Steiner Ranch

P

pk-horn

25+ Posts
I was driving around in Steiner ranch yesterday and I must say the place is physically beautiful. It also seems ideal in some respects for a young family with kids if you are looking for a suburban type of neighborhood. Great schools, lots of kids, safe, lots of activity, several parks etc.
The big drawback to living in Steiner to me would be the commute downtown.

Does anyone on here make that commute? My map program says 17 miles. How long is the drive? Is there a way to get to downtown without taking 2222? Finally are there decent restaurants out that way or does eating out necessitate a trip in to Austin?
 
You've got some good restaurants in Lakeway & Hudson's On The Bend is just up the road as well.

As for the commute, there are only two way to get East; you're locked in by Lake Austin on the East side of it. Your two ways are going all the way South to take 2244 or 71 East -or- the aforementioned 2222.

texasflag.gif
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
 
I live there, and work downtown. It is a commute, but at least it's a pretty drive. 45 minutes is about right when school is going, though when UT and schoolas are not in session (i.e. summer, holidays) the drive is shorter. I can make it in about 30 minutes on a day when the traffic is not heavy.

Lots of different price points for housing. Very active HOA that keeps people in line with their houses, etc.

It is a good place to live -- lots of kids, lots of activities and sports for kids, but lots of parents who like to "party", as much as 30+ somethings can still do. 2 elementary schools, another planned, plus a middle school. A new high school will be built by the 3M plant (land already purchased, bond election today for the funds to build it).

More restauants and shopping are on the way -- they are building a "town center" type development near 2222 and 620.

All in all, a good place if you don't mind the drive.
 
We're moving to Lakeway this weekend. We've owned the place for a few months and have had some work done, so I've had the occassion to drive out there and back at all sorts of times other than driving in during morning rush hour. There are actually several ways to get to downtown from Lakeway, but from Steiner everything other than 2222 is a bit longer.

You can go 71, 71 to SW Parkway, Bee Cave Parkway to 2244, you can take 2244 to Mopac or cross the river at Redbud and take Lake Austin to downtown. All of these have advantages and disadvantages, but the drive will be no less than 30-45 minutes. It seems the secret going and coming is to minimize time on Mopac, so I think my preferred route will be 2244, but I will certainly try them all. The drive is calming for me even when I've had to go out there at 5-6pm.
 
Tropheus, that entire area was laid waste by a good hailstorm 2-1/2 years ago (Good Friday of '05); I hope your roof was properly inspected or the seller had a receipt showing a full replacement.

Not a single roof I inspected over there had been missed.

texasflag.gif
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
 
I remember that hailstorm. We live in the front right section of Lakeway and got it pretty good, but no roof damage to our house or any others on the street. Then again, a good friend of mine about a few miles down the road had 12 windows broken out of their house. Definitely something to consider.

Also, a heads-up to any Steiners who read this board, since we're on the topic of commutes. Recently at 620/2222 I have heard that police are ticketing people who get over onto the shoulder too early to turn right onto 2222 from 620. Haven't seen it myself, but something to consider if you drive that way.
 
They have been over by the Walgreen's/Wells Fargo pulling people over. Haven't seen them in a few days, but they were there off and on for a couple of weeks. Watch out.
Saw them at 360/2222 yesterday -- added 15 minutes to my commute because of everyone slowing down
mad.gif
 
ncaa, we got a clean bill of health on our cement tile roof (no cracked tiles) but it probably wasn't inspected as thoroughly as I would have wanted had I known about the hail storm. There was no evidence of water leakage on the ceilings or in the attic, and the seller's disclosure said no water or roof problems. In any event, we're likely to build up in 2-3 years (maximize lake view), so the roof needs to hold up for only that much more. thanks for the headsup though, I had no idea. Can't do much about it now, but I will certainly get up in the attic with the first major rain storm.

NBMisha -- it's even crazier than that. We moved from South 1st (78704) to Mopac and 35th for the schools just this past April. Built an expensive home, decided it was too expensive and the neighborhood wasn't really a neighborhood. We looked north near Westwood high school and decided on Lakeway which actually represents a significant step down in price for a significantly better home and neighborhood. I couldn't be more excited, but moving like a rock skipping on water does take its toll. Oh, and my wife is 7-8 months pregnant with our second boy.
eek.gif
 
We were out driving and went into visit Steiner a few months ago and it creeped us out. Do you really want your kids growing up in la-la land? Where everything is pretty and fake and Wisteria Lane-ish? As someone who grew up pretty sheltered and privileged, I am trying to make a conscious decision not to do the same with our kids.
 
FYI, at some point soon the city will allegedly be turning 2222 into one lane each direction east of 360 while they improve the low-water crossing in front of the fire station west of County Line BBQ. What is now just a bad commute will become downright hellish.
 
we recently moved from the Hills in Lakeway out to Spicewood. The commute from Lakeway into downtown can be made in approx 20 mins if there is no traffic. The best way to go is 620 to 71 to Southwest Pkwy. If Mopac is jammed up, head over to Lamar and into downtown.

When leaving downtown in the afternoons, do not go 6th street to mopac unless you are planning the redbud shortcut over to 2244. the better way to go is across Towne Lake and through Zilker, then you can jump right onto 2244 or if Mopac is flowing, head down to Sw pkwy.

the commute is not bad at all....at least not from this former Dallas resident's viewpoint.

jason
 
Used2btexaslover -- Steiner creeps me out too, but we found the schools, housing prices, community kid focus, and adult activities (golf and lake) in old Lakeway too much to walk away from.
 
Used2btexaslover and Tropheus --

You're welcomt to your opinion, but I don't think "driving around Steiner" puts you in any position to intelligently opine about those of us who live there. It's a pretty friendly place, mostly normal people, with normal families and normal problems living their lives. It is not a Stepford Wives community, and there a re a lot of diverse opinions and people. You might want to actually meet someone form there before forming a broad-stroke judgment.
 
sorry to offend, my statement was not about the people, I know enough people who live there (and enough people in general) to know they are like most everyone else -- normal, nice, not psycho, etc. My statement was more about all current day master planned communities -- they aren't for me, whether they are Steiner, Circle C, or my in-laws gated community in the freaking middle of nowhere between Dallas and Oklahoma. That's not a reflection on you or anyone else who lives there, that's a reflection on my personal tastes and wants in a neighborhood.
 
Tropheus,

My wife and I are looking to buy in Lakeway as well but as relatively new residents to Austin, want to know more about the reputation of the area, pros and cons, etc that a realtor might not share with us.

Many thanks in advance.
 
sorry, we were moving last weekend. I responded to your Horn Depot thread a minute ago. I've got a great realtor if you need one and we're fresh off many weekends in Lakeway looking for a home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict TEXAS-KENTUCKY *
Sat, Nov 23 • 2:30 PM on ABC

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top