At Buckhead.com we cover a mix of stories about the people, places, and events that make up Buckhead. Below are the most popular stories on our site for this year. As we head into a new year, you can count on us to cover all of the things that make Buckhead such a vibrant and interesting place to live!
This story about zoning changes understandably got the attention of many residents. It pre-dated much of the Buckhead Cityhood movement and the underlying effort to increase density by changing zoning rules is arguably one of the sparks that lit the cityhood fire. 10 months later our news editor John Ruch wrote this in-depth update on how influence from Buckhead voters had seen partial success in altering the proposals: City Proposals For More Housing Density In Single-Family Areas Change With Buckhead Input, and more recently how the ADU legistlation disliked in Buckhead is dead, for now.
Even though we revealed who the Twins were 18 months ago, they have continued their synchronized walk through Buckhead ever since…and people continue to ask Google who they are, making this profile our 2nd most read story of 2021. Word has it that two have relocated to Palm Beach in recent weeks. Gone, but apparently not forgotten.
Who does not like to read about beautiful homes? Buckhead has plenty of them, but this October 2021 off-market sale set the all-time record for Atlanta!
The idea of Buckhead becoming its own city has really taken off this year, and the process is well underway. We are covering all of the major developments closely with popular in-depth stories and analysis at our Buckhead City News page.
As we head into 2022 and both sides intensify their campaigns, you can be sure that this will be the top story in all of Georgia this year. National media will latch onto the issue for inflammatory soundbites only… avoiding the substance that matters to you and me. Social media will amplify the uglier aspects as tensions rise…. but what will you do?
Please Keep A Few Things In Mind:
- The loudest voices on both sides get the most press, but rarely reflect the values, temperament, or worldview of the majority of our community. This should not be a matter of whose personality or style you are drawn to. It is not about what political party you affiliate with. It should instead be about the actual issues at hand.
- The fundamental questions at stake here are, first, whether Buckhead would be better off as a smaller self-governing city vs the status quo. And, second, whether a smaller more nimble city of Atlanta government would be more effective at governing itself than the current sprawling bureaucracy. If you believe the answer to these two questions is “yes”, then you are in favor of city-hood. If you believe the answer is “no”, then you are opposed.
For the good of Buckhead, city or not, let’s not damage our wonderful community spirit in this process. We are neighbors first and everything else is second.
We lost the architect Bill Harrison this year. Although Bill had renown, offices, and staff around the country, he made his biggest impact in Buckhead, where he was a prolific designer, developer and builder of countless homes throughout our community since the 1970’s. He literally reshaped pockets of Buckhead and many of our readers were saddened to hear of his passing.
Readers were excited to read about the opening of the new Sylvan hotel in the heart of Buckhead. The restored mid-century modern building includes dining and drinking establishments The Betty, Willow Bar, and St Julep. Our creative director Rob Knight covered this with some spectacular photography. Two weeks ago he also covered the opening of The Thompson Hotel just across the street.
Initially paused by the pandemic, everyone was excited to see construction resume on the Phipps Plaza development of a new Nobu Hotel/Restaurant and a flagship Life Time Fitness. Now the entire site is bustling with activity and we hope to have an exciting update for you soon.
When one of Atlanta’s founding families put their final land holdings on the market, it provided a great opportunity to delve deeper into our own history and the story behind the Cherokee Town Club on West Paces Ferry.
Everyone loves the Beltline and it is exciting to watch as it gains momentum with connections and expansions throughout Buckhead!
Buckhead is known for its connection to nature. The juxtaposition of green space and modern amenities is one of the things that makes Buckhead unique. It makes sense that #10 on our list is a list unto itself: our top 5 favorite places in Buckhead to hike and explore in the winter.
The idea of Buckhead becoming its own city has really taken off this year, and the process is well underway. We are covering all of the major developments closely with popular in-depth stories and analysis at our Buckhead City News page.
As we head into 2022 and both sides intensify their campaigns, you can be sure that this will be the top story in all of Georgia this year. National media will latch onto the issue for inflammatory soundbites only…avoiding the substance that matters to you and me. Social media will amplify the uglier aspects as tensions rise….but what will you do?
Please keep a few things in mind:
- The loudest voices on both sides get the most press, but rarely reflect the values, temperament, or worldview of the majority of our community. This should not be a matter of whose personality or style you are drawn to. It is not about what political party you affiliate with. It should instead be about the actual issues at hand.
- The fundamental questions at stake here are, first, whether Buckhead would be better off as a smaller self-governing city vs the status quo. And, second, whether a smaller more nimble city of Atlanta government would be more effective at governing itself than the current sprawling bureaucracy. If you believe the answer to these two questions is “yes” then you are in favor of city-hood. If you believe the answer is “no” then you are opposed.
For the good of Buckhead, city or not, let’s not damage our wonderful community spirit in this process. We are neighbors first and everything else is second.
Three Buckhead-area fire stations are among those that will benefit from a $150,000 anonymous donation that is the largest of its kind ever received by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation (AFRF).
The AFRF on Dec. 29 announced the donation to its Fire Station Fund, which supplements City funding to the 36 Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) stations. The City pays for the station buildings as well as salaries and gear for firefighters and emergency medical technicians. But most everything else, including meals and internet service, are often paid for by the first responders themselves, and most of the buildings are aging and outdated.
The AFRF has long operated the Fire Station Fund — previously known as “Adopt A Station” — to pay for those other items for firefighters, who work 24-hour shifts that have them living at the stations. Buckhead residents have long been major supporters of the fund.
“Our programs like the Fire Station Fund allow community partners to reinvest in their neighborhoods in the name of public safety,” said AFRF Executive Director Shirley Anne Smith in a press release. “This donation to the fund is the largest ever – including the first time a Southwest Atlanta fire rescue station is benefiting – and for that, we are particularly appreciative and proud.”
Along with Station 30 in Southwest Atlanta, that donation is also aimed at three stations in AFRD’s “Buckhead Battalion,” including Stations 21 and 27 within the neighborhood and Station 29 just across the border in Midtown.
According to AFRF, the breakdown of spending of the donation by station is as follows:
Station 21 (Buckhead): furnishings and amenities, $20,000 (supplementing another $33,000 in the fund for fiscal year 2021)
Station 27 (Buckhead): electrical and plumbing work to install a washer and dryer: $30,000
Station 29 (Midtown): furnishing and amenities, $30,000; a washer and dryer capable of cleaning carcinogenic materials from firefighters’ clothing, $25,000; electrical and plumbing work to install a washer and dryer: $30,000
Station 30 (Southwest Atlanta): $15,000 to be distributed upon a needs assessment
The City separately has included fire station improvements on the list of potential projects in a bond and special local option sales tax program it aims to put on the May 2022 ballot as a referendum. That includes building a new Station 26 in Buckhead.
For more information about AFRF and the Fire Station Fund, see its website.
‘Buckhead Battalion’ Fire Stations
Station 3
800 Longleaf Drive, Phipps Plaza
Station 21
3201 Roswell Road
Station 26
2970 Howell Mill Road
Station 27
4260 Northside Drive
Station 29
2167 Monroe Drive
Correction: A previous version of this story gave an incorrect number for the Southwest Atlanta station.
