West End vs. Westview (Atlanta, Savannah: real estate, house, neighborhoods)

[equinox63]

West End vs. Westview:

What are the pros and cons of each? How do they compare to each other? What are the future plans for each? Which is most likely to accomplish them? What is the community "vibe" of each neighborhood? What areas should I avoid in each neighborhood? What areas should I definitely check out in each (if I want to move there)? Which neighborhood do you see is the best long-term investment?

http://www.westviewatlanta.com/

http://atlantawestend.com/

Thanks!

[Clayton white guy]

I once taught in the West End community at Brown Middle School. I really feel that West End/ West View, and even Oakland City to the south kind of "fold" into one another as a broader community. West End does, overall, have a more "historic" housing stock overall through my estimation. The blocks off of Abernathy (Peeple Street, Oak Street, Oglethorpe Avenue) have Victorian homes with small wrought iron gated gardens almost like the Victorian districts of Savannah or even New Orleans for lack of a better description. Also like those southern coastal cities, there is a mix of older homes with newer (but defnitely not new) multi-family units. West of the Kroger City Center on Cascade, you have another part of the West End (South Gordon/ Ontario) that has larger homes and a little larger lots and some parkway like streets with medians if my memory serves me. West View is west/ northwest of this part of the West End and really adjacent. West View has the typical 1920's - 1940's brick bungalows so plentiful in all parts of Atlanta in that former suburban boom. Oakland City to the south also is mostly bungalows. There are some streets of Oakland City with nicer, larger homes (Avon Avenue) but I feel overall, even in its heydays of the 1940's-50's, Oakland City always rode the coattails of West End along with Westview depending on the larger adjacent community for shopping and even schools. (The southern parts of Oakland City also fed into Sylvan Hills and Therrell High Schools back in the day; while the northern part went to Brown High School in West End. Perhaps what I have used way too many words to say is that from what have observed, West End and Westview are basically the same community with very similar "vibes" The older core of West End (Oglethorpe/ Peeples/ Abernathy near West Hunter Street Baptist Church) would definitely win the walk-ability and transit access award, though since it is closer to the commercial district and MARTA station.

[Jerry3]

A timely thoughtful response. Also take a look out west along cascade Rd from the beautiful restaurant west on cascade to Starbucks area and back. Less diverse brick homes more middle and upper class African Americans -- great area.

Originally Posted by Clayton white guy

I once taught in the West End community at Brown Middle School. I really feel that West End/ West View, and even Oakland City to the south kind of "fold" into one another as a broader community. West End does, overall, have a more "historic" housing stock overall through my estimation. The blocks off of Abernathy (Peeple Street, Oak Street, Oglethorpe Avenue) have Victorian homes with small wrought iron gated gardens almost like the Victorian districts of Savannah or even New Orleans for lack of a better description. Also like those southern coastal cities, there is a mix of older homes with newer (but defnitely not new) multi-family units. West of the Kroger City Center on Cascade, you have another part of the West End (South Gordon/ Ontario) that has larger homes and a little larger lots and some parkway like streets with medians if my memory serves me. West View is west/ northwest of this part of the West End and really adjacent. West View has the typical 1920's - 1940's brick bungalows so plentiful in all parts of Atlanta in that former suburban boom. Oakland City to the south also is mostly bungalows. There are some streets of Oakland City with nicer, larger homes (Avon Avenue) but I feel overall, even in its heydays of the 1940's-50's, Oakland City always rode the coattails of West End along with Westview depending on the larger adjacent community for shopping and even schools. (The southern parts of Oakland City also fed into Sylvan Hills and Therrell High Schools back in the day; while the northern part went to Brown High School in West End. Perhaps what I have used way too many words to say is that from what have observed, West End and Westview are basically the same community with very similar "vibes" The older core of West End (Oglethorpe/ Peeples/ Abernathy near West Hunter Street Baptist Church) would definitely win the walk-ability and transit access award, though since it is closer to the commercial district and MARTA station.

[Atlwarrior]

I reside in West End its no competition we are in the same NPU and have meetings for the overall community and really are the same. The distinction is only because of the dumb way the city has boundaries that could have you in West End, but your neighbors house in Westview.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

I reside in West End its no competition we are in the same NPU and have meetings for the overall community and really are the same. The distinction is only because of the dumb way the city has boundaries that could have you in West End, but your neighbors house in Westview.

Westview was built as an extension of West End, that's why the neighborhoods have different names.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by demonta4

Westview was built as an extension of West End, that's why the neighborhoods have different names.

Not quite. This is from one of the local Westview/West End historians...

"First, ignore the current boundaries. West End and Westview are modern neighborhoods created by City Council legislation that aren't really reflective of historic boundaries. This is all West End historically. People owned land in West End and they sub-divided it into lots,. People bought the lots and then built their homes.

The section north of KIPP/Lucile in Westview was known as the Mathewson Sub-Division. (It belonged to Mrs. Anna C. Mathewson. She was quite the business woman for the time.) I attached the plat map here. The northern end of the Mathewson Sub-Division was cleared for I-20 in the 1960s."

The part of Westview that was south of RDA was called "West End Park".

More commentary from a local resident...

"Legend has it that when the West End had the opportunity to be designated a historic district, the section west of Langhorn, north of RDA, and south of I-20 opted out and, in a sense, were disowned by the Historic West End. I heard that this led to that section of the neighborhood being incorporated into what we now know as Westview."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westview,_Atlanta

Also from the article...

"There are two active neighborhood organizations within Westview:

Westview Community Organization (WCO) – The Westview Community Organization, which formed in 1974, is the largest and oldest neighborhood organization in Westview and encompasses the entire neighborhood...

West End Coalition Group (WEC) – The West End Coalition formed in 1992 when neighbor’s organized to prevent housing deterioration, blight and community destabilization. Despite what the name implies, the organization is located in Westview and encompasses a northeastern portion of the neighborhood. Its streets include Laurel Avenue, Wellington Street, Inman Street, Mathewson Place, Altoona Place, Enota Place, and Lucile Avenue..."

In fact, many of the older people who live north of RDA do not even consider that part Westview. They still consider themselves as part of the West End. I also attached a flyer auctioning homes in what is now known as Westview as the West End (circa 1917 or so).

[Jerry3]

While a distinction without a real difference real estate agents and those living in the areas have defined their areas differently

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by equinox63

Not quite. This is from one of the local Westview/West End historians...

"First, ignore the current boundaries. West End and Westview are modern neighborhoods created by City Council legislation that aren't really reflective of historic boundaries. This is all West End historically. People owned land in West End and they sub-divided it into lots,. People bought the lots and then built their homes.

The section north of KIPP/Lucile in Westview was known as the Mathewson Sub-Division. (It belonged to Mrs. Anna C. Mathewson. She was quite the business woman for the time.) I attached the plat map here. The northern end of the Mathewson Sub-Division was cleared for I-20 in the 1960s."

The part of Westview that was south of RDA was called "West End Park".

More commentary from a local resident...

"Legend has it that when the West End had the opportunity to be designated a historic district, the section west of Langhorn, north of RDA, and south of I-20 opted out and, in a sense, were disowned by the Historic West End. I heard that this led to that section of the neighborhood being incorporated into what we now know as Westview."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westview,_Atlanta

Also from the article...

"There are two active neighborhood organizations within Westview:

Westview Community Organization (WCO) – The Westview Community Organization, which formed in 1974, is the largest and oldest neighborhood organization in Westview and encompasses the entire neighborhood...

West End Coalition Group (WEC) – The West End Coalition formed in 1992 when neighbor’s organized to prevent housing deterioration, blight and community destabilization. Despite what the name implies, the organization is located in Westview and encompasses a northeastern portion of the neighborhood. Its streets include Laurel Avenue, Wellington Street, Inman Street, Mathewson Place, Altoona Place, Enota Place, and Lucile Avenue..."

In fact, many of the older people who live north of RDA do not even consider that part Westview. They still consider themselves as part of the West End. I also attached a flyer auctioning homes in what is now known as Westview as the West End (circa 1917 or so).

West End Park was built from the abandoned Westwood Park project. This was planned after West End was established. It wasn't even in Atlanta city limits when first conceived. It grew along the extended streetcar from West End to the Westview Cemetery along Ralph David Abernathy.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by demonta4

West End Park was built from the abandoned Westwood Park project. This was planned after West End was established. It wasn't even in Atlanta city limits when first conceived. It grew along the extended streetcar from West End to the Westview Cemetery along Ralph David Abernathy.

True. Is this also the case for the section of Westview that is north of RDA?

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by Jerry3

While a distinction without a real difference real estate agents and those living in the areas have defined their areas differently

You mean the mid to late 20th century residents and the early 20th century real estate agents? The flyer that refers to the West End home auction (that is now in Westview) was from 1911 to 1917. I think before the mid to late 1900's, everyone was on the same page.