Atlanta Neighborhood Guide

Welcome to the city of Decatur. With an unofficial motto, "Everything is Greater in Decatur," the area has a rich liberal arts community, many historic sites, active citizen involvement, pedestrian-friendly development, an abundant tree canopy and an overall high quality of life.

Decatur was founded in 1823 and occupies a four-square-mile area. The city has many smaller neighborhoods, each with its distinct look and feel. Decatur’s development was primarily influenced by the changing transportation modes of the 19th and 20th centuries. First, the railroads, then the trolleys and eventually automobiles influenced the development of commerce, city and home life.

Today, Decatur is home to around 24,928 residents. Residents appreciate the city's variety of homes, historic roots, rich arts and vibrant community events. The Decatur Square draws visitors from around Atlanta to enjoy its unique shops, restaurants, art galleries, live music and museums such as the DeKalb History Center.

About 4.5 miles northeast of Atlanta, Druid Hills has a unique history as one of Atlanta’s first planned suburbs. While a short distance from Atlanta, Druid Hills’ ample parks, historic homes, and large lots provide a peaceful and beautiful escape from urban life.

Druid Hills was designed by American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, renowned for prestigious projects such as New York’s Central Park, The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., the gardens around the United States Capital in Washington D.C. and many more. Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler was also instrumental in Druid Hills’ early development. Druid Hills has held a historic designation since 1979. Other historic districts include Emory University, University Park-Emory Highlands-Emory Estates and Emory Grove.

Lake Claire is known for an eclectic mix of home styles and a community-friendly atmosphere that embraces liberal ideals. Beloved by residents, the area is described as family-oriented and pet-friendly, with great restaurants and shopping, and an idyllic downtown area. Locals call themselves “Lake Clarions.”

Much of Lake Claire was orchards and farmland up until it was sold off in portions starting in the 1930s. As opposed to a large development, homes were built by separate individuals and of varying styles. Lake Claire was also influenced by and shares space with historic Candler Park, which was built in 1922.

Visitors may be surprised to hear this fact: Lake Claire has no lakes. The name has two possible origins. Some claim it is shorthand for two streets: Lakeshore Drive and Claire Drive. Others claim it was taken from the Lake Claire Garden Club, which was founded in the 1930s.

A historic community located 3.5 miles northeast of Atlanta, Candler Park is known for its complex history, its vibrant community and of course its namesake 55-acre park, Candler Park.

Before the park was established in the 1870s, Candler Park was part of a larger town, Edgewood. The area was divided by the Georgia Railroad and serviced by two streetcars along McLendon Avenue and DeKalb Avenue. In 1922, Coca-Cola magnate Asa Griggs Candler, donated 55 acres to the city of Atlanta for Candler Park and the development of the surrounding neighborhood followed.

Candler Park visitors can expect to see many homes from the 19th and 20th centuries. The median age of its housing is 1964. Housing styles include Craftsman bungalows, Queen Anne and Folk Victorian, American four-square homes, American small homes from the 1940s and larger, newer homes that were added since the mid-2000s. Home prices range from $650K to more than $1M. Redfin is an excellent source for current home price stats.

Grant Park is one of Atlanta's oldest historic districts and home to many important Georgia landmarks, including Zoo Atlanta and Oakland Cemetery. Together with Inman Park, Grant Park contains the largest remaining area of Victorian architecture in Atlanta. The community gained historic status in the 1980s. In 2000, it was further designated as Atlanta's largest historic district.

The housing styles in Grant Park are some of the most historic in Atlanta and include Gothic Revival, Italianate, Victorian, Shingle Style, "Richardsonian" Romanesque, American Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Spanish, Mediterranean, Prairie, Art Deco, Art Modern, Neocolonial, International, Brutalist and more. Home prices in Grant Park range from $450K to more than $1M. Redfin is an excellent source for current home price stats.

Grant Park includes 131 acres of green space and recreational area and is the fourth-largest park in the city behind Chastain Park, Freedom Park and Piedmont Park. Zoo Atlanta, established in 1889 and originally known as the Grant Park Zoo, is located in the park and attracts more than one million visitors annually.

Located 4.5 miles northeast of Atlanta is the charming community
of Morningside Lenox Park. Founded in 1923, it includes the original
subdivisions of Morningside, Lenox Park, University Park, Noble
Park, Johnson Estates and Hylan Park. Morningside Lenox Park is a
sought-after neighborhood due to its beautiful historic homes, prime
location, top schools and low crime rate. It is surrounded by Ansley
Park, Virginia Highland, Druid Hills and Emory University.

Morningside Lenox Park was home to farms in the 1820s, and the most famous was the Kimballville Farm. The area developed as a commuter town to Atlanta in the 1920s, serviced by various streetcar lines. In 1925, Morningside Lenox Park’s first large development of homes was built in the Mediterranean style. Later styles included Tudor, Craftsman, midcentury, traditional and modern. The Morningside Lenox Park Association maintains a detailed historical timeline here.

Oakhurst is an eclectic, family-friendly community typical of Intown Atlanta. Incorporated in 1910, Oakhurst developed as a streetcar suburb of Atlanta, served by the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway. The area had its first surge in the 1910s and 1920s, with development occurring in clusters.

After 2000, the community experienced tremendous growth with an influx of new investments that increased property values substantially. However, the growth also lead to significant gentrification that prompted city efforts to maintain the area’s character and resources for low-income families. In 2017 the city of Decatur launched a Community Transformation Plan for Oakhurst to build community partnerships and support affordable housing.

At the center of Oakhurst is a business district popularly known as "Oakhurst Village," with several eateries, art galleries, and shops. Oakhurst Village is also home to the former Old Scottish Rite Hospital, a historic building designed by local architect Neel Reid in 1917. The building houses an art gallery, a wine bar, and the Solarium, a community center and event facility where local neighborhood groups meet.

Nestled in the heart of DeKalb County, Georgia, just east of Decatur and eight miles from downtown Atlanta is the charming community of Avondale Estates. Avondale Estates has a total area of just 1.1 square miles and maintains a small-town feel treasured by residents.

Founded in 1924 by George Francis Willis, Avondale Estates is immediately recognized by its Tudor-Revival-inspired main street. The design was inspired by Willis’ visits to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. In addition, Avondale Estates’ design was largely influenced by the garden city movement, resulting in a carefully planned community emphasizing green spaces and architectural harmony.

The homes in Avondale Estates showcase a variety of architectural styles, including Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Colonial, and Mediterranean Revival. Home values range from $400K to $800K. Redfin is an excellent source for current home price stats.

Established in 1904, Ansley Park was the first Intown Atlanta neighborhood developed for automobiles. Its founders envisioned it as a garden suburb, an oasis in the city. The streets were designed wide, long and winding, with abundant landscaping. Wealthy residents enjoyed proximity to Atlanta, a local private country club, and access to numerous public parks, museums, schools and more.

Visitors to Ansley Park will appreciate its historic housing styles, such as Classic Tudor, Italian Renaissance, Federal and Colonial. The Ansley Park Civic Association maintains a list of historic homes and their architects on its website. Some names include Decatur’s Leila Ross Wilburn, Thornton Marye, Walter Thomas Downing, Ten Eyck Brown and more.

Along with historic homes, Ansley Park includes many modern and traditional homes. Home prices are high in Ansley Park, with singlefamily homes ranging from $1M to $3.8M. There are some luxury townhomes and condos near Piedmont Park that range from $1M to $2.9M.

Inman Park is a historic community known for its colorful, ornate homes and proximity to eclectic shopping and dining districts. It was planned in the late 1880s as Atlanta’s first streetcar suburb, and the community was developed with curvilinear streets and park-like landscaping.

Home styles in Inman Park include Queen Anne Victorian, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival, Shotgun, Bungalow, Arts & Crafts, Romanesque Revival, Prairie Style, Arts & Crafts Revival and more. The median home age is 1964. Single-family home prices range from $600K to $2.2M. Townhomes and condos range from $500K to $1.2M.

Inman Park is a fun place to live, with quick access to some of Atlanta’s most eclectic and creative shopping and dining. Nearby Little Five Points is a district described as a melting pot of subcultures and the bohemian center of the Southern United States. Inman Park is also next to Virginia Highland, a historic neighborhood with vibrant shopping and dining and multiple festivals year-round.

Poncey-Highland is a trendy urban neighborhood east of Atlanta that epitomizes the live/work/play lifestyle. It's known for its large historic properties, parks, art installations, shopping and proximity to downtown Atlanta.

Poncey-Highland gets its name from the intersection of North Highland Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue. The area contains a blend of residential and commercial districts that were founded from the 1900s through the late 1930s, as well as an industrial corridor that emerged between the 1920s and 1950s. Poncey- Highlands includes sections of Copenhill, Ponce de Leon Heights, Linwood Park, and an industrial region adjacent to the Southern Railway. Poncey-Highland is also home to the Bonaventure-Somerset Historic District, which earned its designation in 2

Along with modern and contemporary homes and townhomes, Poncey-Highland features many historic housing styles, including Colonial Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Neoclassical Revival, Tudor Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, American Foursquare, and American small house. The area is home to numerous historic apartment buildings such as Ford Factory Lofts and Telephone Factory Lofts. Single-family homes average $500K to $1.5M while townhomes and condos range from $200K to $1.5M.

Virginia Highland is a charming Intown Atlanta neighborhood known for its abundant Craftsman bungalows, year-round festivals and vibrant retail district.

Named for the intersection of Virginia Avenue and N. Highland Avenue, Virginia Highland took shape as a suburb of Atlanta in the 1880s with the development of the Nine Mile Trolley by The Atlanta Street Railway Company. By the 1890s, housing developments emerged, including Highland Park. The first housing boom lasted between 1909 and 1926, and commercial establishments appeared by the 1930s.

Virginia Highland experienced growth until the 1960s when development pushed into the suburbs. After 2000, its popularity reignited with new investments and interest in historic preservation.

Old Fourth Ward is a historic urban neighborhood just east of downtown Atlanta. The area was first settled in the early 1800s and is home to many significant landmarks, such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Sweet Auburn Historic District. Old Fourth Ward is the birthplace of the famous civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Old Fourth Ward, called O4W by locals, has experienced tremendous growth since the 2010s and most recently with the development of Atlanta’s Beltline. The area also gained more green space and recreational amenities in the spring of 2011 with the dedication of The Historic Fourth Ward Park. This park encompasses 17 acres with a two-acre lake, playground, a state-of-the-art splash pad, an outdoor theater, an athletic field and a world-class skate park.

Visitors will soon realize that Old Fourth Ward is one of Atlanta's best neighborhoods for viewing street art. The Outerspace Project is responsible for bringing many works to the Old Fourth Ward with projects on Decatur Street, Edgewood Avenue and around the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline. Better yet, check out Atlanta Street Art Map for a complete list of projects.

Kirkwood has blossomed with beautification, preservation and development efforts that gained steam in the 2000s. Residents value the area's affordability, charming downtown, creative murals, serene parks, and proximity to Atlanta.

Incorporated in 1899, Kirkwood was a streetcar suburb of Atlanta until the city annexed it in 1922. The area experienced waves of growth and decline until serious revitalization efforts in the 2000s led by the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization (KNO) and the Kirkwood Business Owners' Association (KBOA). In 2009, Kirkwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

With more than 1,788 contributing properties, the Kirkwood Historic District is the largest of its kind in Georgia. Residents enjoy a large stock of Victorian and Craftsman homes, plus many repurposed commercial buildings. Architect Frank Ruggles designed Craftsman homes along Warlick Avenue and Howard Street NE. Kirkwood Lofts was originally Kirkwood School, built in 1910 by John Francis Downing. The redevelopment of historic Pullman Yard in 2017 as an entertainment venue brought properties such as Pullman Flats and Arizona Lofts.

Winnona Park is a family-friendly neighborhood in the southeast corner of Decatur, Georgia. It consists primarily of residences surrounding Winnona Park Elementary School, built in 1923. The area is also home to the Columbia Theological Seminary and adjacent to Agnes Scott College.

Winnona Park is named for the Winn family, which came to DeKalb County in the early 1800s. James J. Winn was a clergyman and a surgeon. His son-in-law, George Bucher Scott, first began the development of Winnona Park in the early 1900s. Scott was a member of the Scott family that founded Agnes Scott College and Scottdale Mills.

Housing styles in Winnona Park trend historic with many built in the 1950s or earlier, although there was a surge of new construction in the 2010s. Winnona Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its late 19th- and early 20th-century American Movement buildings. Styles include Craftsman bungalows, Georgian Revival and English Country. Prominent architect Leila Ross Wilburn designed homes on Avery Street. Other notable residences include the Agnes Lee Chapter House and the Avary-Fulton House, reportedly the oldest home in Decatur.

Glennwood Estates is a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood featuring historic homes, 67 acres of parks and green space, top schools and close proximity to downtown Decatur.

Established in 1927, Glennwood Estates was named for J.T. Glenn who purchased the property in 1869. Residential development began in the late 1920s around Glendale Avenue, Mount Vernon Drive and Glenn Circle. The prevailing house styles were American Small houses and English cottages. Today, the area is considered a prime example of English Vernacular Revival architecture.

While some newer homes are available, 78 percent of homes in Glennwood Estates are historic properties built between the 1920s and 1940s. Of course, many properties have been expanded and renovated, and there are clusters of traditional and modern townhomes around the neighborhood’s perimeter.

Housing styles in East Atlanta include historic Craftsman bungalows, Victorian houses, post-war ranch homes, and newer modern and traditional styles. One notable historic home is the Zuber-Jarrell House, a prime example of Neo-Classical Revival built in 1906, which has received multiple awards, such as the “Excellence in Rehabilitation Award” from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

Due to its historic roots and proximity to Atlanta, home prices in East Atlanta can be high. Single-family homes range from $320K to $975K, while townhomes and condos range from $250K to $730K. Residents enjoy access to numerous nearby parks, such as DeKalb Memorial Park, Walker Park, and Brownwood Park, the headquarters for the East Atlanta Kids Club.

According to Niche.com, East Atlanta scores high on many quality-oflife factors, including public schools, a family-friendly atmosphere, jobs, outdoor activities, health and fitness amenities, diversity, nightlife, commute times and more. It has a C+ score in cost of living.