14 Jul Morningside: A Neighborhood of Choice
Morningside is one of the older and most desirable Atlanta neighborhoods. It is located northeast of downtown Atlanta, within minutes of midtown. The neighborhood started in 1923 by a local real estate company looking to sell lots. Homes in Morningside are now among the more expensive in the Atlanta area, with recent sales averaging between $400,000 and $500,000.
The local citizens group – Morningside Lenox Hill Association – was started to respond to a potential interstate highway through the community. In a battle to protect the homes in Morningside, they successfully stopped the highway plans and the association now organizes and presents a wide number of community events. This year they have a concert in Sunken Garden Park: the annual Monumental Ball, which is scheduled for October 2011. It is meant to be a celebration of summer where there will be a wide variety of activities for kids, food from a number of local restaurants, and an opening of the new Morningside Nature Preserve.
With playgrounds, local hiking trails and a very large section of open space, Morningside is a very “walkable” neighborhood. Many residents regularly walk from their homes in Morningside to neighborhood destinations – restaurants and shopping are frequently visited via walking trips. MLPA also produces a walking tour of the neighborhood, where many local points of interest are highlighted.
Birding is a popular activity in the neighborhood. Morningside Lenox Park is a 34 acre refuge with two creeks where over 100 bird species can be observed. Some are permanent residents while others are transient and in the park for a limited time.
Schools in the neighborhood are a part of the Atlanta Public Schools system, and include the Morningside Elementary School, Inman Middle School and Henry W. Grady High School.
During the course of the recent economic downturn, the value of homes in Morningside has remained more stable than in other areas around Atlanta. Approximately 3,500 families live in homes in Morningside, and call this neighborhood their home.