Poncey-Highland (30306): If you have a strong desire to live in a walkable neighborhood, you should search in this location for your next home purchase

An Atlanta Landmark: The Majestic Diner on Ponce de Leon, right at Highland Avenue

Many home buyers have a strong appreciation for being able to walk to the park, a cup of coffee, a quick bite to eat, or night on the town within short distance from their front door.  Those currently in or relocating to Atlanta are no different.  According to rankings by Walk Score, Poncey-Highlands happens to be one of the most walkable Atlanta intown neighborhoods and is designated a "Walker's Paradise" with a score of 93 points out of a possible 100. 

The Walk Score is a web based interface (www.walkscore.com) that allows you to plug in an address and receive an instant evaluation of how “walkable” the neighborhood is, or how easy it is for residents and visitors to conduct their daily business without cranking up a car (high score = very walkable). 

The Walk Score judges walkability by assessing whether (a) the neighborhood has workplaces, restaurants, shopping, civic and public spaces, parks, and public transit stations within walking distance as well as (b) a variety of characteristics that make the walk safe and easy.  For more detail on Walk Score criteria, see http://atlanta.homespace.com/2010/01/18/WalkScore.

Although Atlanta does not rank that high relative to many of the largest cities in the US (#22 of the 40 largest cities), there are still some very walkable neighborhoods in Atlanta.  And, if you agree with Walk Score's assessment, Poncey-Highland ranks among the top ten percentile in terms of walkability.

Where exactly is Poncey-Highland?  It is a neighborhood slightly northeast of Downtown Atlanta and just south of popular Virginia-Highlands.  Poncey-Highland is bound on the north by Ponce de Leon Avenue, south by Ralph McGill Avenue,  east by Moreland Avenue, and extends just west of Freedom Parkway.

Why does Poncey-Highland rate so high with Walk Score?

• Regular and frequent public transportation available via MARTA bus;


• Five different grocery stores within a one-mile walk of most residences in the neighborhood:  Trader Joe's Midtown, Whole Foods Midtown, Kroger on Ponce, Publix on Ponce, and Sevenanda, a co-op farmer's market in Little Five Points;


• A bevy of restaurants and bars, coffee shops, bookstores, retail boutiques, and services located well within 0.5 miles walking distance - either within the neighborhood boundaries or located in the adjacent Little Five Points neighborhood;


• Cultural and civic assets abound with an Atlanta Public Library branch, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Plaza Theater (an independent theater), Freedom Park and other smaller parks located within the neighborhood and and many small music and performance venues in adjacent Little Five Points;


• Four Atlanta City Public schools within one-mile walking distance of the neighborhood, as is the well-known private school Paideia;


• Sidewalks and pedestrian walk signs at traffic signals throughout the neighborhood.