Sweetbriar

The Sweetbriar neighborhood in Austin is located south of Town Lake and it's bordered to the east by Interstate 35. It is a mix of affordable single family homes, condominiums, and apartments with homes ranging from around $120,000. There are a few more upscale type condominiums here in the $200,000 range. It has more of a Texas suburb feel than Austin and parking may be more readily available here than any other place in the city.

The area is served by the Austin Independent School District and this is a racially diverse neighborhood with a large percentage of Hispanic residents. There are the usual dining options with most of the big chain fast food restaurants here along with some very good Mexican and Tex-Mex options. There are also not many nightlife options without traveling north toward the downtown area. This is a relatively safe neighborhood that is family-friendly. It has direct access to South Congress, or SoCo as the locals call it, so you're only a short drive away from some of the best the city has to offer.

I can’t imagine living here, myself, but I can see the appeal for a certain type of person. Sweetbriar is essentially a south Austin suburb, with suburban houses, suburban schools, and suburban style. You’re far enough outside of town that life is quiet and inexpensive, but there’s a relative safety to the area as well, especially compared to neighborhoods in the northeast suburbs.

There’s plenty of shopping nearby, and reasonably good schools for the kids. Housing is extremely affordable, with most homes coming in at or below the $200K mark. Public transit isn’t very viable here, and the sprawl is notable enough I’d avoid trying to get around on foot or bike either. The good news is you’ll probably always have parking in your very own driveway!

This is an ethnically rich neighborhood, and the people who live here have carved out nice lives for themselves, set apart from the hustle and the bustle of the city, with mortgages they can readily afford and the ability to provide a good standard of life for their families without going to the poor house. Sweetbriar isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s nothing wrong with the suburbs, really—every great city needs to have some accessible, family-friendly places to live, and this is one of Austin’s.

This far south Austin neighborhood has a suburban feel to it with an Hispanic twist. A bit far from the center of the city, but close to some of the many amenities of south Austin, this is a great neighborhood for families who are looking for less expensive housing options. Most homes here were built in the 1970s, so it is an established neighborhood, but not an old one. The ranch-style homes are shaded by large trees, and most have sizable yards, making them particularly appealing to families with children.

The borders for Sweetbriar include William Cannon Drive to the south and E. Stassney Lane to the north, S. First Street to the west and Interstate 35 to the east. Housing prices average in the mid-$100s for a medium to large-sized home. Area schools include Pleasant Hill Elementary, Bedichek Middle School and Crockett High School. With I-35 running down the eastern border, there is quick access to all points north and south. On the other hand, things can get loud and the highway is one of the busiest and most congested in the country. South First also has many amenities, such as shops and restaurants, but one does need to travel north from Sweetbriar to get to the heart of this retail district.

Overall, this is a great affordable neighborhood and quite appealing to families. As south Austin continues to attract attention and grow, Sweetbriar will likely be influenced by these changes, but perhaps not for several years. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends on one’s point of view.

Sweetbriar resembles a typical South Austin suburban neighborhood and there is little difference between it and its next door neighbor Garrison Park. It has direct access to both I-35 and S. Congress Ave., so traveling into town by car or by bus is relatively easy. Both these routes, however, get very heavy traffic during rush hour and it can get pretty noisy. The housing prices, being so far south, are cheap and the area is pretty safe, hence Sweetbriar if you want to start or raise a family in an outskirt community where there is an abundance of other families and public schools.

There is an abundance of Mexican food in the area with the occasional Asian food restaurant and there is an H-E-B at the corner of S. 1st St. and W. William Canon Dr. There is a severe lack of nightlife with this being a family friendly neighborhood, but the South Congress hot spots are just a few minutes drive away. The streets are lined with ranch style houses with large front and back yards and there are numerous educational and childcare centers in the area. At the E Stassney and I-35 intersection is a shopping center that contains a Regal Metropolitan Stadium where families can go see the latest movies and different restaurants and shops that can make a parent's evening. Though a far less desirable place for the young and energetic, Sweetbriar is an excellent location in which to raise a family in safety in the Austin area.