Downtown Decatur

Downtown Decatur is populated by young couples with small children, hipsters, and the older people who own the lovely historic homes in the area.  The neighborhood is one of the more liberal areas in Atlanta, so many lesbian and gay couples call Downtown Decatur home.  A very walkable neighborhood with good schools and parks nearby, Decatur has the reputation of being the place where VA Highlanders come when they decide to have a baby. 

If you like a laid-back lifestyle, the neighborhoods surrounding Decatur Square are great for their restaurants, pubs, live music, and security.

While there are definitely a few elegant restaurants around Downtown Decatur where you can dress up, the social scene is generally pretty relaxed. The Square is a nice place to meet friends in a pub, stroll past expensive clothing boutiques, and listen to some live music.

Ponce, which is flanked by the walking district Decatur Square, is the main street for bars and restaurants, but many good spots for international food and live music can be found on the streets that radiate out from the Square.  A few of the best restaurants and pubs in the neighborhood include:

Brick Store Pub - specializes in local brews and Belgian beers and has a diverse and friendly crowd.  Get there early on Friday and Saturday nights, though, or you won't find a table.
Java Monkey - an organic coffee house and wine bar, the Monkey also has great sandwiches and live music in the evenings.  All the coffee is fair trade.
Pastries A Go Go- one of the best bakeries/breakfast joints you're likely to find anywhere.  Be sure to try the scones.
Twain's- a small brewpub, restaurant, and pool hall.  Twain's also hosts a lot of good live music, mainly jazz.
Feast- a nice date restaurant with lots of outdoor seating.  Feast is known for its bread pudding and its risotto.

Downtown Decatur also has some good international food offerings, including Tesoro (Mexican) and Thai Me Up (dumb name, good Thai food).  For good bluegrass music and singer-songwriter performances, visit Eddie's Attic.

To live in one of the larger apartment complexes around Decatur Square costs a good deal more than renting a remodeled older home.  While a one bedroom apartment in the trendy Ice House Lofts might cost $1000/month, you can find more spacious one bedroom apartments for $800/month in some of the converted historic homes on the streets along Ponce.  To rent a townhome or house, you can expect to pay $1200 - $1500/month.  These prices are comparable to many of Atlanta's other desirable neighborhoods within the perimeter, and since the neighborhood offers restaurants, shops, and groceries all within walking-distance, it is easy to save on gas.  There is also easy access to public transportation.  Emory students and employees can take a free shuttle to and from campus, and living next to a MARTA station means that Decatur residents never have to drive to the airport.

For students and others looking for bargains in the area, a good tool is the Emory Off-Campus Housing Finder.

If you do decide to rent in Decatur, parking for your car shouldn't be a problem. The apartment complexes provide reserved spots and most of the houses and condos have driveways or garages.  Your guests, on the other hand, will need to find parking on the street, which can be tricky on weekend evenings and Sunday mornings.

For public transportation, Downtown Decatur is as good as anywhere else in Atlanta.  If you live near the Square, you'll be in walking distance of the Decatur and Avondale MARTA Stations.  Unfortunately, a lot of Atlanta is still unreachable by MARTA trains, and so most Downtown Decatur residents don't use the MARTA system often since it is usually less time consuming to drive than to wait for bus transfers.  The MARTA trains do go to all of Atlanta's major tourist sites and to the airport though, so are convenient for weekend outings and travel.

For those who work at or near Emory University or Emory Hospital, the school provides free shuttles to and from the areas surrounding the campus.  Shuttles run from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays, so check the schedule - you might be able to dispense with your car all together.  There is a taxi stand by the Decatur MARTA station and several Zipcar drop points around town.

Do's:
Do drive around in search of 'for rent' signs in yards - a lot of the best rental values can be found in "carriage house" apartments and older homes that have been converted into condos.

Do use the Emory housing locator.

Do negotiate with private owners before signing the lease.  Many property owners in this area are mainly looking for quite renters who will take good care of the place, and they might be willing to drop the monthly rent by $100 or $200 if they feel like it would help get someone who will treat their family's property well.

Do check your lease closely to see who is responsible for yard maintenance, pest control, and the like.

Don'ts:

Don't live too close to the freight train tracks found along College Ave.  The trains are loud and sound their horns as they come into town - regardless of the hour.

This is a very pet-friendly neighborhood.  If you own a dog, you will meet most of your neighbors within a month of moving into town.  Many restaurants offer outdoor seating where pets are allowed, and will be happy to serve your dog some water.  There are plenty of dog walk parks and several good veterinary clinics.

Eddie's Attic is the main music venue in Downtown Decatur and hosts live performances by local and nationally-known singer/songwriter types most nights of the week.

The Brick Store Pub's Oktoberfest celebration is always a good time, as is the beer tasting festival that the owners host in conjunction with JavaMonkey and Twain's. 

Several Dancers Core offers walk-in dance lessons on weeknights, with Monday's 7:00 Beginning Salsa lesson being the most popular.

The PushPush Theater offers not only plays and dance performances, but also regular acting and writing workshops and youth programs.

The Concerts on the Square series runs all summer, with bands playing each Saturday evening through the end of September.  The music is always family-friendly.

Downtown Decatur also hosts several yearly festivals, including the Decatur Arts Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, and the Decatur Beach Party.

Ponce de Leon is the major thoroughfare of Downtown Decatur, and a lot of the best restaurants and shops are to be found lining Ponce.  Ponce is flanked by the walking district, Decatur Square, which makes up the heart of this neighborhood.  Across College Ave, nestled close to Agnes Scott College, is another cluster of good shops and pubs which include The 5th Earl Market and the PushPush Theater.

You can walk to just about anything you need in Downtown Decatur, one of the real advantages of living in this area.

Grocery Stores: Kroger is walking-distance from the Square, but it is small.  For a bigger selection, you'll have to drive to the Publix on North Decatur Road, about five minutes away.  The nearest Whole Foods is located about fifteen minutes away, on Briarcliff, but you can get some fresh produce at the Decatur Farmers' Market right in Downtown Decatur on weekends - although the selection can be a bit limited.

Gyms: There are several gyms and fitness centers around Downtown Decatur, the largest of which is Sonz Fitness on Church Street.

Banks:  There are two Wachovia branches and a Bank of America branch right by the Square, and countless other ATMs.

Post Office: The Decatur Post Office on Ponce is located a couple of blocks from the Square, and marks the western limit of the Downtown Decatur neighborhood.

Dry Cleaners:  Are everywhere.

Downtown Decatur is a great neighborhood for families, particularly for families with small children.  The Little Shop of Stories is a fabulous children's bookstore, and it hosts regular book signings by famous authors and illustrator as well as a regular story hour.  There are also public gardens, playgrounds, and a great public library right in the heart of town.  The public schools are good (Clairmont Elementary School is particularly popular), and there are some nearby private school options as well - including Montessori.  All the churches, and there are many, have daycare and preschool programs on the weekdays.  On the 4th of July there is a children's parade - all the kids in town decorate their bikes and trycycles, meet near the Court House, and ride around town behind a firetruck.  Move to Downtown Decatur if you have kids, this is the most kid-friendly place in Atlanta.