Lindridge-Martin Manor is technically its own neighborhood, but it can often feel like it’s a part of adjacent Decatur nabes Woodland Hills (different from the Woodland Hills in Atlanta proper) and La Vista Park. While these nabes are technically located in different cities, they share some of the same joys—popular restaurant districts and close proximity to major Atlanta neighborhoods like Buckhead and Midtown. But they also share one major headache too: traffic. This bustling area includes popular Atlanta landmarks like Emory University, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), shopping districts of Lindbergh and Cheshire Bridge Road, and some of the busiest roads in northeast Atlanta. It’s this issue that has brought them together, acting as one neighborhood.
Brad Grulke lives in Woodland Hills and is a member of the La Vista Corridor Coalition (LLCC)—a non-profit corporation made-up of the three aforementioned neighborhoods: Lindridge-Martin Manor, La Vista Park, and Woodland Hills.
The LLCC’s focus is on maintaining neighborhood integrity while new developments are happening and addressing issues with walkability, traffic, and improving inefficient roadways.
In the following interview, Brad tells us about the project as well as what it’s like to live in a neighborhood that’s on the brink of becoming one of Atlanta’s next hot spots for in-town living.
How long have you lived in this area?
We’ve lived here for 7 years.
How would you describe this area for people who have never been here before?
Transforming. The Cheshire Bridge area is continuing to be redeveloped and improved. There are a lot of new businesses and new opportunities that are happening about every month in our area.
I think from a demographic standpoint, you’re seeing a lot of families appear into the area, and from a business standpoint, what you’re seeing are businesses looking for areas to redevelop, and for commercial properties to either tear down and remodel or rezone. You are seeing a lot of that specifically at the corner of Cheshire Bridge Road and La Vista Road where the Publix is [grocery store]. There’s mixed-use development called La Vista Walk, and then you are seeing redevelopment on the corner of that street, so it’s pretty constant.
That’s really nice because the Cheshire Bridge area that I know is one that’s pretty eclectic.
Ya, five-star restaurants to shanty porn shops.
Yes, and just around the corner there are single family homes, so it seems like the families are co-existing with the rest of the neighborhood. It sounds like they want to see the area change. Is that accurate?
Yes, and Cheshire Bridge has a business association now that is working to guide that redevelopment and remodel the sidewalks to try and make it more pedestrian friendly. There is a Taste of Cheshire Bridge tour that in the past has been co-sponsored by LLCC, but I think in the future of it is going to be taken over by Cheshire Bridge Business Association, where every summer they are doing a tasting and testing of the best restaurants in that area. From Nino’s to Woodfire Grill and Nakato and everyone else involved.
How would you describe the types of people that live here?
Well the neighborhoods are all about, essentially 60 years old, so you have people who have lived there for 20 years, 40 years, or lived there their whole life. You’ve got a very large contingent of people that have lived there in the 5-15 year range that are really to looking to make in-town living in this area what they do for the rest of their lives. You’ve got great highway access; the benefit of Virginia-Highland that is right across the railroad tracks; you’ve got Midtown down by Piedmont Road, and of course Buckhead up by Lenox Road.
Is this your ideal neighborhood? Why or why not?
Well, it certainly is for us. We actually just remodeled our entire house with the plan that this is where our family is going to live. What I think we love about it is, we have a great neighborhood foundation. We’ve got great businesses within a 3-5 mile radius that you can basically not leave if you don’t ever want to. You’ve got a suburban feeling with the amenities of everything in-town.
Are there any myths or stereotypes about your nabe you’d like to dispel?
I think the Cheshire Bridge Road area. When you look at it and have this perception of what it is, it’s mostly negative. And it’s really not true. There are many high-quality restaurants and good businesses in that area that have been overshadowed.
[Cheshire Bridge Road is often considered a quirky road because of the hodge-podge of businesses there. You can find fine-dining establishments next to a strip-club next to an antique dealer.]
Were you surprised by anything when you moved here?
The affordability factor. We are still in this triangle of Midtown, Virginia-Highland, and Buckhead without the price. The houses are extremely affordable. Us living in DeKalb County by about 6 houses helps from a tax standpoint. It’s an affordable living area that is still up and coming, and we will only see those prices appreciate as the redevelopment continues.
For the areas we are talking about (Woodland Hills, Lindridge-Martin Manor, La Vista Park) you currently sit on a board there. Tell me a little about it.
The Lindbergh La Vista Corridor Coalition [LLCC] is a combination of three neighborhoods: Woodland Hills [in Decatur], La Vista Park, and Lindridge-Martin Manor. Through the LLCC, these neighborhoods are working together to map out the future and redevelopment of this area to make sure that it happens with the vision we have, and we’ve paid the Georgia Conservancy to help us create a blueprint plan. Sort of a guide to help mold the future of this area.
What is currently going on with the Clifton Corridor Project?
Well we just really have gone through a 6-month process of finalizing and working alongside with MARTA, Perkins + Will, and all surrounding neighborhoods to hopefully shape the redevelopment of the Clifton Corridor from a MARTA standpoint and what that will look like. We are very happy with the proposed outcome at this point, and hopefully that is what will end up happening. We are constantly facing some kind of redevelopment, and we are pro-redevelopment. We just want to see it done in keeping with the density of in-town living but with the neighborhood feel that we have, trying to maintain that.
In trying to maintain that, what have you done to make sure that the residents are in agreement? That it’s going along with what they need?
Well the blueprint plan is first and foremost the guide to that development. We had this developed by the Georgia Conservancy in partnership with their friends at Georgia Tech to see how this area could be developed. We used that as a guideline, as in any redevelopment project, and working with the contractors and business owners to say this is what we envision, and we want you to work within these plans to help shape this area. We send out invites to residents to get input at community meetings, and whenever we do have a redevelopment possibility, we do invite the neighbors to get involved and to understand the projects. Dependence is very heavy to ensure that what those business owners will be doing is in the best interest of us as residents.
Is the funding coming from that sales tax or are there multiple sources?
No, it’s not dependent on the sales tax. They are looking at that as a source, but there are a lot of sources they are looking at.
Will there be business developments along the Clifton-Corridor development?
I think we are too early in the stages, but I think that’s the goal. With the MARTA stop off Cheshire Bridge Road and the one on Sage Hill [a shopping center between Briarcliff Road and Clifton Road], you’ll see that area developed more densely and probably improving or new businesses will be interested in getting into that area. But we are probably still 10 years away from that.
Do you know if the BeltLine is near this area?
Yes. The BeltLine will connect to Lindbergh MARTA station, but our project [Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative] with MARTA will connect Lindbergh Station to Emory and beyond. That’s going right through our backyard on the CSX tracks [freight rail line] that separate our neighborhood from Morningside, and there will be a stop. As of right now it’s going to be an underground light rail system with a stop at Cheshire Bridge Road and Sage Hill where the Kroger is [grocery store]. It will be great from an in-town livability standpoint because we will be able to walk and use the mass transit in the future.
From what I’ve been reading about the BeltLine and then smaller, neighborhood transportation projects, it sounds like there isn’t going to be one massive public transportation system. It will be smaller pockets that all connect to one-another.
Well, I think our hope at the LLCC is that it will be a light transit rail, and that will add connectivity to the BeltLine and take it to Piedmont Park or the Old Fourth Ward Park.
Is there anything else about the project that you want to mention?
I think they are also going to do some streetscape with it and some foot-trails to make it easier for residents to get to the stations. It’s not by any means finalized. Right now though, both sides are very happy with it.
Going back to the area in general, is there anything about this neighborhood that you’d like to change?
I think probably similar to every neighborhood in Atlanta. We need more sidewalks because it is a very congested area just like anywhere else in Atlanta, and pedestrian safety is a concern because of the lack of sidewalks and especially in the main corridors near La Vista Road.
I’ve been hearing that a lot about in-town neighborhoods; that it’s the best of suburban and urban living.
Yes, and I think that is unique to Atlanta. We have a general two-story house that if there weren’t 100-year-old trees we would see every building in Atlanta. But the trees give it that feeling of enclosure that I’ve never seen in another big city.
Are there any bad areas in your neighborhood? If not, which street/block would you not want to live on?
I don’t think so. I mean there are all types, all ethnicities, all income levels living in the La Vista corridor. I think we all have the same appreciation of family living and being neighbors. It’s really a great area. It’s a low-crime area. It’s a hidden gem I think. I really do.
What’s the real estate like here?
You are going to see predominantly single-family homes with anywhere from a quarter to half-an-acre lot. You are going to see homes that are 60 years old that are being redeveloped because of the great real estate that they have but also because of the age of the neighborhood. You are seeing that people are putting money into their home instead of selling, and some of that is being driven from the housing market. I also think it’s a conscience decision that it’s going to continue develop until it’s a true in-town style living. Also, as people have families they want to stay with other families instead of moving away, so they may add onto their house.
You don’t see a lot of homes for sale. The rental properties are certainly there, and they are probably more prevalent than they would have been 4 or 5 years ago. For the most part, you see homes that are occupied.
Are you seeing a lot of redevelopments, teardowns or both?
You are seeing some teardowns but it’s probably 70% renovations and 30% teardowns.
How is this neighborhood different from other neighborhoods that are similar to it?
Peachtree Hills is similar. I think the biggest difference is just that affordability at this point. Peachtree Hills is a much more developed neighborhood, and we are just still on our way to getting there. I think what you will see here going forward is a combination of single-family homes, mixed-use residential, and business redevelopment that shapes it into a nice business and residential neighborhood. I guess you could say it will look a lot like the west-side Collier Hills area, but I don’t think it will have as much of a major business, box store type of feel. It will be much more independently owned stores. At least that’s what I think will happen.
Do you have any advice for folks thinking about moving to your neighborhood?
No, I think you can’t go wrong with picking a place in this area. I think it’s an up-and-coming area with a very bright future and a lot of families and people that are making this their long-term residence.
