Martin Luther King - 183
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Great for
- Cost of Living
- Lack of Traffic
- Neighborly Spirit
- Parking
- Parks & Recreation
Not great for
- Gym & Fitness
- Medical Facilities
- Childcare
- Nightlife
- Shopping Options
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Students
- Retirees
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Reviews
Martin Luther King - 183
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
Editors Choice
"Quiet, homey low-income neighborhood-- untouched by gentrification"
I have lived here for about 6 months (near Springdale Park), and I really like MLK 183—although to be honest, I didn’t know the official name of the neighborhood until I looked it up on streetadvisor. When I first arrived here from Brooklyn, I came in the summer at the height of the drought and everything was parched and dusty, all the gardens were desiccated, and the place looked absolutely desolate. I thought the houses looked like shacks, and as if to underscore this observation, the only nearby store was called The Shack Corner Store.
But now that the weather has cooled down and things are green again, it’s like the neighborhood has come back to life. People hang around outside and socialize in their yards, and you always see people walking in the streets. I see lots of people walking their dogs, or taking their children to the playground at Springdale Park.
The neighborhood has its fair share of overgrown empty lots and ramshackle and boarded up houses, but overall the small, single family homes in this neighborhood are full of life. I feel safe here. Our neighbors have had break-ins, but only when they were away from home for a prolonged period of time. My housemates maintain a friendly presence at our place. I lock the door when I leave the house and keep my bike chained up—but I would do that no matter where I lived.
Traditionally, MLK is an African American neighborhood, but in the last few years, the affordable rent has drawn young professionals, artists and students from all different backgrounds. You would expect there to be a trend toward gentrification here, but there isn't. I like that.
Most people here drive cars. And without one it’s really inconvenient to get around—unless you have a bike. It’s about a 4 mile ride downtown, which isn’t bad as far as I’m concerned. The bike lanes on 12th street and Springdale make biking really easy. A great institution in this neighborhood is The Yellow Bike Project. It’s a non-profit, volunteer-run warehouse space where you can learn about bicycle maintenance and repair, and even earn a free bike.
I would recommend this neighborhood to anyone who doesn’t mind the 20 minute bike ride to the nearest coffeeshop.
But now that the weather has cooled down and things are green again, it’s like the neighborhood has come back to life. People hang around outside and socialize in their yards, and you always see people walking in the streets. I see lots of people walking their dogs, or taking their children to the playground at Springdale Park.
The neighborhood has its fair share of overgrown empty lots and ramshackle and boarded up houses, but overall the small, single family homes in this neighborhood are full of life. I feel safe here. Our neighbors have had break-ins, but only when they were away from home for a prolonged period of time. My housemates maintain a friendly presence at our place. I lock the door when I leave the house and keep my bike chained up—but I would do that no matter where I lived.
Traditionally, MLK is an African American neighborhood, but in the last few years, the affordable rent has drawn young professionals, artists and students from all different backgrounds. You would expect there to be a trend toward gentrification here, but there isn't. I like that.
Most people here drive cars. And without one it’s really inconvenient to get around—unless you have a bike. It’s about a 4 mile ride downtown, which isn’t bad as far as I’m concerned. The bike lanes on 12th street and Springdale make biking really easy. A great institution in this neighborhood is The Yellow Bike Project. It’s a non-profit, volunteer-run warehouse space where you can learn about bicycle maintenance and repair, and even earn a free bike.
I would recommend this neighborhood to anyone who doesn’t mind the 20 minute bike ride to the nearest coffeeshop.
Pros
- Friendly Neighborhood
- Good Bike Lanes
- Cheap Housing
- Diverse neighborhood
Cons
- Little nightlife
- Nowhere to hang out
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
Martin Luther King - 183
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"A Safe East Austin Neighborhood with Affordable Housing Options"
An East Austin neighborhood that remains mostly immune to the revitalization of other nearby areas here yet retains some charm, the MLK 183 neighborhood features single family homes in the price range of $150,000 to $200,000. There are also some reasonably priced lots available if you want to have a custom home erected. It is less congested than most parts of the city unless you travel west, and you can use the Capitol Metro bus lines in the area to avoid that if you want to take a trip into downtown or the 6th Street Historic District for a night on the town.
The neighborhood is served by the Austin Independent School District and there are a few private school options close by. There is not much nightlife in the area but there are a few good Mexican food restaurants in the area and an Austin chain restaurant staple, Dan's Hamburgers. This is a much safer area than it looks with a low crime rate in part because of its relatively low profile and location. The neighborhood is a mix of ages and ethnic groups that get along well.
The neighborhood is served by the Austin Independent School District and there are a few private school options close by. There is not much nightlife in the area but there are a few good Mexican food restaurants in the area and an Austin chain restaurant staple, Dan's Hamburgers. This is a much safer area than it looks with a low crime rate in part because of its relatively low profile and location. The neighborhood is a mix of ages and ethnic groups that get along well.
Pros
- Diverse neighborhood
- Cheap real estate
- Friendly Neighborhood
- Less congested
- Old charm
Cons
- Few nightlife hot spots
- Older home structures
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Students
Martin Luther King - 183
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Schools
"Convenient to UT and affordable too"
This far central east Austin neighborhood can be found by taking Martin Luther King (MLK)Boulevard east from the central part of the city, well past Interstate 35, which cuts Austin into its east and west corridors. It is an older, well-established neighborhood with both residential and commercial properties filling the community.
The boundaries for the MLK-183 neighborhood are Springdale Road to the west, Highway 183 to the east, and the railroad tracks to the south. Much of the northern border consists of MLK Boulevard, but the neighborhood also stretches up to Loyola Lane with Hwy 183 as the western border. Because of its location in far east Austin, housing prices remain affordable here. The area is also subject to some transition, as newer developments are being built here to accommodate Austin’s growth. A small, older ranch-style home can for found for the mid-$150s, while newer homes tend to fall in the low $200s. Area schools include Norman Elementary, Garcia Middle School and LBJ High School.
This historically mixed-race neighborhood (Hispanic and African American) has much to offer those looking for affordability and a reasonable commute to downtown and the University of Texas. One finds both low-income housing and new, modern homes here. While some may characterize it as somewhat unsafe, long-time residents will tell you otherwise, especially compared to other urban areas. Springdale Park is found within the neighborhood, and the Morris Williams Golf Course is just on the other side of Highway 183.
The boundaries for the MLK-183 neighborhood are Springdale Road to the west, Highway 183 to the east, and the railroad tracks to the south. Much of the northern border consists of MLK Boulevard, but the neighborhood also stretches up to Loyola Lane with Hwy 183 as the western border. Because of its location in far east Austin, housing prices remain affordable here. The area is also subject to some transition, as newer developments are being built here to accommodate Austin’s growth. A small, older ranch-style home can for found for the mid-$150s, while newer homes tend to fall in the low $200s. Area schools include Norman Elementary, Garcia Middle School and LBJ High School.
This historically mixed-race neighborhood (Hispanic and African American) has much to offer those looking for affordability and a reasonable commute to downtown and the University of Texas. One finds both low-income housing and new, modern homes here. While some may characterize it as somewhat unsafe, long-time residents will tell you otherwise, especially compared to other urban areas. Springdale Park is found within the neighborhood, and the Morris Williams Golf Course is just on the other side of Highway 183.
Pros
- Diverse neighborhood
Cons
- Less safe than other areas
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Students
Martin Luther King - 183
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"East Austin Preservation"
This east side gem is where the urban scenery begins the slow transformation into the rural. Though now a network of asphalt, the roads in this neighborhood were not paved twenty years ago. The MLK-183 neighborhood is dotted with modest wooden homes that are within easy access of Highway 183, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, E. 12th Street and Springdale Rd. Though other portions of East Austin are falling victim to gentrification, this area has stayed relatively the same. Many of the houses predate the 1940s and are extremely cheap in both rent and selling prices. The vast majority of abodes have adequate yard space and every few property lots can be seen with their own home gardens.
Though many residents have their own vehicles, there are numerous bus stops within easy reach. The MLK-183 neighborhood is often noted for being home of the Yellow Bike Project, where Austinites can stop by during open hours and learn how to repair their own bikes. Though it may seem absent of typical Austin culture, this are has its own contributions in food and music. The Sahara Lounge, formerly TC's Lounge, is a wooden shack that showcases the most popular of Austin area blues and The Shack and Mr. Catfish offer what is best described as down home cooking. The physical dynamics of the neighborhood may be seem unsafe on the surface to those who do not know the area well, but more crimes have occurred in the downtown area than in these streets.
Though many residents have their own vehicles, there are numerous bus stops within easy reach. The MLK-183 neighborhood is often noted for being home of the Yellow Bike Project, where Austinites can stop by during open hours and learn how to repair their own bikes. Though it may seem absent of typical Austin culture, this are has its own contributions in food and music. The Sahara Lounge, formerly TC's Lounge, is a wooden shack that showcases the most popular of Austin area blues and The Shack and Mr. Catfish offer what is best described as down home cooking. The physical dynamics of the neighborhood may be seem unsafe on the surface to those who do not know the area well, but more crimes have occurred in the downtown area than in these streets.
Pros
- Cheap real estate
- Less congested
- Old charm
Cons
- Few nightlife hot spots
- Older home structures
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
- Trendy & Stylish
