Hyde Park, nestled in the heart of Austin, Texas, is renowned for its picturesque streets lined with charming bungalows, large tree canopies, and various local businesses where the community gathers.
Located just a short distance north of the University of Texas, the neighborhood is between 38th and 45th streets and Guadalupe and Duval. Later, the area from 45th to 51st Street between Guadalupe and Red River became part of the Hyde Park planning area. Hyde Park was established in the 1890s as the city’s first street car suburb and was developed by Monroe Shipe.
The bungalows, which are the primary style of the area, originating in the early 20th century, embody the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement, offering a window into the area's rich history. The first houses built in the neighborhood were stylistically pretentious examples of late 19th-century domestic architecture. Many of them, such as the Oliphant-Walker House (3900 Avenue C), were built in the Queen Anne style by prominent local citizens. Despite these early promotions, however, sluggish land sales prompted considerable changes in marketing strategies within eight years of Hyde Park’s founding.
Many Hyde Park homes were built as a 2 bed/2 bath, and frequently, the second bedroom had an exterior entrance. This can be confusing to people new to the area, as they are not sure which door is the front door. However, the second exterior door to the second bedroom was so that families could have borders in their second rooms. Many homes in the area were from the Calcasieu Lumber yard kits -- there is a great article on kit homes here. The City of Austin has an inventor of Calcasieu cottages at this site. A recent Hyde Park homes tour featured two Calcasieu cottages on Avenue D, Statesman Article here.
Due to sluggish sales, Shipe ceased advertising the area for the city’s elite and instead portrayed it as a neighborhood for the middle and working classes. In response, Hyde Park’s architectural character shifted to smaller, more modest frame houses. While fairly steady growth characterized the addition throughout the first decades of this century, its greatest building boom occurred between 1924 and 1935. The preponderance of bungalows in the neighborhood resulted from construction during this period. Popular across the nation from the 1910s through the 1930s, bungalows, such as the Charles William Ramsdell House (4002 Avenue H), were often associated with early efforts in suburban development.
The bungalows in Hyde Park are more than just structures; they are the cornerstone of a vibrant community. Their distinctive one-story designs, wide porches, and overhanging eaves create an inviting atmosphere, fostering a sense of closeness among residents. The designs of the homes ideally suited the Texas weather. The large overhangs provided much-needed shade, and the double-hung windows allowed the upper sash to be open and air to flow through the homes in an era that pre-dated air conditioning.
The porches of Hyde Park provided a meeting place for the community throughout time. The close-knit community avoided isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic with porch visits and closing streets to allow the community to continue to interact.
These homes have not only stood the test of time but also encapsulate a unique blend of historic charm and modern living. Preservation efforts by local organizations and residents have been pivotal in maintaining their architectural integrity, ensuring that these historical structures continue to enrich Hyde Park's cultural fabric. Part of Hyde Park is now a local Historic District preserving the homes that are contributing structures in the historic district.
Shipe Park is at the center of the neighborhood, with a recently rebuilt pool, tennis courts, and basketball courts. 43rd Street and Duval is the core of the commercial area with Fresh Plus Grocery store, Asti Italian restaurant, and Quacks bakery. More recent commercial additions in the neighborhood include the converted post office that holds First Light books, with excellent coffee, a Tiny Grocer location, and the Bureau de Post restaurant.
The bungalows of Hyde Park are an integral part of the community, hosting various events and welcoming a diverse range of residents. The bungalows offer a unique experience of historical immersion and community connection. The neighborhood celebrates the architecture in the annual Historic Homes tour, where the community can tour a different selection of homes every year.
As the city of Austin continues to add more and more people, Hyde Park stands out as an example of mixed-use housing. Small apartment complexes are mixed into the community, offering variety to the streetscapes and great density to support the many small businesses in the area. The garage apartment, ADU or Granny flat provides more density and affordable housing in the area. Creating economic and housing diversity for a growing city. Great independent coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants dot the area and allow community members to live their lives comfortably without their cars. The walkability and density combine to support an exciting community that can support many local businesses.
To search for homes of this architecture in Austin, contact our team. To find this style of home all over the country explore the website of our partners Bungalows and Cottages
Want to know more about what it's like to live in Hyde Park? Check out my "A day in the life" article here for all of my favorite spots to frequent.
Always happy to nerd out on old homes -- give us a call!
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