The team behind The Painted Pin in Buckhead, and the Painted Duck on the Westside, has launched a new sports and dining venue at Armour Yards between Buckhead and Midtown. Owners Justin Amick and William Stallworth’s new Painted Pickle could be referred to as an “eatertainment” venue, but Amick said, “We wanted something to really capture our methodology and ethos.” Thus, the “compeatery” was born.
If you expect the Painted Pickle to be just another pickleball venue, you will be pleasantly surprised. Of course, the 32,500-square-foot space includes eight pickleball courts, but it is the park-like bar, dining, and gaming area that really got our attention.
You will find turf paths that wind among large round booths, cafe tables, loungers, and even an oak tree in the middle of the space. Games are everywhere! As Amick put it, “It’s kind of just an undulating pattern of different nooks and crannies of different games.” Ping pong tables, putting greens, darts, hook-and-ring games, bucket ball, and more. All free for guests to eat, drink, and compete. These elements combine to create a cool indoors-but-outside vibe that is very inviting.
Amick explains the dining options at the Painted Pickle, saying, “We’re doing grain bowls, salad, shareable, small plates, brunch, but we’re calling it food for the socially active lifestyle. So we’ve got the refined, elevated bar fare for those that are mingling, drinking, playing, watching games, listen to music, but those that may be playing pickleball that want something a little bit more health conscious, we’ve got a robust section for that lifestyle as well.”
There is a sushi counter and a window into the Painted Pickle’s charcuterie locker, but the bar is certainly the most inviting service option. The long central bar is capped on each end by two round “nodes.” Each round section is topped by a round roof feature that houses TVs which can’t be seen unless you’re seated at the bar. This design element gives the round bar sections an interesting room-within-a-room feel, even though you are in the middle of a huge space.
The first of three outdoor spaces you find is the large covered patio across the front of the building, great for eating, drinking, and watching the big game. Another outdoor patio provides seating adjacent to the pickleball clubhouse, but we’ll get to that in a moment. There is a back patio that will become an intriguing option when the BeltLine Trail’s Armour/Ottley loop is completed. Guests will be able to play games and relax at the Painted Pickle, then hop on the BeltLine and walk to Lindbergh, Bobby Jones Golf, and more!
The entire venue is impressive, but the pickleball courts were anything but an afterthought. Amick says pickleball’s accessibility is a big reason it is America’s fastest growing sport. “The barrier of entry is very low. You don’t be good to enjoy it, but you can be very competitive and get very skilled at it as well.” He continues, “What other sport can you do for recreation that you can enjoy with three generations? I’ll play with my 75-year-old father and my 7-year-old, and yet everyone’s having an equally good time.”
Like the rest of the Painted Pickle, the team had a specific vibe in mind when they designed the pickleball courts. “I wanted this to be like our our All England Club, our Wimbledon, our US Open,” Amick says.
Eight courts are lined with faux hedge walls and situated around a central clubhouse. Great care was taken to provide an elevated pickleball experience, including hedge walls instead of chain-link fence, professional pickleball lighting, and extensive soundproofing throughout the cavernous space. Don’t forget about black-light “cosmic pickleball” on the weekends!
The cottage clubhouse features white clapboard siding, black shutters, and hardwood floors. You might expect to see this building at a traditional Southern golf or tennis club. Along with the courts’ front desk, the facilities include restrooms, lockers, and yet another bar. Amick told us, “We really wanted to separate ourselves with the details from the design esthetic.” Even the wall behind the clubhouse bar features custom pickleball artwork.
Two huge roll-up doors can open when the weather is good to provide an outdoor pickleball experience and let in fresh air and natural light. Players and spectators can flow easily from the courts to clubhouse bar and the outdoor patio.
There are plenty of places to eat in Atlanta, and plenty of places to play sports, but there are not many places that offer both at such a high level. The Painted Pickle builds on Amick’s and Stallworth’s previous success, and provides a refined experience that still feels inclusive and fun.
Pickleball courts open daily at 9 a.m., and they can be reserved Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Other times are first come, first served unless you book a private event. Kitchen and cottage clubhouse open daily at 11 a.m. Visit paintedpickle.com to reserve a court.
When the Shepherd Center first began operations in 1975, the brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation organization had just six beds, all of which were leased. The nonprofit’s budget for 1977 was a mere $126,000.
Over 40 years later, the Shepherd Center has become a leading neuro-rehabilitation hospital that helps restore the lives of patients with spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions stemming from a life-altering injury or diagnosis. After leading the rehabilitation of over 10,000 patients, the Shepherd Center is extending its care with its most ambitious project yet. The construction of two additional facilities and renovations are part of a massive $360 million expansion/improvement project, made possible in large part by donations from Home Depot co-founders Arthur M. Blank and Bernie Marcus.
Construction on the two additions, which will significantly expand the housing and care facilities of the Center, is underway near the organization’s main campus along Peachtree Road.
“It’s the largest campaign we’ve ever done,” said Jamie Shepherd, COO of the Shepherd Center who will serve as CEO later this year. “And it exceeded expectations. We are excited to be able to serve more patients. Not a lot of [facilities] have the specialty and ability to help those we work with, so the expansion is fantastic.”
Recently, a “topping out” ceremony was held for the 16-story Arthur M. Blank Family Residences facility one block south of the Shepherd Center’s main campus. Funded by a $50 million capital grant by the co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, the facility will double the center’s housing capacity with 160 new units. The residences will allow more families to stay at the Shepherd Center while their loved one completes rehabilitation.
Shepherd said the residences will allow families to stay for the entire duration of treatment, which averages about 50 days. Currently, families living outside of 60 miles from the Center are limited to 30 days of stay due to demand.
“There’s no question that the level of care patients receive here is remarkable, but they also need the love, care, and nourishment of their families,” Arthur Blank said in a statement. “Our family foundation is honored to support Shepherd Center in helping more families heal together. We hope that having a safe, accessible place to call home here in Atlanta while they are away from their own homes will help lift the incredible burden of these types of trauma in some small way so that families and patients can focus on their healing and each other at a time when that is the most important and most needed.”
The residency tower is expected to be completed in September, Shepherd said. It could open as soon as October.
Meanwhile, the Marcus Center for Advanced Rehabilitation next door to the main Shepherd Center building is expected to open in early 2025.
The facility, funded by an $80 million grant from longtime supporter The Marcus Foundation, includes the creation of a new 30,000-square-foot Innovation Institute, and allows the Shepherd Center to expand its day programs and outpatient services. Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi have been supporting the Shepherd Center through the Marcus Foundation and personal donations since the 1980s.
Concurrently, the Shepherd Center is enhancing its main campus by expanding its capacity, modernizing patient rooms and expanding the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute.
In late 2022, Gas South, through the Buckhead Coalition, made a $310,000 donation to benefit the Shepherd Center’s rehabilitation program for teens.
The expansion is also personally gratifying for Shepherd. His father, James, suffered a spinal cord injury in 1973 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite a myriad of complications, James Shepherd survived the incident, aided by the Atlanta native completing months of rehabilitation at a Denver, Colorado, facility specializing in the treatment of patients with spinal cord injuries. There simply wasn’t such an option in the Atlanta area.
James Shepherd, along with his parents, then set out to create a rehabilitation center in the southeast. Since its modest beginnings, the Shepherd Center’s services and influence has continued to grow.
“My father had nowhere in this half of the country to go,” Shepherd said. “To have [the Shepherd Center] in the southeast, it’s a crown jewel. Half of our patients come from Georgia, but half come from all around the country. They are coming here because they want to and because we are excellent at what we do. My father’s drive and determination to live, give back and further his legacy makes [the expansion] exceptionally meaningful.”
“Donor support is really important for all we do,” Shepherd said. “We have 20 programs all patients have access to that are not reimbursed from insurance. We raise $12-15 million each year for these programs because it’s best for the patients and their outcomes. And with our expansion, that’s $360 million in building costs. We’re a nonprofit, so we are not able to take up that debt. Donors make the renovations possible. We’re thankful to the Buckhead community for their support, and the support of the state and surrounding states. We wouldn’t be able to do these projects without support.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $25 million grant to the Atlanta Beltline that includes funding for connections to PATH400 in Lindbergh. The City of Atlanta and Atlanta Beltine Inc. received the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant for construction of multi-use trails between the Armour/Ottley and Lindbergh areas.
This new section of the Beltline marks several important connections for the Beltine and PATH400, including the Beltline’s first direct connection to a MARTA transit station. 2.2 miles of trails will connect the Atlanta Beltline to the southern end of PATH400 where it meets the Confluence Trail and the Peachtree Creek Greenway south of Lindbergh Drive. The additional spur connecting to the Lindbergh Center MARTA station is a big step for Atlanta’s multi-use path system, fulfilling one of the original goals of the Atlanta Beltline project.
Most of the Atlanta Beltine trails follow abandoned railroad lines, but not this upcoming connection. Routing the trail among interstate and local roads, MARTA and freight rail, and several regional trails makes the new sections, known as Northeast Trail Segment 3 and Connectors 1 & 2, among the most complex to design and build. Construction of Section 3 is scheduled to begin in 2025.
“The Northeast segment of the BeltLine is a huge undertaking, but Atlanta does big and we do it well—and we do it together,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “Thanks to Senator Ossoff, Senator Warnock, Congresswoman Williams and the Biden Administration, Atlanta now has $25 million in funding—in addition to millions in infrastructure dollars already delivered—for utility, storm water, accessibility and safety infrastructure for Segment 3 and surrounding connectors.”
22 projects around the country were selected for the RAISE grant, with a maximum $25 million award for projects costing less that $45 million. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted that all of the projects were planned and proposed by local organizations. He said. “We don’t design the projects at headquarters. We are proceeding very much on the idea that the answers don’t all come from Washington, but more of the funding should.”
Senators Jon Ossof and Raphael Warnock were pleased to secure funding for the project, and each touted the importance of connecting Atlanta’s regional trail network.
“The BeltLine is more than a walking path, it is an artery connecting Atlantans to each other and their neighborhoods in the heart of our state,” said Sen. Reverend Warnock. “That is why I am proud to have worked alongside Senator Ossoff to secure these funds for the city to expand trail construction, bolster accessibility, strengthen economic development and more. Atlanta is on the frontlines of our green economy, and by investing in this world-class transportation corridor, we are continuing to pave a path towards a better tomorrow.”
“The BeltLine is a transformative Metro Atlanta infrastructure project to upgrade quality of life and spur equitable development across the region. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing to accelerate the completion of the BeltLine Trail,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Imagine families walking and biking, restaurants, retail, and small businesses, green spaces and trail connectivity across Metro Atlanta. This is a huge step forward towards that vision.”
“With the incredible support of the USDOT and our congressional delegation, we’re creating a city that allows people to move within it, creating new access points that lead to jobs, housing, and activities,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “The BeltLine is creating a vibrant public space and a more equitable city for Atlantans by ensuring mobility and access for all who live and work near the corridor. The construction of the Northeast Trail network is a crucial part of this vision.”
The expansion of PATH400 north toward Sandy Springs and south to the Atlanta Beltline and MARTA Lindbergh Center will connect Buckhead with the rest of the city in new and exciting ways. $25 million from the RAISE grant will fill the funding gap and make this important southern connection possible.
ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) has been a nationally-recognized source for the interior design community for over 60 years. Once a market for trade professionals only, ADAC opened its doors to the public in 2012. Each spring, the Design ADAC market offers designers, architects, builders, and the general public an opportunity to get their creative juices flowing through “keynote presentations, salon-style talks, book signings, product launches, tours and more!” Registration is open now, and the event runs April 18-20, 2023. See the press release and a snapshot of the presentation schedule below, and visit www.adacatlanta.com for the full event schedule and complimentary registration.
Design Center Reveals Annual Market Line Up Featuring Keynote Presentations, Showroom Panels + More
Spring Market, Presented by VERANDA, Returns in Person April 18-20 + Registration Opens March 9
ATLANTA: Celebrate spring in Atlanta, a city blooming with optimism, April 18-20, for DESIGN ADAC! The annual spring market is the perfect reason to head south, and delight in colors that are bright and bold, feelings that are light and joyous, and inspiration that is plenty as we explore the principles of balance, the backbone of design, and the state of mind we are all seeking.
“We are excited to usher in a new season at this year’s DESIGN ADAC,” said ADAC General Manager Katie Miner. “We’ll pursue the principles of creating balance in design and life as we explore everything from sustainable materials to travel-inspired decorating to the simple joy of design. This year is also special as architect Bobby McAlpine will be returning to his ADAC home to host a keynote presentation and signing of his book, “Romantic Modernism.”
Explore design through a fresh new lens this spring with three days of programming spanning keynote presentations, salon-style talks, book signings, product launches, tours and more! Hear from illustrious tastemakers, captivating designers and architects, and cutting-edge innovators as DESIGN ADAC celebrates how the principles of design come together to create a world that is surprising and refreshing, customary yet unconventional, structured and precise, and ultimately balanced, just like the state of mind we’re all seeking.
Below is a snapshot of some of the incredible keynote presentations and after-parties to expect at this year’s spring event:
· 10:00 a.m. – DRESSING THE TABLE WITH LELA ROSE | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by The Atlantan, Modern Luxury Interiors Atlanta, and Kolo Collection
Join Modern Luxury in welcoming fashion designer, author, and lifestyle curator Lela Rose to ADAC. In this presentation, Rose will discuss her brand new tome, “Fresh Air Affairs: Entertaining with Style in the Great Outdoors” with the event’s moderator, Caroline Perrott, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantan, Interiors Atlanta, and Weddings Atlanta. Set up among a tablescape creation by Rose exclusively for this event and inspired by the creative entertainment spaces in her book, the pair will discuss the joy of entertaining outdoors in a variety of different climates, with Rose sharing her secrets to designing the perfect table and looking good while doing it.
Join Rose and Perrott after the lively presentation at the Kolo Collection showroom for hors d’oeuvresand a meet-and-greet with the talented fashion designer. Rose will also be signing copies of her book. Kolo Collection, Suite 321
· 1:00 p.m. – RESTAURANT DESIGN: RETURN OF THE MAX | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Atlanta Magazine, and German Kitchen Center
Floral motifs, bright colors, bold patterns – in today’s restaurant design, more is more. The long trend of industrial chic has started to fade, opening new, creative doors for designers and restaurateurs. Join Betsy Riley, Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Magazine and Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, and a panel of design experts to learn about the inspirations, challenges, and rewards of their recent hospitality projects. Panelists include award-winning designers Smith Hanes, Vivian Bencich, and Michael Habachy, as well as interior designer-turned-restaurateur Tamar Telahun.
Following the presentation, cook up inspiration at German Kitchen Center with Hanes, Bencich, Habachy, Telahun, and Riley. German Kitchen Center will be showcasing Contino 12, a new handle-less kitchen front collection from LEICHT. Discover how the elegant appearance of Contino 12 can enhance the appearance of any modern kitchen over light bites and lively conversation. German Kitchen Center, Suite 208
· 3:00 p.m. – THEN & NOW: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ATLANTA STYLE | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Peacock Alley
Feeling lost in the shuffle of constantly changing design trends? In celebration of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles’ 40th anniversary, Editor-in-Chief Lauren Iverson sits down with Atlanta design staples Carole Weaks of C. Weaks Interiors, Lauren DeLoach of Lauren DeLoach Interiors, and Devin Taylor of Devin Taylor Designs to discuss the city’s luxury design blueprint throughout the decades. Preserving the city’s rich history through their work while keeping a keen eye toward the future, these celebrated designers reminisce on classic design trends from years passed and share their forecast for the next 40 years of Atlanta style.
Join Iverson and panelists Weaks, DeLoach, and Taylor in the Peacock Alley showroom following the discussion for sips and light bites. While in the showroom, get inspiration on how to dress your own home in style with Peacock Alley’s latest luxurious offerings. Peacock Alley, ADAC West, Suite A6
· 10:00 a.m. – CREATIVE RENEWAL WITH ARCHITECT BOBBY MCALPINE | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by VERANDA and Sutherland & Perennials
Architect Bobby McAlpine has pioneered a singular design precedent that merges modernism and classicism and stands the test of time. And yet innovation and inquiry are the seeds from which his body of work has flourished for nearly 40 years. In conversation with VERANDA Executive Editor Ellen McGauley, the prolific architect explores not only the necessity of creative reinvention in his own work, but how leaning into our own contradictions keeps our ideas fresh and how our homes can become revealing memoirs.
Following the presentation, join McAlpine and McGauley at the Sutherland & Perennials Studio for a reception. Known for being leaders in the international design industry, Sutherland Perennials Studio invites you to discover its influential offering of products while McAlpine signs copies of his book, “Romantic Modernism.” Sutherland & Perennials Studio, Suite 227
· 1:00 p.m. – BUILDING A STRONG DESIGN BRAND | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by VERANDA and Fabricut
Whether building a firm from the ground up or determining the wisest paths of growth and creative investment, defining a strong brand brings a trove of key decisions. For this enlightening panel, VERANDA Executive Editor Ellen McGauley welcomes architect John Ike, founding partner of legendary firm Ike Kligerman Barkley and most recently, Ike Baker Velten; interior designer and Woodard CEO Jean Liu; and Benjamin Johnston, partner and creative director of Benjamin Johnston Designto talk about pivotal issues from developing marketing materials to investing in a public relations firm.
Following the presentation, join Ike, Liu, Johnston, and McGauley at the Fabricut showroom for a reception and to view Fabricut’s latest collections, including Vacanza by Benjamin Johnston for S. Harris. Fabricut, Suite 307
· 10:00 a.m. – THE POWER OF ELEGANCE IN MODERN DESIGN | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by VERANDA and Cowtan & Tout
Decorating titan Alex Papachristidis joins VERANDA Editor-in-Chief Steele Marcoux for an intimate conversation that ranges from gracious entertaining to the role of fine art.
Following the presentation, join Papachristidis and Marcoux at the Cowtan & Tout showroom for a reception and book signing. Cowtan & Tout is the perfect place to be inspired through timeless and elegant design. Copies of Papachristidis’ book “The Elegant Life” and “VERANDA at Home in the South” will be available for purchase and signing. Cowtan & Tout, Suite 225
· 1:00 p.m. – THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF JOY IN DESIGN | ADAC Presentation Room First Floor
Sponsored by VERANDA and Made Goods
Wonder and warmth are shared virtues of the most well-designed houses and gardens, speaking to the senses in a way that transcends aesthetic beauty. In this lively panel with interior designer Darren Henault, kitchen designer Caren Rideau, and landscape designer Fernando Wong, VERANDA Editor-in-Chief Steele Marcoux explores the ways we build authenticity and exuberance into projects, from embracing collections to designing for year-round garden living.
Following the presentation, join Henault, Rideau, Wong, and Marcoux for a reception in the Made Goods Showroom. We invite you to meet the panelists and Marcoux while viewing Made Goods’ latest collections. Made Goods, Suite 403
DESIGN ADAC is hosted in partnership with VERANDA, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Modern Luxury Interiors Atlanta and Modern Luxury’s The Atlantan.
For media interested in interviewing any of the keynote speakers or Katie Miner, please email Tara Murphy at tara@360media.net. Photography available upon request. Follow along on social media at @adacatlanta or #DESIGNADAC.
ABOUT ADAC: Built 60 years ago by renowned architect and developer John Portman in the prestigious Buckhead community of Atlanta, ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) is a community-focused, nationally recognized leader in the world of interior design and home fashion, serving as the essential one-stop shopping resource for interior designers, architects, and builders. In November 2018, ADAC was acquired by International Market Centers (IMC) and parent company Blackstone, the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. The ADAC campus consists of ADAC and ADAC WEST with more than 550,000 square feet with over 25 design offices and more than 65 showrooms offering 1,200 of the industry’s finest product lines including furniture, fabric, rugs, lighting, accessories, floor and wall coverings, antiques, fine art and framing, kitchens, bath, tile and stone, and home theater products. Likewise, ADAC’s extensive services include custom designs such as framing, electronic systems, faux finishing, and draperies. To learn more, visit www.adacatlanta.com. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buckhead is home to many of Atlanta’s great restaurants. Residents know they don’t have to dine in West Midtown to find interesting options and hot local chef’s. Several new restaurants have opened in Buckhead since late summer of 2022. Check out our restaurant round-up, and you may find something you add to your list of favorite spots.
This long-awaited Lebanese restaurant is now open at the Modera Prominence. The team behind Mission & Market and Tre Vele, Ryan and Jonathan Akly and chef Ian Winslade, have created a dining experience inspired by the Akly’s Lebanese heritage. The restaurant is named for the Akly’s grandmother, and the menu includes family recipes among other traditional and original Middle Eastern dishes.
Chef Windslade says, “I am really excited to dive back into the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean that I experienced early in my career and expand upon that while bringing out the deep, rich Lebanese culture and drawing inspiration from meals the Akly’s grandmother made for them growing up that have been passed down from generation to generation.”
(404) 433-2180
3699 Lenox Rd NE Ste 3, Atlanta, GA 30305
Bo Kvergic and Nem Filipovic aim to bring a “coastal-European, south-of-France vibe,” to Buckhead at the new Dorian Gray restaurant. Leaning on the duo’s cultural heritage, Filipovic says, “We wanted our space to have the feeling of seaside resorts like Capri, Monaco, and Belize.” Kvrgic adds, “Dorian Gray was designed to express our personalities through food, wine, music, and people,” including upscale continental cuisine, craft cocktails, and Deep House music.
Executive chef Christian Evans is a veteran of The Ritz Carlton Buckhead, The Intercontinental Buckhead, and Nine Mile Station, among others. General manager Andrej Pop was previously with the Buckhead Life group for almost fifteen years.
404-963-5820
111 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
This “21st century diner,” recently opened in the Peachtree Battle shopping center. Brought to you by Unsukay partners Ryan Turner, Todd Mussman, and Chris Hall, the team behind Muss&Turner’s, Local Three, and other local staples. The restaurant is now serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Atlanta locals and long-time residents will love the nods to our home town throughout the restaurant. The Turtle’s Records and Tapes wall and Atlanta skyline murals are only the beginning. The Roshambo website describes it as, “Our homage to Atlanta with a steady diet of wit, whimsy, & irreverence.”
404-835-7373
2355 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
You may have noticed the bright blue facade of Recess between the Buckhead Theater and the Iberian Pig on Roswell Road. This is the second location of the popular grain bowl and salad stall in Krog Street Market. The Buckhead location features indoor and outdoor seating in addition to the walk-up window for takeout orders.
The healthy menu offers curated bowls and salads, or you can build your own. Vegetables are the star of the show, but diners can add chicken and other protein options as well.
678-235-5380
3150 Roswell Rd NW STE A1, Atlanta, GA 30305
We previously reported this New York-based chain coming to Buckhead Village next to Lucy’s Market. Isla&Co is now open, highlighting Australian cuisine, along with European and South East Asian influences. You can enjoy the healthy, seasonal dishes for brunch, lunch or dinner.
404-228-4060
56 E Andrews Dr NW STE 17, Atlanta, GA 30305
You will fall in love with everything about this charming mid-century home located where Peachtree Heights East, Garden Hills and Peachtree Hills come together! Enjoy an easy stroll to the Duck Pond, Peachtree Hills Park, Garden Hills Pool, shopping and several popular neighborhood restaurants. Just a block away is the new PATH400, with a connection to the Atlanta Beltline in the works! With two finished levels, a cheery enclosed sunroom, and a fabulous outdoor area featuring a flat backyard and large deck overlooking a serene view of the forest and creek at the rear of the yard.
The open space features a large yet cozy living room with a vaulted stained wood ceiling, prominent masonry fireplace and adjacent sunroom lined with craftsman-style windows, just perfect for a home office or reading nook.
The updated kitchen has a breakfast bar overlooking the dining area, and custom shelving in the pantry cabinet which maximizes storage space.
Two separate bedrooms rooms were converted to one large primary bedroom with beamed vaulted ceilings, built-in bookshelves, an oversized walk-in closet and access to a private deck. The pretty master bathroom has an enlarged shower and extra storage for linens and grooming products. There is a cozy second bedroom, and full bath recently renovated with a nod to preserving its timeless aesthetic appeal. The covered carport with access adjacent to the kitchen easily accommodates two cars.
The finished lower level is a wonderful area to entertain with a kitchen/bar, recreation room and access to the oversized deck with built-in seating overlooking the landscaped backyard. There is a third bedroom and bath, a full laundry, separate work shop, a screened enclosed patio, and an abundance of extra storage space. A separate entrance gives this level great potential as a possible rental space.
Homes on Springdale Drive rarely become available for sale, especially move-in ready gems with yard space! The nearby Garden Hills Pool has a large play field with picnic areas, recreation center, and of course a swimming pool! Garden Hills Elementary School and Atlanta International School, Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market, and The Peachtree Battle Shopping Center are just minutes away.
Since its development began in the early 1900s, Peachtree Heights East has maintained a perfectly charming atmosphere that harkens back to its founding days. Duck Pond Park in the center of Peachtree Heights East is the neighborhood’s own storybook setting admired by all who visit. This active neighborhood supports several groups to enhance the community: the Peachtree Heights East Neighborhood Association operates a security patrol and offers member-discounts for Park (Duck Pond) rentals, while the Ladies of the Lake (LOL) Garden Club welcomes new residents and runs neighborhood social events.
This lovely neighborhood also provides easy access to Peachtree Road, and a short walk to the great restaurants and parks in Peachtree Hills.
This quaint historic Buckhead neighborhood was founded in 1925 as a country club community, so it’s no surprise that this is where families enjoy the simple but fun amenities and monthly social events. You can find more information on the Garden Hills website. The architecture ranges from quaint cottages to large 3-story, newer construction. The unofficial heart of the neighborhood is the Garden Hills Pool and Rec Center, first built in the 1930’s. Leased from the city and run by the neighborhood, it includes a ball field, playground, community center and pool house. Many residents purchase memberships but guests can swim on a daily basis as well. The pool is home to the Cool Sharks Swim and Dive Team where neighborhood kids compete all around metro Atlanta.
Peachtree Hills is one of Buckhead’s coziest neighborhoods. It’s located just east of Peachtree Road between Peachtree Creek on the south and Lindbergh Drive on the north. This popular Buckhead neighborhood was established in 1912 between what was then the village of Buckhead and the city of Atlanta. As a result, there are a number of shops and restaurants at the nearby intersection of Peachtree Hills Avenue, Peachtree Road and Kings Circle. This shopping strip, along with dining staples tucked away in the heart of the neighborhood, the Treehouse Restaurant, J. Christopher’s, and Paul’s Restaurant, are popular destinations for an enjoyable evening with friends or brunch on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon.
A troublesome segment of the Atlanta BeltLine Northwest Trail’s route through Buckhead is closer to a solution as planners backed off a controversial alternative that would have run through a residential neighborhood.
At an Aug. 30 community meeting, Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI) revealed it is going back to an earlier concept of running the multiuse trail along the Bennett Street commercial corridor and across Peachtree Road – preferably beneath a replacement bridge rebuilt in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
At this very early stage, a Peachtree crossing at street level is still a possibility, as is what ABI engineer Shaun Green called the discovery of a “fatal flaw” that could send planners back to the drawing board.
But for now, ABI is eager to dig into what it calls “Corridor 6,” which was previously rejected because railroad company CSX, whose tracks run beneath the Peachtree bridge, would not allow the use of its right of way. Green said the concept now is for GDOT to replace the aging bridge with a longer version that would allow room for the trail.
And voicing support was Stacey Key, a member of the State Transportation Board, which oversees GDOT. “Know that GDOT is in full support of the BeltLine and what you’re doing,” Key said, saying the agency is working “behind the scenes” to aid the project. “I think it’s great for the community and great for the economic development of the city of Atlanta,” she said. “So I’m all in. Know that.”
The BeltLine is the 22-mile loop of trails, transit and green space being constructed around the city by Atlanta Beltline Inc. with a completion deadline of 2030. The Northwest Trail segment would run roughly 4 miles between the Huff Road/Westside Park area and the Northeast Trail, another segment on the drawing boards that would connect in Peachtree Hills.
ABI last year nailed down a general preferred route for the Northwest Trail. But the Peachtree Road crossing became a sticking point. With the CSX issue, planners looked at another alternative along Peachtree Creek that raised community concerns about impacts on homes and the E. Rivers Elementary School. In January, ABI proposed yet another alternative routed down the residential Peachtree Memorial Drive and got similar concerns as feedback.
The newly “prioritized” Bennett Street route has some other challenges. A Georgia Power electrical substation sits right on that street, so ABI is in discussions with that company.
The street is also home to restaurants, nightclubs, an art museum and various other businesses. Kelvin Collins, ABI’s vice president of economic development, said the organization commissioned consultants to study business impacts and get input from owners. The methods included “town halls,” interviews and surveys. Collins said some business owners were not aware of the BeltLine plan. He said the response was “general support and positive feedback from both businesses and property owners,” but also concerns about safety, parking and construction disruptions. He said ABI will continue business engagement through the design process.
Green emphasized the concept is still very preliminary – “fat lines on paper” – and need much more work and discussion. A tentative outline of the timing would involve more community engagement next year.
As for the Northeast Trail, Green said ABI hopes to start construction in summer of 2024, but there is not a finished design yet, either. ABI’s Nathan Soldat said a Northeast Trail community meeting is likely coming in late September.
As complicated as trail discussions have been, the transit element – still presumed to be light rail – is even more so. That element, planned in partnership with MARTA, has lagged behind and now has an overall completion goal of 2050.
Green noted that, while ABI has found ways to “floss” the trail through complex streetscapes, “there is no way to floss transit through anything.” Transit lines need wide and flat corridors, he said. So in many areas – including Buckhead – the transit would have to run on an entirely separate corridor from the trail.
ABI currently has a request for qualifications open for consultants who would plan the transit element in this and other areas, which runs through Sept. 12. Green said the study’s scope would include CSX and Norfolk Southern Corporation rail lines and other “potential corridors.” The study also will consider “potential spur trail connections” to the main BeltLine trail, he said.
For more details, including the meeting presentation, see ABI’s website.
Livable Buckhead’s Summer Event Series provides plenty of inspiration to get you out of the house, no matter what you’re into. Most of the events are free to the public, and reservations are encouraged through the Livable Buckhead website. The events kick off on June 4 with the buckheadRUN 5K race, but there is much more happening throughout the summer.
“There really is something for absolutely everyone,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead. “We want to give people a reason to get out and enjoy the summer in Buckhead, and we particularly want to give them a reason to try out PATH400. All of the Summer Series events will take place on the trail or very nearby it, and we encourage everyone to walk or bike on PATH400 if they can.”
Here is the full list of recurring events, from the Livable Buckhead press release:
Every other Thursday from June 9 to September 28, pups and their humans are invited to the Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta for free training and a cock“tail.” Each week has a new theme, activity or giveaway. Yappy Hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. and there is no charge to attend, but reservations are encouraged.
On the third Friday of each month from June through September, Livable Buckhead will screen a free, family-friendly movie in Old Ivy Park and offer pre-movie activities for the whole family. The first movie is “The Secret Life of Pets” on June 17, followed by “Babe” on July 15, “Sing 2” on August 19 and “The Emperor’s New Groove” on Sept. 16. Activities begin at 7:30 and movies begin at dusk. See the Livable Buckhead website for specific start times and more details.
Enjoy goat yoga at Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta on the last Wednesday of every month from June through September. This Ashtanga-based Vinyasa class is appropriate for all levels. Cost is $38 per session with a $10 discount for Livable Buckhead members. Register online.
Miami Circle is home to the largest gathering of fine art galleries in Atlanta. Join Livable Buckhead on July 16 and Sept. 17 for this free event, experiencing some of the foremost art galleries while discovering stunning local, regional and international artists. Before heading out, check out Livable Buckhead’s Facebook page for each stroll’s highlights.
Livable Buckhead is creating a community park at 684 Mountain Drive, and in recent years has planted trees, added picnic benches, and even introduced beehives with a supporting pollinator garden. On the second Saturday of each month from June through September, this park will be the site of sustainability events including a beehive demonstration, a bee and honey workshop, a rain barrel workshop and a block party.
The Livable Buckhead Summer Event Series is sponsored by Buckhead Village; Owen and Associates; Regent Partners; Deirdre Greenfield, Realtor® – Ansley Real Estate; AMLI; Tower Beer, Wine and Spirits; Hyatt Centric; and Sweetgreen. For complete event details visit www.livablebuckhead.org/summer.
Expansive views of the Atlanta skyline and urban forest are a big selling point of the luxurious Heartis Buckhead senior residential tower, which is prepping for a opening by this summer.
Buckhead.com recently got an exclusive sneak preview tour of the 18-story tower at 2051 Peachtree Road at the Peachtree Valley Road intersection. The preview included not only a well-appointed interior, but also the views from multiple balconies, sun decks and extensive floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. On a clear day, the view includes Stone Mountain to the east and Kennesaw Mountain to the northwest.
Announced in 2019, the 218-unit tower replaced what was a small parking garage for an adjacent office tower that also has been renovated largely into medical offices. Texas-based developer Caddis built the Buckhead tower as part of a Heartis line that includes many properties around the country, including in Fayetteville and Suwanee in the Atlanta metro area. Managed by Integral Senior Living, the Buckhead tower includes independent and assisted living sections as well as memory care.
It’s part of a boom in luxury senior housing through the metro area that in Buckhead includes such complexes as Peachtree Hills Place and Corso Atlanta.
Heartis Buckhead features a wealth of amenities: a rooftop swimming pool, a barber shop, a beauty salon, all-day dining, a bar and lounges, a grill and juice bar, an art studio, a game room, a library, a reading room, a theater, a fitness center, sun decks, a spa and a putting green. And we’re probably forgetting a few.
The amenities, furnishing and decor were still in the works during the visit. The illustrations in this story include our photos as well as some conceptual photoillustrations from Heartis.
Local touches in the decor include historic photos of Atlanta and Georgia, from such sources as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Buckhead-based Atlanta History Center, lining the walls of residential hallways.
Standing on a bustling section of Peachtree in southern Buckhead, Heartis is close to such conveniences and institutions as a Fresh Market grocery store, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and the Sheperd Center rehabilitation hospital.
The Atlanta BeltLine trail and tranist system is planned to make its way close to the tower in the next several years.
For more information, see the Heartis Buckhead website.
Buckhead’s Atlanta Police Department precinct is seeing a changing of the guard as its current commander has received a promotion to deputy chief.
Andrew Senzer, who has led the Zone 2 precinct since November 2019 with the rank of major, will head APD’s Strategy and Special Projects Division, he announced at an April 7 meeting of the Buckhead Public Safety Task Force.
Major Ailen Mitchell, who has served as Senzer’s assistant since 2020, will be the new Zone 2 commander, Deputy Chief Timothy Peek said in the meeting.
The transition will happen on April 14, according to APD. The current head of the Strategy and Special Projects Division, Deputy Chief Darin Schierbaum, is being promoted to the vacant position of assistant chief of police.
Senzer was Buckhead’s police commander through the historic COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying crime spike, including the May 2020 rioting and looting in local business areas that spun out of Black Lives Matter protests about the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd.
He also led through the beginning of the Buckhead cityhood movement that based itself on crime concerns. While crime spiked, Senzer took a zero-tolerance approach and Buckhead continues to have the city’s lowest crime rate.
“It really has been an honor to serve as the commander of Zone 2,” Senzer said in the task force meeting. “In my 26 years [in policing], this has probably been the most challenging assignment I’ve had.”
He said his new role will be “a little behind the scenes” but that he will “not be a stranger” in Buckhead.
Peek said APD is “ecstatic” about Senzer taking on the deputy chief role.
Mitchell, according to his APD biography, has been with the department since 2006. He previously commanded the SWAT team and, like Senzer, once served on the Red Dog unit, an anti-drug squad disbanded in 2011 after controversial incidents like an illegal raid on the Atlanta Eagle gay bar. Among his other work was the Gang Unit and the Auto Theft Task Force.
Mitchell became Zone 2’s Criminal Investigations Unit commander in 2018 and its assistant commander in 2020.
Zone 2 is headquartered at 3120 Maple Drive in Buckhead Village.
Update: This story has been updated with information from APD about the transition.
The Dillon is a new 18-story luxury condo tower breaking ground in 2022 on Peachtree Road near the Peachtree Battle Promenade. We first reported on this project last year, and now the development by Florida-based Kolter Urban is underway. Kolter is keen to continue development in the Buckhead area after their success with the nearby Graydon condos. Bobby Julien, chief executive officer of the Kolter Group says, “Buckhead is a vibrant, walkable and exciting area, and these homes will mesh well with the lively live/work/play lifestyle along Peachtree.”
The long amenities list includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, resort-style pool and spa, fire pits with social lounge areas, a dog park and wash, pickleball court, and an outdoor yoga space. The Library, a resident-only speakeasy with weekly planned events, movie theatre lounge, and game simulator room will provide more onsite recreation. Residents will have options for entertaining in the formal clubroom with its catering kitchen, and guest suites available by reservation.
The Dillon will provide facilities in line with the current work-from-home trends. The indoor-outdoor space, known as The Hub, will include shared spaces, private and semi-private spaces, and a conference room.
Residents will have several 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom floorplans to choose from, between 1,500 and 3,800 square feet. The top of the line is the penthouse level and three sub-penthouse estate levels. Most of the 144 residences will be 2-bedroom units between 1,500-2,000 square feet. All homes feature panoramic views from a private terrace up to 12-feet deep. Residences start from $700s, and penthouses are from $2 million.
Integra is the general contractor for the project, and the building was designed by architects Preston Partnership, with ID & Design International handling the interior design. A temporary sales office is now open at 2451 Peachtree. Stop by for interactive virtual tours, a 3D model of the building, and real-time inventory.
The Dillon renderings provided by Kolter.
Part of the Atlanta BeltLine Northwest Trail’s proposed routes through Buckhead have run into “issues” and “challenges” that have caused planners to propose a new alternative and extend a comment period through Jan. 31.
The BeltLine is the 22-mile loop of trails, transit and green space being constructed around the city by Atlanta Beltline Inc. The Northwest Trail segment would run roughly 4 miles between the Huff Road/Westside Park area and the Northeast Trail, another segment on the drawing boards that would connect in Peachtree Hills.
ABI its partner, the PATH Foundation, have been studying the feasibility of several alternative routes for the Northwest Trail: four for connecting the Westside to Atlanta Memorial Park on partly overlapping routes, and two for connecting Memorial Park and the Northeast Trail. A public comment period about those options was to end last month with an eye on a preferred route, or “alignment,” being revealed in February.
But planners have run into problems with the proposed routes between the park and Peachtree Hills, according to a Jan. 20 email circulated by Nathan Soldat, ABI’s community engagement manager.
The two original options are called “Corridor 5” and “Corridor 6.” Corridor 5 would run along Peachtree Creek and cross Peachtree Road beneath an existing bridge. Corridor 6 would run along Bennett Street and Peachtree Park Drive, crossing Peachtree Road beneath another existing bridge by following a railroad line. Both options dovetail at Peachtree Creek and follow it toward the future Northeast Trail.
Soldat’s email said that planners are “seriously considering concerns and issues raised regarding Corridor 5,” but did not specify what those concerns and issues are. Comments on an interactive map indicate concerns with flooding, tree loss, effects on the adjacent E. Rivers Elementary School property and general residential privacy.
As for Corridor 6, Soldat wrote, it “may also pose significant challenges due to grade changes created by the ridge at Peachtree Road, as well as the possibility that CSX railroad may not allow the trail to pass under the Peachtree Road bridge within their right of way.”
The new alternative is called Corridor 7. Its location is similar to Corridor 5, but largely on the opposite side of Peachtree Creek, and with a middle section that would run along Peachtree Memorial Drive and Peachtree Road before passing under the creek’s bridge. Like the previous options, it would continue along the creek to the Northeast Trail area.
Corridor 7 has been added to ABI’s interactive comment map online. Hours after Soldat’s email, the new alternative had several comments: a couple in favor, and several opposed.
The ABI website also has extended the deadline of an online survey about the Northwest Trail through Jan. 31.
The new option and extended deadline could mean the next community meeting about preferred routes will be delayed to March to allow evaluation time, according to an ABI spokesperson.
Still in a preliminary study phase is the light-rail transit portion of the BeltLine, which likely would run on at least partly different routes that the trail elements in the dense and complicated Buckhead area.
For more about the BeltLine, see ABI’s website.
Update: This story has been updated with ABI information on the possible next community meeting timeline.
Tuesday, December 14 marked the ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new Confluence Trail Pedestrian Bridge across Peachtree Creek. The Confluence Bridge is the result of six years of planning and inter-departmental coordination, spearheaded by the South Fork Conservancy.
The Confluence Trail was conceived to provide access to the confluence of the North and South Forks of Peachtree Creek, and create a park area for local residents. The new pedestrian bridge connects the Confluence Trail to the other trail systems in the area. The Cheshire Farm and Meadow Loop Trails are just across Peachtree Creek, and PATH400 and the Atlanta Beltline are within a short walk.
The Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Confluence Bridge was led by the South Fork Conservancy’s Executive Director, Kimberly Estep. Speakers included Atlanta Parks and Recreation Executive Director John Dargle Jr., and Atlanta conservation stalwart Bob Kerr. Jennifer Ide, Atlanta City Council Representative from District 6, spoke about the long process of funding and completing the bridge project alongside Kimberly and the South Fork Conservancy.
Georgia DOT representative Stacey Key is excited about the bridge and future pedestrian projects. When planning projects like this, she said, “The priorities of the community are taken into consideration”, and that the GDOT, “Can’t build many more roads, but we can add pedestrian projects” to help Atlantans move throughout the city.
Park Pride’s Executive Director Michael Halicki spoke about his organization’s green-space goals in Atlanta. He said Park Pride is committed to, “Engage the community to activate the power of parks.”
Deputy Commissioner Jessica Fulton from the Atlanta DOT mentioned how local organizations like Livable Buckhead and Buckhead CID are integral in the planning and execution of projects like this one, and future trail connections.
South Fork Conservancy Chair Julie Ralston recognized original South Fork Board members Bob Kerr, Sally Sears, Warner McConaughey, and Billy Hall with unique artwork created from bridge construction materials. She then presented the bridge to John Dargle Jr. as a gift for the City of Atlanta. Then the assembled group cut the ribbon and made the ceremonial first walk across the bridge.
Projects such as the Confluence Trail Pedestrian Bridge demonstrate what is possible when multiple private organizations and government agencies work together toward a common goal for the good of the community.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
