East Lake
{ Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 }
Rhiannon Apple, Kirkwood Spring Fling
When Rhiannon Apple isn’t busy managing an active team as Moxie Interactive’s VP of Trends, she’s busy managing an active team of volunteers that puts on the annual Kirkwood Spring Fling Festival & Tour of Homes. As chair of the Kirkwood Spring Fling Festival & Tour of Homes for the past two years, Rhiannon keeps a fast pace from January through May. The five year Kirkwood resident on what makes Kirkwood awesome, and why you should make plans to hit the Spring Fling this weekend…
Q. A potential home buyer is thinking about buying in Kirkwood. Sell them on the neighborhood…
A. Kirkwood captures the true sense of the word “community.” There is a strong neighborhood association, as well as neighbors who come together from all walks of life and demographics to help one another in times of need. Whether it be a house fire, surgery, funeral or candlelight vigil to help a family heal, the residents band together. Of course, we enjoy the good times as well, like the traditional Sunday Coffee gatherings, Spring Fling, blessing of the animals or volunteering at Teen Club.
Our business owners are always the first to step up for donating to our school or a neighbor’s Walk for the Cure. It’s like living in an episode of “Cheers” where they always know your name. Where else do neighbors who have the personal cell phone numbers of their city councilperson, police detective turned close friend and UPS driver ban together to save a school, collect clothes and goods for a family whose home has been damaged by fire, and insist on picking you up from the emergency room even if they aren’t your closest buddy? Where else can you go to a cute little bistro, stop by and chat with the firemen, grab a smoothie, head to the park for Screen on the Green, and help prune the trees and mulch the park just because you want to?
Q. Hidden Atlanta gem?
A. The old Pullman Train Yards. They are closed to the public, but the buildings provide a peak into the history of our neighborhood.
Q. You’re given an unlimited budget to produce next year’s Spring Fling. Plans?
A. We’d offer all of the food and beverages for free, so that it could be a true celebration of the neighborhood. Right now, it’s our community’s largest fundraiser and there is pressure to sell a lot of beer and booths to cover our costs.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods, other than Kirkwood, of course?
A. I love all the surrounding neighborhoods we are sandwiched between: East Atlanta, East Lake, Edgewood and Candler Park.
Q. What is the Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes, and why is it a must-attend event?
A. The Kirkwood Spring Fling offers the diversity of a big Festival with the warmth and ease of a neighborhood party. Folks can browse the open air Artist Market, with more than 90 booths, in the shade of giant trees, enjoy the music of live bands and singers on the Mainstage, and play with their children in our creative Kids Area, which includes a playground, Moonbounce, storytelling and crafts.
Kirkwood also has a diverse collection of building styles from classic Victorian cottages to craftsman bungalows to modern lofts and everything in between. Some of our best homes will be showcased on the Tour of Homes.
Admission to the Festival is free. It is held in Bessie Branham Park and the surrounding areas. Tickets for the Tour can be purchased in the park at the Festival or in advance at several local businesses. All proceeds go to benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors’ Organization, a local 501c3 non-profit group dedicated to community improvement.
{ Thursday, December 1st, 2011 }
Atlanta Public Schools Redistricting
If APS Superintendent Erroll Davis thought his phone rang a lot before, he has know idea what he's in for...
Hold on to your hat Atlanta. Things are about to get crazy.
On the heels of the cheating scandal that’s rocked the nation, City of Atlanta Public Schools announced earlier this week that they’ve begun to study citywide school redistricting.
Deep breaths. Don’t get too crazy. Yet.
From the horse’s mouth, here’s how APS introduced their initial report:
APS is in the beginning stages of an arduous undertaking and we need input from the community. No decisions have been made about the scenarios/options posted. In fact, the process will take place over the next few months and will conclude in March of next year.
See, everything is going to be ok!
Maybe, maybe not. There’s no bigger NIMBY issue than schools, and the public hearings on this issue are going to be B-A-N-A-N-A-S. I’m still pouring through the study maps and options- haven’t jumped to any conclusions yet, although it’s looking like some very familiar intown neighborhoods could potentially see some fairly dramatic changes.
Like I said, deep breaths people. Deep breaths.
The Relevant Linkage
APS Demographic Study Home Page
APS Capacity Study (essential background information)
APS Scenarios and Options Summary (aka the meat and potatoes)
Option Maps (aka the meat and potatoes in color coded maps)
{ Monday, September 12th, 2011 }
Intown Atlanta Population Surge?
While I spent much of last week on the Decatur bandwagon, I should point out that Decatur’s schools aren’t the only ones that are busting at the seems. Midtown Patch points out that Grady High School is also at the breaking point:
A drawback at Grady: The school that borders Piedmont Park currently has 1,524 students, compared to 1,432 one year ago — and one year ago was already seriously overcrowded. (The Grady campus was expanded several years ago to accommodate about 1,200 students. In 2005, there were 996 enrolled, compared to 1,146 in 2006 and 1,264 by 2009).
For those of you scoring at home, that’s a 25% increase in the last five years. I’m not a demographer (nor do I play one on television), nor am I trend forecaster, but I’d imagine there are a few threads at play here:
- The neighborhoods served by the school, including Ansley Park, Candler Park, East Lake, Inman Park, Kirkwood, Lake Claire, Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, Morningside, Poncey Highland and Virginia Highland continue to experience infill development, albeit at a much slower clip now that we’re post-boom.
- A slumping economy and rising private school tuition have forced some parents to enroll their children in public schools rather then private ones.
- Negative home equity has, in effect, “trapped” many homeowners in their existing homes. It’s a pretty common theme throughout the country to see homeowners “sticking around” in a home that they hadn’t planned on living in for such a long duration. Put simply, our migration patterns are all gummed up.
The net-net is further evidence that Atlanta’s notorious sprawl has turned inward. This isn’t breaking news by any stretch, but it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on as the region attempts to curb sprawl and promote density. Exciting and terrifying at the same time depending on the vision and political will of Atlanta’s civic and business elite.
Photo Credit: Architecture Tourist (an outstanding piece on Grady High School’s architecture, I might add).
{ Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 }
Peachtree Hope Charter School
Just a stone’s throw away from the famed Miss Ann’s Snack Bar, the Parkview Station shopping center is the future home of Peachtree Hope Charter School. If you live in Kirkwood, East Lake, or any of the other surrounding neighborhoods, get to know a little bit about the new kid on the block. My questions, answers from Robert Giordano, Director of Operations at the school:
Q. What is the educational mission of Peachtree Hope Charter School?
A. The mission of the Peachtree Hope Charter School (PHCS) is to be a provider of top-quality education to a highly diverse student body. PHCS will prepare all students for success in college, equip them with the ability and desire for lifelong learning, and strengthen their civic, ethical, and moral values.
Q. What will differentiate the school from other area schools?
A. Peachtree Hope is part of an international and nationally leader in education called SABIS® Educational Systems Program. With 76 school worldwide Peachtree Hope will join the SABIS® network of private and public charter schools. Our School will grow a grade each year.
Q. When will the school open?
A. 9 Aug 2010 initially for three months in modular classrooms then in a brand new school building built just for Peachtree Hope.
Q. How many students will initially be enrolled?
A. 654 students Grades KG-5th, each year the school will grow by one grade until it reaches 12th grade
Q. Where can people find out more about your school?
A. www.peachtreehope-sabis.net or by calling 404-622-2727
{ Monday, April 5th, 2010 }
Atlanta Police Commander, Nosh To Meet You
Come out and meet the new top cop of Zone 6, and nosh on some delicious canapes.
Want to meet the new man in charge of your neighborhood police force? Looking to hob-nob with the city’s most popular politician? Just want to nosh on some savory snacks from one of Atlanta’s rising chefs?
On Wednesday evening, April 7, Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall is a hosting a “meet and greet” with Major John Dalton, the newly installed police commander of Zone 6*. The event will be held at Park’s Edge, an Inman Park restaurant that’s situated right on one of the most beautiful edges of Freedom Park.
Event Details:
Meet Zone 6 Police Commander, Major John Dalton
Wednesday, April 7 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Park’s Edge Restaurant
913 Bernina Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
*For those of you who do not keep score on police zones, the Atlanta Police Department divides the city up in to six patrol zones. Zone 6 covers Poncey-Highland, Inman Park, Kirkwood, East Lake, Edgewood, Lake Claire, Candler Park and East Atlanta.
