Galindo

An affordable neighborhood in the south central part of Austin, Galindo is a fairly calm, quiet, and safe part of the city. But if you like adult fun, it's a quick trip to South Congress and Lady Bird Lake is also close by if you love your recreation with a dose of water. The area also has a number of condominiums and apartments and is home to many students from the University of Texas. Homes here are ranch and bungalow style for the most part and sell in the range of $250,000 to $350,000. But there are a few older homes that can be had for less if you don't mind spending some money to have them renovated.

The area is served by the Capitol Metro public transportation system making it easy to travel to any part of the city. The Austin Independent School District has schools in the area or you can choose a private school such as Juan Diego Catholic High School. The crime rate is low in this part of the city and is an excellent choice for singles or families looking for a safe place to raise their children.

Not everyone who settles down and has children wants to give up all traces of their former life. Galindo makes a good case for settling down, but not settling down too hard.

Good schools and ample recreational areas, coupled with fairly typical housing prices, make this an excellent destination for young families looking to put down some roots but unwilling to move out to the suburbs. Downtown, SoCo, and South Lamar are a super-quick trip away for continued adult times, but their boisterous environments don’t really seep into Galindo at all. Galindo is quiet, calm, and safe, instead.

Plenty of park space makes it ideal for more outdoorsy types. Older houses in need of repair come onto the market pretty regularly for great prices, and with the right amount of work, they can make amazing investments. Students might also be drawn to the vibrant natural spaces, peaceful atmosphere, and relative safety, especially when taken into consideration with the ease of access to more exciting parts of Austin. Finding solid values here isn’t especially difficult, and in all truth, this is the kind of neighborhood it is easy to settle into and feel at home in, comfortable, moderate, affordable, and charming in its own quiet way.

This unassuming neighborhood located in South Austin provides residents with many of the benefits available to those living south of Lady Bird Lake without attracting a lot of attention. It is close to hip and trendy South Congress Avenue, with its many funky shops and popular eateries, as well as a quick ride to Lady Bird Lake and downtown. But it is far enough away to maintain its old-time roots, more affordably priced housing, and quiet streets.

Galindo is located between W. Oltorf Street to the north and Ben White (Highways 290 and 71) to the south, the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the west and South 1st Street to the east. Homes were generally built in the 1950s and 1960s, mostly in the ranch and bungalow styles so common to Austin. With the continued pressure of growth in the city, and the extreme popularity of the neighborhoods just north of Galindo, change and gentrification are coming to this area of town. One can still find a fixer-upper in the mid-$100s here, with most homes falling in the range of $250 to $300. Because of its state of transition, it is not uncommon to find an older home badly in need of repair next to a beautiful, newly remodeled home occupied by a young Austin tech professional. There are many singles and young couples, as well as young families, many of them Hispanic, living here.

Residents enjoy having the South Austin Park and Recreation Center located in this neighborhood, which provides a playscape, ball fields, tennis courts, and programs for children and adults. Those with dogs take advantage of the open fields to let their pooches get their exercise and social hour. There are many neighborhood favorite hangouts found here, from Torchy’s Tacos to the beloved dive bar, G & S Lounge. With St. Edwards University just a mile away, this is also a great neighborhood for students, who can take advantage of the lower housing costs while still getting to soak up the South Austin way of life.

The average home in Galindo is roughly 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms and two baths. This will run you around $300,000. Yet there are a variety of homes that suit many different tastes, from small little bungalows to two-story Tudors. Dawson Elementary is categorized as exemplary, and Galindo Elementary’s status is recognized. Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School are academically acceptable. For family-style entertainment, this neighborhood has plenty to keep everyone happy. The South Austin Rec Center has ten acres where you can play basketball or tennis or work out in the gym. If their facilities don’t juice your pecs enough, try the Gold’s Gym on the neighborhood’s southern border. Visit Green Pastures Mansion for some good old Southern brunch with a French twist, and afterwards check out the peacocks that wander around the grounds. After the kids are put in bed and the babysitter is settled, adults can head out for a nice night of entertainment that doesn’t involve the headache of downtown. Beautiful Mercury Hall often hosts small musical or fundraising events, and after that you can unwind at the Buenos Aires Café. This restaurant is a refreshing alternative to the usual Austin Tex Mex, and it’s got a great Argentinean wine list.

Galindo is a modest urban neighborhood that is family friendly and within close range to SoCo, South Lamar, and the Greenbelt. The are lacks in local nightlife, restaurants and bars, but the dynamics if this community make up for it in providing adequate public schools and a well kept park and recreation center. Galindo has the advantages of a suburban neighborhood, but is a short bus or car ride the more eclectic and jumping parts of town. Railroad tracks form the western border and along the rails are several warehouse spaces, but they do not overwhelm the landscape, which has been kept moderately green.

The majority of resident spaces are apartments or high rise condos with some patches of single family house throughout the streets with the average rental prices being close to $850. The local population is a mix of different ages and lifestyles ranging from single professionals to students to families with young children. Galindo is nothing to spectacular, but it is also nothing too boring either considering the interesting spots are within easy reach of this neighborhood. Residents have the advantage of being close to Hwy 71, which allows for an easy commute in and out of the city, but it can also become bothersome during rush hour when traffic begins to feed into the neighborhood. Galindo is a wise choice for those who like peace and quiet during the day with the option of walking or viking over to the city's hopping streets.