Atlanta School Closings - Medlock Elementary Near Emory to close

Posted on March 12, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes

After months of debate and public meetings, the DeKalb County Board of Education made a  decision this week to close 8 schools in the County, moving 6,000 – 7,000 students. 

Disgruntled and frustrated parents fought hard to preserve their neighborhood schools and to maintain the districting lines, but the DeKalb County School District faced a major $88 million budget shortfall, and changes were necessary.  The school district plans to close more than a dozen schools in the next two years.  Employee layoffs and program cuts will also be made.  Steve Kuzj, CBS Atlanta Reporter, indicated in a recent article that “classrooms around DeKalb County will be a lot larger after the next school year”. 

Homeowners in the community have known for some time that Medlock was on the short list to close and the news has saddened many parents.  The shoe has finally dropped and Medlock Elementary, an Emory area school, is scheduled to close this summer.  Medlock Elementary is located in a residential neighborhood of  900 homes  1-1/2 miles south of Emory University and Medical Center, where many employees own homes. 

The North Druid Hills Patch announced several concessions that were made for other Emory area schools.  Seventy Laurel Ridge Elementary School students were headed to McLendon Elementary School, but will now remain at Laurel Ridge.  Also, a large group of students from Medlock Elementary that were designated to attend Avondale Elementary will now go to Laurel Ridge. 

Other Atlanta area schools that will be closed include Atherton, Glen Haven, Gresham Park, Peachcrest, and Sky Haven elementary schools, as well as Avondale Middle School and Avondale High School.

Atlanta Decatur Homes, local Atlanta real estate company selling homes in Druid Hills, Emory, Medlock, Decatur, Tucker and Atlanta neighborhoods for over 25 years.

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Decatur Townhomes and Condos–Atlanta Georgia

Posted on February 25, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes

If you are considering the purchase of a Decatur Townhome or Condominium in the Atlanta area, be aware that certain rules and regulations apply for townhomes and condos, that are not applicable when you purchase a single-family detached property.

There are many great reasons to consider purchasing a townhome or condo.  Single-family homes in  metropolitan neighborhoods, like Atlanta, are often priced beyond the range of many homebuyers.  Townhomes and condos allow freedom from yard work and property maintenance.   Complexes have pools and tennis courts, are sometimes gated for security, and encourage socializing.

But, there are many governing rules and regulations for Decatur Townhomes and Condos that set out how a community will operate, usually contained in the CC&R’s, known as Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.  Most  have strict regulations written  to allow Homeowner’s Associations to enforce violations.  Rules spelling out certain restrictions are sometimes fraught with controversy between the residents.  Checking the documents before you purchase may avoid a later conflict.

Issues that often arise in Decatur Townhome and Condo communities:

• Fees – Each month residents pay a fee to cover fire and homeowners insurances, reserve funds, outside maintenance,  water, etc.  Be sure you know that is included.  Associations may also assess an additional large fee if the complex requires a new roof, or new paving.
• Maintenance – Most associations are responsible for maintaining the exterior, including painting, roof repairs, lawn maintenance, and trash collection, but there may be specific instructions about where to set your trash,  if you are allowed to plant flowers or have a birdbath in your front yard.  Find out the specifics.
• Parking – All the land does not belong to you, and homeowner parking places are often assigned with special areas for guest to park.  Associations often limit the number of cars that are allowed to park per unit.
• Pets – Check your documents to determine if pets are allowed, and ,if so, what  restrictions  apply regarding size and number of pets allowed in the unit.  You should also be aware of noise restrictions and whether they are allowed to stay outside for any period of time. 

Most Decatur Townhome and Condo complexes in the Decatur, Emory University, and nearby Atlanta neighborhoods are well-maintained and have strong Homeowner’s Associations with good  reserves.  Here are a few popular Decatur Townhome Communities with available homes for sale in the $200,000 – $250,000 price range.  :

• Brianwood
• September Chase
• Winston Place
• Haverhill