Old Fourth Ward is a fascinating blend of history and urban renewal. Perhaps because of its location just east of Downtown Atlanta, the Old Fourth Ward was slower to gentrify than some of its neighboring communities like Inman Park and Midtown. But over the past few years the area has exploded with residential, retail and business development.
The Old Fourth Ward, named for the Atlanta City Council district that defined the area in the 1950s, is among Atlanta's most historically significant communities. It is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and as such lays claim to the MLK Jr. National Historic Site and the Sweet Auburn Historic District, a National Historic Landmark known for its role in African-American history.
The Old Fourth Ward today attracts diverse homeowners who come together in their appreciation for an eclectic urban lifestyle that is convenient to just about everything, including MARTA and the highways as well as such nearby communities as Grant Park, Inman Park, Little 5 Points, Poncey-Highland, Midtown and Virginia-Highland. The renovated Victorians and 1920s Craftsman cottages and bungalows blend well with the new retro-style homes as well as lofts in converted industrial spaces and newly developed condos and townhomes with dramatic views of the city skyline. Adding to the allure of the area are eateries, shops, bars and clubs galore creating a vibrant street scene both day and night. Also adding convenience and stability to the neighborhood are close by mainstay retailers such as Whole Foods, Home Depot and Borders. Freedom Parkway, with its bike and pedestrian paths, and the Carter Presidential Library are also featured as nearby attractions.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Old Fourth Ward is what is planned on the horizon. City Hall East, once the area headquarters for Sears and Roebuck Company and currently housing the office of the Mayor, will be developed as a 2 million-square-foot mixed-use complex of retail, office and residential lofts. In conjunction with this project will be the Historic Fourth Ward Park, already in Phase I development. The park will include walkways, an amphitheater and event lawn and numerous water features, including a two-acre stormwater detention pond. Two more sections are planned, which when completed will provide a total of 35 acres of greenspace for recreational use. A four-acre satellite park is also planned for a site that is a quarter-mile to the southeast and will include a multiuse field, a playground, restroom, and a skate park. Historic Fourth Ward Park will also serve as one of the "crown jewels" of the proposed BeltLine, which will provide transit in a loop around many of intown Atlanta's most exciting destinations.