Glenwood Park

Glenwood Park is a mixed-use development which opened in 2005 in East Atlanta. If traveling from downtown on I-20 eastbound, Glenwood Park is just off exit 59B (Memorial Drive, Glenwood Avenue). If traveling westboard towards downtown, take exit 60 (US 23, Moreland Avenue). This low key neighborhood, sandwiched between Grant Park and East Atlanta Village, is sort of "hidden." I think if you asked the average metro Atlantan if they've heard of Glenwood Park, they'd probably say no.

Glenwood Park opened the same year as Midtown's Atlantic Station. Like Atlantic Station, Glenwood Park is all about urban and sustainable living. Unlike Atlantic Station, Glenwood Park isn't big. It's relatively small at just under 30 acres in total size. It's a lot quieter and isn't as commercialized. The property feels more residential than anything with quiet streets and wide sidewalks with nicely manicured lawns. After about a decade of existence, the development still looks great.

There's a park/greenspace with a picturesque pond and a beautiful fountain. The community collects almost two-million gallons of its own well water per year in order to irrigate the park and street trees. There's a community garden where residents can reserve plots filled with high quality, organic soil. There's a dog park, playground, and neighborhood pool. One courtyard features a little stone fountain and full-sized bocce ball court.

The layout was designed with pedestrians in mind, though there's plenty of free street parking and parking lots located on the development. It's clean and feels safe. The Atlanta BeltLine runs through the neighborhood in a north-south line.

Food-lovers probably know Glenwood Park because of its restaurants, Gunshow, The Shed at Glenwood, and Vickery's Bar & Grill. Local celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie opened Gunshow in 2013 with fellow chefs Andreas Muller and Joey Ward. It may very well be *the* best restaurant in Atlanta. It's certainly one of the most fun and unique with it's American-style dim sum. You can read my review of Gunshow here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/gunshow-atlanta-2?hrid=_Zvxkqv86FBPQtUBysU21Q.

The Shed at Glenwood is a modern farm-to-table restaurant with seasonal fare. Vickery's, known for its cocktails and burgers, opened its second Atlanta location in Glenwood Park. Drip coffee shop also has a location here.

I'm not sure how to review a neighborhood but it shouldn't be too hard. This place is great - bungalow style houses, flats, condos, townhomes and great neighbors. There are a handful of retail businesses on the south end of the neighborhood that we frequent and the usual smattering of intown amenities - proximity to downtown, Virginia Highland, Starlight Six Drive-In. You get the point.

Since moving here in 2009 we have made so many good friends and really love where we live. There's a community garden, a pool/gym and a dedicated dog park free to residents (as of this writing). A brownfield redevelopment and product of Green Street properties, GWP is home to the 2005 Southern Living Idea House. Many of the homes are distinct in design, presentation and vary in style but all still flow together. Most lots are very small but we managed to eke out a wonderful front flower garden and transform the triangle shaped garden in the back into a treed and flowered sanctuary. We tried our hand at gardening in the community garden but the summer Atlanta sun and invasive weeds had us handily beat by mid July. In October each year, the Hotoberfest beer festival is held in and around the main park (now Brewer Park) drawing a few thousand people to the neighborhood. Less exciting but nearly as big a draw (maybe stretching here) is the annual garage sale. A handful of movies have been filmed here including the Blind Side and Hall Pass as is part of the Real Housewives of Atlanta (one of them lives here as of this writing).

Like other neighborhoods that started mid real estate boom but not finished before the bang, there are empty lots, foreclosures and short sales. The last builder to get going has long ago gone out of business and a few independent developers have put up new homes but it remains to be seen if the original vision of Green Street and the first residents will be fulfilled. However, this remains a one-of-a-kind neighborhood south of I-20 and a great alternative to the stunning but prohibitively expensive homes in Morningside, Virginia Highland and the handful of other established intown neighborhoods.

Being so close to everything available in Atlanta has spoiled us for going to festivals (Inman Park, Dogwood, Summerfest, Shade), the drive in and so much good food + drink in walking distance (you hear me $2 PBR at ten places I can walk to). The EAV and Grant Park are both short walks and great neighborhoods in and of themselves. The Zoo and Turner field are less than 3 miles away as are dozens of the best restaurants in Atlanta. The beltline trailhead is just across I-20 so you can walk off all the beer and carbs.

Definitely kid friendly, we've seen at least six newborns arrive since we moved here. The little ones have a playground, a music class and no shortage of friends to grow up with. We will be adding our own in February 2012 so we're planning on being in Glenwood Park for the foreseeable future.

Charles Brewer is a genius. In addition to founding MindSpring, he was the mastermind behind Glenwood Park. Before these beautiful homes, shops, and greenspace were here this was several blocks of crap. Run down crap and a partially abandoned industrial site.

The surrounding neighborhood is best described as transitional. Glenwood Park somehow manages to insulate itself while remaining open and welcoming. At lot has to do with its design. I think the other part has to do with the caliber of people living here.

The homes are definitely out of my price range, but it's nice to have friends with money. My friend Jason owns a corner townhome here and it's lovely. Four stories (including the private garage) with lots of windows and a gorgeous view of downtown (although Enso blocks some of it now).

In addition to visiting him, I also come here to get my hair cut at Relish and eat at Vickery's (since the one on Crescent Avenue closed).

Oh, and Cynthia Bailey of The Real Housewives of Atlanta lives in the neighborhood too. Sheree had no idea what she was talking about when she implied Cynthia lived in the hood. Why don't you just shut up and keep pretending you're a designer?! #DontBeTardyForTheParty #SheBySheree

I love this neighborhood...it's like they brought a little bit of Hollywood to Atlanta. Seriously, its beautiful...as Ray would put it, "I feel like I am in a back lot set or something!" Glenwood Park is definitely like a Seaside, FL neighborhood where upon entering within its compounds, you feel like you just entered a fairy tale world where everything is happy and good. During dinner at Vickery's, I was shocked to find out that my friends never knew about this place and did not know how close we were to Downtown! I knew about Glenwood Park about 4-5 years ago...wait...I feel a recap coming on:

Joel: I think I am ready to own a home
(dialing mom)
Joel: Hey Mom...you know I LOVE you right? I mean you are like the best Mom in the whole world
Mom: (In Asian accent) What you want?
Joel: Well there's this super cute neighborhood and they have row homes and I was wondering if you and dad should invest in the property and I will rent from you and later on I can just buy it from you.
Mom: OK, let me check it out
(week later...)
Mom: Joel, do you know how much those row homes cost? They are like in the 285-300K....that's way too expensive.
Joel: But, but...mom....
(back to present time...)
Joel: Hey Mom...you know those row homes that I wanted you to get me?
Mom: Yes...the expensive ones.
Joel: Yeah, well one is for sale and they are listing it for like 650K
Mom: Oh shoot....

Oh well! I still love the neighborhood and would not mind living here one day in my life. Although, I have to have a job that is in town because getting to GA400 from there is horrible! But I can throw that aside, if we were able to buy David's dream town home with the 5 balconies! :) Check out the neighborhoods website...I hear they will be having a couple of new tenants in the retail part of the neighborhood!

I absolutely love this neighborhood. It is a hidden gem in Atlanta and has the perfect combination of city style with the safety and security of the suburbs. The neighborhood is patrolled by private security and kept immaculately clean.

This is the best kept secret of In-Town Atlanta living. Conveniently located off I-20 just east of Downtown and minutes from Midtown, Glenwood Park is a jewel. It's a picturesque neighborhood of mixed space living that has been the backdrop of many movies, commercials, and other Hollywood productions. Scenes from the Real Housewives of Atlanta are regularly filmed here. The former Southern Living Idea House and other gorgeous single family homes, town homes, and condos, harmonize with tree lined streets, restaurants, retail space, and a lush green park. A play ground for the kids, dog park, and coffee shop adds to the friendly neighborhood vibe. For convenient access to all of Atlanta while enjoying the appeal of a beautiful and vibrant neighborhood, look no further than Glenwood Park!

I love this little park. It's kept clean and landscaped nicely. They have some events from spring to fall and it host a great Halloween kids parade. I love to sit there with a cup of coffee from drip specially in the spring time.