North Loop

North Loop is a compact neighborhood just north of Hyde Park, built around the commercial strip of the same name. The housing is mostly small mid-century bungalows and duplexes on modest lots, which has historically made it one of the more attainable entry points into Central Austin. It has also made it a steady redevelopment target, so new construction and original 1940s cottages sit side by side.

The North Loop commercial strip is the draw: vintage clothing, record stores, bookshops, and coffee that has been there long enough to be an institution. It is the kind of retail that has largely been priced out of the rest of Central Austin, and the neighborhood is protective of it. Everything else is close. Hyde Park is a short walk south, Airport Boulevard and the rail line give access east, and downtown is a manageable bike ride.