Castleberry Hill is an Atlanta in-town neighborhood just south of Philips Arena/CNN.  The actual neighborhood is larger than the area discussed in this post. Castleberry Hill is the area marked in brown on the map.  The area covered in this post is the “business area” down Walker St and back up Peters Street.

Castleberry Hill is a neighborhood of a few small businesses (a law firm, hair stylists and boutique clothes); and art galleries, and loft style and brick condos.  No malls, no McDonalds (or other franchise fast food places), no manicured green lawns, no “McMansions with 2 or 3 car garages, no chain retail stores, no supermarkets.  In short this is not suburbia. It also is not “trendy” as defined as inside the 285 perimeter by the BMW crowd.

On first glance Castleberry Hill is a gritty place with boarded up, dilapidated buildings. The “business center” has few businesses. The Peters Street Mission gives concern as to the type of neighbors one may run into.   For example, a sign on the mission door…NO ADMISSION after 7:00 p.m. UNLESS: 1) You come from the hospital with verification; 2) You just came into town and have a ticket stub verifying travel; 3) You are caught by the police and they request our help).

 

There are indications that crime is an issue.  Threatening signage such as the proliferation of signs that say “NO GUNS, KNIVES, OR OTHER CONCEALED OR UNCONCEALED WEAPONS…” or, the menacing sign to the left do not convey a “friendly” feeling.

Then why do people choose to live in Castleberry Hill?  One obvious reason is the proximity to downtown Atlanta provides a minimal commute. (The MARTA Garnett station, which is one station past Five Points is close). An interview with a recent arrival to Castleberry, Cecilia, who with her husband moved to Castleberry Hill six months ago from France provides some incite. (See below video)   As can be heard on the video Cecilia sites: location; they found a “nice place to live”; “lots of art exhibitions”; and the area is “more dynamic”. In the video she does talk about crime and says that “for me I have not had a problem but for a women at night, she must be more attentive”.

 

Just a short walk from the abandoned and boarded up buildings there are comfortable looking loft and brick apartment/condo buildings. These apartments/condos are middle class priced.  For example, 2 bed, 2 bath 1300 sq ft condos are listed at $225,000 to $300,000.  Some 1 bedroom units are listed under $200,000.  There are no high-rise condo or other style buildings in Castleberry Hill.

 

In a later video (see below)  Cecilia also commented on some concerns about living in Castleberry Hill.  “The walls are not perfect” (in some of the construction); “the lights on the street at night are not so bright”; “buildings are old when you go down Walker Street”; “you need to pay attention at night (commenting on crime); and while she has had no bad experience herself, “some people do talk about crime problem”.

In summary, Castleberry Hill is not for everyone.  My wife and I have been to Castleberry Hill at night several times for art openings and it was a fun exciting feeling.  However, in the bright daylight you do see the “warts” and “drawbacks.”  A very unscientific, subjective view is that Castleberry Hill has coarsened since we last saw it (or maybe it is just seeing in the day when nothing is going on).  However, I still find a strong appeal in the “Urban Chic” vibe that Castleberry Hill projects.  If I were young, and single, I would put Castleberry Hill on my list of top places to consider to live in metro Atlanta. I never would consider suburban living due to its commute; and, the loft or brick style condos of Castleberry Hill have more living appeal than the steel and glass high rises you find elsewhere in the city. The clincher, however, is that in a neighborhood where you see posters for offbeat characters like “King Yoshi” or “Minette Magnifigue”, must be a fun place to live. Cecilia is right “more dynamic” is better.

Castleberry Hill is a neighborhood just south of the new football stadium being built and CNN center in downtown Atlanta.  This  blog focuses on a part of Castleberry Hill down Walker St to the junction with Peters St and then back up Peters St which is the “business” section with art galleries, shops and loft style housing.

When first entering Castleberry Hill on Walker Street, one is greeted by a huge wall painting sign announcing Castleberry Hill. The sign includes a continuous painting that also states “In memory of Herman J Russell” and includes his portrait on the right. Herman J Russell was a prominent Atlanta black real estate developer and businessman who died in 2014.

Short ways down Walker St is a dilapidated, small building with the sign “Amish Handmade Outdoor Furniture”.  Contrary to the condition of the building the sign looked new but as the building is blocked with chains saying no parking or entry, it appears that this store is out of business.   However, according to the active website given on the sign the furniture is made from recycled plastic by Amish in Ohio and, that the Castleberry Hill location is their showroom. Their furniture can also be bought at a weekend market in Jonesboro. The exterior of the building is rundown and not the typical look of a showroom.

Hillary Clinton’s Atlanta HQ and workplace on Walker Street  is easily identified with a banner signage “Stronger Together”. The banner looks homemade. A longtime resident of 12 years to Castleberry Hill states that Castleberry Hill is largely comprised of black, white, younger, unmarried residents who tend to support Democrats (the resident’s view) This long time resident adds that Castleberry is getting better because “more people have moved in”.

 

 

On the left one of the “street art” that Castleberry Hill has throughout the neighborhood.  This particular “street art”  was smaller than others and was painted on a grungy wall. The message is a little obscure. The message is hard to read but apparently is a snail saying “Suy4 says buy land.”

 

 

Signs are posted on many walls and windows.  The signs to the left is posted on  a badly weathered and water damaged, wooden panel on a boarded up building. The  window on the right shows an array of advertisements covering more than half of  the window panes. Stickers are also affixed to the poles on the front.

 

 

 

On the Baptist  mission on Peters Street are signs on the door that give the hours of admission, how to provide contributions and, under what conditions someone would be admitted.The Sign over the top of the entrance reads “Jesus Saves”.  All the signage is old and battered.

 

 

The sign to the right on a window is an advertisement for a rapper “King Yoshi” (see left screen shot from a video posted on Facebook page  LOVEYOSHICREWENT given on sign .  “King Yoshi” recently performed at “The Athlete’s Foot Bday Bash” in Atlanta. This was an unusual performance — Music?, Rap? Art?  This performance by “King Yoshi” can be see on youtube. Reference to “King Yoshi” is included in this blog to get a sense of Castleberry Hill resident’s interests.

Sign on the left is in a window and states vote NO in November election on SR 287.  SR 287 is a bill to allow the Georgia General Assembly to take over “failing” schools.  The sign is from AFT Atlanta Federation of Teachers who apparently are against the state taking over Atlanta schools which the state deem failing.

The sign to the right “BE GOOD TO OUR ‘HOOD, please KEEP CASTLEBERRY CLEAN” is askew and in a derelict, apparently abandoned building.

 

 

“Art  Stroll” is a monthly tour of galleries in Castleberry Hill. The sign is old and battered.

The sign to the right is in a studio like building and is for “Minette Magnifigue”. The sign states that “Minette Magnifigue” is Creative Loafing 2013 Reader chose for “Best Burlesque Troupe”.The Troupe “Minette Magnifigue” does not appear to be based in Castleberry Hill but the sign shows the interest of residents of Castleberry Hill.

Several buildings have this sign “NO GUNS, KNIVES, OR OTHER CONCEALED ON NONCONCEALED WEAPONS”. Other references to possible crime include a sign  “WE DON’T DIAL 911” with a photo of a pistol pointing at viewer.

Sign outside a  nightclub give clear dress code as to what is not allowed. On the list are white T-shirts, sagging pants, and bandannas (spelled wrong on the sign).  The sign also states that the club reserves the right to refuse service.

A recent phenomenon is the filming of Hollywood and TV movies in the neighborhood.  This is seen with the sign in a window “Films = GA Jobs” (sign not depicted)..

 

No Mas Hacienda Cantina is a multi-level Mexican bar and restaurant with splashy Mexican theme decorations.  Within the complex there is a shop selling Mexican house decorations. There is also an extensive set up outside for parties and dinners. The sign to the left is at entrance steps to the main dining rooms and Mexican merchandise shop.