Originally developed in 1891 by Monroe Martin Shipe as a streetcar suburb, the central Austin neighborhood of Hyde Park balances modern urban influences with an emphasis on historical preservation.  With architecture ranging from large Tudor-style residences to modern apartment complexes, from office buildings to small bungalows, this contrast is not hard to see. 

The northern border of Hyde Park is formed by 48th Street and the University of Texas, the east by Duval, the south by 38th, and the west by Guadalupe.  This ideal location is less than five minutes from downtown Austin, the backbone for the neighborhood’s urban feel.  Nearly half residential and half commercial, Hyde Park is home to nearly 14,000 residents, appealing to working class families, graduate students, and professors at the University of Texas.   

Despite its centralized urban location, Hyde Park remains a small, familiar neighborhood that caters to people of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds.  Friends and neighbors are likely to run into each other in coffee shops, retail stores, and the local FreshPlus Grocery Store.  In addition, as part of the A.I.S.D., children in Hyde Park attend Lee Elementary School and Kealing Junior High together before heading to McCallum High once they graduate.

Because of the great diversity in living situations, housing prices vary drastically.  In 2006, the median house price per square foot was $240.  This figure is roughly $60 less than that for apartments and condominiums downtown. The majority of Hyde Park residents, however, rent their properties and last year apartment rates started at $400/ month.  On the other hand, 3,000 square foot homes began at $2800/month.