Buckhead.com had a fantastic year, thanks to our readers! We have really enjoyed providing our community with stories of interest and the monthly newsletter (which now reaches over 30,000 of our neighbors!). From hard-hitting news to stories about Buckhead’s most interesting people, Buckhead.com is all about our community. Do you have something to contribute? Reach out to us and let us know!
So here are our 10 most-read Buckhead Stories of 2016!
When Buckhead.com revealed the buyer of Tyler Perry’s mansion every news outlet pounced! Tyler Perry’s Buckhead home at 4110 Paces Ferry Road in the Paces Neighborhood sold for a record $17.5 million, and the buyer remained anonymous with all parties bound to silence through non-disclosure agreements. The rumors were swirling about the new neighbor, until Ben Hirsh sat down with the new owner for a one-on-one interview. News outlets around the world linked to our article, making this the TOP story of 2016…
Villa Juanita is one of Buckhead’s most significant historic estates, veiled behind 10-foot walls built in the roaring 20’s known as Buckhead’s ‘Great Gatsby’ House. So when Ben Hirsh of Hirsh Real Estate sold Villa Juanita, Buckhead readers HAD to take our photo tour! Selling for $7.2 million, the grounds feature total privacy, a 70’ pool, and walking trails through the forests. Adjacent to the Governor’s Mansion, the 7.3+ acre property is located along Tuxedo Road and West Paces Ferry.
We are starting to see the Buckhead Decal around town & on our neighbors’ cars. It’s so exciting to see the community embrace the symbol of Buckhead! For this reason, the third most popular page on Buckhead.com was our Buckhead Decal Page! Get yours today OR pick one up for FREE at one of these Buckhead landmarks!
The Buckhead Village is positively booming with exciting new development! We routinely update this article to keep the community informed on all the new projects and developments in the Buckhead area. Commercial land prices in the neighborhood have soared to more than $10 million per acre as retailers and developers target the prime demographic and pure volume of people that pass through the Buckhead Village daily. Check out our interactive map of every property and a description of what’s coming!
The most opulent listing in Buckhead right now is Sterling Hall, located at 1001 West Paces Ferry Rd. It is THE home for anyone dreaming of a lavish lifestyle and the ability to entertain on a grand scale. Every square inch of Sterling Hall was finished with extravagant detail. From the 24-karat gold Waterworks fixtures, limestone floors and doorways, to the Waterford crystal chandeliers wherever you look above, the quality and craftsmanship are authentic and timeless… And there’s a 3D tour.
Of all the places in the world, Sir Elton John has chosen Buckhead as one of his residences for more than 25 years. Newcomers are often surprised to learn that the world-famous superstar does not live somewhere more exotic, but it seems Elton John found normalcy here, which is what he was after. “People always ask me, ‘Why do you have a place in Atlanta?’ ” John said in a 1998 AJC interview. “It’s because people here have always been that nice to me… I’ve always been welcomed. I feel at home.” ~Elton John to the AJC
We compiled a list of the absolute favorite Buckhead brunch spots from our neighbors and readers. If your weekend includes Sunday brunch, here are five delicious dining establishments you must check out right away!
The rumors were confirmed that the third 365 by Whole Foods in the country will be the new tenant at Buckhead’s Paces Ferry Plaza! The shopping center’s face lift along with the identity of the new anchor tenant were up in the air until we released the news. The plaza, located right off I-75 and West Paces Ferry Rd, includes the very popular Houston’s restaurant and Smith Ace Hardware.
Buckhead is not only home to the woman who re-invented the girdle (Sara Blakley of SPANX), it is also the home of the mother-daughter duo re-inventing boxer-briefs! In November of 2015, Jackie and Hollis Hart teamed up and launched Private Holdings, the first company to comfortably merge men’s boxers and briefs. With already 65 stores in 16 states carrying their products, the Hart’s enthusiasm for the product and their success propelled them to audition for ABC’s hit show, “Shark Tank.” The mother of the duo, Jackie, said about Buckhead that, “We love having a brand that compliments our community. Buckhead has really benefited us in a big way.”
Fifth Group Restaurants debuted South City Kitchen’s third location at 3350 Peachtree Rd on May 24th. The 6,000-square-foot outpost, seamlessly combines the Southern hospitality and cuisine for which South City Kitchen is known with Buckhead’s unique style. The interiors meld the Midtown location’s ambiance 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.
Just one glance at builder Michael Ladisic’s Peachtree Park house would be enough to give even the most casual observer a sense of the craftsmanship, design, and creativity that went into its creation. With an exterior made of Texas limestone and painted brick, dramatic windows, and gorgeous green outdoor areas, including a picture-perfect courtyard, the home is a feast for the eyes. But step inside the iron front doors and listen to Ladisic speak about building the home, and it quickly becomes obvious that the home is much more than a visual feat, but a story of patience, persistence, and perhaps most important, passion.
Although he had been interested in architecture and building since he was young, Ladisic didn’t set out to pursue those passions professionally. Instead, he went to law school at Wake Forest before moving to Atlanta in 1986. After a short stint at a local law firm, he started his own phone business, selling phones and brokering phone systems for various clients. In 1993, Ladisic and his wife hired someone to renovate their first Peachtree Park house, but were ultimately unhappy with the results. “We decided to finish construction ourselves,” he says. “A friend of ours liked it and asked us to work on his home, which led to more projects—but it was still just a hobby at that point.” But by 1998, his hobby became a full-time profession with the launch of his company, Ladisic Fine Homes. Since its founding, Ladisic estimates he’s worked on more than 300 projects in Buckhead.
The crown jewel of those projects is easily his personal residence, which marks the fourth house Ladisic and his family owned in theneighborhood. Ladisic purchased the lot in 2013, after having his eye on it for 17 years, and teamed up with architect Linda MacArthur to bring his creative vision to brick-and-mortar life. “Michael didn’t want to do a classic Buckhead house,” she says. “He wanted something different, so we went with a mashup of motifs, from California contemporary and a wine-country aesthetic to the coastal feel of Rosemary Beach.”
Nearly every aspect of the home has been designed for entertaining and engaging with loved ones, whether that’s Ladisic and his wife’s four adult daughters, or the 200 friends the couple recently had over for a holiday party. To that end, the home has a spacious, open kitchen, complete with a custom hood accented by brass, as well as extra large pantries so small appliances can be stored out of sight. A neutral interior color palette, as well as ample windows for light, create an airy ambiance throughout the space. There’s also a fluid flow throughout the home, with one open space pouring into the next: a back kitchen features doors that all open onto the porch; a sitting room next to the kitchen allows guests to chat while someone is cooking; both the foyer and dining room feature dramatic staircases. “There’s a lot of space in the house, but not a lot of rooms,” Ladisic says. “We wanted everything to be a transitional space that’s conducive to allowing everyone to interact with each other, but still get away to have their own space if needed.”
And when Ladisic himself wants to get away, he retreats to his favorite room in the house: The Mancave, which has eight televisions,including one over the urinal, plus a sleek bar and glass wine cellar for entertaining. “It’s definitely more of a bachelor feel,” Ladisic says with a laugh. “It feels industrial with concrete and barn wood and just a very different space from the rest of the house.”
With its Mancave and countless other unique elements, the house has caught the attention of press, design connoisseurs, and everyday dwellers alike.
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.
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