Looking into Druid Hills??? (Atlanta, College Park: to rent, crimes, attorney)

[TheATLisAMAZING]

I am looking to relocate to Druid Hills from Washington DC. So let me give you some background to what I am looking for and explain my situation. I am willing to rent while a build a home but I would prefer a home that is built. I am looking at spending up to four million. I have a wife, an eight year old daughter, a four year old son, and another son who is three.
1. My thing with Druid Hills is, what private schools are around? I know Paideia School is there, but that is a progressive school and I am more into a traditional private preferably Christian school, like Westminster or Paces. I mapped from Druid Hills to Westminster and it said 18 minutes, would that be realistic in rush in the morning, it would be the opposite direction of most commuters?
2. How is Druid Hills, known in the surrounding areas, we are looking in the area around the golf course?
3. How is the safety in Druid Hills?, I like Buckhead also but there are no sidewalks which I cannot stand.
4. I know there are a lot of high end homes in Druid Hills on the westside of the course(from being there and birdseye mapping), but I see very few listings online for the area, do I need to contact a realtor to see more listings?
5. How is living in Druid Hills with children, we are going to join the Druid Hills Golf Club. My mother is a member there.
6. On the weekends does the area get to wild or anything? We plan on purchasing a home on Lake Burton so we will not be there really on the weekends.
7. I will work in downtown and how long will it take to get into the city at about 8.30am? (I am an attorney)
8. Anything about Druid Hills would be most appreciated!
Thanks for you help in advance

[TakeAhike]

I don't know of any part of Druid Hills where new homes are being built, someone else may.

If your mother is familiar with the Druid Hills area perhaps she could give you some direction.

'Does it get 'wild' on the weekends?' No. Emory University is located there.

I think with traffic it would be more than 18 minutes from Emory to Westminister.

Druid Hills is very safe. Some areas of Druid Hills also lacks sidewalks and with DeKalb County's current budget cutbacks it is unlikely that more will be built.

I would think you would have a 20-30 minute commute to downtown.

[lastminutemom]

I think you would have no trouble finding a carpool to Westminster, the problem may be admission, though if your child is at a school similar to Westminster that will help.

Pace is not a religious school. Lovett is. You might also consider Woodward, which while not religious isn't progressive either. Woodward is in College Park, but has an extensive bus system and probably lots of families in the area go there.

I would most certainly use a realtor, one who is the most well known in Druid Hills because with the economy the way it is, many folks may not be listing, but that person may know someone who is interested in selling. You may need someone who has their hear to the ground so to speak.

[TheATLisAMAZING]

Thanks for all the help so far!
Not to sound snobby or anything unnecessary comment - removed by moderator , but is Druid Hills respected in the upper social circles of Atlanta(I know a lot of people say Buckhead but a lot of areas in Buckhead are changing I have heard)? Thanks lastminutemom for recommending Woodward, I had looked there before and forgot to mention it and I think that would be a great match for us because I do know it is a school that other parents like me and my wife would send their children too and the campus is just amazing. I like Buckhead also but it does not really have a "community" feeling like Druid Hills has, if you get what I am saying. I also like how Druid Hills has the security patrol you can pay for and I think that really helps cut down on crimes, my mother likes the service.
Another thing is part of the area is in unincorporated DeKalb where some is in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County, what is better? One lot we saw for building a home on was on Oakdale in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by TheATLisAMAZING

Thanks for all the help so far!
Not to sound snobby or anything removed by moderator - unnecessary comment, but is Druid Hills respected in the upper social circles of Atlanta(I know a lot of people say Buckhead but a lot of areas in Buckhead are changing I have heard)? Thanks lastminutemom for recommending Woodward, I had looked there before and forgot to mention it and I think that would be a great match for us because I do know it is a school that other parents like me and my wife would send their children too and the campus is just amazing. I like Buckhead also but it does not really have a "community" feeling like Druid Hills has, if you get what I am saying. I also like how Druid Hills has the security patrol you can pay for and I think that really helps cut down on crimes, my mother likes the service.
Another thing is part of the area is in unincorporated DeKalb where some is in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County, what is better? One lot we saw for building a home on was on Oakdale in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County.

I am a native of Druid Hills and certainly have a warm place in my heart for it; however, I have perceived subtle differences between DH and Buckhead over the years.
In the 1920's and 30's, the old money families and business leaders of Atlanta began to abandon Druid Hills in favor of Buckhead. It's not to say that DH ever experienced a decline, but over time its' character changed...while Buckhead seemed to attract the city's business leaders, DH's residents seemed to generally hail from medicine and academe. Some of that might be explained by the neighborhood's proximity to Emory, CDC and the Clifton Corridor.
As far as the area of DH that lies within the city limits, I've never detected a perceptible difference between that and unincorporated DeKalb. IMO you really can't go wrong with either.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by TheATLisAMAZING

...Another thing is part of the area is in unincorporated DeKalb where some is in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County, what is better? One lot we saw for building a home on was on Oakdale in the City of Atlanta DeKalb County.

The only real difference is the public school options (and both options are excellent--if y'all ever want to consider going this route):




City of Atlanta Druid Hills: Springdale Park Elementary, Inman Middle, and Grady High.



Unincorporated DeKalb County Druid Hills: Fernbank Elementary, Shamrock Middle, and Druid Hills High (some small parts of Unincorporated DeKalb County Druid Hills may attend Briar Vista Elementary).

[arjay57]

Many good comments by others.

I think you'd be very happy in either Druid Hills or Buckhead. Both are short commutes to downtown and there are tons of homes in your price range. Buckhead has many more private school options, though I'd echo the recommendations about Woodward.

I'd get an experienced realtor who's been around and knows the city and its intricacies. There are many neighborhoods in Buckhead with sidewalks if that's what you're looking for. Don't overlook Ansley Park on the north end of Midtown or Brookwood Hills in south Buckhead.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Many good comments by others.

I think you'd be very happy in either Druid Hills or Buckhead. Both are short commutes to downtown and there are tons of homes in your price range. Buckhead has many more private school options, though I'd echo the recommendations about Woodward.

I'd get an experienced realtor who's been around and knows the city and its intricacies. There are many neighborhoods in Buckhead with sidewalks if that's what you're looking for. Don't overlook Ansley Park on the north end of Midtown or Brookwood Hills in south Buckhead.

Oh, yes...


I'm glad you mentioned Ansley Park.


This neighborhood is also an excellent option fo' the OP.

[TheATLisAMAZING]

Thanks so much for all the help, I was looking at Ansley Park and it is gorgeous as is Morningside-Lenox Park. I do like southern Buckhead in the Peachtree Heights West area. Northern Buckhead does not really appeal to us with how everything is so spread out, but we do not want to be on top of the neighbors.
If anybody knows anything about the private schools what would you say about them, we are looking at in order of preference 1) Woodward Academy 2) Westminster 3) Pace Academy. We love Woodward, but we saw how kids come from all over we were just amazed and we like how there was diversity in the school. One thing about this is though for the children to have a get together with friends they could be very far away. Also how is the traffic getting from Druid Hills or Buckhead down to Woodward? We saw there is bus service and that looks like a good alternative to driving, we also read that many kids use MARTA which is probably good when they are older if they have an after school activity.
Thanks in advance, I cannot wait to be in Atlanta

[TheATLisAMAZING]

We also have looked in Brookhaven which is stunning! We rather Brookhaven over North Buckhead. We also will not go outside of the perimeter!