Growing San Antonio area suburb attracting major corporations
Less than 15 miles northeast of San Antonio and situated within gently Central Texas rolling hills is the neighborhood of Live Oak. Once known for farming and ranching by its earliest inhabitants, Live Oak is now a growing residential area with large corporations, major medical centers and prominent San Antonio area shopping centers. “Live Oak has the only Ikea in greater San Antonio, which was a big deal for this area,” says Cesar Amezcua, a local San Antonian and realtor of 14 years at CA & Company, Realtors. Other large-scale metro area employers have also chosen to make Live Oak home. “Randolph Brooks Credit Bureau is one of the major companies in San Antonio, and the headquarters is right in Live Oak,” Amescas adds. “It’s a massive compound, and there’s a lot of construction happening around it, so there’s that influence here.” With another longtime San Antonio electrical company, Alterman, currently building its $60 million dollar campus in the city as well, Live Oak is steadily making a name for itself. Aside from these new developments and enhanced area job opportunities, Live Oak offers its residents a more quiet and friendly residential community, along with amenity-packed public parks and an authentic local dining scene.
A traditional single-family housing landscape
Live Oak’s wide streetscapes are covered with mature Texas Oak trees and feature numerous traditional brick-style homes and classic ranches. With a balanced mix of one-story and two-story houses, home prices start in the $200,000s and can go up into the high $400,000s for newly renovated properties. “There are not a lot of new builds in Live Oak,” Amezcua says. “The homes here typically span around three or four decades.”
Classic American dining and home to Ikea
Live Oak is next to a diverse mix of shopping and dining. One of the biggest draws to the area is that it has the only Ikea in the San Antonio area. When not shopping for Scandinavian-style furniture or taking a break to enjoy Ikea's Swedish meatballs, residents can head to the Village at Forum Parkway on Interstate-35 for stores, eateries and service shops or to the more popular nearby Forum at Olympia Parkway. Just three miles from Live Oak in Selma, this shopping center features big box stores like Target and TJ Maxx for everyday essentials and groceries. It also has a grand Regal Cinemas, which recently got a $1.5 million dollar IMAX upgrade. For more grocery varieties, the popular Texas H-E-B is under two miles away in University City. While there are many national food chains within Live Oak, residents appreciate local dining offerings like Biff Buzby’s Burgers. This airplane-themed eatery has miniature airplanes hanging from the ceiling and is known for its classic American fare. Nearby, Mr. Crabby’s Cajun and Seafood Bar is a highly rated restaurant where locals can listen to live music or watch a Spurs game while dining on some Cajun food specialties.
Seasonal community happenings and butterfly festivals
Main City Park is where Live Oak residents enjoy most of the neighborhood’s social events. One of the biggest annual get-togethers is the Annual Easter Eggstravaganza and Movie in the Park, with an extensive easter egg hunt for the children, live music, food trucks and closing out the festivities with an outdoor movie screening. Other seasonal events include a Halloween Family Night at City Hall and the annual Live Oak Monarch Butterfly Festival at the Live Oak Village Garden Club. This event features a big butterfly release and residents can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, plus a free plant giveaway.
Public schools with specialized design and tech programs
Students in Live Oak are either zoned for the North East Independent School District, which gets an A rating from Niche, or more commonly, the Judson Independent School District, which gets a B rating. For younger students in JISD, Royal Ridge Elementary School receives a B-score, while Edward H. White Middle School gets a B-plus. For high schoolers, Roosevelt High School gets a B-score and offers dual enrollment classes along with special academic programs like a Design & Technology Academy.
Packed outdoor amenities at Main City Park
Live Oak has nearly 150 acres of parks and amenities to explore. Live Oak's Main City Park, developed in 1971, sits on 75 acres with multiple athletic components, from a football field to basketball courts and a skatepark. The site also has a lakeside addition, where residents can cast a fishing line or canoe out on the lake. Another favorite spot for outdoor recreation is Woodcrest Nature Park, a 32-acre park where locals can walk or hike along a scenic nature trail while spotting wildlife like deer and native birds like Blue-Winged Teals and Gadwells.
Major medical centers and access to Interstate 35
Easy highway access is a significant perk for Live Oak residents. “A big highlight for Live Oak is that it’s right on Interstate-35, which connects Mexico to Canada, Amezcua says. “So for anyone looking to be close to a major thoroughfare, this is the place to be.” Other public transportation within Live Oak is the Union Pacific Railroad, and the closest Amtrak is 12 miles away in downtown San Antonio. For domestic or international flights, Live Oak is 10 miles east of the San Antonio International Airport, and one of the bigger San Antonio-area medical centers, the Methodist Hospital Northeast, sits within the neighborhood’s boundaries.
Written By
Jessica Haddad
