Your Expert Guide

Central Austin: A trio of historically elegant neighborhoods with lots of style

Agent Kirk Lewis.

Photo courtesy of Kuper Sotheby's International Realty

There are so many great places to live in Austin that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Kuper Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Pemberton, Old Enfield, and Clarksville are three neighborhoods that are typically lumped together as "Central Austin." But, as real estate agent Kirk Lewis knows, each plays an important part in creating the area's charm.

"This is by far my favorite part of town and I have always wanted to live here," says Lewis, who has called the area home for the past five years. "It just has one of the best overall feelings of that 'old Austin coolness' that I know of."

The large house and trees are an obvious draw, but Lewis also cites the walkability to Pease Park and nearby shops and restaurants.

Lewis offered up a few more of his personal favorites about life in this trio of neighborhoods. Here's his guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Stroll over to Josephine House and Jeffrey's, or swing by Cipolina, Taco Flats, and Galaxy Cafe.

Where to play
Spend some peaceful time in Pease Park or head downtown for your pick of entertainment options.

What to see
"The Pease Mansion is the centerpiece to the entire neighborhood sitting on five acres, right in the middle," Lewis says.

Where to live
"This area is home to some of the most iconic Colonial style homes," says Lewis. "Old Enfield also has many Tudor and Italian Renaissance styles."

Homes here range from large estates of 10,000 square feet or more to small cottages tucked along the tree-lined streets — truly something for everyone.

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Kirk Lewis lives, works, and plays in Central Austin. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email kirk.lewis@sothebysrealty.com, or call 512-422-2495.

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Howdy, Neighbor

City of Austin checks in for new short-term rental rule debates

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

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Austinites may be friendly, but the city as a whole fosters many conflicting feelings about vacation rentals. A January memo from assistant city manager Veronica Briseño alerts the City Council that some proposed changes are coming regarding regulating short-term rentals (STRs).

The changes will have to go through several filters first: public meetings plus separate Planning Commission and City Council meetings in February and April. The memo says "the changes will apply to a significant number of properties throughout the City."

It's difficult to summarize or forecast concerns associated with STRs, because they vary widely depending on changing factors. It's not just who's visiting and how well they behave, but whether or not the homeowners are properly licensed, what each platform's changing policies are, and of course how well either can enforce these things.

Austin has taken swings at creating a system that works, but some court rulings have rendered them unenforceable. Here are some (not all) topics mentioned in the January memo and attached working ordinances:

Changing STR provisions to make them an additional (accessory) use to all residential uses, in zoning terms
Adding density caps on STR owners and operators
Allowing "existing STRs to continue provided that the STR does not become a nuisance and property ownership remains the same"
Making sure STRs fit into their quiet, residential neighborhoods
Avoiding increasing affordability issues
Giving more options for enforcement
Encouraging preserving rather than demolishing buildings in accordance with the HOME Initiative

Before any public meetings, there will be a virtual info session Tuesday, January 21, from 11 am to 1 pm. There will also be three more in-person sessions (listed in at the same link) January 22, 23, and 27 in various locations.

The first meeting scheduled is for the Joint Planning Commission and City Council on Tuesday, February 4, at 1 pm at City Hall. A full schedule of meetings publicinput.com.

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