The Domain, North Austin

North Austin is an expansive area that stretches north of Hyde Park and Crestview into The Domain — one of Austin’s premier mixed-use developments. Envisioned and developed by Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group, The Domain is a shopper’s dream and a top location for employers such as Amazon, Facebook and Google. With hotels, apartments and offices in play on the 300-acre site near North MoPac Expressway and Braker Lane the growth dynamic is in full swing.

The Domain has been so successful that it’s often referred to as “Austin’s other downtown.” Thus real estate traction in the area is strong, attracting home buyers to nearby neighborhoods such as Gracy Woods and North Burnet. The employment basis is projected to increase even more.

Charles Schwab, the financial services company, has invested millions of dollars in a 50-acre campus northeast of The Domain, consolidating 1,900 Austin employees there in the past year and unveiling plans for more space and more employees.

In addition to shopping and entertainment at The Domain another draw is Top Golf, the upscale driving range and entertainment center.

Probably the biggest change in North Austin in the past decade has been the astounding creation and growth of The Domain. The 300-acre site near North MoPac Expressway and Braker Lane was first developed with a regional shopping center. As the Austin economy gained momentum after the Great Recession, The Domain development became a center of commerce with major companies, such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, opening offices there. Today thousands of cool apartments and the Domain Northside retail center have added to the appeal.

For many years, North Austin has been the city’s most diversified cultural neighborhood. Asian families settled in Austin and the Northwest Great Hills area dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. Chinatown on North Lamar Boulevard testifies to the cultural diversity. Today many Hispanics and Asians call North Austin home. It’s an exciting area of change and growth.

The original Domain shopping center includes many large national chains, including Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Dick’s Sporting Goods. During the past couple of years, however, another retail dimension has been unveiled with the debut of Domain Northside. That separate shopping center features some of Austin’s most iconic brands — Raven & Lily, Eliza Page, Bird’s Barbershop and Kelly Wynne, for instance, But there are impressive national anchors, such as Nordstrom, Sephora, Design Within Reach and Apple. Restoration Hardware, shown here, opened one of its most luxurious stores. It’s like getting lost in a castle.

The food options at The Domain rival any city in the country. Fox Restaurant Concepts, a Phoenix-based company, has opened three eateries at The Domain — Flower Child, North Italia Grill and Culinary Dropout. There are beloved local joints too — Lavaca Street Bar, Salvation Pizza, Second Bar + Kitchen, The Dogwood and Hat Creek Burger Co., for instance.

Though not located in The Domain, Top Golf is located right across the street on North Burnet Road. The Dallas-based recreation brand is a big draw for its top notch golfing ranges and meeting facilities. It’s a fun place to hang. All across the North Austin area, you’ll find established neighborhoods and amenities that appeal to a wide range of homeowners.