Inman Park
{ Friday, April 27th, 2012 }
Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes
This weekend is Inman Park Festival, the grand daddy of Atlanta neighborhood festivals (in my humble opinion, of course). Bands, beer, a rockin’ parade, kids’ activities, arts & crafts festival… it’s got a little bit of everything for everybody. Part of the festival is the 41st annual Inman Park Tour of Homes, an absolute can’t miss event for connoisseurs of architecture, homes and general real estate pornography.
If you can’t make Inman Park Festival, or just don’t want to deal with the crowds, The Peace, Love and Bugs Earth Day Festival and Volkswagen Show looks pretty awesome. I’m usually not one for “classic car shows”, but I’ve always had a thing for classic VW vans, so I might just check it out.
{ Monday, April 16th, 2012 }
New Townhomes In Old Fourth Ward… Not Inman Park
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a new townhome development under construction on Highland Avenue, just off the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. My headline was succinct, and to-the-point: New Townhomes In Inman Park.
Not long after posting I found out that there was one small issue with the headline/post: I was wrong. I received the following post comment from a reader:
Of course, This story needs to be corrected. The west side of the betline is Old Fourth Ward- not Inman Park. The border is often confused, but it is important that folks realize this kind of activity is happening in Old Fourth Ward. Thanks.
My first reaction, predictably, was knee-jerk disagreement and indignation. As my wife will attest, I am a know-it-all. This commenter has his facts wrong, I thought. And what chutzpah, blighting my comment section with erroneous information. My second reaction- as my wife will also confirm- is to whip out my phone/iPad/computer and comfort myself with a cocktail of Google, Wikipedia and whatever else I can find to confirm what I think I already know.
It turns out that the commenter was 100% correct- the west side of the BeltLine is in the Old Fourth Ward, not Inman Park. BeltLine maps reveal this, as do Atlanta Public School maps (this development would be zoned for Old Fourth Ward’s Hope Hill Elementary, not the elementary school that serves Inman Park, Mary Lin Elementary). While the new development sits behind N. Highland Steel, a retail/apartment complex that’s most certainly within Inman Park, its close proximity to the neighborhood does not qualify it for being in the neighborhood. These two developments may be separated by less than a few hundred feet, but between those few hundred feet runs a border that clearly delineates two distinct neighborhoods.
As the commenter said, “it is important that folks realize this kind of activity is happening in Old Fourth Ward”- and I couldn’t agree more. Between this new development, the phenomenal new Old Fourth Ward Park, the Beltline’s Eastside Trail and the city’s “Year of Boulevard” initiative, there are some great things going on in the neighborhood. One of the goals of this site is to shine a bright line on positive news like this, and in crediting these new townhomes incorrectly to Inman Park I short changed the Old Fourth Ward of credit where credit was due.
Credibility matters. This site is nothing without credibility, nor is my business as a Realtor. Consider this post as a correction, an apology, and a pledge to getting it right the first time moving forward.
{ Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 }
New Townhomes In Inman Park
- In the foreground, the Atlanta BeltLine Northeast Trial. In the background, a 4.2 acre tract of land slated for 66 townhomes.
Editor’s Note: These townhomes are actually located in Old Fourth Ward, not Inman Park as previously reported. For more information, including a clarification and full correction, click here.
It appears that the long discussed new construction townhome project is underway in Inman Park:
A little over a year ago, Paul Donsky wrote a piece for East Atlanta Patch that detailed the project, tenatively known as Highland Park. In the article, some pretty significant details were revealed:
Minerva, an Atlanta development company, plans to build 66 townhouse units on a 4.8-acre tract along the BeltLine at Highland Avenue, where Inman Park meets the Old Fourth Ward.
Earlier this week, a reliable source revealed to me the identity of the builder involved in the project: none other than Atlanta mega-builder/developer John Wieland. No word yet if the 2,200 square foot, $300K+ townhomes that were discussed last January are still being pursued, or if market conditions have altered the project.
This community will be a signficiant addition to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Northeast Corridor. The construction of the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail is well underway, as is the first stage of demolition of the artist formerly known as City Hall East. Market momentum in the area is palpable. Inventory is low, especially if you’re looking for new construction in this price point. All good signs.
Is there enough momentum and market confidence to build, finance and sell 66 new construction townhomes?
Only time will tell.
{ Friday, March 16th, 2012 }
Emory Match Day
Medical School students all over the country are participating in an annual rite of passage today: Match Day. Approximately 16,000 graduates from U.S. medical schools and 15,000 graduates from osteopathic or foreign medical schools compete each year for approximately 24,000 residency positions at U.S. hospitals. And today – Match Day – is when they all find out where they’re headed for further training.
To the Emory students who will be matriculating to training programs outside our fair city, I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. May you evolve into outstanding physicians.
To physicians who have been fortunate enough to be “matched” with Emory University… mazel tov! On behalf of Atlanta, welcome to our outstanding city. As you may be training and living in Atlanta for many years to come, consider me as a resource for finding the perfect place to live. While I know that many of you are strongly considering renting, don’t rule out home ownership. Prices have ebbed to dramatic lows, interest rates are insane, and as a physician you qualify for loan programs that the rest of us mere mortals have no access to. That being said, here are some quick housing/neighborhood recommendations for you:
1-You’re thinking: “I’m going to spend a few years shuttling back and forth between Emory University Hospital and Grady Hospital, and I need something in between the two.”
I’m responding: Inman Park. Specifically, my one bedroom condo listing at Brickworks. Two miles to Grady and four miles to Emory. Phenomenal community that’s walking distance to restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Perfect for the 4 hours of free time per week that you have to look forward to!
2-You’re thinking: “I’m relocating from Boston, where I’m used to walking everywhere. My week is going to be spent primarily at Emory, so I’d like to be as close to Emory as possible without being near a dorm.”
I’m responding: Decatur all the way. Tons to do, and some great options under $250,000.
3-You’re thinking: “I really need some space- a couple of bedrooms and a yard. I don’t care if I’m a few minutes from Emory, so long as I can buy a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home for under $300,000. Oh, and as long as you’re asking, I’m really interested in mid-century modern architecture.
I’m responding: We need to take a drive up to the Northcrest subdivision, located right at the junction of I-285 and I-85. Perfectly situated on two of Atlanta’s primary highways, you’re looking at a twenty minute drive to the hospital. If mid-century is your game, than this is the neighborhood for you. You’ll love it.
4-You’re thinking: “You seem incredibly knowledgable, the perfect real estate person to help me find a new home in Atlanta. How do we move forward?”
I’m responding: That’s an awfully nice thing to say! I’d love to assist you. Here’s my contact information- be in touch at your convenience!
{ Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 }
$1500 Down, And You Can Buy An Inman Park Condo
No, that was not a joke. A tad bit dramatic? Perhaps. But it’s true folks, it’s all true.
I learned recently from my friends at The BeltLine Team that The Brickworks in Inman Park has been added to their list of developments eligible for the BeltLine Tax Allocation District. Read all about the nuts and bolts- it’s a very real program that’s enabled a bunch of lucky Atlanta home buyers to score sweet deals all along the BeltLine.
Brickworks, of course, is no stranger to these here pages. You can probably recall when I professed my love for my one-bedroom listing there, and certainly you’ll recall all the good things that I had to say about the Home Owners Association. Now, with the BeltLine program in place, the deal just got a whole lot sweeter.
Whether you’re thinking about living in Inman Park, on the BeltLine, or, in a pristine condo… you should get on this. Stat. Contact me directly for more details…
