Laurel Ridge Homes - Decatur Real Estate

Posted on May 4, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes

 

Brief History of the Development of Decatur real estate in the Laurel Ridge  Community

Laurel Ridge is located 4 miles from Emory University  and is  Northwest of the intersection of North Druid Hills Road and Lawrenceville Highway, roughly across from North DeKalb Mall.

Lawrenceville Highway was a major road from the earliest days of the County, essentially a road that led from the Dekalb County seat in Decatur to the Gwinnett County Seat in Lawrenceville.  North Druid Hills Road was only a two-lane road for years, often blocked by trains passing across the road near the present Hidden Valley Golf Course.

According to a comprehensive history of the area written by Bob Stubbs for the Laurel Ridge Civic Association, until the 1950′s most of the surrounding Decatur real estate was primarily rural with a large number of dairy farms -one large dairy farm was located near North DeKalb Mall. 

 Intensive residential development began in the mid 1950′s when Decatur real estate in the Laurel Ridge area was developed.  Most of the land was originally owned by the Kittredge family and was gradually sold to develop North Druid Woods, Pine Glen, Fork Creek and finally in the mid-60′s, Country Squire.  All of these neighborhoods comprise what is generally designated as the Laurel Ridge area, named for Laurel Ridge Elementary School located in the area.

Many of the homes in North Druid Woods are of modest size, but well-kept with sizeable yards.  This is a popular “starter” neighborhood with good schools and convenient to everything. Decatur homeprices in this neighborhood range from $199,000 to $265,000 for a small brick ranch-style home.

 

Fork Creekwas developed some time later and the homes are substantially larger with more bedrooms and baths and well-groomed lawns.

Pine Glenis another unique area with charming cottage-style homes and brick ranches. 

Prior to the mid-1960′s when Country Squire was developed, orchards and cattle were the primary occupants.  Country Squire homes are substantial with spacious well-maintained yards.

Two DeKalb County Schools are located within the neighborhood, Laurel Ridge Elementary School, and Druid Hills Middle School(Formerly called Shamrock Middle School).

Atlanta Decatur Homes  is a local Atlanta real estate company serving Atlanta, Decatur, Druid Hills, Emory University and Tucker neighborhoods for over 25 years.

Great Lakes - City of Decatur Homes

Posted on April 19, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes

One of the most desirable neighborhoods in the City of Decatur is located just off Clairemont  Avenue. Some of the most beautiful Decatur Homes are found in Great Lakes, which  was named for long-vanished Lake Seneca, now a mostly dry stream in Waddell Park. 

History of Great Lakes

The surrounding streets were named for the famous French explorer, Samuel de Champlain and the Great Lakes he discovered in the early 1600′s – Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Seneca, and Lake Ontario.

Champlain was the first European to explore and describe the Great Lakes, providing some of the first maps and descriptions of the Great Lakes area – the largest fresh water system on Earth.  Lake Erie, which meant Lake of the Cat, was named for the Erie Indians who occupied the southern shore, literally called People of the Panther; Lake Huron, named Lac des Hurons, was the Lake of the Huron Indians; Lake Seneca the land of the Seneca Indians;  and Lake Superior was referred to by the early French explorers as Le lac Superieur, which translated to “Upper Lake”.

Clairemont Avenue, which borders the historic Great Lakes neighborhood, was originally part of a Native American trail leading to a crossing at the Chattahoochee, known as Shallowford Trail. 

Architecture of Great Lakes

Great Lakes was developed beginning in 1913 through the 1930′s and contains some of the most interesting architecture in Decatur.  Craftsmen-style bungalows predominate, but a large variety of Decatur homes exist, including English Tudor and Georgia Vernacular bungalows, as well as newer construction that mimics prevailing styles on a larger scale.  Great Lakes now falls within a Historic District which was  established in 2001.

Neighborhood Park – Waddell Park

Waddell Park, a ravine-like oasis and green space, is located at the corner of Huron Street and Champlain Street and serves as a local meeting place and play area, featuring a small nature trail.  Originally named “Closeburn Park”, but donated by the neighborhood in 1994 to the City of Decatur and renamed at that time for a local benefactor.

 Atlanta Decatur Homes, a local Atlanta real estate company serving Decatur, Atlanta, Druid Hills, Emory University and Tucker neighborhoods for over 25 years!