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West Campus

Where UT Students Live, Work, and Play

Overview

It's impossible to talk about West Campus without first talking about the University of Texas at Austin. Founded in 1883, UT is the largest University in Texas, with over 50,000 undergraduates and 16,500 faculty and staff, and it's among the top 5 largest universities in the country. The main campus is less than 1 mile from the State Capitol, and is over 350 acres of classrooms, student housing, and administrative buildings. Highly ranked colleges in a variety of fields, particularly business, architecture, and law, ensure a steady supply of able students coming to the university each year, and the huge network of student organizations, powerful presence of Greek life, and diverse student body make UT a vibrant, exciting community.

On-campus housing is an important part of UT Austin, with 14 on-campus residence halls providing housing for over 7,100 students. The largest is Jester Center, with a capacity of almost 3,000, but smaller dorms are scattered throughout the campus area. There are also three major private dorms close to campus, including Dobie (the large high-rise just South of campus on 21st Street), The Castillian (a 22-story building just west of Campus on San Antonio Street), and University Towers (a mid-rise, apartment-style dorm on 24th Street). However, because these dorms are only able to accommodate a relatively small number of students, off-campus housing in apartments, condos, co-op, and Greek houses is the norm after freshman year. And when it comes to off-campus housing, the place to be is definitely West Campus!

As the name implies, West Campus is the area immediately west of UT, bounded on the West by Lamar Boulevard, and on the north and south by 29th street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard respectively. West Campus exemplifies the vibrant spirit of UT, and is home to students, young families, and professors. The area’s architecture is just as quirky and diverse as the people who live there; 80-year-old buildings are often found next door to high-end, brand new condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size.

Part of what makes the neighborhood so exciting is the diverse array of student organizations and Greek life that occupy it. West Campus is home to more than 50 Greek organizations, more than 12 co-ops, organized by the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC), and countless other student organizations. With over 1,000 student organizations at UT Austin, there's always something going on, and because there are so many students eager to live and work near Campus, the overwhelming demand for housing has dramatically altered the face of West Campus.

The biggest changes to West Campus in recent years have come about as a result of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) Plan, a city initiative passed in 2004. The UNO plans were:

"intended to help create a residential district that is close to the campus, consolidating some of the student housing that is presently scattered throughout the city, and thereby reducing transient student traffic to campus from outside, and reducing the transient parking requirements around West Campus."

The plan seeks to bring UT students closer to campus, as well as create a more dense, urban environment in order to provide more space for the growing student population. Though growth certainly isn't a new idea in West Campus, this plan has caused an explosion of new development, and by 2012, over 10,000 new bedrooms will have been built in West Campus.

Student life at UT Austin includes everything from watching football and going to a fraternity party to enjoying the outdoors at Pease Park and hanging out with friends on the Drag, and West Campus embodies all of this. And even though it's changing rapidly, West Campus will always be tied to the long and rich history of the University of Texas and of the Austin community.

What to do

The major commercial area of West Campus is "The Drag," or Guadalupe Street, where clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores (including the University COOP), and venues are just across the street from the University.

Diverse food options on the Drag offer something for everyone. The Drag is home to some excellent Asian cuisine, including Thai Kitchen (just north on Guadalupe), Madam Mam's Noodles and More, and Thai Noodle House. All offer great food at student prices. Other great places to eat include Slices and Ices, a NY-style pizza joint famous for big slices and great frozen lemonade, Veggie Heaven, an Asian-themed vegetarian restaurant with dishes like the Protein 2000, Milto's Mediterranean, with outstanding pizza and salads, and Taco Shack, the infamous local chain with breakfast tacos to die for. Also, don't forget to stop by Ken's Donuts for a late-night (or very early morning) snack.

Though there are many great places to eat near UT, perhaps none has a bigger reputation than Kerbey Lane Café, one of Austin's most beloved local chain restaurants. Their location just south of 27th and Guadalupe is the unofficial restaurant of UT, where students and their parents go for the famous Kerbey Queso and delicious pancakes 24 hours a day. And with draught beer, this is always one of the busiest spots on game day!

There's also plenty of great shopping on The Drag. The University Co-op is the place to go for UT apparel and merchandise, as well as books and school supplies. For clothing, check out Tyler's, which offers mostly athletic clothes (with a great selection of sneakers), or Wish, a cute women's boutique offering dresses and accessories. Newcomer Follett's Intellectual Property, on the corner of 24th and Guadalupe, offers books, magazines, and computer supplies, and the CVS at 22nd Street is open 7 days a week for the necessities.

The Drag isn't just famous for its retail stores: the Renaissance Market at 23rd Street is home to a strange mix of street vendors, musicians, and students just hanging out, and during the school year there's never a shortage of action.

The West Campus area is also close to the brand new Blanton Museum of Art, the world-class Harry Ransom Center, the LBJ Library, and the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum, which features an IMAX theater and more. To get outdoors, check out Pease Park on the western border (at Lamar Boulevard) for a relaxing day outdoors, or for a lively round of Disc Golf, a popular Austin sport.

Why live here?

Whether you're an incoming freshman or a college grad looking to hang on to the good old days, West Campus is the undisputed center for life at the University of Texas. It's the place to enjoy one of the country's top ten parties (Ah, the Fiji house…), a Friday night out walking the Drag, or some lively tailgating before an inevitable Longhorn victory – it's easy to live, work, and play without even hopping in the car. West Campus offers proximity to campus, rich social life, and access to everything, making it the ideal location for UT students.

Quick Facts

Household Income

$15,703

Recent Job Growth

2.73%

Median Home Value

$669,000

Median Home Age

35

Appreciation (2007)

2.92%

Percentage Renting

85.13%

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