Atlanta's first official suburb, Inman Park, was designed in the late 1880's for wealthy businessmen. Located next to Downtown to the east, the grandeur of Victorian architecture and antebellum mansions looked more like Gone with the Wind plantations than expensive city housing. But what goes up, must come down. By the 1950's, the once-exclusive community was hard to recognize. When automobiles hit the road, mobility allowed the rich to escape the city, settling soon-to-be wealthy north suburbs. After the mass exodus of the wealthy and the white, mansions were sectioned out for tiny apartments.
Recently, Inman Park became Atlanta's first suburb to gentrify beginning in 1969 with the full restoration of the Beath-Dickey House. The process was tedious but the community reclaimed some of the glory of the past as those determined to rebuild took pride in their homes.
After decades of labor, the neighborhood falling from first to worst, climbed back up to first to become one of Atlanta's best suburbs. Some of the stately homes were restored on their large lots with mature shade trees. Other properties were cleaned up, new apartment buildings went up, and rent sneaked up.
Similar to most large cities, rent prices go lower the further you are from downtown. Inman Park Atlanta apartments are just under $1000 for a one-bedroom and the price goes up as you add more space, bedrooms, and amenities. The area offers a variety of housing types. You can rent an apartment, a condo, townhouse, or an unattached single family home with your choice of amenities.
Atlanta schools are in transition in an attempt to create smaller more effective learning groups. Schools received a district-wide grant from the Bill Gates Foundation. New programs and curriculum designed to interest students through relevant classroom material is filtering into classrooms around the city.
Current school assignments for children in Inman Park include: Henry W Grady High School, Inman Middle School, and Mary Lin Elementary. All are part of the Atlanta Public Schools system. Several private and parochial schools are available at all grade levels.
Many apartment buildings allow pets. Some require an extra deposit. There are several parks, green spaces, walking trails, and sidewalks for walking a dog. It is surprising the in town location is a good fit for a dog but Inman Park was designed for families.
A popular event, the Inman Park Festival takes place the last full weekend in April. The old-fashioned celebration features a parade, games, food, and other activities. Local artists paint and display their work. Neighbors work together to organize the event, planning several months ahead. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the IPNA.
The west side of the community is for mixed use. Offices, markets, and spaces for businesses take the place of the old General Pipe and Foundry property. Some warehouses were converted into loft, condos, or restaurants and others were demolished and rebuilt. The area is home to restaurants featuring tradition Southern dishes. A few national brand food places are available while many cafes are privately owned. Pizza places, Italian and Mexican restaurants and other food shops are scattered throughout Inman Park Atlanta.