Windsor Park

Windsor Park has a great community feel. It contains mostly mid-century ranches, some quite nice, others a little run down. It's one of the few places in Austin where you can still get a bargain and be within 5-6 miles of downtown. It is very bikeable and the commute isn't too bad, being bordered by 290 East and I-35. We have a great park with frisbee golf and a brand new district pool opening summer 2014 (with a diving board!). The schools are iffy, but AISD is trying some new initiatives in the area. Windsor Park definitely benefits from the amenities in neighboring Mueller, including the brand-new HEB with live music on weekends and a cafe, in addition to great new restaurants, the Children's Museum, and a weekly farmer's market. It's pretty quiet, and is showing some growing pains, especially in regards to lingering crime issues. The neighborhood had a bad reputation for many years which is changing, but has its ups and downs. It is apparently attracting more attention with the heat-up in the real estate market, as houses are starting go quickly, and prices are moving up; it's hard to find a single-family home for less than $200,000 now. It is a diverse neighborhood, which it will hopefully maintain despite the changes and influx of new people. The neighborhood is pretty friendly and actively involved in the larger Austin community.

The Windsor Park neighborhood of Austin is bounded on the east by Interstate 35 and to the south by East 51st Street. This eastern central Austin neighborhood is a family-friendly place with affordable housing and it's only a few minutes from downtown and the University of Texas. It's a diverse neighborhood with a majority of Hispanic residents and a mix and white and African-Americans. Single family homes range mostly from $100,000 to $300,000 and apartment rents range from $700 to $1100 monthly.

The neighborhood is served by the Austin Independent School District, and you also have a private school to choose from in Sacred Heart Catholic School. It's a close-knit neighborhood that has a neighborhood association and a web site so you can get answers to questions and find out the latest news. The crime rate is relatively low for an inner city neighborhood and a safe place for children to play, and on the southern boundary of the neighborhood is Bartholomew District Park, which is ideal for an afternoon out with the kids. A branch of the Austin public library is here for people who love reading or need internet access. Dining options are rather limited but there are a few quality Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood.

This central east Austin neighborhood often gets confused with the other spots in Austin that share the “Windsor” name: Windsor Hills and Windsor Road, and it remains less well-known among Austinites. But it appears that the residents of this neighborhood don’t mind their obscurity, and even prefer it.

Windsor Park is located north of 51st Street and south of Highway 290, with Interstate 35 marking the western border and Manor Road defining the east. This is a largely residential neighborhood, dominated by ranch-style homes with good-sized yards built in the 1950s. Largely overlooked by the rest of Austin, the residents of Windsor Park take pride in their neighborhood and believe it is one of the city’s undiscovered gems. Many original residents still live here, but recently the area has seen an influx of young families with children who appreciate the convenient location, affordable housing prices and east-side vibe. It’s a mixed-race neighborhood comprised primarily of Hispanic households, as well as African-Americans and whites.

Because of its location east of I-35 and somewhat north, housing prices are quite affordable. It is common to find a mid-sized home in the range of mid-to-high $100s. While there are some homes and areas that have fallen into disrepair, most of the neighborhood consists of clean, quiet, tree-lined streets. Neighbors are friendly here and community events are popular, so it feels as if everyone knows each other, and look out for one another. Area schools include Blanton Elementary, Pearce Middle School and Reagan High School.

Despite its much-overlooked status, Windsor Park is very convenient to much of Austin’s action. It is 15-minutes from downtown and the University of Texas. The neighborhood also sits just above the new Mueller development which contains a range of retail shops, although most are national chains. However, local flavor can be found along Cameron Road and Berkman Drive. The neighborhood park, Bartholomew District Park, contains a new playscape and splash pad which is very popular in the warmer months. The Windsor Park branch of the public library is also located here. So while Windsor Park may not offer much in the way of excitement, it has much appeal for those looking for a neighborhood with character and amenities, not too far from the center of Austin.

Homes here generally fall into the $100-200K range, and most are older but well-built small ranch types set on long blocks with small yards. The neighborhood holds a Yard of the Month competition, which helps keep everything very clean and attractive. It’s also got a diverse blend of white, black, and Hispanic residents, with a median income of $38K. Along the west I35 border, you can find the Capital Plaza Shopping Center, so this part of the neighborhood tends to be noisier and more crowded than average. To the south is the old airport location, which is currently being renovated as the Mueller neighborhood. The area has a lot of schools and childcare facilities to keep families close and happy. There’s a real sense of laid-back community here, with people jogging, walking their dogs, or just strolling around the cute little shops. There’s not much in the way of nightlife or great restaurants, but the Carousel Lounge is beloved in the hipster set. They often have belly dancing, go-go dancers, or some rockabilly band playing, and you can drink a can of PBR in the very surreal circus-themed environment. It’s fun and cheap entertainment, but if you’re not prepared to play along, you might not enjoy it.