Dekalb likes the Oak in the Hood
If you live in Dekalb County and your neighborhood has ‘Oak’ in its name, your hood is likely on the rise. Two different Oaks are seeing new businesses come in, land values increase, and are becoming more neighborhood oriented.
Oakhurst is essentially the East Lake part of Decatur. Once largely African American working class, middle young folks of all ages are moving into the area for affordable housing and businesses are following. They’re even having their first wine crawl in 2006. Hopefully this will strengthen Decatur by helping it develop more than one identity. Oakhurst is where East Atlanta was 5 years ago.
The other ‘Oak’ on the rise is Oak Grove, a neighborhood around Lavista and Oak Grove road. While a little more suburban, the neighborhood is developing a feel. Restaurants such as Mezza, Oak Grove Market, and Terra Cotta pizza, the place has a quirky character. The addition of a drug store, butcher, and a ‘coffee and flowers’ shop add to the flavor. With Northlake to the east and Toco Hills to the west, becoming ‘neighborhoodish’ is the best chance for this little piece of Dekalb to really develop its own identity.
The expanding nature of both these neighborhoods lies in some common characteristics. First, land values are going up and so density is increasing. With density comes the critical mass for businesses to locate near the population. Second, both are benefiting from the awareness of the value of neighborhoods in general. They are historic communities and want to keep their identity. Lastly, as older generations find detached housing too much work, younger generations who are looking for home ownership opportunities are coming in and really sprucing up the housing. This both helps historic preservation and keeps a critical mass of starter housing alive for another generation.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:22 am
While the gentrification of older, established in-town areas can have positive aesthetic benefits, it can also drive real estate prices through the roof. Virginia Highlands is a classic example. Midtown is a classic example, too.
Younger folks are essentially being priced out of the American dream of owning a house. In-town Atlanta home prices are still “somewhat” reasonable compared to many cities on the east and west coasts but they still, nonetheless, have hefty price tags. Very, very modest bunglaows selling for $400,000 is not pocket change.
Sadly, condominiums are about the only in-town housing alternative to families with incomes under $200,000. At least from my perspective, real estate in Atlanta, as elsewhere in the country, is in a bubble territory.
Yeah, some of Atlanta’s older established neighborhoods may have the code words of: character and charm, but many of these homes need costly major renovations. Many sagging porches and crumbling foundations are quite obvious and apparent, while taking stolls in these older neighborhoods. Within a few short years these older areas are going to be major eyesores, if the owners are not taking frequent trips to Home Depot.
Oak this and Oak that may be currently the in vogue “hot” neighborhoods, but rotting oak may be the destiny for these aging neighborhoods.
Many of these homes are HOT only because of: location, location, location. If these homes continue to deterioate as many currently are, even location, location, location will not sell these rotting abodes.
Chad
November 28th, 2005 at 11:35 am
Actually, Oakhurst had its first wine crawl in 2003 or 2004.
November 28th, 2005 at 8:30 pm
Sorry, having just moved from East Atlanta to Oakhurst, I have to take issue. Single family residential housing costs in Oakhurst are significantly higher than in East Atlanta and the area is much further along in gentrification. Additionally, East Atlanta’s commercial scene is stagnating a bit. (Iris and Good News Cafe both closed in the last few months.) In Oakhurst, however, the wine crawl has been around for a while and the businesses appear stable.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:31 pm
So…in 20 or 30 years, think people will be discovering the charm and “quirky character” of Snelville or Alpharetta?
I fear that in our disposable society, we are also creating disposable neighborhoods and communities. Or, I could be just a cynical refuge from the 770. My kids will probably find Gwinnett Place Mall–with its ring of horseshoe shaped shopping centers with 1 resturant/1 gas station outparcels, and subdivisions of clapboard 80’s mini-colonials–to be quite old-timey…
December 1st, 2005 at 3:43 am
Jason,
It’s really hard to predict the future.
Gwinnett Place Mall has numerous restaurants and gas stations. I really don’t think it’s a one restaurant mall. Ditto for the other suburban malls as well. In fact, I am sure a couple can easily spend $100 for a meal without a problem in Gwinnett. Two months ago you could easily spend $100 to fill up the big SUV.
Atlanta’s demographics are changing. Of course, the boomers are aging. Duh! One of the big question marks with the the Atlanta boomers is where they will live when they eventually retire. Will they continue to live in Atlanta? Who knows?
Two and three decades ago retirees tended to sell their homes and move, but I think that this trend has changed to some degree in recent years. Now, many retirees desire to be near their children and grandchildren. Of course, if they’re not on speaking terms: ARIZONA HERE WE COME!!!
“Quirky” and “charm” may not be the buzz words. AFFORDABLE may be the the buzz word. DISPOSABLE INCOME, not disposable society, may be a key buzz word, too. Retirement in the future is going to be mucho expensive. Many future retirees will not have enough savings, generous pensions, and increasing health care costs will make the golden years less–”golden.”
Once minority immigrant-friendly cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles are now largely unafforable. The huge real estate bubble in these cities is now drawing many minority immigrants to more affordable cities like Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, and Dallas. I just read an article about this topic. Watch this trend closely.
If this trend continues, real estate prices will spike upward in Atlanta. Of course, jobs are a key ingredient as families cannot buy homes without a strong job market.
Atlanta has a highly-educated work force, so jobs should not be an impediment to future growth.
Chad
March 9th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Yep, I’d agree it’s East Atlanta that is about 5 years and $100K per house behind Oakhurst. East Atlanta has a long way to go as far as gentrification. The wine crawl has been around for years!!!! Also, unlike East Atlanta, Oakhurst has an excellent, very high performing elementary school.