East Atlanta and our Home Quest(ish)

[J. Grouchy]

I've mentioned before that we're kinda sorta looking around for a larger dwelling that better suits our needs.  We've been looking mostly in our very own OP - and some into Grant Park - since we've really liked where we are.
 
However....we've recently looked into a few homes on the EA side of Moreland and wanted to get some input from folks about pros and cons about different areas...north of Glenwood, around Brownwood Park, close to BPA, etc.  As with any neighborhood around town, there are areas to possibly watch out for where crime is concerned.  Also, any other factors such as traffic & parking (*cough*BeerFestivalStrut*cough*), noise, and others that we ought to be aware of.

And please, don't let the possibility of my living close to you influence you to portray it in a negative light.  I keep to myself mostly...so you probably would rarely ever see me anyway.

[Jack]

I like living north of Glenwood; I feel like with the highway acting as a barrier it's less a little accessible to criminals than the south end is.

I think being as close to the village and/or Brownwood park as possible is better, regardless of traffic/parking/noise issues (luckily, we tend to have off-street parking here, perhaps unlike parts of Ormewood or Grant Park). Of course, the closer you get the more expensive the houses tend to be. In particular, there's a nice craftsman for sale at the corner of Brownwood and Portland that I'd buy right now if I had the money.

By the way, if you're looking outside your neighborhood anyway, then you might as well expand your search to Reynoldstown/Edgewood/Kirkwood as well.

[Go Sox]

I'm north of Glenwood as well on McPherson between Haas and Flat Shoals. I've always felt very safe in my home (7 or so years here). The street has improved considerably since I moved in as well, with new homes replacing older homes over the years. No issue with noise, I like all of my neighbors, and I can walk to the Village easily. I think this area of EAV is ideal (for me, at least). 

[J. Grouchy]

In particular, there's a nice craftsman for sale at the corner of Brownwood and Portland that I'd buy right now if I had the money.

Yeah...that one is nice, but there were some fairly odd things about it inside.  We think it's overpriced (our highly non-expert opinion, of course).

[Cap'n Ken]

I really like the character of the Brownwood Park grid. But that also tends to be where the houses are closest together ... might not fit your lifestyle. I'm also partial to Flat Shoals Avenue. If you're in the market for a super-nice, big place, that $399K renovation of the old burned-out place is quite swank. But I think the most important thing when looking at a house is examining what's around it. There are probably blocks in every sector of East Atlanta I wouldn't buy in because of crap neighbors.

[Go Sox]

I really like the character of the Brownwood Park grid. But that also tends to be where the houses are closest together ... might not fit your lifestyle. I'm also partial to Flat Shoals Avenue. If you're in the market for a super-nice, big place, that $399K renovation of the old burned-out place is quite swank. But I think the most important thing when looking at a house is examining what's around it. There are probably blocks in every sector of East Atlanta I wouldn't buy in because of crap neighbors.

That last sentence is true for me too. We almost bought a small house down near xxxxxx, but then I did a Buzz search of the street and there were a lot of crime incidents, but more disturbingly "neighbor" incidents, vacant houses, drug incidents. It looked like almost every house on the street aside from that one was trouble. No thanks. I think it's smart, JG, that your asking about areas as opposed to just looking at houses.

[Cap'n Ken]

I really like the character of the Brownwood Park grid. But that also tends to be where the houses are closest together ... might not fit your lifestyle. I'm also partial to Flat Shoals Avenue. If you're in the market for a super-nice, big place, that $399K renovation of the old burned-out place is quite swank. But I think the most important thing when looking at a house is examining what's around it. There are probably blocks in every sector of East Atlanta I wouldn't buy in because of crap neighbors.

That last sentence is true for me too. We almost bought a small house down near xxxxxx, but then I did a Buzz search of the street and there were a lot of crime incidents, but more disturbingly "neighbor" incidents, vacant houses, drug incidents. It looked like almost every house on the street aside from that one was trouble. No thanks. I think it's smart, JG, that your asking about areas as opposed to just looking at houses.

My first-pass observation question is always "do the yards around here have grass?" Dirt yards raise red flags.

[Gmoney]

In particular, there's a nice craftsman for sale at the corner of Brownwood and Portland that I'd buy right now if I had the money.

Yeah...that one is nice, but there were some fairly odd things about it inside.  We think it's overpriced (our highly non-expert opinion, of course).

A friend of mine is the realtor for that one.  They were having an open house of sorts during the strut and I stopped by to chug a beer take a look around on the way back from delivering a message over by the Brownwood Rec Center.  They were still mid-renovation back in September, but it looked like it had some potential....

[soccer6]

One of my neighbors is moving back to MA.  So there's a house on Eastgate Ct up for sale.  Great neighbors (yeah, I'm a lot biased).  Lots of kids - at one point we have 20 under the age of eight; we're down to 17 under the age of 11 (maybe 12) now.  Cul de sac.  Mix of kids going to ANCS and WIA, two possibly going to BPA in the fall.  Did i mention great neighbors?

[Bunni]

I really like the character of the Brownwood Park grid. But that also tends to be where the houses are closest together ... might not fit your lifestyle. I'm also partial to Flat Shoals Avenue. If you're in the market for a super-nice, big place, that $399K renovation of the old burned-out place is quite swank. But I think the most important thing when looking at a house is examining what's around it. There are probably blocks in every sector of East Atlanta I wouldn't buy in because of crap neighbors.

That last sentence is true for me too. We almost bought a small house down near xxxxxx, but then I did a Buzz search of the street and there were a lot of crime incidents, but more disturbingly "neighbor" incidents, vacant houses, drug incidents. It looked like almost every house on the street aside from that one was trouble. No thanks. I think it's smart, JG, that your asking about areas as opposed to just looking at houses.

My first-pass observation question is always "do the yards around here have grass?" Dirt yards raise red flags.

I can't get grass to grow in my yard!  I'm sorry! 

[eremine]

I really like the character of the Brownwood Park grid. But that also tends to be where the houses are closest together ... might not fit your lifestyle. I'm also partial to Flat Shoals Avenue. If you're in the market for a super-nice, big place, that $399K renovation of the old burned-out place is quite swank. But I think the most important thing when looking at a house is examining what's around it. There are probably blocks in every sector of East Atlanta I wouldn't buy in because of crap neighbors.

That last sentence is true for me too. We almost bought a small house down near xxxxxx, but then I did a Buzz search of the street and there were a lot of crime incidents, but more disturbingly "neighbor" incidents, vacant houses, drug incidents. It looked like almost every house on the street aside from that one was trouble. No thanks. I think it's smart, JG, that your asking about areas as opposed to just looking at houses.

My first-pass observation question is always "do the yards around here have grass?" Dirt yards raise red flags.

I can't get grass to grow in my yard!  I'm sorry! 

Yeah, don't judge us who have shady yards and/or don't even want grass!  Mowing? No thanks! 

We love our little area of EAV over here on Gracewood. This whole block is great - Gracewood, Gresham, Brownwood and Ormewood just south of Brownwood Park. Close enough to walk to the Village but not so close that you have to deal with street parkers for our neighborhood events. And we're also within walking distance of Ormewood Square.

[SteveD]

Braeburn is awesome.  Just sayin'.

[J. Grouchy]

I get that it's sort of a house-by-house thing...but are some sections of the north-of-glenwood area of bigger concern crimewise?  I just ask because some areas (like where GS says she is) seem more "tucked away" while others seem more directly accessible (pasley, blake, etc.).  We do see a lot of the new builds and renovations mixed in with older homes...also some renovations currently underway on some blocks.  It's good to see the mix, but at the same time it makes it more difficult to get a good sense of a particular block...even driving through at 6:30 pm.

[Hoodrat]

I like my area, and I am north of Glenwood on Patterson.  I think what you are doing is smart, but even if there is a troubled house on a street you are looking into, there are a few other things to consider.  For example, the house directly across the street from us was a crackhouse when we moved in, but I knew the owner was 90 something, and I knew that it would be cleaned out when she passed away.  Sure enough, it was when she eventually passed.  So just because a house is bad does not mean it will always be, but then again it could very well mean that.  The ironic thing is that I felt safer from getting broken into when it was a crackhouse, because they were always in the yard and would have had no excuse if they said they did not see someone breaking into my house.  When the lady passed and they cleaned the house out, I got broken into for the first time.  I have been in my current house almost three years, plus I get to live on the same street as Flower Lady!  Ken is right though, 99% of the time if the yard is dirt the house is not someone you want to live next to. 

[hfranks]

I get that it's sort of a house-by-house thing...but are some sections of the north-of-glenwood area of bigger concern crimewise?  I just ask because some areas (like where GS says she is) seem more "tucked away" while others seem more directly accessible (pasley, blake, etc.).  We do see a lot of the new builds and renovations mixed in with older homes...also some renovations currently underway on some blocks.  It's good to see the mix, but at the same time it makes it more difficult to get a good sense of a particular block...even driving through at 6:30 pm.

Get out of your car and walk the blocks.  It makes a big difference in what you notice from house to house, block to block.  I can lend you a dog so you don't appear like a creepy stalker.