Poised to become Austin’s next “hot” neighborhood for the creative crowd, Southwood sits just south of the hipster haven that is 78704. Home to an eclectic mix of working-class families, young professionals, and retirees, the neighborhood is made up mostly of modest houses built in the 1950s. A railroad track divides the community, and while there isn’t exactly a ‘wrong side of the tracks’, most of the houses on the west side are slightly larger and updated than the ones on the east side. Well-kept lawns, gently rolling hills, old oak trees, and massive walnut trees add to the area’s quiet and low-key vibe.
At night, the neighborhood fills up with people walking dogs, gardening, and chatting with neighbors.
Limits
The boundaries of the Southwood neighborhood are Ben White Boulevard / Highway 71 (north), West Stassney (south), Manchaca Boulevard (west), and South 1st Street (east).
St. Elmo Market
Less than a mile from Southwood’s eastern border, a massive new public market, St. Elmo Market, is scheduled to begin construction in late 2016. The developer was inspired by Pike Place Market in Seattle. The centerpiece will be a huge old warehouse that was once home to a bus factory. The warehouse will be remodeled but will not change significantly. Most of the other buildings will be new. The anchor of the development will be the Saxon Pub, which plans to relocate its iconic bar from South Lamar.
A hotel and lofts will also be part of the project. St. Elmo Market is currently looking for certain types of tenants, including music-based businesses, small tech companies, and “creators” from a variety of disciplines.
Transport
Bus: The number 10 bus stops at S. 1st and Orland and transports passengers downtown in about 20 minutes. On the west side of the neighborhood, No. 3 picks up passengers near the corner of Manchaca and Jones, and generally arrives downtown 30 minutes later.
Real estate
Located along the southern border of the 78704 zip code, Southwood may be a little less modern, but it is much more affordable. Homes in Southwood are sometimes $ 100,000 cheaper than comparable homes a few blocks away on the north side of Ben White. In April 2016, the median home price in Southwood was $ 250,000. Most of the homes originally had three bedrooms and one bathroom, with a one-car garage and approximately 1,200 square feet of total space. However, many have been completely remodeled and expanded, and some have even been completely rebuilt.
While the houses are small, some patios span an acre or more of land. The neighborhood’s central location allows downtown workers to bypass the ever-congested I-35 entirely and enjoy a low-stress four-mile commute on South 1st Street.
Restaurants
Casa Maria is a laid-back Tex-Mex restaurant with an on-site bakery and great breakfast tacos. For Chinese food, the family-run Bamboo Garden has maintained a loyal following in the neighborhood since 1976.
Green space
Walkers, runners, and soccer players take over the running track and playground next to St. Elmo Elementary in the evenings and on weekends, although it is not officially a public park. On the south side of the neighborhood, Williamson Creek Greenbelt is a popular but underdeveloped hiking area. The only trail is the limestone bed of the creek, which is often dry between rains. At the entrance to the green belt, neighborhood volunteers have added a park bench, wildflower garden, and drought-tolerant trees.
Schools
- St. Elmo Elementary
- Escuela Intermedia Bedichek
- Crockett High School
Essentials
Postal code: 78745
Supermercados: HEB and 600 W. William Cannon Drive, (512) 447-5544; Randall’s and 2025 W.Ben White Boulevard, (512) 443-3083
Post Office: 3903 South Congress Avenue, (512) 441-6603
24-hour pharmacy: Walgreen’s, 5600 S. 1st Street, (512) 441-4747
Hospital: St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, 901 W.Ben White Boulevard, (512) 447-2211
