The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
I have lived in the Beacon Hill community for all 18 years of my life and can vouch for this neighborhood being one of the most beautiful and friendliest sides of town.
However, it has not always been this way.
When I reminisce on my youth, I think of not feeling safe going outside. From the constant gunshots and speeding cars at night, to the shady people walking about in the area, I never felt safe to just play outside. Sometimes I would even make my parents stand at the door and watch me take the trash to the curb because I was so afraid.
But that is no longer the case. It seems like the neighborhood got its act together overnight. Neighbors who were making the area unsafe were either arrested or moved away, and the neighborhood has been improving in all aspects. The houses and sidewalks are being rebuilt, and now you’ll see people walking their dogs at all hours of the day — and even at night. It brings me such joy to be able to sit outside with my dog watching the passersby. We especially love relaxing while watching the rain.
The people in Beacon Hill today are beyond friendly, and everyone here treats others as if they are family. There is even a Facebook community dedicated to reporting local neighborhood news to residents. The news is primarily focused on events and crime watching in the neighborhood. We have great people reaching out to us if there’s suspicious activity, which ultimately makes the community much safer and better overall.
Every year in October, Beacon Hill participates in National Night Out, where the community gets together and enjoys food, music and entertainment. On the first Saturday of every month at the roundabout at Blanco Road and Fulton Street, small businesses get together and organize a pop-up market of sorts with canopies and tables lined up wherever they can fit on Blanco. Events like these really make the community come together and feel welcoming.
My absolute favorite thing to do is cruise around by the roundabout, or even go a little further and hit downtown, with my music system in the car turned up and the windows rolled down. Often I’ll stop at Tokyo Mart, a Japanese market that has been around since 1983, to get some essential snacks. My go-tos are milk tea, orange Ramune, and a strawberry frozen wafer, but there’s a great selection of snacks for every taste.
I also enjoy working out at Fit Bound on Basse Road. Fit Bound is a privately owned gym with a welcoming environment where you can feel that the staff is committed to your fitness goals. Fit Bound is a circuit training type of gym. There are time slots to go in and work out for an hour with the workout built for you already. The staff encourages you to do judgment-free challenges in order to push yourself. There are also optional events and runs that the gym will participate in as a group to make sure everyone is included.
The only thing I would change about my neighborhood is the roads. I cannot remember the last time any significant changes were done to the roads on this side of town. The last thing I remember was the city painting the roads to give them a newer look. Despite the new look, the roads around here are horrible, and we really need them to get fixed so we can all drive more safely and smoothly. I would love to go cruising without worrying about hitting a pothole.
Still, if potholes are my biggest complaint, I’d say I’ve got it pretty good here in Beacon Hill. The people, local businesses, and community events make it so you’re sure to have a great time in my neighborhood.
