Sweet Auburn is a historic urban neighborhood located just east of downtown Atlanta. It is the birth and resting place of legendary civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and has a significant history as a cultural and economic hub for African Americans.
Established in 1865 and a National Landmark Historic District since 1976, Sweet Auburn is home to many historical buildings and landmarks central to the civil rights movement and the rise of black-owned businesses in Atlanta. It’s home to the first successful African American newspaper, the Atlanta Daily World, plus businesses such as Atlanta Life Insurance and Sweet Auburn Curb Market. The Butler Street YMCA, also known as “Black City Hall,” was a community hub from 1920 through 2012. Historic churches include Prince Hall Masonic Temple, Wheat Street Baptist Church, Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Learn more about Sweet Auburn’s history at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Sweet Auburn Works.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is located in Sweet Auburn and serves as a center of the neighborhood. The 35-acre park includes the 1895 Queen-Anne-style home where King was born on Auburn Avenue and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he served as a pastor. Adjacent to the park is the King Center, a non-profit facility honoring King’s life and legacy with photos, artifacts, and events. It also celebrates the lives of Gandhi and Rosa Parks.
Today, Sweet Auburn is home to around 3,187 residents. Housing styles include a few historic Craftsman bungalows dating to the 1920s, but mostly newer brick townhouses and condo towers. Prices for attached properties range from around $290K to $799K, while the rare single-family home starts at around $390K.
Sweet Auburn is ideal for working professionals who enjoy an urban lifestyle in a significant historical neighborhood near Downtown. Its lack of single-family or child-friendly multifamily homes and low-performing elementary and middle schools make it less ideal for families. (However, nearby Old Fourth Ward offers abundant housing options for families who want to live near Sweet Auburn.) According to Niche, Sweet Auburn scores a B+ overall, with A scores in outdoor activities, health and fitness, commute times, and nightlife. It receives B scores in weather, family activities, and diversity, C scores in cost-of-living and jobs, and a D- in housing.
The O4W Business Association is an excellent resource for newcomers and residents. The group works closely with local governments on comprehensive planning and zoning decisions, economic development, and preservation efforts. You can also learn more about events like the Sweet Auburn Springfest at Discover Atlanta and preservation and development efforts at Sweet Auburn Works.
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