Pflugerville

In the Austin suburbs, Blackhawk is Pflugerville’s largest and oldest master-planned community, but it continues to grow. Cassandra Ruiz is a Pflugerville Realtor with Compass RE Texas who has sold several Blackhawk homes. She admires how family-oriented the neighborhood is. “Any time you drive in Blackhawk, you’re going to see kids on their bikes, people walking their dogs and waving at each other.” Part of what makes this community so coveted is access to neighborhood amenities, including pools, green spaces, events at the amenity center and a golf course. With highly rated schools and versatile shopping centers nearby, the neighborhood offers close-knit subdivisions without sacrificing convenience. “It’s the only community in the area that is continuing to grow and build,” Ruiz says. "It's really bringing in the numbers to Pflugerville because when people say they want to move to this area, no doubt they are talking about Blackhawk.” There are over 6,200 homes in the subdivisions of Blackhawk, offering a wide variety of styles, sizes and prices. The architecture here is often brick or stone Craftsman-inspired homes with two-car garages. Construction continues as more lots are created. “There’s a lot of growth for people who want to live in a city like Pflugerville but want a little bit of extra land as if they were living on the outskirts,” Ruiz says. “Blackhawk is going to be selling ½ acres lots in the near future.” Residents of the Fairways at Blackhawk enjoy backyard views of the links and dense deciduous trees that provide privacy in the summer. Prices start just under $400,000 for a three-bedroom and go as high as the mid $800,000s for a five-bedroom.   Part of the Pflugerville Independent School District, school assignments depend highly on zoning. For example, students living in the Lakeside subdivision will attend Rowe Lane Elementary, which scores an A on Niche. “Blackhawk is a hub for a lot of kids because there are schools in the neighborhood,” Ruiz says. “Rowe Lane is a phenomenal school.” Kelly Lane Middle has an A-minus rating, while Hendrickson High earns an A. Other options include Riojas Elementary, A-minus; Cele Middle, B-plus; and Weiss High, B-minus. Pflugerville ISD offers several career and technical programs where students can gain hands-on experience in agriculture, audio/video, business and health sciences.   Residents can navigate the neighborhood on hike-and-bike trails that lead to destinations like the Blackhawk Amenity Center. Members of The Park at Blackhawk and Lakeside Homeowner Associations have access to the outdoor pool and indoor gym. On the community’s east side, Avalon Community Center has another pool and a basketball court. The third pool is located in the Meadows of Blackhawk subdivision. There are several parks throughout the neighborhood. Secluded Willow Park is tucked between Secluded Willow Cove and Kelly Lane, and the picnic pavilion overlooks the sprouting fountain in the middle of a pond. The community’s namesake, Blackhawk Golf Club, was established in 1990 and is one of the area’s oldest residents. Outside of the neighborhood, Lake Pflugerville is close by. Its 3-mile radius is ideal for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.   Subdivisions have their own social calendars. The Blackhawk Amenity Center has Food Truck Fridays and movie nights at the pool. Pflugerville hosts celebrations that bring the entire community together. A popular event is Deutschen Pfest, akin to Octoberfest. “Fest is a play on words and spelled Pfest,” Ruiz says. “That’s what we do for everything.” In the summer, there’s Pfishing Day at Lake Pflugerville and the weekly Pfarmers Market. Residents can celebrate the holiday season in December with the Pfestival of Lights and Christmas Parade.      Stone Hill Town Center is just outside of Blackhawk but acts as a shopping hub for most of northern Pflugerville. It’s home to Costco, Target, a movie theater and a few casual dining options, including Torchy’s Tacos. The chain started in Austin and is still a local favorite, especially for its queso. “When I have clients looking in Blackhawk, I’ll always take them to Torchy’s for lunch because you really can’t go wrong,” Ruiz says. For local distilled spirits, Spirit of Texas Independent Distillery blends industrial necessity with local dining. Since 2009, Spirit of Texas has been owned and operated by a Pflugerville native, crafting small-batch, top-shelf spirits. There are plenty of grocery shopping options. “We now have our choice between three different H-E-Bs,” Ruiz says. “Pflugerville is just about to get a brand new one about five minutes from Blackhawk.”  About 25 miles from Downtown Austin, Blackhawk residents can easily commute to major tech employers in the area, including Motorola and Samsung. The centrally located neighborhood is close to the intersection of Highway 130 and Highway 45, the latter of which intersects with the Mopac Expressway, providing access to the west side of Austin. A drive to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will take around 20 to 30 miles.  Blackhawk has a CAP Index score of 2, below the national average of 4.

Given Austin's explosive growth in recent years, central Texas residents in search of more affordable housing options have moved out of the city to nearby areas, including Pflugerville, about 30 miles north of the capital city. Real estate broker Regan Burris, owner of The Burris Group and former Pflugerville resident, says of the area, “The whole Austin real estate market has skyrocketed with all of the high-tech jobs, and that’s pushed people out to places like Pflugerville.” Realtor and current Pflugerville resident Michelle Burns echoes that sentiment. “The area has blown up,” she says. “So many families are moving here because they want the great schools and they want all the parks and other amenities.” Offering easy access to both Highway 45 and Interstate 35, Western Gilleland makes it easier for residents to get south to Austin, north to Dallas or west to Round Rock, though the area’s notorious traffic can add time to commutes. Besides, today’s residents of Western Gilleland have fewer reasons to travel far from home, as Pflugerville’s growth also has brought amenities to what was little more than a sleepy little town just a few decades ago. Sidewalks throughout the neighborhood make it very walkable, and Capital Metro has multiple bus stops along the neighborhood’s southern border to serve those without their own transportation. Multiple neighborhood parks mean that residents of Western Gilleland have plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities nearby. Zola Park and Cambridge Heights Park are both located in the northern section of the neighborhood, and both offer visitors access to playgrounds and open space for play or relaxation. North Park is situated in the southern portion of the neighborhood, offering another playground for area residents. The Gilleland Creek Trail begins in Western Gilleland, and extends for more than 6 miles through the city, offering residents a paved path for walking, jogging or riding their bikes. Outlaw Paintball has multiple paintball fields where individuals or groups can test their skills against others in a fun environment suitable for all skill levels. For some indoor fun, residents head to Austin’s Amusement Center, with a full video arcade, laser tag and bowling, as well as bumper boats and go-karts. Golfers can practice their swing at The Golf Driving Range, and fitness fanatics can get their workout in at Planet Fitness. The majority of homes in Western Gilleland are newer construction, with a median construction year of 1998. Architectural styles range from modest ranch-style homes to chic modern-style houses. The median price of real estate in Western Gilleland is $360,000, and buyers should expect to pay an average of $229 per square foot. A two-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home can sell for around $238,000, and prices can go up to $700,000 for a four-bedroom/two-bathroom ranch-style. “It’s a buyer’s market,” says Burns. “Houses are staying on the market for longer periods of time, and that’s pushing prices down. There are definitely some bargains in the area.” Western Gilleland is districted to the Pflugerville Independent School District, which earns an overall grade of A-minus from Niche. Students in the neighborhood can attend Caldwell Elementary, Pflugerville Middle and Pflugerville High School. Caldwell earns a B from Niche, Pflugerville Middle earns a B-minus and Pflugerville High School earns an A-minus. Students at Pflugerville High School can participate in over 20 school-sponsored clubs, and they have the opportunity to play 20 varsity-level sports. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of several private schools in the area, including St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, which is rated as the best private school in the Austin area by Niche. There is also plenty of shopping in the neighborhood, with H-E-B located in the neighborhood’s northern section for groceries and Target in the northwestern corner for home necessities. Baylor Scott & White Hospital is located a mile east of the neighborhood for any unplanned medical needs, and Round Rock Crossing is located in the neighborhood’s northwestern corner, where shoppers will find Best Buy, Michael’s and other retailers. When dining out is on the menu, Casa Garcia's is a local favorite, serving up authentic Mexican cuisine and a range of specialty cocktails in a casual, family-friendly setting.