Beacon Hill Neighborhood Profile

Beacon Hill is a small neighborhood nestled in Midtown, which is approximately 2.5 miles away from downtown San Antonio. This is a largely residential community that is known for the older homes and architecture that lines the streets of this community. Though many of the homes had fallen into decay, recently there is a revitalization effort to restore the homes and streets to their former glory. For this reason, Beacon Hill is an up-and-coming neighborhood that is beginning to thrive once again.

The boundaries of are:

• Hildebrand Avenue on the North
• Fredericksburg Rd on the South
• Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the East
• Blanco Rd on the West

Population: 4,657
Median Age: 33
Homes: 2,200
Median Housing Cost: $95,750
Median Income: $39,019
ZIP Code: 78212
Post Office: 914 Bandera Rd,
Fire Dept.: 115 Auditorium Cir
City Public Service (electricity): 145 Navarro St
Bexar Met Water District: 1001 E Market St

There are many Victorian-style and Bungalow homes in Beacon Hill. Many of these were built in the early 1900s. Despite this, Beacon Hill does not have historical status, which is good for those hunting for housing bargains. The lack of historical status means cheaper homes, with the average home costing just over $95K. Many of these homes have been renovated and turned into apartment or rental housing. The average rental price in Beacon Hill is just $537. The area is great for singles or couples without children though several families also reside in Beacon Hill.

Beacon Hill elementary schools are Agnes Cotton Elementary School and Beacon Hill Elementary. The middle school is Twain Middle School and the high school is Thomas Edison.

Beacon Hill was once a very sought-after neighborhood to live in, with it's tall Victorian-style homes and central location near downtown. But as the flight to the suburbs took place, many houses were abandoned and became eyesores or even dangers. Through the Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association (BHANA) and several grants, many homes and streets have been restored to their previous glory. Many of the homes have been updated while not losing their early-1900's charm. For more info on BHANA and their goals, call (210) 396-3688.

The biggest thing to see in Beacon Hill is the architecture. Because the neighborhood is so small there is not a lot to see in terms of dining or shopping but the homes themselves become the entertainment. A leisurely drive through the quiet streets of Beacon Hill will show the types of homes that were built at the turn of the century and the popularity of different types of architecture of that time. Though Beacon Hill has mostly Bungalow and Victorian styles, there are several converted duplexes and fourplexes where you can still see some throwback architecture.