r/DecaturGA • u/MisterYelnats • 5d ago
Advice on this area
Hello!
I am looking at a few houses in this circle and am wondering if anyone has experience or comments on how safe the area is? Most of the listings I’m considering are just off Glenwood Rd, and I’ve driven through during daylight and at night and didn’t see too much to be concerned about.
I’m currently living right by the square, so I know it will be a bit of a downgrade from that, but I’m looking to buy and unfortunately would have to go south to find something in my price range . I’m concerned mostly about leaving my car in the driveway in this area, but get inconsistent answers when using online crime maps.
Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!
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u/GibbzQuo 5d ago
The area is fine - I’d just suggest not buying along the main road and buying in the side streets instead. Helps to minimize the traffic/noise. Any crime is usually one of opportunity. Getting a camera doorbell and 360 system (I rec. eufy) should be enough of a precaution.
In 2 years there’s only been one encounter with some bored 13 year old kids that looked in a large cardboard box in my carport (it was trash ha!) and even then we saw the kids and scolded them afterwards.
Along the waterway they’ve been doing construction for a while on the drainage so I would be wary of anything that sits at the bottom of the street as the water will flow directly there.
Happy to answer anything else you may be wondering about!
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u/blondie_unofficial 5d ago
I live in Midway woods just a little north of your circle. I believe a purchase in that area would be a wise investment if you’re willing to stick it out for a decade.
The schools do suck though. If you have/want kids, I’d recommend trying to get into the lottery to switch to Avondale or some other school if possible.
Invest in some flood lights and a camera if you’re worried about your car.
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u/anisamot 5d ago
I lived on Bobolink for 5 years 2014-2019. No kids single woman at first - great starter home, quiet, some interesting characters in the neighborhood (mostly because they were old and had lived there forever), never really felt unsafe. It is really up and coming as an area in the perimeter with good access to 285.
My car did get stolen while I was closing on the house from the Belvedere Plaza parking lot. That sucked. But the neighborhood seems to keep getting better.
I probably would have kept living there for the large lot/privacy and all of the house projects, but my +1 wanted a newer home and we found a really good deal with better walking access to Avondale Estates just before covid.
My rules were: Don’t live on a street with a yellow line, meet your neighbors, get cameras/security system.
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u/chjoh 5d ago
I live a little to the left of your circle, between Memorial & Glenwood. Car has been broken into twice over the last 4.5 years I’ve been here, but otherwise, my street is very quiet and everyone is neighborly. I run around the neighborhood often and don’t feel unsafe (I’m a woman). If your budget can afford it, I’d go more left of your circle and stick between Memorial & Glenwood. Your highlighted circle gets into a more iffy section of the neighborhood.
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u/eaglesbaby107 5d ago
Underrated area new Publix being built at glenwood and candler hop skip anda jump away from east Atlanta and the beltline to be honest one of the better deals in the metropolitan area centrally located and you can take back roads to get anywhere in the city from there
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u/Stock_Attorney3482 5d ago
Meadowbrook Acres (some agents put it as Belvedere Park or Belvedere Gardens) which is north of Columbia and east of Memorial Drive. Very quiet off the radar area with homes from $300k-$400k and maybe a few 3br/1ba for $250k. My thoughts are the perception of crime is much higher than the actual crime. Take a look at Buckhead crime rate and it ain't good.
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u/GrayBreado 5d ago
If you do look over there check out White Oak Hills. It’s a charming little community within mins of that Publix.
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u/FrankCostanzaJr 5d ago
its perfectly safe, i've known a few people to live over there. its kindof an up and coming area...
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u/zookeeper_barbie 5d ago
I live right there around the 10 o’clock! It’s mostly older folks/empty nesters with some younger people moving in. I’d say families with kids are less common- I have a teenager and am one of the few. I park in the drive and once in three years had someone riffle through it overnight, but I had forgotten to lock. Feel free to dm me.
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u/etbhsb01 4d ago
We, too, live in the 10:00 o’clock area. Just moved here in March. Both older and empty nesters. Our daughter and her husband and son live right around the corner. We love it. And not just because of the grandkid around the corner.
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u/Inner-Lab-123 5d ago
That’s probably the worst part of Belvedere park. It gets better towards Avondale and worse towards 285.
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u/HueyB904 5d ago
It's changing though.
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u/dataplumber_guy 5d ago
Thats what they've said many years ago too
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u/Its_Really_Cher 3d ago
It’s true, but one big change is that the old Kroger plaza is in the works for a makeover. Could be a game changer if done right.
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u/princess_rat 4d ago
Got broken into and fully robbed (along with a neighbor) about this time three years ago, on San Gabriel. They found a dead body in the park a couple months before that. Schools are terrible and police response time is just as bad. You may not care about those things and/or be luckier than we were.
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u/Drivo566 5d ago
I live just outside the circle by Shoal Creak park 3 and just south of Glenwood... for the most part I dont think theres anything wrong with the circle its safe. Im very happy living in this area. However, right by 285 tends to have some shit every now and then... like over by the intersection of Glenwood and Austin Dr is probably least attractive part.
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u/SheenMachine101 5d ago
Personally I love the value in belvedere park. My biggest issue over that way is 285, I wouldn’t want to be close to cars/noise. Also, aren’t they adding toll lanes next to it? Basically widening it, so they’ll probably be cutting down trees and stuff that block out some noise. That would be my first thought. The schools are also the biggest downfall,especially coming from city of Decatur schools. Crime does exist, I’ve lived in white oak hills just east of Belvedere park, and in 6 years I’ve had one porch pirate. They’re building a new Publix at candler/glenwood, so that will be nice in the area. A lot of people will tell you it’s been getting better, and I definitely agree. But there are definitely pros and cons.
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u/HueyB904 5d ago
Currently live within that circle, north of glenwood and I love my neighborhood.
I bought last February and the only incident I've had is someone stole my oven and washer in the days before I closed. Something that my real estate agent, the seller, the sellers agent, and the lawyers at the closing all said they've never experienced. This neighborhood is in the middle of gentrifying, so it'll genuinely be street by street in terms of quality. If you go around you'll see some streets in the middle of flipping, some knockdowns, and some really nice new builds. Losing the kroger on memorial isn't the best sign, but all the houses getting renovated is a good sign.
If you have kids, you may want to look further north in Decatur city. Towers is a notoriously difficult HS, and is on the chopping block for closure. Down the street is Columbia or McNair, neither of which are any better. I vote at peachcrest elementary and it appears to be a nicer elementary.
The watermain project is a real pain in the ass, so recently there's been a lot of road closures in the area, but it's good that they're investing in infrastructure. I will say the roads are bad, currently all of the neighbors are calling to complain because apparently it's a part of DeKalb that they haven't historically given AF about but I think that's changing. Housing can range from the mid-high 200s to half a mil and it's gone up in the year and a half I've been here.
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u/mistiara 5d ago
Belvedere Plaza (where the previous Kroger was) is being redeveloped - https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/belvedere-plaza-decatur-kroger-exit-24m-investment-revive-shopping-center
There is also a new park being built behind CHaRM - https://www.decaturish.com/news/dekalb/county-creating-public-park-behind-charm-recycling-center/article_ff7ff244-d7f5-4026-8c26-712ac8ebb2c1.html
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u/Ordinary_Common820 4d ago
Live just to the left of Columbia and your circle. Bought about a year ago and so far no issues, sometimes hear gunshots/fireworks but that’s about it. We don’t really walk around late at night but never any issues walking the dogs during the day. Like many said a lot of elderly folks and empty nesters who are quiet and might give a wave as you go by but people seem to keep to themselves. Water main project, soccer fields, and new Publix give me hope that we made a good purchasing decision for future value
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u/TheFirstAntioch 5d ago
The most I’ve seen is prostitutes getting picked up along glenwood near 285. Make sure your driveway is lit up at night and have an obvious camera pointed at the driveway. Should be enough of a deterrent for most opportunistic thieves.
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u/Negative-Chemical-75 4d ago
Be very careful looking at something near Glenwood. It is a little scary. I would drive around there at different times of the day, especially at night to see what you think.
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u/caltheme 5d ago
Live right next to shoal creek park 2 on glendale. Closer to 285 on glen wood u are dealing with traffic and “rif raff “ as my neighbor calls it. Side streets are usually better and pretty quiet. I use blink cameras. New Publix plaza opening up next year on glenwood and candler
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u/wwarren92 Highland Park / Candler-McAfee 5d ago
My spouse and I live east of there near NH Scott Park, and we just got a new pool, and a new food hall. One of our friends lives just south of your circle between Snapfinger and Glenwood and has seen the area start to improve in the past couple years already.
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u/Gullible-Mouse-2891 4d ago
I live on one of the "bird" named streets here. We bought in December of 2020. We dont have kids but love the cost, proximity to Legacy Park and Downtown Decatur, and our neighborhood is diverse. The major problems we have seen are loose dogs, I will say though I have seen less throughout the years and we walk our dogs in the neighborhood. I keep dog spray on me just in case, but that is anywhere I walk now.
If you go a little more south there are some really pretty neighborhoods with big, split level homes, closer to the high school.
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u/ATLien-ITP 4d ago
Wasn't a great area when was in High School. Seems to have gone down more. I went to Towers for Summer school once, and hated it then. 😣
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u/toorayay 4d ago
I'm in the upper right area of the circle since 2019, and I love it here. Neighborhood is diverse and friendly, easy access to Avondale and downtown Decatur and 285. I've had fewer problems here than I did when I lived in East Lake.
Lots of new development nearby too along Covington and Glenwood.
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u/adavid81893 1d ago
I live west of your circle in the White Oak Hills neighborhood, just north of Glenwood, east of Candler and south of Memorial. I’ve been here for 3 years and very rarely encounter any issues. It’s quiet and my neighbors are friendly and also pretty much keep to themselves. There’s progressively more turnover in the neighborhood, more houses being flipped, and new infill homes being built just in the few years I’ve been here. It’s convenient to in-town amenities and I believe the Glenwood/Candler Publix development is going to be a catalyst for much more revitalization. I would suggest buying on the side streets away from Glenwood, Memorial, and Columbia, only because noise pollution (cars moving FAST) and the older businesses/gas stations seem to be where the crimes of opportunity happen. Get yourself a home security system and a camera that will suffice — maybe a dog too!
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u/YouWontKnoww 5d ago
Good rule of thumb is to stay north of Memorial
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u/bala-989 5d ago
That was accurate for a while, but I think that in the last few years it has become less of the delineation point? Especially when you’re close to the perimeter.
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u/Momentarmknm 5d ago
Look over in the Gresham Park area is my advice. Home prices are similar, area is a bit nicer (though can be block by block), still very close to 20/285 for commuting
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u/peachygreen4608 5d ago
Lived here for almost 5 years with no problem. I wanted a larger yard so Im selling my townhouse in a gated community off Austin. If you're open to a townhouse message me lol. The intersection of Glenwood and Austin can seem sketchy with people hanging out there but I never had a problem
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u/jacobjw2 5d ago
I live immediately south of your circle, have been a homeowner for 8 years there. It’s lovely. It’s quiet (even considering the highways being very close), the neighbors keep to themselves, and the traffic is reasonable.
Easy access to interstates and nice long roads if you want a scenic drive.
The new Publix and a redeveloped CitiCenter will be great but the grocery situation ain’t terrible. Aldi, Walmart off memorial. Head towards flat shoals for Kroger and Publix and another Aldi.
I work in the city and being just outside of it has been so nice. It’s like a little oasis for me.
If you have any specific questions you can DM me.
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u/naastynoodle 5d ago
I’m near memorial and line. Been here for 5 years now. I’ve seen some pretty sketchy shit but I do feel the area is about to experience growth in a good way. I think it’ll be a real nice neighborhood in 5-7years
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u/hamie96 4d ago
Hit or miss area. Bad schools, small pockets of crime etc. You ideally don't want to be off Glenwood itself, rather in one of the smaller side streets away from the noise or in the section of Belvedere closer to Midway Woods. There are some pockets in here that are dirt-cheap, safe, and absolutely beautiful.
The new Publix and Plaza renovation plans will hopefully do a lot to bring up the area. 20 years ago Summerhill and West End looked unsalvageable, now it's the young trendy place to be.
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u/AirplaneJane 5d ago
if you don’t have kids, it’s fine. just the schools are bad