East Atlanta is a small neighborhood located south of Kirkwood and Edgewood and east of Grant Park. It is listed on the National Register for Historic Places and is anchored by its quirky and bustling commercial district, East Atlanta Village.
Before it was a residential suburb, East Atlanta was home to Cherokee and Creek Indians. It was developed by farmers and settlers in the mid-1800s and was strategically significant during the Civil War. The Battle of Atlanta started in East Atlanta on July 22, 1864, near Clay Street and Memorial Drive. Visitors will find numerous historical markers, including the McPherson Monument, a Union cannon located at the intersection of McPherson Avenue and Monument Avenue. History buffs may want to check out Images of America: East Atlanta, a book written by two residents, community leader and historian Henry Bryant, and researcher and writer Katina VanCronkhite.
Following the Civil War, East Atlanta developed as a residential suburb of Atlanta. Flat Shoals and Glenwood Avenues were the major highways farmers used to bring their goods to town. At the city’s center was the Marbut and Minor Mercantile Store, founded in 1887 and home to five different businesses by the 1890s: a dry goods store, feed and seed, blacksmith, livery stable, and grocery store. The building is a protected historic site today.
Another landmark property built in 1911 houses the Flatiron Bar & Restaurant, a trendy bar in East Atlanta Village. The building was once the home of the East Atlanta Banking Company. Development in East Atlanta boomed with the city’s growth during the mid-20th century but experienced a downturn in the 1970s as families moved to the outer suburbs. The East Atlanta Community Association was founded in 1981 to bolster community engagement. Development surged again in the 21st century with public enhancements, new construction, and businesses, and in 2017, the neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, East Atlanta is home to around 5,700 people. Housing styles 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.
Residents of East Atlanta describe it as a vibrant, trendy neighborhood with active community involvement. Residents appreciate the area’s myriad shopping, dining, parks, trails, and neighborhood Farmer’s Market. Popular events include the East Atlanta Strut, a neighborhood fall festival, “Whispers of History,” a walking tour of Civil War history, and the EAV Street Art Tour.
According to Niche, East Atlanta scores high on many quality-of-life 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.
The EACA is an excellent resource for newcomers and residents. The group organizes community events and initiatives and works closely with local governments on comprehensive planning and zoning decisions, crime and safety programs, preservation efforts, and traffic and walkability enhancements. EACA maintains a detailed history of the community and publishes a newsletter, The Porch Press, in collaboration with the Grant Park Neighborhood Association and South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development.
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