- Schools: Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle School, McCallum High School
- Year Homes Built: 1940s
- Average List Price: $419,000 (Source: MLS October 2015)
- Style of Homes: Bungalow, Modern
- Nearby Restaurants:Â The Mediterranean Chef, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, Threadgill’s
- Nearby Attractions & Amenities: Brentwood Park & Pool, Crestview Shopping Center
Bordered by Burnet Road to the west, Lamar Blvd to the east, 45th Street to the south and Justin Lane to the north, Brentwood is a popular neighborhood in north central Austin with a rich history dating back to the late 1940s. Today, its proximity to the university as well as many of Austin’s high-tech companies makes it home to a strong community of tech professionals, professors, students and families as well as some of the area’s original residents.
The land that makes up modern-day Brentwood was originally used for dairy and cotton farming. In 1946, the City of Austin annexed most of the neighborhood and also bought land for a school and neighborhood park. Many of the area’s first homes – predominantly two- and three-bedroom bungalows – were purchased post WW II by GIs who returned from the war and wanted to start families. Nowadays, those bungalows – typically one story with a low to medium pitched roof and a simple, rectangular shape – sit alongside newer structures, including modern homes as well as some larger apartment buildings and condominiums.
The neighborhood is divided by a wide creek, Arroyo Seco, on which stand many trees that were planted in February 1993 through a special Texas Parks and Recreation Department fund. The creek and the neighborhood’s many tree-lined streets give Brentwood a peaceful feel despite the fact that it is surrounded by major thoroughfares on every side. In addition, nine-acre Brentwood Park provides residents open space to exercise and socialize, including tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a soccer field, playgrounds, basketball courts, a volleyball court and a swimming pool, which is free of charge and includes a baby pool – and plans for additional green space include a neighborhood dog park.
Brentwood residents don’t have to go far in any direction to access a variety of shopping and restaurant options. For more than 60 years, the Crestview Shopping Center has been part of the community, with four businesses in continuous operation since the early 1950s. Plus, Burnet Road seems to be turning out more retail and dining options by the day. And let’s not forget Lamar Blvd, which boasts, among other things, Threadgill’s, the beer-joint-turned-restaurant where Janis Joplin got her start.
One of the most highly anticipated events in Brentwood is the annual Violet Crown Festival. It takes place at Brentwood Elementary and brings together residents for a day-long festival of music, food and artist booths, and kids’ activities and provides attendees an opportunity to learn more about the neighborhood’s history. Speaking of learning, students from the neighborhood attend Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle School, and McCallum High School, the latter two of which have distinguished fine arts academies in addition to their regular well-regarded programs.
Although by no means inexpensive due to its ideal location and the generally high price of Austin real estate, Brentwood neighborhood still has a lower entry point than other central Austin neighborhoods. The median home price of Brentwood is currently $419,000, with 15 active listings and an average of 18 days on the market.
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