The Atlanta City Council concluded their meeting on June 6 with a 12-3 vote to authorize a swap of the Bobby Jones Golf Course to the state of Georgia in exchange for a state-owned parking garage and plaza located at Underground Atlanta. The swap will ensure Atlanta’s plan to sell a financially failing Underground Atlanta to a developer and replace it with apartments, retail shops, a grocery store and various restaurants. City officials and Buckhead residents have varying opinions on the exchange. It’s a complicated matter that may have unintended consequences (both positive and negative). Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean, whose district includes the golf course, was among the three Council members opposed to the land exchange.
Adrean does not plan to let the issue go even though the vote already concluded. She said she would continue to fight for what the community demanded of her. Even with a near 200 people in attendance asking questions about potential financial and environmental impacts the deal could hold, they were still denied their request to hold the vote for two weeks until more answers arose.
Some opposed believe that Atlanta is not protecting its history by giving the historic course to the state. Additionally, they believe that the decision to downsize the golf course from 18-holes to 9-holes and add a a driving range will result in the course not having sufficient income. On the supporting side of the swap, Mayor Kasim Reed, of Atlanta, defended the decision to give the Bobby Jones Golf Course to the state.
“The kind of investments the state will make in Bobby Jones are the kinds of investments the city does not have the financial capacity to make,” Reed said.
According to Reed, the state will invest around $25 million in the course. Reed partially agreed with those who opposed the deal. He supported the their belief that downsizing the golf course was controversial, and said that he will continue to negotiate better terms with the state before closing the deal.
A spokesman for the Bobby Jones family, Marty Elgison, said the family was in support of the swap. The course will continue to be public and include the Bobby Jones Museum and a new addition, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. Also, many of the improvements contained in the master plan developed by the Memorial Park Conservancy would be completed by the State.
“With regard to the golf course, the community seems to be split 50-50— some people are excited about a shorter game and the prospects of having a driving range, and some want it to stay exactly as it is,” Adrean concluded.
What are your thoughts? Will the state’s investment in the Bobby Jones Golf Course outweigh the loss of local control?
By Claire Harper for Buckhead.com
Fifth Group Restaurants continues its culinary expansion across Atlanta with the debut of South City Kitchen’s third location. The 6,000-square-foot outpost, which opened on Peachtree Road May 24, seamlessly combines the Southern hospitality and cuisine for which South City Kitchen is known with Buckhead’s unique style.
The interiors, courtesy of Fifth Group and John Barton of Parkway Properties, meld the Midtown location’s ambience with the clean, modern feel of Buckhead’s business district. Inside, the open layout displays clear views of the kitchen—be on the lookout for Executive Chef Jason Starnes whipping up elevated Southern fare—seating for 220 diners, plus a private dining room for up to 50 guests. Outside, two spacious patios beckon: an all-season patio with a screen porch and fire pit, and an open-air second-floor patio overlooking bustling Peachtree Road with a spacious bar and lounge area.
Shrimp & Grits
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fresh off a stint at The Sun Dial Restaurant, chef Starnes is serving up South City Kitchen favorites, like fried green tomatoes and buttermilk fried Springer Mountain Farms chicken, alongside dishes exclusive to the Buckhead menu, including pickled shrimp with crunchy vegetables, pickled jalapeños and watercress; smokey grilled pork chop with barbecued hazelnuts, cornbread puree, charred broccolini and sorghum vinaigrette; and spiced grilled quail with Carolina risotto, lemon-tomato jus and crispy okra.
South City Kitchen Buckhead marks the first step in Fifth Group’s five-year growth plan. Up next: Ecco is slated to open its second location in Buckhead in 2017.
Been to South City Kitchen yet? Located at 3350 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 140, Atlanta, GA 30326. Visit online to make a reservation, and tell us via comments below what you think!
You know the luxury retailers, the award-winning restaurants, the explosive real estate market, but here’s what you don’t know. We take you back—to the beginning—and present 10 things you might not know about Buckhead.
1. After slaying a champion buck, a local hunter mounted his trophy in the area of today’s Buckhead Triangle/Charlie Loudermilk Park, across the street from the town market. Community members soon started making plans to meet at the “buck’s head,” and shortly after, this rural community officially became known as Buckhead.
2. Buckhead is not a city. Buckhead is not a neighborhood. Buckhead is not a town. Buckhead is a community. In fact, Buckhead did not officially become part of the City of Atlanta until it was annexed in 1952. See the full interactive map of Buckhead!
3. Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center was originally dubbed Atlanta Historical Society, chartered by Atlanta residents with the mission of preserving the city’s heritage. Atlanta History Center as it is known today was founded in 1990 when Atlanta Historical Society officially changed it’s name. Under the patronage of Atlanta History Center, Atlanta History Museum opened in it’s current West Paces Ferry location, which just underwent a massive $21.1 million renovation, making it the largest freestanding history museum in the Southeast in 1993. (photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center)
4. Known as one of the most recognizable landmarks in Buckhead, The Swan House was designed by legendary architect Phillip Trammell Shutze and completed in December 1928. It has starred on the silver screen as President Snow’s Palace in the Hunger Games franchise. Another iconic Buckhead venue for weddings, teas and luncheons is its former garage, The Swan Coach House (photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center).
5. Buckhead is home to the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, founder of SPANX Sara Blakely. Blakely got the idea for SPANX in 1998, wrote her own patent for the game-changing hosiery and was in production by 2002. The SPANX corporate office is located at the Shops Buckhead Atlanta.
6. Director, writer and producer Tyler Perry made history in late April when he sold his Paces Ferry estate for a new Buckhead high of $17.5 million. The home has a runway for model airplanes, a parking deck and is a palatial 34,688 sq ft.
7. The oldest home in Buckhead is located on W Wesley Road. In the Civil War, the home served as both a General headquarters and later as a hospital. Built in the North Georgia town of Resaca in 1797, it was later moved to Buckhead and has recently been remodeled.
8. With 85% as much commercial office space as downtown Atlanta, Buckhead has 5,257+ hotel rooms and 1,500+ retail outlets… In fact, just one acre of land in the Buckhead Village neighborhood is valued at upwards of $10 million.
9. Buckhead is a favorite locale of Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary. In early March, “Mr. Wonderful,” who often travels to Atlanta on business, told Atlanta Business Chronicle, “I also look at Atlanta as one of my favorite places because when I was young I used to hangout in Buckhead, which was a hell of a place.” He adds, laughing, “It’s a great spot.”
10. One of America’s wealthiest zip codes is 30327 in Buckhead, according to Forbes. 30327 includes the following neighborhoods: Mt Paran/Northside, West Paces Ferry/Northside, Margaret Mitchell, Brandon, Randall Mill, Kingswood and Paces.
By Elizabeth Harper for Buckhead.com
The fact that Buckhead boasts some of the most amazing manicured landscapes in the country is no accident. Garden clubs in Buckhead have flourished since the early 1920s. The garden clubs of Buckhead, which fall within the boundaries of the Dogwood District, vary in size and philanthropic mission. The Dogwood District comprises 49 clubs and 2,300 members, a quarter of which are located in Buckhead, according to Rosie Davidson, Dogwood District director. Here, we highlight some of our community’s most loved garden clubs.
Establishd in 1923, Peachtree Garden Club is the oldest garden club in Atlanta and a member of the Garden Club of America. From 1949 through the 1960s, members held a tour of homes each December as the garden club’s sole fundraiser. Revived in 2008, the tour of homes has awarded more than $350,000 in grants through the Peachtree Garden Club Community Fund, with proceeds benefitting Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta History Center/Swan Woods Trails, Cherokee Garden Library, Friends of English Avenue and Historic Oakland Cemetery.
Founded in 1927 as Garden Hills Women’s Club, the social and service organization focused its attentions on beautifying the Garden Hills neighborhood. After incorporating in 1971, the name was officially changed to Garden Hills Garden Club and now encompasses more than 120 members. As well as maintaining several green spaces in Garden Hills, the garden club hosts two fundraising events each year, an ice cream social and holiday mailbox decorating. Upcoming events include a new member party Aug. 27 and the 43rd annual ice cream social Sept. 27.
Formed Mar. 10, 1928, Cherokee Garden Club was among the 11 founding clubs of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. as well as the Atlanta Garden Center and the Atlanta Flower Show Association. Under the leadership of former president Anne Coppedge Carr, Cherokee Garden Club established the Cherokee Garden Library, which features 30,000 books, photographs, manuscripts, seed catalogues and landscape drawings on the history and science of gardening, at the Kenan Research Center ofAtlanta History Museum in 1975. The garden club hosts many lectures at Cherokee Garden Library throughout the year.
Founded by C.A. Rhodes in 1938, Brookwood Hills Garden Club strives to improve the Brookwood Hills neighborhood and charming parks. Major accolades include restoring Brookwood Hills park, forging nature trails, building a bird sanctuary, and landscaping the Brighton and Palisades roads neighborhood entrances.
Currently comprising nearly 20 active members, Chastain Park Garden Club was established May 10, 1954. The club sponsors several beautification projects in and around Chastain Park, including flower boxes at the red lot weather shelter as well as maintaining perennial pollinators in the planting strip bordering Powers Ferry Road near the Chastain horse barn. Visitors are welcome at garden club meetings, which are held October through May each year. Deborah Hill or Stephanie Pohl.
North Buckhead Garden Club has operated under the premise of educating members on home and garden topics since its inception in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Unlike other Buckhead garden clubs, North Buckhead Garden Club is open to everyone, whether or not you live in North Buckhead; focuses on home and garden topics through featured speakers, rather than just gardening; and meetings are held in the evenings. The club holds two annual parties, the holiday party and the spring party, and occasional fundraisers, which raise money for organizations like the Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Potential new members are welcome to visit the garden club meetings. Contact Gaylen Kemp Baxter if you’re interested!
Other Buckhead garden clubs include Boxwood Garden Club, Greystone Garden Club, Habersham Garden Club, Iris Garden Club, Rose Garden Club, Piedmont Garden Club and Pinetree Garden Club. While many new members are recruited to garden clubs by current members, potential members can also contact the Garden Club of Georgia membership development chairman, Diane Harbin, who will provide information on the garden clubs in your area and put you in contact with the appropriate district director. Buckhead’s Dogwood District director is Rosie Davidson. She will then recommend a garden club extend you an invitation.
By Elizabeth Harper for Buckhead.com
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
