Downtown Austin is the only true 24 hour city center in Texas and one of the few in the southern tier of US states. The only place that compares in the region is New Orleans, and New Orleans is really only lively (and arguably safe) in the French Quarter and the Marigny. Downtown Austin is the dominant business quarter of the city and also home to the state capitol. The daytime population of downtown and the UT campus area exceeds 150,000 people. The actual downtown is home to over 10,000 residents, mostly residing in high rises in the approximately one square mile or so of downtown. There are also 6 to 7 thousand hotel rooms downtown with a 75% or better occupancy rate. There are two or three very lively night life districts downtown in addition to thirty or more restaurants scattered throughout downtown. Thousands of people go out at night in downtown Austin. On weekends and during special events (there are always special events it seems) there can be close to of 50,000 people out and about downtown. It is often very "Big City" feeling down there, much to the annoyance of some locals nostalgic for a simpler time and place. The UT campus and the dense West Campus neighborhood are only about 3/4 mile north of downtown, and the areas immediately south, west and east of downtown are thriving with new residential and commercial construction in addition to a multitude of bars and restaurants. Finally, it should be noted that the entire area is very safe by big city standards with a low overall crime rate and good conditions for walking or scootering. The proliferation of scooters throughout the area is becoming something of a nuisance actually, but I guess mobility is enhanced by their presence. Freeways passing through downtown (IH 35 and Mopac) are usually bumper to bumper jammed for most of the day and well into the night. There is a lot of bus service downtown and one puny commuter rail line to NW Austin and beyond. If you are lucky enough to work in or near downtown, living in the center of the city makes a lot of sense and can be very pleasant, pricey but pleasant.
Last edited by austlar1; Feb 18, 2019 at 11:34 PM.
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