Buckhead Village
Encyclopedia
Buckhead Village is a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, one of 42 neighborhoods in the larger Buckhead district and the community's historic business district. The Village as defined by the city as the area between Piedmont Road, Peachtree Road and Pharr Road.
and tavern
at the northwest corner of the Peachtree/Roswell/Paces Ferry intersection. The name "Buckhead" comes from a story that Irby killed a large buck deer and placed the head
in a prominent location. Prior to this, the settlement had been called Irbyville.
The surrounding area, what is now the larger Buckhead Community, remained dominated by country estates until after World War I, when many of Atlanta's wealthy began building mansions among the area's rolling hills. The area that is now the Buckhead Community was annexed
by Atlanta in 1952, following an earlier attempt by Mayor William B. Hartsfield
in 1946 that was voted down by residents.
In 1956, an estate known as Joyeuse was chosen as the site for a major shopping center to be known as Lenox Square
, starting the development of Peachtree Road as a major commercial, financial, and high-rise residential corridor.
By the late 1990s crime was increasing in the Village. There were two murders on Superbowl Sunday in 2000, and Buckhead Alliance founder Robin Loudermilk claimed that there were at least 10 murders during this period related to the nightlife in the Village. Beginning in 2000, residents sought to ameliorate this situation by taking measures to reduce the community's nightlife
and re-establish a more residential character. The Buckhead Coalition and councilwoman Mary Norwood
were instrumental in persuading the Atlanta City Council
to pass an ordinance
to close bars at 2:30 a.m. rather than 4 a.m., and liquor license
s were made more difficult to obtain. Eventually, most of the Buckhead Village nightlife area was acquired for the Streets of Buckhead
multi-use project and many of the former bars and clubs were torn down in 2007.
These organizations back a new zoning ordinance that the Atlanta City Council
adopted on October 4, 2010 which expanded the SPI-9 zoning area from a small area immediately around and southwest of the intersection of Peachtree and Paces Ferry, to cover a much larger commercial area west of Piedmont Ave. and north of Pharr Rd.
The stated aim of the community organizations is to create in the Village a
As of May 2011, there are plans for a $4 million streetscape program aims to improve the experience for pedestrians in the Village. The program is funded by private donations, CID funding, and a grant from the Woodruff Foundation. While the Streets of Buckhead
project went on hold, other developments were moving forward around Peachtree Rd. and Roswell Rd, and so the CID will first improve pedestrian amenities around that area. Completion is targeted for mid-2012.
History
In 1838, Henry Irby purchased 202 1/2 acres surrounding what is now Buckhead Village from Daniel Johnson for $650. Irby subsequently established a general storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
and tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
at the northwest corner of the Peachtree/Roswell/Paces Ferry intersection. The name "Buckhead" comes from a story that Irby killed a large buck deer and placed the head
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
in a prominent location. Prior to this, the settlement had been called Irbyville.
The surrounding area, what is now the larger Buckhead Community, remained dominated by country estates until after World War I, when many of Atlanta's wealthy began building mansions among the area's rolling hills. The area that is now the Buckhead Community was annexed
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
by Atlanta in 1952, following an earlier attempt by Mayor William B. Hartsfield
William B. Hartsfield
William Berry Hartsfield was an American politician. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as its 49th and 51st Mayor from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1962, making him the longest-serving mayor in Atlanta history....
in 1946 that was voted down by residents.
In 1956, an estate known as Joyeuse was chosen as the site for a major shopping center to be known as Lenox Square
Lenox Square
Lenox Square is an upscale enclosed super regional shopping mall located in the Buckhead District of Atlanta, Georgia. Lenox Square comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on four levels, including a large food court. The mall is home to three anchor stores: Macy's, Bloomingdale's,...
, starting the development of Peachtree Road as a major commercial, financial, and high-rise residential corridor.
1990s nightlife crime
To reverse a downturn in the Village during the 1980s, minimum parking spot requirements for bars were lifted, which quickly led to it becoming the most dense concentration of bars and clubs in the city, such as BAR, World Bar, Lulu's Bait Shack, Mako's, Tongue & Groove, Chaos and John Harvard's Brew House. By 1996 Buckhead Village nightlife was like "Mardi Gras, complete with nightly arrests, puking in the streets and [drunk] college girls".By the late 1990s crime was increasing in the Village. There were two murders on Superbowl Sunday in 2000, and Buckhead Alliance founder Robin Loudermilk claimed that there were at least 10 murders during this period related to the nightlife in the Village. Beginning in 2000, residents sought to ameliorate this situation by taking measures to reduce the community's nightlife
Nightlife
Nightlife is the collective term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning...
and re-establish a more residential character. The Buckhead Coalition and councilwoman Mary Norwood
Mary Norwood
Mary Norwood was a 2009 mayoral candidate in Atlanta and a city councilwoman in Atlanta, Georgia, representing Post 2 At Large. Norwood was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 2001.-2009 Atlanta mayoral election:...
were instrumental in persuading the Atlanta City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
to pass an ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
to close bars at 2:30 a.m. rather than 4 a.m., and liquor license
Liquor license
-Alberta:In Alberta, liquor licences are issued by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.-United Kingdom:Throughout the United Kingdom, the sale of alcohol is restricted—pubs, restaurants, shops and other premises must be licensed by the local authority. The individual responsible for the...
s were made more difficult to obtain. Eventually, most of the Buckhead Village nightlife area was acquired for the Streets of Buckhead
Streets of Buckhead
Buckhead Atlanta, until May 2011 called Streets of Buckhead is a planned mixed-use development in the Buckhead Community in Atlanta, Georgia. The project is a redevelopment of part of the Buckhead Village neighborhood bounded by Peachtree Rd., E. Paces Ferry Rd., Pharr Rd., and N. Fulton Drive...
multi-use project and many of the former bars and clubs were torn down in 2007.
Community organizations and improvements
The key organizations organizing neighborhoods businesses and residents and working for improvements are:- Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID)
- Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA)
- Neighborhood Planning UnitNeighborhood planning unitThe Neighborhood Planning Unit is a neighborhood-scale governmental structure used in the city of Atlanta, Georgia.The system was established in 1974 by Atlanta's first black mayor, Maynard Holbrook Jackson...
(NPU) B
These organizations back a new zoning ordinance that the Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council is the main municipal legislative body for the city of Atlanta, Georgia. It consists of 15 members elected from districts within the city. The Atlanta City Government is divided into three bodies: the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The Atlanta City Council serves...
adopted on October 4, 2010 which expanded the SPI-9 zoning area from a small area immediately around and southwest of the intersection of Peachtree and Paces Ferry, to cover a much larger commercial area west of Piedmont Ave. and north of Pharr Rd.
The stated aim of the community organizations is to create in the Village a
"walkable, urban community enriched with public art and parks, wide sidewalks, greenspace, transportation options, and outdoor dining, all designed to have international appeal."
As of May 2011, there are plans for a $4 million streetscape program aims to improve the experience for pedestrians in the Village. The program is funded by private donations, CID funding, and a grant from the Woodruff Foundation. While the Streets of Buckhead
Streets of Buckhead
Buckhead Atlanta, until May 2011 called Streets of Buckhead is a planned mixed-use development in the Buckhead Community in Atlanta, Georgia. The project is a redevelopment of part of the Buckhead Village neighborhood bounded by Peachtree Rd., E. Paces Ferry Rd., Pharr Rd., and N. Fulton Drive...
project went on hold, other developments were moving forward around Peachtree Rd. and Roswell Rd, and so the CID will first improve pedestrian amenities around that area. Completion is targeted for mid-2012.