East Central Austin

East Austin

Austin's downtown skyline may garner a glut of glamorous postcard publicity, but the area east of Interstate 35 is quickly becoming a hotbed of revitalization and growth.

From cosmopolitan chic to longstanding mom-and-pop corner shops, Austin's East Side is a melting pot of urban cultures, historical significance and economic development. It also is home to Huston-Tillotson College, the Texas State Cemetery and such landmark destination restaurants as Juan-in-a-Million, Joe's Bakery, Gene's, Hoover's and El Azteca.

Not surprisingly, the 78702 and 78721 ZIP codes have seen an influx of development and revitalization as local singles, musicians, artists and young professionals turn their eyes toward East Austin's affordable housing and prime proximity to the downtown entertainment district, Towne Lake and Interstate 35.

While slick, new condos such as the Pedernales Lofts (priced from $96,000 to $200,000) have attracted a lot of attention, it is the decades-old homes that comprise the majority of the area's housing. Many of the homes in the 78702 area are small in size and are in need of repair. However, these are precisely the qualities that are attracting the area's growing new population.

Most houses are two bedrooms and average 800 square feet. They sell for about $121 per square foot. A lot of the homes are 80-years-old. Most of them don't have garages or air-conditioning, and they may need foundation work.

Homes in the 78721 ZIP code are newer and average about $80,000 and were built in the late 80´s and early 90´s.

The 78702/78721 ZIP codes in East Austin are roughly bordered by Interstate 35 on the West; Martin Luther King Blvd. on the North; Ed Bluestein Blvd. on the East and Town Lake to the South.

French Place

Best described as a mixture of the past, present and future, French Place is a hodgepodge of greenery, homes, businesses and people. Small, one-story houses intersperse larger, multiple-story dwellings along wide streets, shaded by a wide variety of trees, bushes and in some places, bamboo.

French Place is often mentioned in conjunction with the neighborhood Cherrywood. It is in actuality a subdivision of the neighborhood Cherrywood located in zip code 78722, and includes the pricier Wilshire Woods.

Cherrywood is defined by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Manor Road on the south, Airport Boulevard to the east and Interstate 35 to the west, and is located a few miles from the University of Texas and downtown Austin.

French Place was originally owned by the Giles family in the 1940s. Once known as Giles Two, the area expanded slowly until the 1980s, a period of change and extreme growth in the neighborhood.

Today, French Place houses a diverse group of residents, ranging in all ages and all backgrounds.

Its central and convenient location, coupled with the environment residents have cultivated, make French Place one of the most attractive neighborhoods in central Austin for homebuyers of all types.

Residents have quick access to neighborhood restaurants, grocery stores and other retail services. Among a few neighborhood highlights are the supermarket Fiesta, and the local eatery Hoover's.

French Place is generally known as one of Austin's older neighborhoods, containing a great deal of "starter homes," mostly two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes with 900 to 1,200 square feet of living space. Prices for the homes range from $150,000 to $250,000. Children in the neighborhood attend Maplewood Elementary, Kealing Junior High School and McCallum High School. Area parks include Alamo Parkland Recreation Center and Patterson Park.

Utilities are provided by the City of Austin.