Old Fourth Ward
Encyclopedia
The Old Fourth Ward, often abbreviated The Fourth Ward or O4W, is a neighborhood stretching 1 miles (1.6 km) east from Downtown
Atlanta, Georgia. The Old Fourth Ward is one of the city's most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, but is also one of the city's most eclectic, containing a burgeoning nightlife district along Edgewood Avenue, the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic site, factories that have converted to lofts, buzzed-about restaurants, colorful shotgun houses in various states of renovation, gated 1980s condominium communities, and Boulevard
, a street still infamous in Atlanta for its public assistance housing
and drug activity. In 2010, Creative Loafing
awarded Old Fourth Ward "Best Bet for Next Hot 'Hood." In 2011, the neighborhood celebrated the opening of the Historic Fourth Ward Park
and saw the kickoff of the Ponce City Market project.
on the west, to the BeltLine
and the Poncey-Highland
and Inman Park
neighborhoods on the east. West of Boulevard, it reaches from Ponce de Leon Avenue on the north to Freedom Parkway on the south, below which is Sweet Auburn
. East of Boulevard, it reaches from Ponce de Leon Avenue on the north to the east-west MARTA
rail line and Oakland Cemetery (Atlanta), and the Grant Park
and Cabbagetown
neighborhoods on the south.
The neighborhood can be divided into two areas: north of Freedom Parkway and south of it.
, a product of the BeltLine. In the very northeast corner of this area is the 2.1 million sq. ft. former Sears building, later called City Hall East, and now called Ponce City Market. Developer Jamestown plans to spend $180 million to convert it into a complex of retail, restaurants, boutiques, offices and residential space, featuring a food hall of national importance along the lines of Jamestown's own Chelsea Market
in New York.
. Also in this portion of the district is the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site. The Old Fourth Ward's nightlife district is located along Auburn and Edgewood Avenues.
, is a former industrial area where rehabilitated factories and warehouses now contain some of Atlanta's best restaurants and galleries, located in complexes like Studioplex and Southern Dairies.
political area in place until the 1950s when the city changed to a district system. It is one of the oldest sections of the city, with the westernmost blocks developing soon after the Civil War. Different parts of the ward were, at different times, considered white, black, or mixed-race areas. From the 1910s onward, as Atlanta politicians moved to institutionalize racially-segregated residential areas, Old Fourth Ward continued as a rich patchwork of whites living as close neighbors with blacks.
The foremost thoroughfare in today's Old Fourth Ward, Boulevard
, was in the 1890s called "one of the most desirable residential streets in the city." However, in the 20th century, Boulevard's grand houses gradually made way for apartment buildings.
, the Old Fourth Ward declined precipitously during the 1950s and 1960s as wealthier residents moved further out from central neighborhoods. Streets, houses and businesses that sat upon the land that is now Freedom Parkway were also razed to make way for a freeway that was never built. What was once a consistent and dense grid pattern of streets is now difficult to recognize, with Freedom Parkway occupying what had once been multiple city blocks.
Boulevard in particular witnessed a steady decline. The road is lined with apartment buildings constructed after the Great Atlanta fire of 1917
, most of which are now section 8 housing
. Boulevard became infamous throughout Atlanta and beyond as a haven of drug activity, prostitution, and other crime, a reputation which as of 2011 still endures despite gentrification to the north, south, east and west of the street.
, Ponce de Leon Avenue, North Avenue, and Highland Avenue. New residents were attracted to the neighborhood due to its close proximity to Downtown, Midtown, Inman Park, and Virginia-Highland, its urban vibe, its walkability, and its cultural offerings. By the 2010s, Old Fourth Ward had become one of the most dynamic and sought-after areas of the city, winning Creative Loafing
s 2010 award for "Best Bet for Next Hot 'Hood".
Downtown Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta is the first and largest of the three financial districts in the city of Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta is the location of many corporate or regional headquarters, city, county, state and federal government facilities, sporting facilities, and is the central tourist attraction of the city...
Atlanta, Georgia. The Old Fourth Ward is one of the city's most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, but is also one of the city's most eclectic, containing a burgeoning nightlife district along Edgewood Avenue, the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic site, factories that have converted to lofts, buzzed-about restaurants, colorful shotgun houses in various states of renovation, gated 1980s condominium communities, and Boulevard
Boulevard (Atlanta)
Boulevard is a street in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The street runs east of, and parallel to, Atlanta's Downtown Connector. It is bordered by Ponce de Leon Avenue to the north , and McDonough Boulevard to the south...
, a street still infamous in Atlanta for its public assistance housing
Section 8 (housing)
Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 , as repeatedly amended, authorizes the payment of rental housing assistance to private landlords on behalf of approximately 3.1 million low-income households...
and drug activity. In 2010, Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing
CL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...
awarded Old Fourth Ward "Best Bet for Next Hot 'Hood." In 2011, the neighborhood celebrated the opening of the Historic Fourth Ward Park
Historic Fourth Ward Park
Historic Fourth Ward Park is a park built on the site of the old Ponce de Leon amusement park, in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, just south of Ponce City Market and just west of the BeltLine trail. It will eventually cover .-Sections:...
and saw the kickoff of the Ponce City Market project.
Geography
The Old Fourth Ward is defined as the area from Piedmont Ave. and Downtown AtlantaDowntown Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta is the first and largest of the three financial districts in the city of Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta is the location of many corporate or regional headquarters, city, county, state and federal government facilities, sporting facilities, and is the central tourist attraction of the city...
on the west, to the BeltLine
Beltline
The Beltline is a region of central Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The area is located immediately to the south of Calgary's downtown , and is sometimes considered part of downtown...
and the Poncey-Highland
Poncey-Highland
Poncey-Highland is a neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia, located south of Virginia-Highland. It so named because it is near the intersection of east/west Ponce de Leon Avenue and north/southwest North Highland Avenue. This Atlanta neighborhood was established between 1905 and 1930,...
and Inman Park
Inman Park
Inman Park was planned in the late 1880s by Joel Hurt, a civil engineer and real-estate developer who intended to create a rural oasis connected to the city by the first of Atlanta's electric streetcar lines. The East Atlanta Land Company acquired and developed more than 130 acres east of the city...
neighborhoods on the east. West of Boulevard, it reaches from Ponce de Leon Avenue on the north to Freedom Parkway on the south, below which is Sweet Auburn
Sweet Auburn
The Sweet Auburn Historic District is a historic African-American neighborhood along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, referring to the "richest Negro street in the world". The Sweet Auburn district includes:*the Martin Luther King, Jr...
. East of Boulevard, it reaches from Ponce de Leon Avenue on the north to the east-west MARTA
Marta
Marta may refer to:* Marta or Marta Vieira da Silva , a Brazilian women's football forward* Marta Estrella, a recurring fictional character from Arrested Development...
rail line and Oakland Cemetery (Atlanta), and the Grant Park
Grant Park (Atlanta)
Grant Park refers to the oldest city park in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, as well as the Victorian neighborhood surrounding it.-Park:Grant Park is the fourth-largest in the city, behind Chastain Park, Freedom Park and Piedmont Park...
and Cabbagetown
Cabbagetown
There are two neighborhoods named Cabbagetown:*Cabbagetown , Canada*Cabbagetown , USA*Cabbagetown , a novel by Hugh Garner about Cabbagetown in Toronto and the Spanish Civil War...
neighborhoods on the south.
The neighborhood can be divided into two areas: north of Freedom Parkway and south of it.
North of Freedom Parkway
The area north of Freedom Parkway is one of the city's most popular up-and-coming areas. It is home The Masquerade, a music venue hosting national acts, and Historic Fourth Ward ParkHistoric Fourth Ward Park
Historic Fourth Ward Park is a park built on the site of the old Ponce de Leon amusement park, in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, just south of Ponce City Market and just west of the BeltLine trail. It will eventually cover .-Sections:...
, a product of the BeltLine. In the very northeast corner of this area is the 2.1 million sq. ft. former Sears building, later called City Hall East, and now called Ponce City Market. Developer Jamestown plans to spend $180 million to convert it into a complex of retail, restaurants, boutiques, offices and residential space, featuring a food hall of national importance along the lines of Jamestown's own Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market
thumb|267px|The Ninth Avenue entrance to Chelsea MarketChelsea Market is an enclosed urban food court, shopping mall, office building and television production facility located in the Chelsea neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan, in New York City...
in New York.
South of Freedom Parkway
South of Freedom Parkway is found the largest concentration of single family houses. Auburn Avenue and Old Wheat Streets are influenced by the unique feel of Sweet AuburnSweet Auburn
The Sweet Auburn Historic District is a historic African-American neighborhood along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, referring to the "richest Negro street in the world". The Sweet Auburn district includes:*the Martin Luther King, Jr...
. Also in this portion of the district is the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site. The Old Fourth Ward's nightlife district is located along Auburn and Edgewood Avenues.
The BeltLine
The area furthest east, along the BeltLineBeltline
The Beltline is a region of central Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The area is located immediately to the south of Calgary's downtown , and is sometimes considered part of downtown...
, is a former industrial area where rehabilitated factories and warehouses now contain some of Atlanta's best restaurants and galleries, located in complexes like Studioplex and Southern Dairies.
History
What is now the Old Fourth Ward is a smaller version of the historic Fourth WardFourth Ward (Atlanta)
-1874:A new city charter increased the radius of the city from one to one and a half miles, reduced the number of wards back to five and created a bi-cameral council of two councilmen from each ward and a second body of three at-large aldermen was established....
political area in place until the 1950s when the city changed to a district system. It is one of the oldest sections of the city, with the westernmost blocks developing soon after the Civil War. Different parts of the ward were, at different times, considered white, black, or mixed-race areas. From the 1910s onward, as Atlanta politicians moved to institutionalize racially-segregated residential areas, Old Fourth Ward continued as a rich patchwork of whites living as close neighbors with blacks.
The foremost thoroughfare in today's Old Fourth Ward, Boulevard
Boulevard (Atlanta)
Boulevard is a street in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The street runs east of, and parallel to, Atlanta's Downtown Connector. It is bordered by Ponce de Leon Avenue to the north , and McDonough Boulevard to the south...
, was in the 1890s called "one of the most desirable residential streets in the city." However, in the 20th century, Boulevard's grand houses gradually made way for apartment buildings.
Decline
As with most of Intown AtlantaIntown Atlanta
Intown Atlanta is a term very frequently used in metro Atlanta to designate an area containing parts of the City of Atlanta and bordering communities...
, the Old Fourth Ward declined precipitously during the 1950s and 1960s as wealthier residents moved further out from central neighborhoods. Streets, houses and businesses that sat upon the land that is now Freedom Parkway were also razed to make way for a freeway that was never built. What was once a consistent and dense grid pattern of streets is now difficult to recognize, with Freedom Parkway occupying what had once been multiple city blocks.
Boulevard in particular witnessed a steady decline. The road is lined with apartment buildings constructed after the Great Atlanta fire of 1917
Great Atlanta fire of 1917
The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 began just after noon on Monday, May 21 and was finally extinguished by 10 PM. Destroyed were 300 acres , including nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and churches, and 10,000 people were displaced. There was only one fatality, a woman who suffered a heart attack after...
, most of which are now section 8 housing
Section 8 (housing)
Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 , as repeatedly amended, authorizes the payment of rental housing assistance to private landlords on behalf of approximately 3.1 million low-income households...
. Boulevard became infamous throughout Atlanta and beyond as a haven of drug activity, prostitution, and other crime, a reputation which as of 2011 still endures despite gentrification to the north, south, east and west of the street.
Gentrification, 1980s–present
Elsewhere in the Old Fourth Ward, gentrification began in the 1980s, and continued at a more rapid pace during the first decade of the 2000s. New apartment and condo complexes with ground-floor retail sprung up, particularly along the BeltLineBeltline
The Beltline is a region of central Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The area is located immediately to the south of Calgary's downtown , and is sometimes considered part of downtown...
, Ponce de Leon Avenue, North Avenue, and Highland Avenue. New residents were attracted to the neighborhood due to its close proximity to Downtown, Midtown, Inman Park, and Virginia-Highland, its urban vibe, its walkability, and its cultural offerings. By the 2010s, Old Fourth Ward had become one of the most dynamic and sought-after areas of the city, winning Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing
CL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...
s 2010 award for "Best Bet for Next Hot 'Hood".
Nightlife
After decades of neglect, Edgewood Avenue, which connects the Old Fourth Ward to downtown and Inman Park, has become a bar and restaurant district. Bar- and restaurant-owners are attracted to Edgewood's "non-corporate" feel, mostly due to its urban layout and historic buildings showcasing turn-of-the-century architecture. At the intersection of Boulevard and Edgewood Avenue a concentration of hip bars and restaurants can be found.Demographics
The area, which was majority black up until 2000, has seen a huge influx of whites in recent decades. The trend began in the 1980s, and from 1980 to 2000, the area west of Boulevard went from 12% to 30% white and the area east of Boulevard went from went from 2% to 20% white.Parks
- Freedom Parkway with its trail runs through the neighborhood
- Central ParkCentral Park (Atlanta)Central Park is a 17.37 acre park in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. It was known as Bedford-Pine Park prior to 1999. The open space was created as a result of the Great Atlanta fire of 1917. The Music Midtown festival was held here in the early 2000s....
- Civic Center Park
- Historic Fourth Ward ParkHistoric Fourth Ward ParkHistoric Fourth Ward Park is a park built on the site of the old Ponce de Leon amusement park, in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, just south of Ponce City Market and just west of the BeltLine trail. It will eventually cover .-Sections:...
, a new park located on the site of the former Ponce de Leon amusement parkPonce de Leon amusement parkThe Ponce de Leon amusement park was built on the site of Ponce de Leon Springs. Omnibus service from Atlanta to the springs started in 1872, and in 1874 horsecar service started. It developed in the late 1880s and 1890s with the addition of attractions for children, a dance hall and theater, and... - Renaissance ParkRenaissance Park (Atlanta)Renaissance Park is a park in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The land was originally part of the Buttermilk Bottom slum which was razed in the 1960s....
External links
- Central Atlanta neighbors - covers north of Freedom Parkway, west of Boulevard
- Fourth Ward Alliance (on Facebook) - covers north of Freedom Parkway, east of Boulevard
- Fourth Ward Neighbors - covers south of Freedom Parkway
- Old 4th Ward Security Patrol