Historic Sparks-Ledesma Home Sold To West Coast Firm

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- A California-based media production firm has purchased the historic Sparks-Ledesma House in East Austin, according to a published report.

In its “Real Estate Roundup” detailing recent real estate transactions, the Austin Business Journal listed the sale of the home at 1306 E. 7th St. to DK Austin LLC of Santa Monica, Calif.

While the purchase price for the 2,692-square-foot property wasn’t disclosed, it’s listed on the county tax rolls as having a value of $625,205.

The historic structure has been used for office space for the last few years. Before its sale, a listing on Loopnet updated one year ago describes the structure as a circa-1900 Victorian-style former home converted to an office building with its historic designation intact.

At the time of that listing, the first floor was occupied by a law firm, the second floor by a consumer credit counseling company and the third floor was vacant. The building is a few blocks from Interstate 35 and downtown, further selling points showcased on Loopnet.

The property is also in close proximity to Plaza Saltillo, an architecturally appealing community focal point inspired by plazas found throughout cities in Mexico. On Sundays, a farmer’s market is staged at the site featuring locally grown goods while musical acts entertain crowds from a permanent staging area for the community outdoor space.

Built in 1998, Plaza Saltillo is named for Austin’s sister city of Saltillo, Mexico. Its features mimic those found south of the border, with traditional benches, courtyard, prominently displayed fountain and bandstand for homegrown musicians.

Some ten years after Plaza Saltillo was built, the city’s mass transit system, Capital Metro, finished construction on an adjacent train station as part of its MetroRail line.

Given such bucolic surroundings, the historic Sparks-Ledesma home is located in “...hot East Austin” as described in the Loopnet ad. Its sale speaks to the growing appeal of properties on the East Side among real estate speculators.

Once a working-class hub comprising primarily a Latino working class, the section of the city has undergone gentrification at a brisk pace the last several years as its appeal grows among investors.