how's the area near washington park/ ashby marta? (Atlanta, Marietta: condos, townhomes)

[rougejoker]

is this a decent area? is there any shopping nearby? how are the schools, particularly the middle school? is it relatively safe if i'm coming home from work at night?

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by rougejoker

is this a decent area? is there any shopping nearby? how are the schools, particularly the middle school? is it relatively safe if i'm coming home from work at night?

I live in the Brock Built Townhomes www.liveatwestide.com (broken link) located adjacent to the Marta Station. I ride the Marta to the airport frequently, downtown to work, Inman Park, Decatur and Candler Park and I love it. The area is located close (5-8 minute drive down Northside Drive) to Atlantic Staiton and the Howell Station which offers great shopping. There is a Publix within walking distance and more retail coming this summer with a CVS anchoring the corner of Mayson Turner Road and MLK. Thier is more mom and pop retail on MLK and Castleberry Hill/Midtown/Marietta Street/West Midtown/Downtown/Centennial Olympic Park are all nearby (3-5 minute drive) so their are plenty of bars/restaurants in the area but Westside Village development here will change that on a small scale with a Coffee Shop and a a few more good local rest/bars summer. My car stays in the garage for the most part and I only have to fill up my vehicle once or twice per month since everything is so close by.

Nearby you have Washington Park which is a great play to play tennis and get some recreation time and the swim center is excellent as well. You can also exercise on the field turf at the Clark Atlanta University stadium which was a Field Hockey Olympic Venue and run laps or job on the actual track that was usued for the Olympics in 1996. It's lcoated on the corner of James P. Brawley Drive and Martin Luther King. Another great feature is having the marching band practice while you run laps is that when hearing them belt out tune after tune during your work out is so inspirational! No need for a IPOD in the fall .

With regards to safety, I feel relatively safe in the area but their are some areas close by I would not recommend going for a jog at night. Like any gentrifying area it's a block by block scenario that takes time. But with Spelman College, Morehouse College & Clark Atlanta University across the street their is a strong student population that is always in the area which makes the atmopshere even better and with the coming retail projects the MLK corridor has the potential have a a nice feel to it. Alot of students ride Marta to The Ashby Street station and I've never had a problem coming or going from work early in the morning or at night.

I do not have any children so I couldn't address the Junior High School but I know it's zoned for John F. Kennedy and the Magnet School is Kipp Ways Academy which I understand is EXCELLENT. It's located across the street from the Ashby Street Marta Station.

As far as housing the only areas I could truly recommend are the townhome development that I currently live inBrock Built - The Commons - Townhomes in Atlanta, GA , the condos across the street that Historic Westside Village currently live in and the homes and area directly near Washington Park(Lena Street or close by). This area isn't really that big so I would advise living on the fringes of Washington Park/Westside Village at this time. I wouldn't advise getting any home North of Mayson Turner or N/S Joseph E. Lowery. The neighborhood north on Lowery borders the Simpson road corridor and English Avenue which is VERY ROUGH. Vine City has a few nice new construction homes but I believe you want to be as close to Ashby Station and Washington Park for your best value and convenience to the city.

Another great feature is that you can see the whole downtown and midtown skyline from my deck .

[rougejoker]

thanks so much for your input. it's so nice to know that there are things in the area to do with my family, and i love that i can just walk to the grocery store. this info just made my home search a hell of a lot easier. thanks!!

[Atlantasfinest]

It's only 3-4 years old and under-used!

Here is a post in the photo gallery with some photos and additional information on the area.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...ml#post3350758

I'd like to meet new friends in the area so if you end up moving here let me know. I'm trying to start a jogging club as well as a few other ventures in the area to make people aware of the area.

[BobKovacs]

If Kennedy is the middle school your kids will be going to, you might want to look elsewhere. I've attached a link to the greatschools.net test scores page for Kennedy, and it's pretty pathetic- something like 25% of the students meet/exceed the state standards. Greatschools rates it a 1 on a scale of 1-10.

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

If Kennedy is the middle school your kids will be going to, you might want to look elsewhere. I've attached a link to the greatschools.net test scores page for Kennedy, and it's pretty pathetic- something like 25% of the students meet/exceed the state standards. Greatschools rates it a 1 on a scale of 1-10.

I totally agree with your assumption about Kennedy Middle but the exceptional children from grades 5-8 in the area attend Kipps Ways Academy which is the magnet school for the area and has received rave reviews over the years. The schools over here are the main reason why couples with children are sometimes reluctant but Kipps Way is leading the way for children and parents who demand a good education. I've heard some good things abotu the elementary school in the area so hopefully by the time my children reach the school age the schools will exceed my expectations. Luckily I own a few properties in Inman Park which I plan to keep for my children to be able to attend school there If I deem necessary. But I believe this area is going to tranform itself as the gas prices go throughout the roof and people will need to start living closer to town with all the convenience it offers.

Here are some additional articles for your reading pleasure about Kipp Ways Academny. Enjoy .

CNN.com - No excuses or short cuts at Atlanta charter school - Oct 5, 2006

Atlanta Daybook : KIPP WAYS Trip From Atlanta to Africa Featured In The March Edition of Ebony Magazine

KIPP WAYS Academy

KIPP: CNN.com - “No excuses or short cuts at Atlanta charter school�

[davesm]

I co-sign Atlantasfinest's comments. I was actually waiting for him to post first since he lives in the area (and I knew he would be more thorough than me).

Basically, Westside Village is ground zero of the revitalization taking place in that area. It is a stones throw from Downtown. One of the things I like most about the townhomes (3bed/3bath/1halfbath/2Car Garage) is that everyone of them has a different exterior. Too often townhomes don't have any individuality in Atlanta, but these seem to be the exception.

At the current rate of revitalization taking place on Atlanta's Westside this area will continue to become more desirable... and there is a Marta Station on the corner!!!

As far as safety... If you have moderate urban sensibility you should be just fine. There is a good amount of foot traffic on MLK and Lowery which is a plus. Also, there are a lot of College students in the area that give it an energetic charisma.

[Atlantasfinest]

I co-sign Atlantasfinest's comments. I was actually waiting for him to post first since he lives in the area (and I knew he would be more thorough than me).

Basically, Westside Village is ground zero of the revitalization taking place in that area. It is a stones throw from Downtown. One of the things I like most about the townhomes (3bed/3bath/1halfbath/2Car Garage) is that everyone of them has a different exterior. Too often townhomes don't have any individuality in Atlanta, but these seem to be the exception.

That's why I was so open to purchasing a townhome in this subdivision because they are very unique and you simply don't have the quality and inviduality in the townhome market at the price point for new construction anywhere in Atlanta. They are very spacious with excellent upgrade pacakges available. I have a custom paint throughout my home that even Mr. Steve Brock himself was impressed with.

At the current rate of revitalization taking place on Atlanta's Westside this area will continue to become more desirable... and there is a Marta Station on the corner!!!

Gotta luv the Marta Station on that corner, trains comes very fast since it's basically served by double the service you would get living near Inman/Candler Park & Decatur. If you live between Ashby/Vine City/GWCC/5 Points/GA State/King Memorial your trains come faster because these are the lines where the short trains and the long trains (H.E. Holmes to Kensington Station end of line for the WEST/EAST line). I never have to wait longer than 5 minutes for a train in the morning and most of the time when I walk down the train is just approcahing .

As far as safety... If you have moderate urban sensibility you should be just fine. There is a good amount of foot traffic on MLK and Lowery which is a plus. Also, there are a lot of College students in the area that give it an energetic charisma.

I agree with DAVESM on this one...the plus is the college students which will always make this area viable for years to come.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by Atlantasfinest

I totally agree with your assumption about Kennedy Middle but the exceptional children from grades 5-8 in the area attend Kipps Ways Academy which is the magnet school for the area and has received rave reviews over the years. The schools over here are the main reason why couples with children are sometimes reluctant but Kipps Way is leading the way for children and parents who demand a good education.

That's great, but there's a substantial area that feeds into Kipps, and a limited number of students are accepted. If you don't apply when your kids are in 4th grade, your chances of getting in at one of the upper grades are slim. So, now you've got to buy a house in the area and pray that your kid gets into Kipps- the alternatives are either private school (ka-ching $$) or the garbage at Kennedy. Its not as easy as saying "OK, I'm living here now, and I want my kids to go to Kipps". Not worth the risk, IMO.

Now, as you said, if gas prices keep increasing and intown living gains popularity, the demand that the public schools improve will increase- but that's not an overnight change, and by the time it happens, your kids might be in college. Areas like Candler Park have been gentrifying much longer and are just now starting to see some results in their schools, and they didn't start from such a low starting point.

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

That's great, but there's a substantial area that feeds into Kipps, and a limited number of students are accepted. If you don't apply when your kids are in 4th grade, your chances of getting in at one of the upper grades are slim. So, now you've got to buy a house in the area and pray that your kid gets into Kipps- the alternatives are either private school (ka-ching $$) or the garbage at Kennedy. Its not as easy as saying "OK, I'm living here now, and I want my kids to go to Kipps". Not worth the risk, IMO.

Now, as you said, if gas prices keep increasing and intown living gains popularity, the demand that the public schools improve will increase- but that's not an overnight change, and by the time it happens, your kids might be in college. Areas like Candler Park have been gentrifying much longer and are just now starting to see some results in their schools, and they didn't start from such a low starting point.

I agree with your statement for the most part Kovacks. We are on the Westside are just trying to do our part to see the continued change in all of the Westside Neighborhoods in the upcoming years. It's happening right in front of our eyes and I just hope that more people see the value in the area and continue to move in and make this a great intown neighborhood. .