Mary Dell schools?

[lorelei]

We're peeking at a house around the corner and are wondering why the values on that road are so much lower than other places nearby. It's really close to the Mary Dell school road (I guess it used to be Mary Dell school, but now it says something about south metro on one building and something about adult education on the other) Is something going on with these schools, or is there some road widening project on Fayetteville that's coming soon?

Thanks!

[The Lord of the Jungle]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

[lorelei]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

Yeah, the house is on it, actually. What would being on the line change? We're only about a block from it now, and aside from jurisdiction issues re: police response, I can't think what else would be affected.

[Cap'n Ken]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

Yeah, the house is on it, actually. What would being on the line change? We're only about a block from it now, and aside from jurisdiction issues re: police response, I can't think what else would be affected.

In Atlanta you'd have a regular school (Burgess-Peterson) and access to three charter schools. In unincorporated DeKalb ... I'm sure there's some school they send your kids to now since they shut down the deplorably failing one that used to be around here, but I can't remember its name.

Anybody who had kids or might someday think about having kids would have to think really hard about buying in unincorporated DeKalb right now given how home prices generally have come way down.

[lorelei]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

Yeah, the house is on it, actually. What would being on the line change? We're only about a block from it now, and aside from jurisdiction issues re: police response, I can't think what else would be affected.

In Atlanta you'd have a regular school (Burgess-Peterson) and access to three charter schools. In unincorporated DeKalb ... I'm sure there's some school they send your kids to now since they shut down the deplorably failing one that used to be around here, but I can't remember its name.

Anybody who had kids or might someday think about having kids would have to think really hard about buying in unincorporated DeKalb right now given how home prices generally have come way down.

It's in the city limits, at least according to the trash cans.
This isn't the house, (the one we're looking at isn't online) but it's really close to it. The schools says "other" and "not on bus route". I don't understand what that means.
but seriously, a renovated 2k square foot brick house with an attic and a basement for 135k?
http://www.redfin.com/GA/Atlanta/1168-Fayetteville-Rd-SE-30316/home/23832171

[Cap'n Ken]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

Yeah, the house is on it, actually. What would being on the line change? We're only about a block from it now, and aside from jurisdiction issues re: police response, I can't think what else would be affected.

In Atlanta you'd have a regular school (Burgess-Peterson) and access to three charter schools. In unincorporated DeKalb ... I'm sure there's some school they send your kids to now since they shut down the deplorably failing one that used to be around here, but I can't remember its name.

Anybody who had kids or might someday think about having kids would have to think really hard about buying in unincorporated DeKalb right now given how home prices generally have come way down.

It's in the city limits, at least according to the trash cans.

Well if the trash cans say so ..

You should be able to find out if you look up the address in DeKalb property records. But schools are a big factor in values within the city limits and in unincorporated DeKalb. But within either jurisdiction I'm sure values vary a lot based on the character of the street, whether there are a bunch of foreclosures, etc.

[lorelei]

Those are APS facilities - formerly schools, now admin IIRC - and I can't imagine them having a profound effect on adjacent values. You're getting close to the Dekalb Co. line, though...

Yeah, the house is on it, actually. What would being on the line change? We're only about a block from it now, and aside from jurisdiction issues re: police response, I can't think what else would be affected.

In Atlanta you'd have a regular school (Burgess-Peterson) and access to three charter schools. In unincorporated DeKalb ... I'm sure there's some school they send your kids to now since they shut down the deplorably failing one that used to be around here, but I can't remember its name.

Anybody who had kids or might someday think about having kids would have to think really hard about buying in unincorporated DeKalb right now given how home prices generally have come way down.

It's in the city limits, at least according to the trash cans.

Well if the trash cans say so ..

You should be able to find out if you look up the address in DeKalb property records. But schools are a big factor in values within the city limits and in unincorporated DeKalb. But within either jurisdiction I'm sure values vary a lot based on the character of the street, whether there are a bunch of foreclosures, etc.

I modified my post... see addendum for school info. (And we did look it up, it's in the city limits, I was just being not-so-funny about the trash cans)

[Cap'n Ken]

From the property tax records it looks like there was some deed transfer in 1980 and then nothing until a foreclosure in 2010. That suggests somebody who took out an equity loan and got screwed. Looks like in July 2011 somebody bought it from the bank for $28.5K. Quick flip-type renovation and it's on the market for $135K. That all sounds about right (ignoring how not right that actually seems when you think about previous values around here).

I can't imagine there's a lot of inherent value being there on Fayetteville Road. What comes to my mind when I think about that stretch is older, not-so-charming places without a lot of obvious renovations / infill construction, etc. It seems to be in the city, but I wouldn't call it "East Atlanta" by character - more "Gresham Park" or whatever all that to our southeast is known as.

I'd try to see what comparable sales look like around there before I'd say it's a good deal. Might be, but I'd want to research it more.

[lorelei]

From the property tax records it looks like there was some deed transfer in 1980 and then nothing until a foreclosure in 2010. That suggests somebody who took out an equity loan and got screwed. Looks like in July 2011 somebody bought it from the bank for $28.5K. Quick flip-type renovation and it's on the market for $135K. That all sounds about right (ignoring how not right that actually seems when you think about previous values around here).

I can't imagine there's a lot of inherent value being there on Fayetteville Road. What comes to my mind when I think about that stretch is older, not-so-charming places without a lot of obvious renovations / infill construction, etc. It seems to be in the city, but I wouldn't call it "East Atlanta" by character - more "Gresham Park" or whatever all that to our southeast is known as.

I'd try to see what comparable sales look like around there before I'd say it's a good deal. Might be, but I'd want to research it more.

Ok, I'm on cold meds, so clearly I'm not making sense- let me try this again.
That's not the house we're looking at, is IS a comparable. The prices are all very similar for similar houses. I'm just curious why they are so much lower on that road than even the houses on my crappy end of Flat Shoals. It seems odd since they're still in the city limits and aren't THAT much further than the village. I think that it is even technically still in EACA boundaries. I'm just curious if anyone knows of anything going on either with the two empty schools, or a potential road project that would eat +/- 10 feet of the yard, or something that explains the reduced values for what are, frankly, better homes.

[Cap'n Ken]

From the property tax records it looks like there was some deed transfer in 1980 and then nothing until a foreclosure in 2010. That suggests somebody who took out an equity loan and got screwed. Looks like in July 2011 somebody bought it from the bank for $28.5K. Quick flip-type renovation and it's on the market for $135K. That all sounds about right (ignoring how not right that actually seems when you think about previous values around here).

I can't imagine there's a lot of inherent value being there on Fayetteville Road. What comes to my mind when I think about that stretch is older, not-so-charming places without a lot of obvious renovations / infill construction, etc. It seems to be in the city, but I wouldn't call it "East Atlanta" by character - more "Gresham Park" or whatever all that to our southeast is known as.

I'd try to see what comparable sales look like around there before I'd say it's a good deal. Might be, but I'd want to research it more.

Ok, I'm on cold meds, so clearly I'm not making sense- let me try this again.
That's not the house we're looking at, is IS a comparable. The prices are all very similar for similar houses. I'm just curious why they are so much lower on that road than even the houses on my crappy end of Flat Shoals. It seems odd since they're still in the city limits and aren't THAT much further than the village. I think that it is even technically still in EACA boundaries. I'm just curious if anyone knows of anything going on either with the two empty schools, or a potential road project that would eat +/- 10 feet of the yard, or something that explains the reduced values for what are, frankly, better homes.

The only thing I've heard contemplated for the Mary Dell school buildings was the temporary home for Jackson High during renovations, but I don't think that got very far. I'd assume those buildings would stay in current use (administration, maybe some adult Ed) for the foreseeable future.

As for Fayetteville Road, personally I don't see it being a desirable location at all. It might not be much farther from the Village than Flat Shoals Road or Bouldercrest, but I think there's one more degree of separation because Fayetteville cuts the other way and doesn't lead to the Village, and the nature of development there seems to be more isolated than our "neighborhood" streets. And the houses are more ranch than bungalow (though I think they were built mostly in the transition), which also lessens the appeal. It might be a good place to get a house for cheap, but I wouldn't think it's a place to find some hugely underpriced gem.

[lorelei]

ok, that helps, seeing how you view the road in general. I guess other people are seeing it the same way since the properties are sitting for ages. Thanks.

[mbmcloughlin]

I think Mary Dell has been used in the past to house students when the home school was under renovation.

[ohmylorelei]

I lived over there and liked it fine, but moved because my kids hit school age and we were on the Dekalb side.  In theory the old Goodwill lot next to the Publix will someday become a mixed use area, something like a cross between Glenwood Park and Edgewood Park, but it's been sitting a good long while.

I was there 6 years and never had a break in, had some wonderful neighbors, etc.  It's realy nicely located to EAV but also to Oakhurst and Kirkwood.  If you like the house and the block, and you're not going to get trapped by schools, I don't see any reason not to.

[Cap'n Ken]

I lived over there and liked it fine, but moved because my kids hit school age and we were on the Dekalb side.  In theory the old Goodwill lot next to the Publix will someday become a mixed use area, something like a cross between Glenwood Park and Edgewood Park, but it's been sitting a good long while.

I was there 6 years and never had a break in, had some wonderful neighbors, etc.  It's realy nicely located to EAV but also to Oakhurst and Kirkwood.  If you like the house and the block, and you're not going to get trapped by schools, I don't see any reason not to.

Sounds like you're describing the area farther north on Fayetteville. This is south of Flat Shoals / west of I-20 almost down to the Bouldercrest / Eastland triangle.

[ohmylorelei]

Ahhh, yeah. I saw the directions to that house, which said something about getting off 20 and turning onto Fayetteville, and assumed it was the Glenwood exit.  I was thinking of Fayetteville and Glenwood.

Which is also an easy place to find a house for 135K.