|
Real Estate & Homes in Atlanta - Georgia - Atlanta, Georgia homes and communites
Atlanta
  
Atlanta History
Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and centerpiece of the "New South." Most of the city's antebellum buildings were destroyed in 1864, when Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman burned Atlanta to the ground. But the city rebuilt after the Civil War, and today it's among the most energetic areas in the Southeast.
Atlanta has several nicknames, including "Hotlanta," which refers to both its muggy weather and lively nightlife; and "White City," an ironic moniker for the former home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Andrew Young was the first black mayor of a major U.S. city, and Atlanta has also led the way in civil-rights legislation.
Metro Atlanta is divided into a complex network of neighborhoods, and despite constant urban renewal, most neighborhoods have retained their original charm. The downtown centers around Five Points, where five different streets meet at one intersection. The MARTA transfer station is here, as is Underground Atlanta, a busy shopping center that was built under old railroad tracks. The State Capitol and Coca-Cola's Museum are also nearby.
Whether you're seeking high-end shopping in Buckhead, fine dining in Virginia Highlands or red-hot clubbing in Little Five Points, each of the city's districts has something to offer. As more and more residents and tourists flock to Atlanta, its neighborhoods represent diverse cultures, themes and traditions.
Ansley Park
Ansley Park is one of Atlanta's most charming neighborhoods. Since 1905, this upscale community has offered a quiet haven within the big city. Located just north of the convention district, the area began as Atlanta's first automobile-oriented community and soon evolved into one of the city's premier residential areas.
Developer Edwin Ansley patterned the neighborhood after the north Druid Hills area. Today, Ansley Park is a National Historic District with lush, manicured lawns and cobblestone walkways. Massive gardens and parks encircle well-kept homes, creating a private refuge in the heart of the city. The neighborhood offers easy access to Interstate 75/85, and Atlanta's stores, restaurants and nightlife are only minutes away.
Just steps from towering office buildings, Ansley Park offers winding streets, peaceful parks and an eclectic collection of vintage homes. Bordering Peachtree Street, the neighborhood is bounded on the south by the hotels and apartments on 14th Street, and on the east by Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Varied architectural styles add to Ansley Park's visual charm. There are several smaller homes in a variety of styles, from Craftsman-style bungalows to utilitarian duplexes. A few contemporary homes add to the eclectic feel. Along with these smaller homes, you'll find large residences that resemble Italian villas and English country houses. These European-styled homes were commissioned by well-heeled Atlantans who wanted to bring a taste of the "old country" to the New South.
Brookhaven
The modern community of Brookhaven was originally developed around 1910 as Atlanta's first country club. Located on the northern edge of Buckhead, the upscale neighborhood is an enclave of English cottages and Tudor, Colonial and Georgian estates. Brookhaven is known for its lush landscapes, beautiful gardens and meandering streets. In the 1980s, the area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, Brookhaven is a mix of historic homes, '40s-era bungalows and new homes. The residential areas are within walking distance to Buckhead's restaurants, stores and thriving nightlife. Brookhaven is also close to the Perimeter Mall, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square, which offer world-class shopping and other amenities.
Brookhaven was first known as Goodwin's, after a settler named Solomon Goodwin who built his home in 1831. Goodwin's house today stands at 3931 Peachtree Road, behind the family cemetery and near the present-day Steak Out restaurant. The home is the oldest existing house in DeKalb County and was used to house federal troops during the Civil War.
The neighborhood attracts established Atlantans and young professionals. Located along the Fulton and DeKalb county line, Brookhaven is also home to country clubs, Oglethorpe University, a large MARTA station and several apartment complexes.
Buckhead
Buckhead is one of Atlanta's most popular and well-known neighborhoods. Located north of Midtown near Peachtree and Roswell roads, "The Beverly Hills of the East" is home to high-rises, townhouses and hundreds of single-family homes. Many houses are one-of-a-kind Georgian and neoclassical mansions; others date back to the 1950s and 1960s.
Buckhead is home to the Governor's Mansion, the Atlanta Historical Society and the historic Swan House. But it's perhaps best-known as one of Atlanta's hottest nightspots. There are more than 100 restaurants and nightclubs in Buckhead, which attracts young professionals in search of fun and excitement. Many of these urban workers live in Buckhead, and walk or ride their bikes to work. MARTA stations and major expressways provide access to outlying sections of the city.
Buckhead was originally named Irbyville in honor of the Irby clan, a family of 19th-century landowners who ran a tavern on the corner of Roswell Road and West Paces Ferry. In 1839, a hunter shot a buck and hung its head on a tree outside the Irbys' tavern. From then on, the area was known as Buckhead, and despite attempts to change the name, it has remained Buckhead ever since.
Downtown Atlanta
For many years, Downtown Atlanta was a thriving business sector by day but a virtual ghost town at night. All that changed in 1996, when the Summer Olympics came to town. Major revitalization efforts have transformed the Downtown area into a multi-use community offering parks, residences and retailers. Sculptures, streetlights and landscaping have beautified the area, and "Downtown Ambassadors" patrol the streets to ensure visitors' and residents' safety.
Many of Atlanta's most prestigious offices, such as the Coca-Cola building and Peachtree Center, are located Downtown. The Georgia World Congress Center is one of the world's largest convention facilities. And the Georgia State Capitol Building adds a touch of elegance with its golden dome and Corinthian columns.
Underground Atlanta is massive shopping complex featuring more than 100 stores, restaurants and attractions. Near the entrance to Underground Atlanta, you'll find the World of Coca-Cola, an interactive museum where you can revisit the beverage's history and sample Coke products from around the world.
Centennial Olympic Park is a lovely reminder of the 1996 Summer Olympics. This 21-acre facility includes pavilions, water gardens, a visitor center, an amphitheater and the popular Fountain of Rings. The park is located beside the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome, which is site of the annual Peach Bowl.
The 71,000-seat Georgia Dome is also home to the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. Sports fans can catch baseball's Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Olympics, and the Phillips Arena hosts both basketball's Atlanta Hawks and hockey's Atlanta Thrashers.
CNN Center is located across the street from Phillips Arena. Home to the 24-hour cable news network, the center offers studio tours and free seating for its current-affairs program, "Talk Back Live."
Druid Hills
Druid Hills, just four miles northeast of Atlanta, is one of the city's most affluent suburbs. The community, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is home to several outstanding homes.
One of the most recognized structures is 822 Lullwater, the house used in filming "Driving Miss Daisy." The Irish-themed Callanwolde was built in 1920 for Coca-Cola heir Charles Howard Candler. Today it serves as the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Other homes reflect Tudor, Georgian and Victorian styles.
The elegant mansions of Druid Hills sit atop winding roads amid rolling hills and meadows. The area is also home to aged oaks, magnolias and dogwoods.
Druid Hills is located near Emory University, Emory Village, the Druid Hills Golf Club and Fernbank Museum. Major expressways provide access to shopping, dining and cultural events in Atlanta and neighboring suburbs.
Little Five Points
Little Five Points is Atlanta's version of New York's Greenwich Village or LA's Melrose Avenue. This eclectic community offers dining, shopping, entertainment and a large artistic element. You'll find vintage clothing shops, tattoo parlors, bars and record shops along the busy streets of Little Five Points, which locals have nicknamed "L5P."
Like the older neighborhoods of Inman Park and Candler Park, much of the real estate in L5P is prized — and pricey. There are some older homes available at lower prices, but many of these homes have not been refurbished. Restored bungalows and Civil War-era homes mix with lofts, townhomes and a few larger single-family homes in L5P, which attracts young and active residents with a sense of culture and adventure.
L5P is known for its eclectic stores and funky fashions, but it has a traditional side as well. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Center and Library is located in the northwest corner of the neighborhood. The facility sits on a hilltop amid acres of gardens and ponds. It was also the site of the camp where Gen. Sherman watched the burning of Atlanta in 1864.
The annual summer street festival attracts natives and neighbors to a raucous, fun-filled event. Local bands and famous performances also appear throughout the year in neighborhood music venues such as the Star Community Bar and the Variety Playhouse.
Midtown
Midtown gets its name from its central location between Downtown and Buckhead. This diverse neighborhood is full of older homes, newer condominiums, lofts and warehouse apartments. While Midtown lacks the lush lawns and mansions of Buckhead, the vibrant community has its own charm and appeal.
The dividing line between Midtown and Downtown is not strictly defined, but busy Ponce de Leon Avenue could fill the bill. Midtown stretches from the Georgia Tech campus on its western edge, north toward Buckhead and east into the Virginia-Highlands area.
Atlanta's history comes alive in the Margaret Mitchell House, where the famed author wrote her classic, "Gone With the Wind." Midtown is also home to the High Museum of Art, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Atlanta High Museum Symphony and the Alliance Theater.
Piedmont Park is a 180-acre gathering spot bordered by Piedmont Avenue, 10th Street and Monroe Drive. Each weekend, the park is crowded with joggers, bikers and rollerbladers. And in spring and summer, a variety of festivals and concerts are held in the park. Piedmont Park has lakes, tennis courts and several athletic fields, and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is located on the north side of the park.
Peachtree Road is home to the Fabulous Fox Theater, where "Gone With the Wind" premiered in 1939. The restored theater now features plays, opera, concerts and movies.
Midtown is packed with nightclubs, ethnic eateries and exciting entertainment venues. The neighborhood is also located near all the amenities in Downtown and Buckhead, including trendy shops, popular restaurants and historic locales.
Virginia Highlands
Virginia Highlands is named after its location at the intersection of Virginia and North Highland avenues. This trendy neighborhood, commonly nicknamed "The Highlands," is popular with Atlanta's young professionals.
Originally developed in the 1920s as a lower-middle-class neighborhood, The Highlands is now home to expensive mansions, condos and bungalows. The neighborhood is known for its lovely renovated homes as well as its thriving family-owned businesses. Although The Highlands is conveniently located near major expressways, parking is scarce, and most residents prefer walking along the community's tree-lined streets.
The Highlands is bordered by East Rock Springs on the north, Ponce de Leon Avenue on the south, Briarcliff Road on the east and Monroe Avenue on the west. The neighborhood is within easy walking distance of Emory University in Druid Hills, Piedmont Park in Midtown and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center in Little Five Points. These equally trendy neighborhoods also offer their own shops, restaurants, galleries and nightclubs.
Despite its upscale proclivity, The Highlands has become the second-busiest nightlife destination in Atlanta, right behind Buckhead. But children and seniors are welcome in The Highlands, too. Just off Ponce de Leon on Clifton Road, the Fernbank Natural History Museum features geographical displays, dinosaur skeletons, a rose garden and an IMAX theater.
Photos from Atlanta
Atlanta Fast Facts
Location: Atlanta is located in the northwest portion of Georgia
*Total area: 132.42 square miles
*Population: 416,474
*Housing units: 186,925
Average annual rainfall: 50.20 inches
Average temperatures: 80ºF in summer, 43ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census
Where is Atlanta?
|
sign up for updates about this project or community |
Search similar Lifestyle :
Search similar Housing :
|
Beach Front
Condos