Crestview

This charming family-oriented neighborhood blends seamlessly with Brentwood, its likeminded neighbor to the south. Most of Crestview’s homes were built during the housing boom the 1940s and 50s (and planted with trees which have since grown to maturity, providing nice, leafy streets.

The neighborhood has seen big changes in recent years, such as the establishment of the Crestview Metro Rail Station (which provides rail transportation into downtown Austin), and well as a bike and pedestrian pathway that runs in roughly the same direction. An old chemical plant in this area has been redeveloped to provide high-density housing around the metro station—and this is generally regarded as a change for the good. New and old co-exist nicely in Crestview.

Nightlife is pretty much limited to the seedy Dallas Nightclub. Not Crestview's strong point.

The area is known for having excellent schools, and strong community spirit. They sponsor events like movies in the park, and residents take pride in supporting local businesses (of which there are many). And priority is given to green, clean living. Austin Community Gardens is a gardening co-op focused on sustainability, and an independent group offers gardening classes for children. The neighborhood has an abundance of yoga studios, fitness centers, and educational opportunities for kids (acting classes, swim lessons, dance classes, etc).

Crestview is an excellent place to raise children within a healthy anti-corporate culture. And the commute to downtown or the UT campus is quite reasonable.

Crestview is a central Austin, Texas neighborhood with a northern boundary of West Anderson Lane and a western boundary of Burnet Road. It dates to the 1950's and 1960's when it was developed over land that had once been a dairy farm. It is a neighborhood of single family bungalows and mid-20th Century ranch homes that range in price from $100,000 on the southern edges of the neighborhood to $325,000 in the north part. There is a lot to like about this neighborhood as friendly neighbors are known for watching out for each other and there are iconic business establishments such as Top Notch Burgers, which dates to 1971, and Minimax Grocery Store which was founded in 1953.

Access to any part of the city is fast and cheap thanks to the Crestview Station of the Capitol Metro rail system. The crime rate here is low and it's a great place to raise a family. The neighborhood is served by the Austin Independent School District and is just north of McCallum High School. It's a quick drive south down Guadalupe Street to get to the University of Texas at Austin so it's also an ideal location for students.

Original residents of the Crestview neighborhood remember when the main thoroughfares were paved with gravel and their location was considered on the far outskirts of Austin. It’s a far cry from its current reputation as being a convenient, centrally located neighborhood with quick access to downtown Austin and the University of Texas to the south, and the growing retail shopping meccas to the north.

Located between Justin Lane to the south and Anderson Lane to the north, Lamar Boulevard and Burnet Road to the east and west, Crestview offers an ideal place to settle to those looking for a quiet, friendly and family-oriented neighborhood close to (but not too close) to Austin’s urban core. Homes tend to run on the smaller side (just over 1,000 square feet), but offer younger buyers the chance to buy an affordable home in the mid-$200s that can be expanded upon later. Area schools include Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallam High School.

Much of the unique character of the Crestview neighborhood lies in the 1950s historic charm that still prevails in the area. The Crestview Shopping Center is a time-capsule in itself, where one finds a local MiniMax grocery store and charming Crestview Barber Shop, complete with the red and white barber pole. Proximity to the revitalized Burnet Road gives residents easy access to many hip and trendy restaurants, shops and boutiques that are transforming this area into a more and more desirable destination.

Crestview is a super friendly, peaceful, family-friendly neighborhood where residents really love to call home. There’s a high importance put on community participation here, with a neighborhood ice cream social held in July, and annual Night Out events in August. During the first Tuesday of the month, one resident of each block hosts a gathering in their front yard. This gives neighbors a perfect opportunity to meet, mingle, or catch up on the local gossip. There’s a real push to make this a neighborhood with a small town feel, but it doesn’t feel fake or creepy. The residents just genuinely want to enjoy each others’ company. And who can blame them? The area is rich with parks, playgrounds, public pools, tennis courts, and churches. While Crestview lacks a rich racial diversity, the age range of resident goes from young children to couples in their early adulthood, to old timers who have lived in the area since before some of the roads were even paved. Even the store selection holds a reverence for the classics: Guitar Resurrection, Blackerby Violin Shop, Encore Records, It’s New To Me clothing store, and Frankenstein Computers make everything old new again. You won’t impress anyone with your new BMW SUV, but you’ll probably inherit lots of peach cobbler recipes.

With the wall of welcoming on the outskirts of the shopping area, Crestview is a wholesome neighborhood that still juts the funkiness that is Austin, TX. Filled with post World War II homes, this community offers a mellow environment in which residents can kick back and live life peacefully while within easy reach of all the awesome things Austin has to offer. The new Metro Rail Red Line goes right through the area, which in addition to bus routes and bike rides makes commuting to the University of Texas and Downtown an easy task. West Anderson Ln. serves as the northern boundary, which has the majority of shops, restaurants and leisure activity. Planet Fitness offers a spot to workout for a very cheap monthly membership fee and La Casita serves affordable breakfast tacos just down the block.

The home prices are mid-range, averaging about $200,000 and $950 for monthly rent. Crestview is suitable for families with schools and learning centers nearby, but a high percentage of residents are single professionals in their twenties and thirties. The population is actually a preferable blend of different ages and the location of the neighborhood is far enough off the beaten path to enjoy quiet days while also just a short drive away from high activity near the University of Texas campus. Being in close range of 183, 290 and I-35 makes traveling in and out of Austin via Crestview a breeze and an is ideal for anyone that has to make a long commute to work.