I did, and he offered me a brew, and we sat on his back deck and destroyed most of a 12-pack that afternoon.  By then, we'd long resolved the pig shit dilemma.  Hell, we probably could have ironed out the Mideast crisis at that point.  Later on I came staggering home and my spouse was pissed off at me for a week.  But she got over it, and my neighbor and I have been famous friends ever since.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

JOKE!

i'll wave my hand next time.

Sorry, I can be slow on the up-take.  But you can bet when gas at $4/gal I was seriously considering the notion...

[austro]

At least we in North/West Austin will have a way to get on I-35 southbound south of downtown.  We have been waiting for the flyovers ever since they started the stack. 

Another Austin traffic riddle I've never unraveled. The I-35/Ben White intersection was already pretty goofy 30 years ago. Then the airport decision gets made, and THEN the traffic guys go "shit, this may mean a lot more traffic coming through here". So they finally get going, but they only build half of the flyovers.

I'm sure there are logical reasons for all of this, but it sure looks goofy from the outside.

[Noe]

Another Austin traffic riddle I've never unraveled. The I-35/Ben White intersection was already pretty goofy 30 years ago. Then the airport decision gets made, and THEN the traffic guys go "shit, this may mean a lot more traffic coming through here". So they finally get going, but they only build half of the flyovers.

I'm sure there are logical reasons for all of this, but it sure looks goofy from the outside.

Don't get me started on that atrocity.  Why, however, is all of this happening in South Austin?  That's my question, if it's screwed up thoroughfare, it's South Austin!  Somebody did this on purpose, set up some cameras somewhere at all the major connections and every night logs in and watches with devilish glee at all the misery he/she has inflicted on South Austinite.

The joke is on him/her though, South Austinites don't seem to care about it, they've accepted it as "normal".

[MRaup]

Don't get me started on that atrocity.  Why, however, is all of this happening in South Austin?  That's my question, if it's screwed up thoroughfare, it's South Austin!  Somebody did this on purpose, set up some cameras somewhere at all the major connections and every night logs in and watches with devilish glee at all the misery he/she has inflicted on South Austinite.

The joke is on him/her though, South Austinites don't seem to care about it, they've accepted it as "normal".

As JackAstro has proven time and again, South Austin's idea of normal is anything but.


Goddamn hippies! >shakes fist<

[Noe]

As JackAstro has proven time and again, South Austin's idea of normal is anything but.


Goddamn hippies! >shakes fist<

They must all be stoned out of their gord to accept the atrocity they call "how to get around this area" using the streets and highways down there.  Major highways becoming two lane streets, incomplete flyovers, connections between major thoroughfares just not there.... *sheesh*!

[MRaup]

They must all be stoned out of their gord to accept the atrocity they call "how to get around this area" using the streets and highways down there.  Major highways becoming two lane streets, incomplete flyovers, connections between major thoroughfares just not there, JackAstro.... *sheesh*!

FIFY.

[JackAstro]

They must all be stoned out of their gord to accept the atrocity they call "how to get around this area" using the streets and highways down there.  Major highways becoming two lane streets, incomplete flyovers, connections between major thoroughfares just not there.... *sheesh*!

Good Lord, you've got quite the anti-South Austin bent. Do you actually drive down here much? I do... it's pretty easy.

[juliogotay]

Another Austin traffic riddle I've never unraveled. The I-35/Ben White intersection was already pretty goofy 30 years ago. Then the airport decision gets made, and THEN the traffic guys go "shit, this may mean a lot more traffic coming through here". So they finally get going, but they only build half of the flyovers.

I'm sure there are logical reasons for all of this, but it sure looks goofy from the outside.

Exactly. Is Ben White still a work-in-progress? I swear it was torn up in the 70's when I was at UT. As was 183.

[Noe]

Good Lord, you've got quite the anti-South Austin bent. Do you actually drive down here much? I do... it's pretty easy.

I try to avoid it.  But I don't have an anti-South Austin bent.  I just don't understand how good people in the south burghs don't rise up and get some people to listen to them and get the major thoroughfares up to this centuries standards.  Horse and buggy layouts are no longer in vogue and certainly should not be acceptable.  My city council person would certainly hear some serious complains from me if I lived down there and that is what I don't understand.  How can you just accept the bad layout down there?

[JackAstro]

I try to avoid it.  But I don't have an anti-South Austin bent.  I just don't understand how good people in the south burghs don't rise up and get some people to listen to them and get the major thoroughfares up to this centuries standards.  Horse and buggy layouts are no longer in vogue and certainly should not be acceptable.  My city council person would certainly hear some serious complains from me if I lived down there and that is what I don't understand.  How can you just accept the bad layout down there?

Sorry, I just don't know what you mean. Like I said, I've lived all over town, and I don't see the significant difference. It's just a river running through town, it's not the border between two countries with different infrastructures.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I live south, near Oltorf and I-35, I work near Braker and I-35. Takes me 15 minutes to get to work and about 25 to 40 minutes to get home. Same route.

The flyover issue Noe speaks of is also a north Austin problem. Try to take the flyover from either westbound or eastbound 183 to northbound I-35. Oh? You can't, because they didn't finish building it there either. So screw you blind elitist north-siders.

[Wild Dog]

  My city council person would certainly hear some serious complains from me if I lived down there and that is what I don't understand.  How can you just accept the bad layout down there?

Though it has been years and the times, attitude and outlook change, the city council is to blame for the majority of traffic issues and clusterfucks in this city.  In the '70's there was no foresight into the growth that Austin would experience.  Some of that is understandable, no one knew the computer industry would boom here like it did, but the city council voted down every proposal for an east-west throughway in the north as well as the south.  We don't need it they said, we have Ben White and 183.  By the time they got around to addressing that problem it was after-the-fact.  Austin highways just were not built to handle the traffic we have today, in any direction.

[JimR]

I live south, near Oltorf and I-35, I work near Braker and I-35. Takes me 15 minutes to get to work and about 25 to 40 minutes to get home. Same route.

The flyover issue Noe speaks of is also a north Austin problem. Try to take the flyover from either westbound or eastbound 183 to northbound I-35. Oh? You can't, because they didn't finish building it there either. So screw you blind elitist north-siders.

go fuck yourself, Johnnie Reb. you must be taking the bus because your car is on blocks in your front yard.

[Noe]

Austin highways just were not built to handle the traffic we have today, in any direction.

Progress has happened in the north, the South... eh... not so much.

[Noe]

I live south, near Oltorf and I-35, I work near Braker and I-35. Takes me 15 minutes to get to work and about 25 to 40 minutes to get home. Same route.

The flyover issue Noe speaks of is also a north Austin problem. Try to take the flyover from either westbound or eastbound 183 to northbound I-35. Oh? You can't, because they didn't finish building it there either. So screw you blind elitist north-siders.

There is a might bit of difference in having incomplete flyovers to having flyovers that are not even planned to be completed, no one cares and the idea is to force commuters into two lane streets to connect from one major highway to another.  That's just sick.  In the north, if the flyover isn't complete, we at least have the decency to provide a four lane street for your use while we fix the damn problem!

I mean really, does anyone in the South care enough to complain?  Just. One. Iota!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

go fuck yourself, Johnnie Reb. you must be taking the bus because your car is on blocks in your front yard.

Yeah?!?!? Well... well, at least anyway, I know how to drive, mow, cook, and, dress myself, I don't have to count on a staff of cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, and gardeners, like you elitist high-brow snobs. Go eat some caviar and listen to some Chopin or whatever it is you people do.

[Noe]

Yeah?!?!? Well... well, at least anyway, I know how to drive, mow, cook, and, dress myself, I don't have to count on a staff of cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, and gardeners, like you elitist high-brow snobs. Go eat some caviar and listen to some Chopin or whatever it is you people do.

Bubble baths.  You left off bubble baths.

[Taras Bulba]

Bubble baths.  You left off bubble baths.

Also, Filipino houseboys.

[JimR]

Yeah?!?!? Well... well, at least anyway, I know how to drive, mow, cook, and, dress myself, I don't have to count on a staff of cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, and gardeners, like you elitist high-brow snobs. Go eat some caviar and listen to some Chopin or whatever it is you people do.

what we do is pay S. Austinites to mow our lawns.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I mean really, does anyone in the South care enough to complain?  Just. One. Iota!

Complain about what, brah?

[Noe]

Complain about what, brah?

Eggszactly!

[MRaup]

what we do is pay S. Austinites to mow our lawns.

Speaking of which... JA, the lawn is getting a bit shaggy. Stop by this weekend and give it a trim please. Now where did I put the monocle polish?

[Duke]

what we do is pay S. Austinites to mow our lawns.

Classic.

Remember the uproar over the fancy columns on the HW183 elevated vs. the plain old colums on Ben White?  We need a good NA vs. SA feud.

[BudGirl]

Can't you all just get along?

[JimR]

Can't you all just get along?

no

[JackAstro]

Speaking of which... JA, the lawn is getting a bit shaggy. Stop by this weekend and give it a trim please. Now where did I put the monocle polish?

I would, but I can't find my way out of this backwater hell-hole. I'll get up there as soon as I'm able to generate sufficient outrage over my plight, and city council replaces the one-lane dirt road I've been using with one of those new-fangled "highways" Noe's talking about.

Wait... you have a lawn?

[BudGirl]

no

you should be an uniter not a divider.

[Ty in Tampa]

you should be an uniter not a divider.

Jim's the decider.

[JackAstro]

I mean really, does anyone in the South care enough to complain?  Just. One. Iota!

Why should we? You're doing a fine job on our behalf...

[Noe]

Why should we? You're doing a fine job on our behalf...

I'm sure you can hear the complaints when I have to trek through that side of town... loud and clear.

[MRaup]

Wait... you have a lawn?

Hey hippie... See the grass? Don't smoke it!

[JimR]

Why should we? You're doing a fine job on our behalf...

i lived in deep S. Austin for three long and dismal years. glad to get back home.

[JackAstro]

I'm sure you can hear the complaints when I have to trek through that side of town... loud and clear.

I'll keep it in mind next time I'm heading south on 35 and need to go west on 183. I mean, I have to exit the freeway! And go through some stop lights!!! ON A SURFACE ROAD!!! WHY HASN'T THE INDEPENDENT  NATION-STATE OF NORTH AUSTIN DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?!?!? I'd just cut across on 290, but there's this weird series of intersections by the mall, then all of a sudden it's this congested little road, then it's a bigger congested road, then it's a curvy congested neighborhood street... really, it's enough to make me question the sanity and pragmatism of the populous.

[JackAstro]

Hey hippie...

You take that back. Right now.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Remember the uproar over the fancy columns on the HW183 elevated vs. the plain old colums on Ben White? 

Another fine example how N. Austin gets all the pork. At least S. Austin gets cool bumper stickers.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'll keep it in mind next time I'm heading south on 35 and need to go west on 183. I mean, I have to exit the freeway! And go through some stop lights!!! ON A SURFACE ROAD!!! WHY HASN'T THE INDEPENDENT  NATION-STATE OF NORTH AUSTIN DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?!?!? I'd just cut across on 290, but there's this weird series of intersections by the mall, then all of a sudden it's this congested little road, then it's a bigger congested road, then it's a curvy congested neighborhood street... really, it's enough to make me question the sanity and pragmatism of the populous.

Yeah, but there it is okay, in their case they consider it part of being a good egalitarian, a nod to the proletariate, if you will.

[MRaup]

You take that back. Right now.

Once you move back to the non pinko side of the river, I'll address you as a human being again.

[Ron Brand]

I love this board.  For a few minutes every day I can count on laughing and forgetting about The Void.

[Noe]

I'll keep it in mind next time I'm heading south on 35 and need to go west on 183. I mean, I have to exit the freeway! And go through some stop lights!!! ON A SURFACE ROAD!!! WHY HASN'T THE INDEPENDENT  NATION-STATE OF NORTH AUSTIN DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?!?!? I'd just cut across on 290, but there's this weird series of intersections by the mall, then all of a sudden it's this congested little road, then it's a bigger congested road, then it's a curvy congested neighborhood street... really, it's enough to make me question the sanity and pragmatism of the populous.

See that post... that post *RIGHT THERE*!  Now you're getting the hang of it.  For a minute there I was afraid you Southies were all Amish or sumpthin.

[Duke]

i lived in deep S. Austin for three long and dismal years. glad to get back home.

It's like my dad always told me when I was in high school.  I'd be leaving the house with some friends at night and he would tell us " keep your butts North of the river. Nothing good ever happens on the other side".

[JimR]

Yeah, but there it is okay, in their case they consider it part of being a good egalitarian, a nod to the proletariate, if you will.

you did not learn those words at Travis HS. you must be a missionary from N Austin...or a spy.

[MusicMan]

you did not learn those words at Travis HS. you must be a missionary from N Austin...or a spy.

Missionary is used only in N Austin.  S Austin is more of a kama sutra place.

[Waldo]

S Austin is more of a kama sutra place.

With only dudes.

[JimR]

With only dudes.

one-tooth dudes

[Ron Brand]

More tats than teefes.

[JimR]

More tats than teefes.

nominated

[astrojo]

More tats than teefes.

nominated

seconded

[chuck]

More tats than teefes.

I was driving around down there one day and saw a woman hanging her left arm out the window of her beat-up Toyota truck. She had 78704 tattooed on her arm. I am not making this up.

[Astroholic]

I was driving around down there one day and saw a woman hanging her left arm out the window of her beat-up Toyota truck. She had 78704 tattooed on her arm. I am not making this up.

Speaking of Austin, what the hell is going on there today?  Must be on the S. Side.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6098264.html

[ValpoCory]

Speaking of Austin, what the hell is going on there today?  Must be on the S. Side.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6098264.html

Rough morning for sure.  It's been on the news all day. 

It was on the East side.  It's amazing that property values drop 20% or more going from west of I-35 to the east side.  Literally 400 yards ... the same house ... $40,000 cheaper.  All the way up into Pflugerville. 

[Lurch]

Rough morning for sure.  It's been on the news all day. 

It was on the East side.  It's amazing that property values drop 20% or more going from west of I-35 to the east side.  Literally 400 yards ... the same house ... $40,000 cheaper.  All the way up into Pflugerville. 

Oh, dont even get us started on the East Austinites

[JimR]

Reagan HS is a little east of IH35,  but it is not the "east side."

[matadorph]

It was on the East side.  It's amazing that property values drop 20% or more going from west of I-35 to the east side.  Literally 400 yards ... the same house ... $40,000 cheaper.  All the way up into Pflugerville. 

Not where I live. Housing prices are just as stout here in Cherrywood/French Place as they are in Hyde Park.

[JimR]

Not where I live. Housing prices are just as stout here in Cherrywood/French Place as they are in Hyde Park.

that also is not East Austin.

[matadorph]

Of course it isn't. It's no more east than it is north. I live smack dab in the middle of Austin, yet my friends who live in the 78704 (and proudly let you know about it) say I live in North Austin and my friends who live west of Lamar think I live in East Austin. Nttawt.

[JimR]

Of course it isn't. It's no more east than it is north. I live smack dab in the middle of Austin, yet my friends who live in the 78704 (and proudly let you know about it) say I live in North Austin and my friends who live west of Lamar think I live in East Austin. Nttawt.

a friend/associate attorney of ours lives on FP and ran for office as the "East Austin" candidate. i told him that billing showed that he had just moved to town.

[matadorph]

Brian Thompson?

[JimR]

Yup

[strosrays]

Goddamn hippies! >shakes fist<

Peace, love, and dope, man.

[JimR]

Peace, love, and dope, man.

are you calling my son a dope?

[MRaup]

are you calling my son a dope?

Well, I definitely don't support peace or love. That's for sure.

[Waldo]

Reagan HS is a little east of IH35,  but it is not the "east side."

But it is definitely the ghetto.

[JimR]

But it is definitely the ghetto.

perhaps to you. there may be reasons i do not think so.

[Waldo]

perhaps to you. there may be reasons i do not think so.

I went to LBJ.  They are both pretty ghetto.  Although there are worse parts of town.

[JimR]

I went to LBJ.  They are both pretty ghetto.  Although there are worse parts of town.

disagree--there are some ghetto people in NE Austin, certainly, but lots of hard-working upwardly mobile good citizens and folks who have lived there for decades too.

agree

[VirtualBob]

I lived way south during the Bad Times before my divorce, and i hated it primarily because of trying to get home after work.

Ya know ... the way that reads it sounds more like a plus.  ??

[JimR]

Ya know ... the way that reads it sounds more like a plus.  ??

guess i missed that. nothing was a plus about those three years.