Historic downtown home on market for $4.495M

Built in 1876, the McDonald-McGowan House is one of the oldest and most historic in the city. Among other notable uses, it has served as a residence to mayors and governors over the years. Now the property, with a brick house that is a stunning example of Second Empire architecture, has been restored to honor the original design and is on the market for almost $5 million.

Located in Downtown Austin just south of the University of Texas Campus, the three-story home has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a total of 4,322 square feet of living space. The house has wood floors, high windows, built-in bookshelves, crown molding, French doors, three fireplaces (including one in the master bedroom), and many other historic or historically appropriate features.

The city-landmarked home also features a large backyard garden and separate carriage house, a balcony, a brick patio, a gazebo, and parking for five cars.

While the property retains a number of historic features that made appropriate to a single-family home, it has clearly been modified over the years for office use as well.

Downstairs are a large kitchen, exposed brick walls, and what looks like an enclosed porch or sunroom that leads to a screened-in porch that echoes the balcony upstairs.

There’s a shaded patio and carriage house in back, as well as several parking spaces on the property.

• 1802 Lavaca Street [Eric Moreland, Moreland Properties]