East Austin | DeLea Becker is the Face of Commercial Real Estate 2025
East Side Magazine names DeLea Becker the “Face Of Commercial Real Estate” another year:
The Face of Commercial Real Estate
DeLea Becker, Owner + broker
ARTICLE in East Side Magazine
East Austin’s Evolution: Why I’ve Spent 25 Years Building, Investing, and Believing in This Community
For more than two decades, East Austin has been my professional home, my proving ground, and the center of gravity for Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate. Long before the cranes, murals, breweries, tech offices, and mass-timber structures, East Austin had a spirit that was undeniable — raw, creative, resilient, and full of possibility.
This year, EASTside Magazine featured me as the “Commercial Real Estate face of East Austin.” It’s an honor, of course, but more importantly, it’s a reminder of why I’ve invested the largest share of my career right here.
This isn’t about recognition.
It’s about responsibility.
And it’s about momentum — the kind East Austin continues to generate every single year.
In this blog, I want to share:
Why East Austin continues to outperform in commercial real estate
What long-term operators know about the neighborhood’s trajectory
How community, culture, and design shape tenant demand
Why Beck-Reit has spent decades building here
10 must-know Q&As about East Austin growth
Let’s dive in.
East Austin: The Fastest-Evolving District in the City
Austin is growing in every direction, but no submarket has transformed with the same velocity — or retained its identity as fiercely — as East Austin.
1. Population Growth Outpaces the City Average
Over the last decade, East Austin neighborhoods have expanded rapidly, fueled by strong residential demand, urban infill, and the area’s growing reputation as a cultural and creative hub.
Young talent, entrepreneurs, and transplants consistently choose East Austin for its accessibility, character, and proximity to downtown.
2. Commercial Redevelopment Has Created a New Urban Ecosystem
From adaptive reuse of old warehouses to architecturally ambitious new builds (including our mass-timber Workbench project), East Austin now offers one of the most diverse mixes of:
Office
Flex
Light industrial
Creative suites
Retail
Mixed-use
Tenants want authenticity, authenticity wants longevity, and longevity requires ownership. This is where East Austin shines — and where operators like Beck-Reit have played a continuous role.
3. Business Formation and Expansion Are Booming
East Austin attracts:
Creative studios
Tech teams
Women-led businesses
Construction, engineering, and design firms
Local makers and manufacturers
Mission-driven organizations
Why? Because the East Side offers energy, collaboration, and the walkability modern tenants demand.
4. The Amenity Layer Is the Secret to Demand
Great buildings matter.
But great surroundings matter more.
In East Austin, you can walk outside your office to:
Coffee shops
Restaurants
Breweries
Galleries
Parks
Hotels
Transit
Live music
As I say often: office isn’t dead — poor office is dead.
Strong locations + strong amenities = strong tenants.
Why Beck-Reit Has Been All-In on East Austin for 25 Years
People ask me constantly:
“Why East Austin? What made you invest here so early?”
Because I saw what it could become — and I was willing to put real capital and real risk behind that conviction.
As an owner-operator, I don’t flip in and out of markets.
I live with my decisions for decades.
I choose tenants intentionally.
I redevelop thoughtfully.
I build where the neighborhood can benefit for 30+ years, not three.
East Austin’s story is personal to me, and the work I’ve done here reflects that:
1201 E Cesar Chavez: one of the hardest redevelopments of my career, sold successfully in the middle of the 2020 pandemic.
2422 E 7th (The Workbench): a 52,000 SF mass-timber project developed by a coalition of visionaries — and a milestone for women-led firms.
Multiple industrial conversions that became creative office long before the term was trendy.
Dozens of tenants placed intentionally to strengthen the corridor.
This is what being the “face of East Austin” really means:
decades of work, stewardship, responsibility, and love for the community.
📸 About That Photo… and the #ShotCaller Moment
I’ll admit it — after a couple years away from participating in “Faces of East Austin,” I returned for a simple reason:
I finally had a photo too good not to share.
And yes… I staged it like I stage everything else:
The deals
The developments
The transformations
The spaces
The future of this corridor
That’s what operators do.
We see the end product before the world sees the blueprint.
So call it confidence, humor, or truth — but #ShotCaller felt right at home.
🔟 Top 10 Questions About East Austin Commercial Real Estate (Answered)
1. Why is East Austin seeing so much growth?
Because it offers the perfect combination of location, culture, creativity, and proximity to downtown. Tenants want authenticity, and East Austin delivers it.
2. Is East Austin still a good place to lease commercial space?
Yes — but supply is tightening and construction costs make future development more expensive. Leasing now offers stability and access before rates climb again.
3. What types of businesses thrive in East Austin?
Creative firms, tech teams, production companies, design studios, engineering groups, development firms, wellness concepts, boutique retailers, restaurants, bars, and women-owned businesses all perform exceptionally well.
4. What are tenants looking for today?
Walkability, safety, design-forward space, natural materials (like mass timber), outdoor access, and amenities both inside and around the building.
5. How competitive is the market right now?
Vacancy fluctuates by sub-submarket, but well-located buildings with strong amenities lease quickly — often off-market.
6. What makes Beck-Reit different from other East Austin landlords?
We are true owner-operators. We’ve developed, rebuilt, leased, managed, and maintained our buildings for decades — with our own capital. Our perspective is rooted in real risk and real stewardship.
7. Are there opportunities for investors?
Yes, but they require sophistication. Land prices, zoning challenges, and construction costs demand experienced underwriting and long-term strategy.
8. What’s next for East Austin development?
More mixed-use, more mass timber, more adaptive reuse, and more projects that balance modern demand with neighborhood integrity.
9. How has tenant demand changed since the pandemic?
Tenants want better, not bigger: better locations, better amenities, better design, and buildings with intention behind them.
10. How can businesses find the right space in East Austin?
Work with operators who know the corridor deeply — not just brokers who read the reports. The best spaces never hit the public market.
🚀 Final Thoughts: Why This Moment Matters
Being recognized as the face of East Austin CRE is an honor, but the real privilege is contributing to the neighborhood’s evolution.
East Austin is growing.
East Austin is thriving.
And East Austin deserves operators who understand the responsibility that comes with shaping a district that people love.
If you’re exploring space on the East Side — or want early access to what we have coming — we’re here to help.
Contact Beck-Reit CRE to learn about current and off-market opportunities.
(512) 472-8833
1101 E. 6th Street
DeLea@beckreit.com
BeckreitCRE.com
