Until recently, Southeast Austin has been one of the more undesirable and forgotten parts of town to live. What used to be a pass through for travelers heading to the airport or a place for a commercial or industrial office building, has slowly transformed itself into a great place for someone looking to be close to Downtown Austin at an affordable price.
Building Boom Planned for Southeast Austin
Over the last few years, especially with the completion of COTA (Circuit of the Americas concert venue and race track), Southeast Austin has been priming itself for a huge building boom. Investors and developers are purchasing large tracts for development of mixed-use projects, large master-planned communities and intriguing entertainment venues. The upcoming Southeast Austin building boom will be the largest in over 15 years.
New Southeast Austin Neighborhoods
Presently, Southeast Austin neighborhoods are a little spotty and do not provide residents much of a true neighborhood feel. Even though there are a few popular neighborhoods like Onion Creek, Addison and McKinney Heights, there hasn’t been a neighborhood that has attracted a strong reaction from home buyers. With what’s planned, that’s about to change.
Vista Point
Vista Point is a new KB home community that broke ground earlier this year (2015). This 89-acre community will offer 344 well-appointed homes priced from the mid $200,000s. Positioned at the intersection of William Cannon and McKinney Falls Parkway, Vista Point is conveniently located to IH-35 and Hwy. 183, only 10 miles from Downtown Austin and close to the popular McKinney Falls State Park.
Easton Park
Easton Park is expected to be the crown jewel of Southeast Austin. With 7 builders building over 5,000 homes, this master-planned community will be the largest built in South Austin since Circle C with the best 50×100 metal buildings with living quarters. Opening Fall 2015, Easton Park will have 1,500 acres of amenities including multiple pools, onsite schools, 13.1 miles of trails and over 300 acres of park space. Bryant Park and Knob Hill are the first two neighborhoods under construction with prices starting in the mid $200,000’s.
Mixed-Use Projects
Although the details of all the mixed use projects have yet to be released, there are at least 4 projects that are scheduled to begin construction in 2016 and 2017. These projects will include large office parks, retail spaces, multi-family dwellings and educational spaces.
One project that has been announced and will benefit from the COTA track is Finspeed. Known for their high performance wheels, Finspeed has planned to move their entire operations from Missouri to Southeast Austin. They will be building their new campus on 25 acres of land directly across from the Circuit of the Americas Track.
Another exciting project is the new St. Elmo Mixed Used Project. The plans for this 40,000 square foot public market will include the new Saxon Pub, 25+ retail spaces, a boutique hotel, residential condos, a brewery and beer garden. Although the location of the St. Elmo project is just on the outskirts of Southeast Austin, this mixed-use area is close enough to benefit the residents of the area.
Entertainment Ventures
If you love to surf or just water activities in general, you’ll welcome the new NLand Surf Park slated to open in 2016. This 160-acre park will be the first inland surfing destination in the United States. The plans for the park is to be a net-zero water user with over 9 football fields of recreation space for novice to professionals. It will also satisfy the ocean withdrawal for all the new California transplants to the area.
Southeast Austin Expected to be Highly Sought After in 3-5 Years
With as much vacant land available in Southeast Austin, more projects are definitely in the works. It used to be that COTA was the lone wolf with nothing for miles around. As that’s turned into a world class draw, the need and desire to improve the area is a must. Over the next 3-5 years, Southeast Austin is expected to be one of the more sought-after areas in Austin. As the urban sprawl continues to spread away from Downtown, Southeast Austin is primed to be the perfect location to house Austin’s growing population. From easy access to major highways to the quick commute to the airport, Southeast Austin has the potential to become the number 1 area to move in the Austin Metro Area.
Considering Buying in Southeast Austin?
Our team of buyer’s agents know Southeast Austin well. We can help you find the best neighborhood for you and your family. And, with a combined 58+ years of experience, there isn’t much we haven’t seen or experienced in a real estate transaction. For more info about our team and how we work, check out our Austin Home Buyers section. Then, call us at (512) 827-8323, email us at info@11OaksRealty.com or fill out our Buyer Survey to get started.
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