Those fine houses in midtown.. (Atlanta: neighborhood, buying, home inspection)

[RainyRainyDay]

On the one hand, I agree that some of the contributions on this thread seem a little tinged with envy or bitterness.

On the other hand, let's be honest, for most people, working hard isn't likely to get them an elegant single family home in Buckhead. If earning it by yourself you need to be a hard worker, and in a highly remunerated field, and smarter or more lucky than many of your peers.

You could be the most hard-working, skillful and successful high school math teacher in the whole world, public or private school, and you're not going to make money anything like the event planner mentioned earlier on this thread, for example.

[TakeAhike]

LOL--a bit off topic but if you had the foresight to buy in Inman Park and Candler Park and other intown communities two decades ago you could be living there now on a rather modest income.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

LOL--a bit off topic but if you had the foresight to buy in Inman Park and Candler Park and other intown communities two decades ago you could be living there now on a rather modest income.

Absolutely!

Back before I-485 and the Stone Mtn. Freeways were officially canceled, a lot of these neighborhoods were a steal due to the uncertainty.

I remember seeing beautiful bungalows in Va-Hi for well under $100K.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Absolutely!

Back before I-485 and the Stone Mtn. Freeways were officially canceled, a lot of these neighborhoods were a steal due to the uncertainty.

I remember seeing beautiful bungalows in Va-Hi for well under $100K.

For the non-natives...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_485_(Georgia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_420_(Georgia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_675_(Georgia) (start reading at second paragraph)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Park_(Atlanta)

[TakeAhike]

B &B in Inman Park>>>
Google Image Result for http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/inns/atlanta-sugarmagnoliabb-lodging.jpg (http://tinyurl.com/cler9j - broken link)

In about 2 weeks it will be beautiful over there.

[johnatl]

Also for the non-natives, there are still vestiges of the areas that were demolished for these freeways:

John Howell Park on Virginia Ave, across from Inman Middle School in Va-Hi.

Pretty much all of Freedom Park. Imagine a spaghetti junction sized multi-stack interchange centered on what we now know as the Carter Presidential Library. This is the area where the little Grannies actually chained themselves to trees mere yards from approaching bulldozers.

The Stone Mtn. Freeway would have obliterated the beautiful Parkway along Ponce, east of Moreland. The beautiful Olmstead parks would have been destroyed.

The I-485 was slated to rip the heart out of the Virgina-Highland intersection, curving slightly northwest to wipe out half of Morningside before joining I-85 where 400 ends today.

This same route is under consideration again for the "Mega-Tunnel" a couple of wack jobs have proposed recently.

We seriously dodged a huge disaster when these roads were halted.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Also for the non-natives, there are still vestiges of the areas that were demolished for these freeways:

John Howell Park on Virginia Ave, across from Inman Middle School in Va-Hi.

Pretty much all of Freedom Park. Imagine a spaghetti junction sized multi-stack interchange centered on what we now know as the Carter Presidential Library. This is the area where the little Grannies actually chained themselves to trees mere yards from approaching bulldozers.

The Stone Mtn. Freeway would have obliterated the beautiful Parkway along Ponce, east of Moreland. The beautiful Olmstead parks would have been destroyed.

The I-485 was slated to rip the heart out of the Virgina-Highland intersection, curving slightly northwest to wipe out half of Morningside before joining I-85 where 400 ends today.

This same route is under consideration again for the "Mega-Tunnel" a couple of wack jobs have proposed recently.

We seriously dodged a huge disaster when these roads were halted.

Yep...and the Stone Mountain Freeway would have plowed through the northern part of the City of Decatur.

[Somoso]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

LOL--a bit off topic but if you had the foresight to buy in Inman Park and Candler Park and other intown communities two decades ago you could be living there now on a rather modest income.

Not off topic at all ! I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread that most anyone who bought in town a couple of decades ago or more is in good shape (or should be). There are current Inman Park residents who fall into this category for sure...... Relative to another part of town I've got a friend who bought one of the small homes on a very big lot in Brookhaven about 20 years ago. He paid almost nothing at the time and during the years has had numerous offers from developers seeking the land. Even in the down economy he still gets offers.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by Somoso

Relative to another part of town I've got a friend who bought one of the small homes on a very big lot in Brookhaven about 20 years ago. He paid almost nothing at the time and during the years has had numerous offers from developers seeking the land. Even in the down economy he still gets offers.

I think the Ashford Park/Dresden Drive area is going to be a good investment--I loosely classify that as Brookhaven but others may not.

The area around Cross Keys HS will hopefully improve, too. Almost frightening in some spots at present but it's 'Lenox'. LOL.

In the mid/late 70's it was 'madness' to live near Grady/Inman Park but what incredible things have been done.

[noah]

Keep in mind also that some of the older homes ( not the tear down rebuilds) are smaller homes and people choose location over having a bigger home.

Originally Posted by tenohfive

I've always wondered.. what do people do to live in some great houses I see in mid/down town? Like the houses near Swan House..
-Jay G.