517 Bouldin Ave, Austin, TX 78704

517 Bouldin Avenue presents a rare and versatile development opportunity in the highly desirable Bouldin Creek neighborhood, with amazing walkability to Austin’s most iconic hot spots from SoCo to South First, Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool and more. This unique and generously flat property spans approximately 1/3 of an acre, 15,000 SF, offering exceptional potential for a custom primary residence or more. The lot has recently been cleared and currently stands as vacant land, providing a clean slate for development in one of Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods. A key feature of this property is its SF-3 zoning, which allows for the development of up to three single-family residences. Alternatively, the property could be subdivided into two separate SF-3 lots, providing flexibility for builders, investors, or those seeking a multi-generational living arrangement. Located in the heart of Austin, 517 Bouldin Avenue is an outstanding opportunity for urban convenience + residential living, and those looking to create something truly special in one of Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Buyer to verify all information, deed restrictions and zoning requirements.

517 Bouldin Ave stands out for one reason first: 0.344 acres of unimproved land in Bouldin Creek, in Austin 78704, is a substantial site in a part of the city where buildable parcels are limited and closely watched. Priced at $1.50M, this tract sits in Travis County within Austin ISD, with Becker Elementary, Lively Middle, and Travis High in the school path, which matters for buyers and builders weighing both immediate use and future resale.

The site measures roughly one third of an acre, or about 15,000 square feet, and the current condition adds practical value. The lot has been cleared and is now vacant land, which gives a buyer a cleaner starting point for planning, budgeting, and entitlement work than a teardown scenario often does. This is listed as Land - Unimproved Land, so the opportunity here is not about updating an existing structure. It is about controlling a sizable piece of 78704 dirt and using it well.

The development angle is what gives this property real leverage. Per the provided remarks, the SF-3 zoning creates flexibility that is increasingly difficult to find in central Austin. A buyer could pursue a custom primary residence, plan for up to three single-family residences, or study a subdivision into two separate SF-3 lots, subject to verification of zoning requirements, deed restrictions, and all other development standards. That range of potential matters because it widens the buyer pool. End users, investors, and builders are not solving for the same outcome, and this parcel leaves room for more than one strategy.

Location is the other half of the equation. The remarks point to walkability to SoCo, South First, Zilker Park, and Barton Springs Pool, which reinforces why Bouldin addresses continue to command attention. In this segment of Austin, land value is driven by what cannot be replicated easily: central placement, neighborhood recognition, school path, and enough site area to create optionality. With 273 days on market, the listing has also been available long enough for serious buyers to study it carefully rather than chase it on impulse.

For a buyer who understands central Austin land, 517 Bouldin Ave is a position play: a cleared 0.344 acre site in Bouldin with flexible development potential, established school assignments, and long-term value tied to scarcity in one of the city’s most durable urban neighborhoods.

Bouldin Creek has more James Beard Award nominees per block than any neighborhood in Texas. That is not an exaggeration you would find in a tourism brochure. It is a reflection of what happens when a formerly working-class neighborhood south of the river becomes the center of gravity for Austin's most ambitious restaurant talent while somehow keeping its tree-lined streets and quirky residential character intact.

The neighborhood occupies the triangle between South First Street, South Congress Avenue, and Oltorf Street in the 78704 zip code, with Lady Bird Lake forming its northern boundary. Downtown Austin is literally across the bridge. You can walk to the lake in five minutes, bike downtown in ten, and reach Austin-Bergstrom airport in about 20 minutes. Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool are immediately to the west. The South Congress shopping and dining corridor runs along the eastern edge, which means you live adjacent to one of Austin's biggest tourist draws without actually being in the middle of it.

The housing stock tells the story of the neighborhood's evolution. About 35 percent of the homes are original Austin bungalows and Craftsman cottages from the 1910s through 1940s, many of them lovingly maintained or thoughtfully updated. Another 30 percent are modern custom builds from 2010 forward, the kind with clean lines, rooftop decks, and walls of windows that signal serious architectural intent. Mid-century ranch homes account for 15 percent, and you will find a scattering of L-plan cottages, contemporary townhomes, and duplex conversions filling the remaining gaps. Lot sizes are modest by Austin standards, typically a tenth of an acre or less for the older homes. Prices range from around $600,000 for a smaller bungalow needing work to well over $2 million for a new-construction modern on a corner lot. The price per square foot is among the highest in South Austin because you are paying for location as much as the structure.

Bouldin Creek falls within Austin ISD. The neighborhood school is Becker Elementary, with Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School serving the older grades. Austin ISD has faced enrollment challenges citywide, and some families in Bouldin do opt for private or charter alternatives. That said, Becker has an engaged parent community and a strong neighborhood identity. The proximity to UT Austin also means access to university-affiliated programs and resources that benefit the broader area.

The lifestyle here is defined by walkability and the density of independent businesses within a few blocks of home. Mornings might start at Bouldin Creek Cafe, the longstanding vegetarian spot that has been a neighborhood anchor for decades, or Elizabeth Street Cafe for Vietnamese coffee and pastries. Lunch could be Home Slice Pizza on South Congress or a smoked brisket plate at Terry Black's. For dinner, you are choosing between Lenoir's hot-weather food concept, Odd Duck's ever-changing farm-to-table menu, or Perla's patio for oysters and people-watching. On weekends, Barton Springs Pool is the communal living room. The West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt provides a shaded walking loop, and Zilker Park hosts everything from kite festivals to trail running. The neighborhood still has a strong creative identity, with working artists, musicians, and small business owners living alongside tech professionals and young families.

Bouldin Creek sits at a unique intersection in Austin's market. It is more expensive than Travis Heights to the east and Galindo to the south, but it delivers walkability and dining access that neither can match. Compared to Zilker, the lots are smaller but the neighborhood feel is stronger. Compared to Clarksville north of the river, you get a similar village character at a slightly lower price point with better restaurant density. The key distinction is that Bouldin is genuinely walkable to both Lady Bird Lake and South Congress without requiring a car, which is rare in Austin.

Bouldin Creek makes the most sense for buyers who prioritize daily walkability over square footage. If eating at a different excellent restaurant every night of the week without starting your car sounds like the right way to live, this is your neighborhood. It works well for couples, professionals, and smaller families who want to be in the center of Austin's food and cultural scene while still having a quiet, residential street to come home to. Larger families who need significant yard space or top-tier public school ratings may want to look further south or west, but for everyone else, this is as close to urban village living as Austin gets.