Single Mom Relocating to Decatur Looking for Best Neighborhood for Kids (Atlanta: real estate, budget)

[flygirl555]

I am looking into relocating to Decatur from Long Island, NY. I am getting a divorce and want to move closer to my family. I have family in Atlanta and Alabama. I understand the schools in Decatur are very good. Any advice on the best neighborhood and safest for kids. I like the older homes. My home budget will be around 400,000. Also, it looks like there are a number of community activities any info on that appreciated. Also, any websites that I can check out for more info.

I also have read on some of the posts that Decatur is a pretty liberal area that is good. Any more info on that appreciated.


Thanks

[LovinDecatur]

I would recommend starting your search with the Clairemont-Great Lakes neighborhood (bounded by Clairemont Ave., Church St., Scott Blvd. and Commerce Dr.). If you want to expand your search, then I would look in the Winnona Park and Oakhurst Park areas. Others may disagree, but I feel a little safer being on the north side of downtown...however, many southside residents have indicated that they have not experienced problems there.
Glennwood Heights is also considered a great neighborhood (old Decaturites think of it as the 'rich' neighborhood in the city), but I think that it might be out of your reach pricewise.

[ramblinwreck17]

Originally Posted by flygirl555

I am looking into relocating to Decatur from Long Island, NY. I am getting a divorce and want to move closer to my family. I have family in Atlanta and Alabama. I understand the schools in Decatur are very good. Any advice on the best neighborhood and safest for kids. I like the older homes. My home budget will be around 400,000. Also, it looks like there are a number of community activities any info on that appreciated. Also, any websites that I can check out for more info.

I also have read on some of the posts that Decatur is a pretty liberal area that is good. Any more info on that appreciated.


Thanks

Great area. It's a very diverse, liberal pop with an older gentry element to it as well. There are some good sites that could help. If I can dig them up I will send them over via PM. How old are the kids?

[George Chong]

LovinDecatur knows her stuff about Decatur

To gather additional information about the City itself, check out these websites:

www.decaturga.com Decatur's website
www.greatschools.net School ratings
City Schools of Decatur City of Decatur school system

At a closing last week, the other real estate agent said that she overheard someone call Decatur as the place that "Mayberry meets Berkley".

Good luck to you!

[cmtiger]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I would recommend starting your search with the Clairemont-Great Lakes neighborhood (bounded by Clairemont Ave., Church St., Scott Blvd. and Commerce Dr.). If you want to expand your search, then I would look in the Winnona Park and Oakhurst Park areas. Others may disagree, but I feel a little safer being on the north side of downtown...however, many southside residents have indicated that they have not experienced problems there.
Glennwood Heights is also considered a great neighborhood (old Decaturites think of it as the 'rich' neighborhood in the city), but I think that it might be out of your reach pricewise.

Now, Lovin'...... if you look at the crime stats over time, you can see that the southside has less crime than the northside most months. We have lived in Oakhurst for nearly a decade and have never (knock on wood) been the vicitm of a crime. Plus, Oakhurst Elementary technically has the best test scores of the city's elementary schools. Theirs are higher by a hair and all of the Decatur elementary schools IMO are equally excellent... but I will be tacky and point it out to defend my southside!

With just a couple of exceptions, the OP will be very safe anywhere in the City of Decatur. My advice is to just pick the neighborhood that feels right and/or has a house you like, and rest assured that you have made a good choice.

[goozer]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I would recommend starting your search with the Clairemont-Great Lakes neighborhood (bounded by Clairemont Ave., Church St., Scott Blvd. and Commerce Dr.). If you want to expand your search, then I would look in the Winnona Park and Oakhurst Park areas. Others may disagree, but I feel a little safer being on the north side of downtown...however, many southside residents have indicated that they have not experienced problems there.
Glennwood Heights is also considered a great neighborhood (old Decaturites think of it as the 'rich' neighborhood in the city), but I think that it might be out of your reach pricewise.

Great choices. There is also a neighborhood in north part of the City of Decatur called Chelsea Heights that I have seen some decent $400k-ish houses for sale recently. This part of Decatur is immediately adjacent to Druid Hills and has a lot of trees.

Decatur is great and from the sound of your post would be exactly what you are looking for (in Atlanta metro, at least).

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by cmtiger

Now, Lovin'...... if you look at the crime stats over time, you can see that the southside has less crime than the northside most months. We have lived in Oakhurst for nearly a decade and have never (knock on wood) been the vicitm of a crime. Plus, Oakhurst Elementary technically has the best test scores of the city's elementary schools. Theirs are higher by a hair and all of the Decatur elementary schools IMO are equally excellent... but I will be tacky and point it out to defend my southside!

With just a couple of exceptions, the OP will be very safe anywhere in the City of Decatur. My advice is to just pick the neighborhood that feels right and/or has a house you like, and rest assured that you have made a good choice.

I knew that comment might invoke some controversy (and re-direction)...Decatur has changed quickly over a relatively short period of time, and some of my perceptions are likely as outmoded as my wardrobe.
So sorry, cmtiger...I think your neighborhood is perfectly lovely and didn't mean to indicate otherwise.

[cmtiger]

No worries -! Decatur has changed dramatically in the past decade. All of the neighborhoods have a different feel so the OP needs to check all of them out and see what feels best. I'd also suggest that she check out the schools if she can work it out. The K-3 schools each have a different feel... although they are all super. If you can, try to walk around each one and just absorb the ambiance (assuming you have a K-3 child). From 4th grade and up... all of the city kids attend the same school (Glennwood 4-5, Renfroe 6-8 and Decatur High 9-12). Decatur High is getting a new auditorium, gym, stadium and field right now... so it looks like a war zone - Apparently, it will all be complete by this September... how... I don't know - but they are still committing to that date.

Also, you can check out some neat videos about the schools at this link......

Decatur Education TV