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The post Kirkwood Neighborhood and Brief History appeared first on Kirky's Blog.
]]>The area was originally settled by a man named Samuel M. Kirkwood, who purchased land in the area in 1851. The neighborhood was officially established in 1890 and quickly grew in popularity as a desirable place to live for Atlanta's upper-class citizens. Many of the homes built during this time period still stand today and are considered some of the most beautiful examples of Victorian architecture in the city.
In the early 1900s, Kirkwood experienced a period of growth and development, with the construction of several new homes and businesses. The neighborhood also became home to a number of prominent Atlanta citizens, including a number of politicians and business leaders.
During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Kirkwood was a site of civil rights activism. The neighborhood was a hub of activity for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and a number of notable civil rights leaders, including Julian Bond, lived in Kirkwood during this time.
Today, Kirkwood is a thriving community with a strong sense of community. The neighborhood is home to a number of parks, including Kirkwood Park and Bessie Branham Park, as well as a number of community gardens. The Kirkwood Community Association, established in 1975, works to preserve the neighborhood's historic character and promote community events and activities.
The neighborhood has many options for dining and shopping, with a variety of local businesses, including a farmers' market, and the Kirkwood Wine Stroll is an annual event that highlights the community's local businesses. It's also home to the Kirkwood Farmers Market, a weekly event held on Sundays from May to October.
Kirkwood is easily accessible by MARTA, the Atlanta area's public transportation system, and is just a short drive away from downtown Atlanta. With its historic homes, strong sense of community, and convenient location, Kirkwood is a great place to live, work, and visit.
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The Re-Opening of Popular Restaurants in East Atlanta
It is an understatement that the year 2020 has presented us all with a different world and how we live in this new world. Many industries have been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic, especially the entertainment and dining industry. Many local & franchised restaurants along with venues have closed their doors with efforts to help stopping the spread of the virus. This forced large and small business owners to think outside the box to keep their business running by offering consumers To-Go, delivery, and curbside services. Businesses such as Taproom Coffee and Sun in My Belly got creative by delivering gallons of coffee to local places and turning their restaurant into local farmers market to keep their employees and business open. Other restaurants opt to close its door entirely to minimize the impact of the virus and keep their employee safe. During its closure time, most restaurants were able to create an action plan to provide a safe environment for its’ employees, customers, and suppliers at time of reopening.
Popular restaurants in East Atlanta that recently open to public early September are listed below. As customers, we appreciate all the efforts to provide us with a safe dining environment. Please, join us by supporting our local business in our lovely community!
Golden Eagles – Reynoldstown, Atlanta
This historic restaurant its located 1.5 miles east of downtown and along the scenic Beltline Eastside Trail reopened its door on September 3rd and includes a large and shady outside patio just steps away from the Beltline. Masks are required and are only open Thursday through Saturday.
Pin and Popper – Grant Park, Atlanta
This fun game bar restaurant is only open for in person pinfall, food, and drinks Fridays at 5pm, Saturdays at 3:00PM, and Sundays at 12PM. They are strictly enforcing masks and social distancing while offering to go options. They also have certified all their team members and supervisors in safe food handling in addition to checking temperatures of all employees prior to each shift to ensure a healthy environment to its customers.
Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards – Decatur, Atlanta
This is a regular place for many residents in Decatur and it just opened its’ door early September. While business closed, Twain expanded its outdoor space to offer more outside seating and respecting social distancing guidelines set by CDC during the pandemic. They also offer contactless menu to minimize exposure, mask required policy, and take out option.
We should be proud of how many small businesses stepped out of the comfort zone to provide its’ customer a safe environment. In the middle of these difficult times, we must support local businesses in our lovely Kirkwood community and respect their dining policies. Don’t forget to check out their amazing menus online and pay them a visit!
Until next blog!
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Why would you buy a brand new car, if you can buy a used car? Why purchase a new book, if you can buy a used one? The same concept applies to many neighborhoods in Atlanta during the gentrification stage. Atlanta is a city in the Southeast with faster growth population and rich in history. Gentrification is a housing and economic issue that affects a community’s history and culture which is why City of Atlanta utilizes adaptive reuse as a conscious decision to preserve the past while planning for the best interest of city’s future.
Adaptive reuse is not a decision just to preserve history, but it also requires a critical process to make sure communities don’t waste materials. The entire process protects the environment and the element of a historic site.
One of the most successfully adaptive reuse projects in East Atlanta is Ponce City Market where the historic Sears Warehouse was turned in to a mix used development with offices, residences, shops, restaurants, and a rooftop park by Jamestown Real Estate Firm. Ponce City market is accessible by car, foot, and bike and it also connects popular East Atlanta neighborhoods such as: Midtown, Virginia Highlands, Poncey-Highlands, and the Old Fourth Ward. This site is now one of the most visited places for Atlantians to go on the weekends. The resurrection of this site has created a “Live, Work, and Play” lifestyle for its’ residents. The Ponce City Market was the master project for adaptive reuse projects and helped lead other successful restoration projects such as: The Krog Street Market, White Provision and Stock Yards in West Midtown.
Other upcoming adaptive reuse projects in the City of Atlanta are: Colony Square, Pullman yards, Centennial yards, and Atlanta Diaries.
Colony Square in the heart of Midtown is currently underway by Architects Lord Aeck Sergeant. This adaptive reuse project involves demolishing the existing mall and two-story building. In their place, two new office buildings and a movie theater will be build on top of the existing parking structure. The two original office buildings will stay and go under new makeovers. Retail and restaurant spaces will be available on the ground level surrounded by an open plaza hoping to make a this a must go to destination in Midtown.
Centennial Yards will be the biggest mixed-use development in the South East located in the heart of downtown Atlanta knows as The Gulch. Approximately 50 acres of parking deck and railroads will be turned into opportunity for growth featuring more than 12 million Sq. Ft. mixed used development including residential, retails, office and hotel.
Atlanta Diaries, located in Reynoldstown, was abandoned since Italian milk company, Pharmalat, shuttered in 2004. Developers from Paces Properties projected to transform these 11 postindustrial acres into a mixed-used hub while preserving the elements of its original site and embracing the architecture of tomorrow. This mixed project includes apartments, retail space, office, a music venue with a roof top hangout creating an industrial-hip outdoor space called- The Yard. Paces Properties refers to this project as “A new center of gravity for the city’s vibrant Eastside neighborhoods.”
The Pullman Yards is another most talked about development coming up in the Kirkwood neighborhood. Its $100 million mixed- use project will revive 27-acre of industrial site, former Railyard, into Atlanta’s newest moviemaker center. This project will include multifamily dwelling, working spaces, retail space, restaurants, boutique hotel, outdoor concert venue, and film production facilities. Owners, Atomic Entertainment, expects the project to be completed around Fall 2021.
Based on the upcoming projects listed in this blog, you can understand that adaptive reuse is an attractive alternative to many developers in terms of sustainability and profitability while preserving the historic character of the built environment. It is a great way to blend the old with the new to meet society’s needs.
I hope you find this post interesting and stay tuned for our next blog!
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Why is it that City of Atlanta’s population continues to grow?? According to Atlanta Regional Commission Atlanta's population increased by almost 11,000 between 2018-2019. Some of the reasons why people and companies are moving to Atlanta is due to low cost of living, job opportunities, lifestyle, nature, weather, food, and close proximity to the biggest International airport in the United States.
Moving to another city takes planning and a lot of decision-making. The biggest challenge people face is deciding where to live. So, whether you are a laid back suburban type of person, a big city lover, or a mix of both types, you can fit right in in any of the best up coming neighborhoods in East Atlanta.
Atlanta is divided into multiple neighborhoods; each having its’ own vibe and appeal. The Atlanta Beltline is a former railway track around the central part of the city that connects 45 different neighborhoods. The Atlanta Beltline project has helped revitalized many neighborhood promoting a Live, Work, and Play lifestyle.
Besdies Buckhead and Midtown, other East Atlanta nighborhoods made it to the “Best Places to Live n Atlanta”. Here is the list of best neighborhoods in Atlanta:
VAHI as many of its residents call it, is a small town community close to Ansley Park and close to Downtown. Virginia Highlands is located near many attractions including the Beltline, Ponce City Market, and Piedmont Park. This neighborhood is popular for art, shopping, dinning and nightlife!
- Restaurants & Bars: Atkins Park Restaurant, Fontaine’s Oyster House, Dark Horse Tavern, The Local, Moes & Joes Tavern, Highland Tap, The Warren City Club.
This Neighborhood is considered Atlanta’s hippest neighborhood located East of Downtown and south of Midtown. Old Fourth Ward is becoming one of the favorite places for people to hang out on the weekend due to the proximity to Ponce City Market and the Beltline. Its huge variety of dining and retails options attracts hundreds of people to this neighborhood. It is also considered a pedestrian and bike friendly neighborhood
- Restaurants & Bars: Pour Taproom New Realm, Estrella Rooftop, The Tap on Ponce, 9 Mile Station, Two Urban Licks, Southern belle.
Druid Hills is well known for Atlanta’s prestigious neighborhood with historic parks, churches, and mansions. It is located 5 miles East of Downtown Atlanta and has some of Atlanta’s top schools. This Druid Hills is perfect for anyone looking for an upscale, quiet and peaceful neighborhood.
Restaurants: Thaisoon & Sushi Bar, The General Muir, Top Spice, Taziki Mediterranean, Rise & Dine, La Parrilla.
Living in other Atlanta Neighborhoods can get expensive, but this neighborhood offers you an affordable quality housing in a friendly community with walking distance to local restaurants and shops. There are many parks including Gillian Park, PB&J gallery, and the Kirkwood Urban Forest community Garden, Kirkwood is located close to the airport, GA State University, GA Tech, and interstate I-20, I-75, and I-85. Also, conveniently located near a Marta Station for all type of commuters.
- Restaurants & Bars: Dish Dive, El Myriachi, The Pullman, The Kirkyard Pub, Anne’s BBQ, Sun In My Belly, Poor Hendricks, Le Petit Marche, Ration and Dram, Salaryman, Mixed Burgers
Decatur is automatically associated to Agnes Scott College, and Emory University, and the Center of Disease Control (CDC). But it is also known for its fun and popular events taking place every year in the downtown Decatur.
- Restaurants: The Iberian Pig, Brick Store Pub, The White Bull, Revival, The Pinewood, Sweet Melissa, D92 Korean BBQ.
These are some of the reasons why people are choosing to move to East Atlanta! Check out some of the places listed in this blog and let us know your thoughts!
Stay tuned for our next blog!
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