Overview
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EAST CESAR CHAVEZ
The East Cesar Chavez area has become an urban living mix of warehouses and residents. If you are new to the area don't be fooled. If you ask an old native Austinite he calls it East First Street. Cesar Chavez changed names many years ago but for most it is still East First Street.
As few as 2 or 3 years ago this area was mostly lower income housing. Now it has become affordable downtown living with native shops and restaurants. This area is still rough around the edges but home to many local artists, photographers, musicians, students, and young business professionals. New lofts and recycled warehouses are popping up as well as some of the most eclectic mix of shopping. In this area you will find handmade crafts from Mexico, organic landscaping, ethnic grocery stores, locally owned and operated coffee houses, chic shops, and one of the only inner city all organic farms.
Many new high rise buildings offer wonderful views of the newly renamed "Lady Bird Lake" (previously Town Lake) and its wonderful walking, jogging and bike trails. East Cesar Chavez is changing rapidly due to its closeness to downtown Austin, the Capitol, easy access to Interstate 35 and reliable public transportation. This area is a great answer to an urban lifestyle without the half million dollar price tag.
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This area has really not become as gentrified as I would have expected by this point, and it's still affordable for lot of artists, who have galleries or work spaces. Okay Mountain is my favorite space off of Chavez (behind the pinata store, I believe), it has become an important piece in the Austin alternative art scene in recent years. And of course most veggie folk in town know about the original location of Mr. Natural here, and their best sugarless chocolate cake ever.
I actually hang out in the area a lot. Cesar Chavez is the road I take to get to the East Side, and I agree with the overview writer that there are a lot of great new stores to check out. You can definitely see changes with new condos and buildings being built, but then also you see a lot of the older businesses still holding on. I love all the artist warehouses sprinkled about and have had some fun times hanging with eclectic people in this area. It also happens that my favorite Mexican restaurant of all time, Las Casuelas.
Who Lives here?
All kinds. Austin is well known for its melting pot of population. East Cesar Chavez is becoming increasingly popular and inhabited by young professionals. This area is also home to a large Hispanic and ethnic population; giving this area it’s colorful façade.
It is not well defined yet on who predominantly lives in the area due to it’s new found popularity. A few years ago it was mostly low income and a Hispanic population. Now it is mostly young professionals and students. The average time period that people tend to reside in this area of is 3 years according to local real-estate resources.
This area is for the movers and shakers who love the urban lifestyle, clubs, and bar scene. Being so close to world-renowned hotspots of Austin gives this area a unique draw. Local radio personalities call this area home because it is so close to the music scene. College age residents find it’s a great area in relation to Sixth Street as well as to the college campus. Sixth Street in Austin is home to most of the clubs and music venues in Austin.
This area is farther from the warehouse district, which is home to the older crowd of venues. The warehouse district is where you will find more of the alternative lifestyle clubs as well as clubs that cater to an older age group.
Clubs directly located in the area are typically not safe to venture into. It is just a better bet to go a few blocks to the west to Sixth Street.
Austin is also well known for its cuisine. East Caesar Chavez is home to local eateries and micro breweries. In the area you will find Azul (Mexico City style food), Café Mundi (Vegan/Vegetarian), Mr. Natural (vegan/vegetarian), El Milagro Bakery (Home Made tortillas), and Karibu Ethiopian resturant, R & D's Doghouse Bar & Grill (a.k.a Chulitas Bar and Grill), Stixs Bistro, Los Huaraches and many more. All of these restaurants lack parking so drive a small car, park and walk, or ride the bus. Always check the times of the restaurant that you want to go to because some of them only operate for breakfast and lunch.
Others:
-One 2 One Bar (hookah Bar and Live Music)
-B. D. Riley’s (Irish Pub)
-Tony’s Southern Comfort
-Rio Rita (vegetarian, local bar, and coffee shop)
-Juan in a Million (breakfast)
-Progress Coffee (healthy Lunch)
The rental prices in this area are average for Austin at around $1,600 a month for a 2 bedroom but can easily skyrocket the closer you get to downtown or the newer the property. The exception to this rule is the bungalow rentals. These cute tiny rentals can be as much as loft apartments or more. This area is full of eclectic and traditional housing. According to local real estate information, 63% of the population rents while the rest owns property.
Transportation & Parking
This topic is a huge problem in all of Austin. Most people drive cars everywhere. Austin does have a decent and clean bus line but it is not convenient if you need to get to an outlying area in a timely fashion. If you live in the East Cesar Chavez area and work downtown or within 20 minutes of the I-35 corridor, taking the bus alleviates the cost of buying parking, rush hour traffic nightmares, and gives you peace of mind. A word of advice if you want to live in this area--buy a small economical car and keep it locked and empty. That way if you want to go to a big box store or mall in less than 30 minutes on the weekend you can. Buses are the most inefficient way to travel if you want to go farther than a 10-20 mile radius of where you live.
Rental Advice
As with most areas in Austin, what you see is what you get. There is rarely room for a lot of negotiations. Peak moving time is when semesters at the colleges end and begin; therefore higher and lower rents will reflect this. This area does not sleep much. Make sure you are prepared for night noises of a bustling city. Never leave anything unattended if possible. Don’t give anyone the temptation to “borrow” something, unless you know them.
Austin itself is a good city for pets. This area is close to a local leash-free dog park plus hike and bike trails. But Poochy will have to ride in the car with you to get to them. If you rent a house, your yard will be a standard city lot or smaller. The new high-rise apartments forgot to leave a few squares of grass out front for our four-legged family members to leave their deposits. Austin is also big on cleaning up after your pets, so invest in a baggie canister to pick up after them! Remember to microchip in case Poochy escapes. This area is not a safe area for dog breeds known to be trained for aggression and guarding characteristics.
There are several parks and outdoor activities. A few blocks west you will hit more shopping and entertainment.
-Festival Beach Park
-Sanchez Playground
-Fiesta Gardens
-Metz Park
-Pleasant Valley Park
-East Side Balance Pilates Studio
-Myo Massage
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The essentials
In the East Cesar Chavez area there are a lot of small local convenience stores that sell necessities. There is also a local butcher shop (LaMichoacana), but to find a grocery store you will have to go to the HEB on Riverside or up to Fiesta (ethnic grocery chain) on the access roads to IH 35. In downtown Austin on the corner of South Lamar and 6th Street is the Whole Foods (a national natural grocery chain and Austin mecca).
There is only an elementary school and middle school directly in this area so this particular area is not a popular choice for child rearing. A few blocks to the north is Huston-Tillotson College, Austin Community College at Eastview, the University of Texas at Austin, and to the south is St. Edwards University. It is no wonder this area is a hotbed for young professionals and college students.
Safety
As with all urban spaces, one must use caution and common sense. This area is well known for theft and minor violence but police patrols and involvement in the community are making significant improvement. The only real time of concern is late at night. Just remember not to leave temptations visible, lock up, be aware, and know your neighbors.
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