West Campus, Austin, Texas

West Campus is a neighborhood in Central Austin west of The Drag and its namesake, The University of Texas at Austin. Due to its close proximity to the university, West Campus is heavily populated by college students.

West Campus is home to students, young families, and professors. The area’s architecture is diverse, with 80-year-old buildings are often found next door to modern condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size.

This neighborhood is marked by the wide range of student organizations [http://www.studentorgs.utexas.edu] and Greek communities [http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/] 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) [http://www.iccaustin.coop] , 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 [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/downloads/ca_p116_146.pdf] , 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 denser, urban environment in order to provide more space for the growing student population.

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.

The West Campus area is also close to the brand new Blanton Museum of Art [http://www.blantonmuseum.org] , the world-class Harry Ransom Center, the LBJ Library [http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/] , and the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum [http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/] , which features an IMAX theater. Check out Pease Park [http://www.texasoutside.com/peaseparkframes.htm] on the western border (at Lamar Boulevard) for a relaxing day outdoors, or for a lively round of Disc Golf, a popular Austin sport.

External links