Options is the name of the game with this duplex on a quarter-acre lot in Hyde Park. Just four blocks off Duval, this side-by-side 1940s duplex is situated on the front portion of a .26 acre lot – or 11,195 square feet of flexible land if you’re counting. 

The duplex is a little tired but livable, and both of the compact 1 bedroom, 1 bath units are currently rented for $1250.00 each with one lease expiring in December 2026 and the other lease expiring in March 2027.  Side A features the original two-inch oak floors, plus original doors and hardware. Side B is the more recently updated.  A chain-link fence splits the backyard between the two units, though it's all one parcel. From the curb it reads as a single yellow clapboard cottage with two front doors, two small gabled porch roofs, and enough setback that the front yard feels generous.

UNIT A:

UNIT B:

It’s the deep quarter-acre lot that backs to the site of the former Ridgetop Elementary School that makes this property exciting. Lots this size rarely come available in this coveted Central Austin neighborhood.  A quarter-acre gives you significant options: 

1) Build multiple units. Austin’s newly-relaxed zoning rules reduced minimum lot sizes and make it much easier to build multiple units on a single lot.  This 11,195 square foot lot has exceptional potential.

You’ll want to explore the zoning constraints yourself, but it’s easy to imagine wiping the lot clean to build multiple units. You could also start small and rehab the duplex while you develop something new on the back section of the lot. Since the current duplex is livable, you also get the option of collecting rent while develop your site plan. The lot is deep enough that a front structure and separate rear structure don't have to compete for the same real estate.

2) Build your dream home. If you’ve given up on finding a house in Central Austin that you actually like at a price that makes sense, then this quarter-acre inside 78751 is a genuinely rare starting point. You get room for a real house, a real yard, a detached studio or garage apartment, and a mature tree canopy already in place – with room to spare. And if you want to hedge, the new rules could potentially let you build your house now and add a second or third unit later, without going back to ask permission.

3) House hack. Live on one side, rent the other, and let a tenant cover a meaningful share of your note while you decide what the long-term plan is. Someone handy who wants to renovate one side while living in the other has a straightforward path here, and the roof, one of a home’s largest capital items, was replaced in 2026.

This is also the lowest-commitment version of the development play. You occupy the duplex, you collect rent from the other side, you watch the neighborhood, and you keep the option to build open indefinitely.  Take a look at the floorplan; seeing the room relationships in advance will tell you quickly whether you're here for the rehab or here for the dirt.

4) College investment. If you have a kid heading to UT, this one deserves a hard look. Let your student live on one side while you rent out the other side and offset the carrying cost. Four years later you own a quarter-acre in Central Austin instead of a stack of dorm receipts, and you still have every development option available to you.

The location works for this specifically. A UT Shuttle is a short distance away on Duval, and the neighborhood is full of grad students, faculty, and young professionals, which means the rental side stays easy to fill. It's a one-bedroom on each side, so this fits a single student or a couple rather than a group house, and that tends to mean fewer tenant headaches.

This property offers the best of Hyde Park living, the convenience of being in Central Austin, and that authentic Austin vibe. Walk toward Duval and you've got Quack's, Julio's, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop all within easy reach. Or venture toward North Loop where you can take your pick from Epoch Coffee, Workhorse, and Foreign & Domestic. Nearby Shipe Park is another major attraction with its pool, playscape, and sports courts. 

Bring your builder, bring your architect, bring a tape measure. You won’t want to miss this chance to create something special in one of the Austin's original and most sought-after neighborhoods.

Reach out to Paul or Marquette Reddam with questions, for the survey and disclosures, or to set up a private showing.

Note: 

• Buyers are encouraged to research current zoning, any tree ordinances that could impact building, and applicable regulations to determine potential use of the land.
• Tenants require 24-hour notice before showing the interior of either unit.

  See it for yourself at the open house

We will be hosting an open house from 1 - 3 pm on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Grab a friend or neighbor and come see this home for yourself!