For nearly three years, parents and kids strolling through Clarksville often made an extra stop on their neighborhood walk.
Behind the gates of 1411 W. 10th St., giant stuffed gorillas lounged beneath the property’s towering oak tree. Stuffed monkeys dangled from the branches overhead, and a life-sized giraffe stood watch over the front yard.
What began as homeowner David Schofman’s attempt to clear out years’ worth of oversized stuffed animals during the COVID-19 pandemic evolved into an unofficial front-yard zoo that became a fixture for families in the neighborhood.
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Now, the sprawling Clarksville property behind those gates is searching for its next owner.
The home at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026, seen from behind the pool in the backyard.
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The living room at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The kitchen, featuring two islands, at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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An upstairs bathroom with a view of the downtown skyline at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The primary bedroom at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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Yellow tile and a colorful sink in an upstairs bathroom at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The dining room at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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Wallpaper in a downstairs bathroom at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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A bedroom in the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The kitchen in the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026. The guesthouse is a separate home with its own address behind the primary home.
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Carved columns decorate the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The home at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026, seen from behind the pool in the backyard.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
A large oak tree grows in the yard at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The garage apartment above the guest house has large windows and vaulted ceilings at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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A drum set in the garage apartment above the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026. The space has been used as a school, office space and features a kitchen.
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The kitchen in the garage apartment above the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
A reading corner in the garage apartment above the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
The primary bedroom at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
The kitchen at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
A compound in the heart of Clarksville
Listed for $6.5 million, the estate at 1411 W. 10th St. offers something increasingly difficult to find in Central Austin: space. The property spans two lots (each with independent water and electricity services), includes multiple living structures and boasts sweeping views of downtown, all in one of the city’s oldest and most desirable neighborhoods.
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The home is listed by Wendi Slaton Anderson, the same agent who helped Schofman and his wife, jewelry designer Wendy Wells, purchase the property for $1.2 million in 2006. The family moved in a year later, following an extensive renovation, and has continued to update the property ever since.
The primary residence, built in 1925, includes five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, with much of the home’s original character still intact. Some original flooring remains, as do colorful design elements and stained-glass accents preserved from previous owners.
The staircase from the kitchen at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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The family added large windows throughout the home to maximize natural light and take advantage of views overlooking the backyard, pool and downtown skyline. During the winter months, when leaves fall from surrounding trees, the city skyline comes fully into view.
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The primary suite offers panoramic views of both the pool and downtown. The bathroom — renovated between 2022 and 2023 — includes what Anderson described as a “dream closet” inspired by Wells’ design sensibilities.
The kitchen was renovated with entertaining in mind. And outside, the guitar-shaped swimming pool — installed by the property’s previous owners, who were musicians — stretches 60 to 70 feet long and is 13 feet deep.
Schofman said his three daughters often walked home with friends after school and enjoyed all the neighborhood had to offer.
“This has always been a big party house,” Schofman said. “The pool was like the neighborhood pool.”
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Beyond the main home, the property unfolds almost like a campus. The backyard serves as a centerpiece, connecting the three separate residences.
A half guitar-shaped pool in the backyard at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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A connection to Gov. Ann Richards — and rental income potential
One of the two lots that make up the present-day compound was once owned by former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, deed records show. While Schofman said Richards likely never lived in the house herself, her ownership has occasionally complicated renovation projects because of heightened scrutiny that accompanies historic review.
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The two-bedroom cottage originally stood apart from the main residence, operating as its own property. Today, it functions as a fully integrated part of the compound, aside from the separate utilities.
“We get a lot of house guests that stay here,” Schofman said. “It’s been a place for people to pass out, and it’s been a changing room, a pool house, a snack area.”
Schofman and Wells further expanded the property in 2008, replacing what had been a deteriorating shed with a new structure tucked toward the rear of the lot, on top of the cottage. The 925-square-foot apartment features vaulted ceilings and large windows, offering a clear view of downtown Austin. It also includes a full kitchen and bathroom. The finished living space has served as Schofman’s office, a music room for the couple’s daughters and a homeschool classroom for one of their children.
Below, there is parking for two cars.
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Because the property boasts separate living spaces and utility connections, future owners could use the secondary structures for long-term tenants, guest accommodations or short-term rentals.
“These would both rent very quickly, and for top dollar,” Anderson said.
The view of the downtown skyline from garage apartment above the guest house at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
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A neighborhood in transition
The property’s deep historical roots are unsurprising for Clarksville.
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Founded in 1871 by freedman Charles Clark, the neighborhood’s mature trees shade narrow streets lined with older homes, even as redevelopment increasingly reshapes the area.
The alley behind the property once served as a thoroughfare between West 9th and West 10th streets and was just wide enough, Schofman said, for horse-and-buggy traffic.
Families still walk home from nearby Mathews Elementary School and spend afternoons at West Austin Neighborhood Park, just down the block.
But the home itself is not immune to the wave of high-density projects. A new condominium project is rising directly behind the property, and the estate sits on land that could support substantially more development.
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Anderson said the lot could accommodate as much as 15,000 square feet, while existing structures total just under 7,000 square feet.
“You could certainly reconfigure the spaces — you could add square footage, you could knock this down and build a 5,000-square-foot house,” Anderson said. “There are a lot of different possibilities.”
Anderson said multiple developers have already expressed interest.
“It would be sad to see it go, but at the same time, we recognize what an amazing lot it is and what an awesome opportunity it is,” she said. “If you’re trying to get more density in the area, this is a great way to do it.”
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One feature is certain to remain: The massive oak tree anchoring the front yard has been designated by the city as a protected tree and is estimated to be several hundred years old.
For Anderson, the property’s appeal extends beyond its square footage or redevelopment potential.
“It really is a special house,” Anderson said. “Everybody that walks through the house can tell that it’s a happy home, and it’s been loved. It’s like a warm hug.”
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A large oak tree grows in the yard at 1411 West 10th Street in Austin, June 18, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman