Johnston Terrace

This is a pretty utilitarian neighborhood. There is still a fair amount of manufacturing that goes on here, so the industrial look is real. There are plenty of auto repair shops, landscapers, masons and contractors based here. Airport Rd isn’t pretty, but you can find cheap tacquerias, convenient fast food, and a Goodwill along this corridor.

For what it’s worth, this low-income, high-crime rate neighborhood does have a 26-acre green space called Govalle Park. The park is equipped with basketball and volleyball courts, a baseball field and a multipurpose field, a swimming pool, and plenty of picnic facilities and barbecue pits.

Located east practically right at the edge of town, there is a pocket of neighborhood that is situated inconveniently between major industry and highway traffic. Johnston Terrace isn't just run down, it's also poorly located. Prices are kept low, but there is almost no benefit to be found from living in this spot.

Traffic on highway 183 can back up pretty significantly, and trying to make it anywhere on east 7th or Airport can be problematic at rush hour. The neighborhood isn't conveniently located next to much, and what can be found there is in pretty rough shape. The only thing that It really has going for it is the lower cost of living that you can expect to find.

In all truth, for this price range you would do better to find a part of town that, even if it offers little itself, will at least be adjacent to things you might need. Living this far out you may as well try some of the closer suburbs. It’s still possible to get downtown from here without too much fuss, but you would really do well to just find another neighborhood. All and in all there isn't a lot of reason to want to live here if you have any choice in the matter. Unless the chips are really down, I’d recommend taking a pass.

While generalizations are often risky, Austin’s east side has long had the reputation for being the less attractive side of town, more subject to crime and run-down neighborhoods. While it is true that many of the neighborhoods found east of Interstate 35 are enjoying improvements and gentrification, unfortunately, the Johnston Terrace neighborhood has so far not been a beneficiary of this trend.
Located between the Austin NW railroad tracks on the north, Highway 183 on the south and east, and Airport Boulevard to the west, this neighborhood struggles with high poverty and higher crime rates than the rest of the city. There are many run down homes found here, some of which should simply be torn down. Trash litters yards and the streets, reflecting the lack of community pride.
However, there are some residents of this neighborhood who are fighting to turn it around. The city of Austin has been involved in supporting neighborhood planning efforts to create a vision for the neighborhood to reduce crime, promote a stronger sense of community and build a more vibrant neighborhood.

The area has potential if the neighborhood can succeed in turning things around. It is accessible to downtown and Lady Bird Lake, and housing prices are affordable, although costs are rising. Average home prices are around the $150s for a modest-sized home. Located within its boundaries is East Austin College Prep, an open enrollment charter school that has been working to collaborate with the neighborhood to encourage positive socio-economic change to the area.