MargaretMyrick

I moved to this area into a single-family residence in 2010. I've lived in Austin since 1998. Houses are pretty affordable here. There is a central road called Emerald Forest, which has a really good bike lane. I can bike from my house up to downtown or UT campus (where I work) following various bike lanes. And the neighborhood is quiet and low key. You are not going to find many hipsters or UT students in this area. It's not that "cool," but I like it because I don't have to fight for parking or pay a lot to live here.

It's 7 miles south of downtown, near the 1 and 10 bus lines that would take you north, but most people have cars. There are 2 Gold's Gyms along William Cannon and 1 at Ben White. I have a Golds membership therefore I rate this neighborhood high on fitness because of the bike lane plus the gyms. There are other gyms and studios in the area. You are also 3 miles or less from many grocery stores - Sprouts, Central Market South, HEB William Cannon and HEB Brodie (which is a bigger and more fancy HEB than the former). Brodie is not too far away and has a lot of eating and shopping but you will probably have to drive there.

Crime has been a problem in the past, as with other lower cost neighborhoods. My house was broken into in 2011, and I got an alarm system afterwards and it has been ok since then. In general, the people of the neighborhood are trying to put a stop to the crime and grow as a real community with the Woodhue Neighborhood Association. http://armadilloparkna.wordpress.com

I have lived downtown on 4th street, and I will say that this neighborhood beats it on noise, price and traffic. Same with Hyde Park. I lived there next door to some students and experienced a lot of noise at night. Of course, both 4th and Hyde Park are great places, more busy and walkable than this one. But that's a brief comparison for you.

One of my favorite activities here is relaxing with a book at Garrison Pool on a summer weekend. Parking is free and entrance to the pool is $3. Stop at Cherry Creek Catfish on the way home. Yum!