Castleberry Hill has an outstandingly good story to share - in a city full of neighborhoods with really good stories. Arguably Atlanta's hippest neighborhood, Castleberry Hill is located just southwest, and still within walking distance, to Downtown Atlanta. It's an old industrial area that's been mostly converted to a walkable neighborhood of cutting edge style lofts, art galleries, and some new restaurants - but it still has an "up and coming" vibe.
Like the whole area now known as Atlanta, the area of Castleberry Hill was originally inhabited by the Cherokees and the Creeks. By the 1830s, the American settlers had killed, robbed and forced out the last of the Native Americans, and a man by the name of Daniel Castleberry came to aquire the land. By 1836 a small settlement just north of this area, called Thrasherville, came to be at the end of the railroad line. Thrasherville was renamed Terminus in 1837. In 1843 it was renamed Marthasville, and in 1845, it became known as Atlanta.
During this time, in the 1840s, a thriving "red light district" was established just outside town, to the southwest. The area became known as "Snake Nation," due to the number of snake oil salesman that could be seen selling their wares and frequenting the local drinking establishments. The Snake Nation locals became known by more conservative Atlantans as "the rowdies," and they were even represented politically by the Free and Rowdy Party. In 1850, Leonard C. Simpson, of the Free and Rowdy Party, ran against Jonathan Norcross of the Moral Party, for the seat of mayor. Norcross won the election, and as promised, he implemented a campaign of enforcing public morality, and making sure that the rowdies were relegated to Snake Nation.
After the Civil War, the red light economy was replaced by railroad related businesses and Atlanta's first horse-drawn trolley, and Snake Nation became Castleberry Hill, named after its first American land owner, Daniel Castleberry. By the early 1900s, huge meat-packing facilities and manufacturing companies set up shop in the area, and Castleberry Hill became a predominantly industrial warehouse and manufacturing center.
By the 1950s, Castleberry Hill industries had started to move out to the suburbs, and as warehouses were abandoned the neighborhood fell into steep decline. In the late 1980s, and early 1990s, artists started to move in, drawn by the vast amounts of cheap warehouse space, and many of the buildings were converted to SoHo style lofts.
Today, Castleberry Hill is definitely one of the most cutting edge neighborhoods in Atlanta. It's a neighborhood of unbelievably cool residential loft spaces, and warehouse art galleries. And, a few hip restaurants, cafes and lounges have very recently opened. There's a strong upwardly mobile ,African-American, creative class vibe, but Castleberry Hill is still one of Atlanta's more diverse neighborhoods. You won't find a lot of old folks here, and with loft prices in the $200K to $500K and up range, you won't find a lot of poor people either. But the streets still feel a little sketchy, and the broken glass all over the sidewalks is a reminder not to leave anything of value in the car.
Tony and I took advantage of the "Castleberry Hill Loft Tour," which happened this past weekend. During the tour, loft owners, listing realtors, and art galleries open their warehouse doors to the curious and the nosy - of which we are both. I've included a couple of shots of loft interiors here. I've also continued looking at Atlanta in terms of texture, reflection and the process of decay, reuse and renewal.
Like the whole area now known as Atlanta, the area of Castleberry Hill was originally inhabited by the Cherokees and the Creeks. By the 1830s, the American settlers had killed, robbed and forced out the last of the Native Americans, and a man by the name of Daniel Castleberry came to aquire the land. By 1836 a small settlement just north of this area, called Thrasherville, came to be at the end of the railroad line. Thrasherville was renamed Terminus in 1837. In 1843 it was renamed Marthasville, and in 1845, it became known as Atlanta.
During this time, in the 1840s, a thriving "red light district" was established just outside town, to the southwest. The area became known as "Snake Nation," due to the number of snake oil salesman that could be seen selling their wares and frequenting the local drinking establishments. The Snake Nation locals became known by more conservative Atlantans as "the rowdies," and they were even represented politically by the Free and Rowdy Party. In 1850, Leonard C. Simpson, of the Free and Rowdy Party, ran against Jonathan Norcross of the Moral Party, for the seat of mayor. Norcross won the election, and as promised, he implemented a campaign of enforcing public morality, and making sure that the rowdies were relegated to Snake Nation.
After the Civil War, the red light economy was replaced by railroad related businesses and Atlanta's first horse-drawn trolley, and Snake Nation became Castleberry Hill, named after its first American land owner, Daniel Castleberry. By the early 1900s, huge meat-packing facilities and manufacturing companies set up shop in the area, and Castleberry Hill became a predominantly industrial warehouse and manufacturing center.
By the 1950s, Castleberry Hill industries had started to move out to the suburbs, and as warehouses were abandoned the neighborhood fell into steep decline. In the late 1980s, and early 1990s, artists started to move in, drawn by the vast amounts of cheap warehouse space, and many of the buildings were converted to SoHo style lofts.
Today, Castleberry Hill is definitely one of the most cutting edge neighborhoods in Atlanta. It's a neighborhood of unbelievably cool residential loft spaces, and warehouse art galleries. And, a few hip restaurants, cafes and lounges have very recently opened. There's a strong upwardly mobile ,African-American, creative class vibe, but Castleberry Hill is still one of Atlanta's more diverse neighborhoods. You won't find a lot of old folks here, and with loft prices in the $200K to $500K and up range, you won't find a lot of poor people either. But the streets still feel a little sketchy, and the broken glass all over the sidewalks is a reminder not to leave anything of value in the car.
Tony and I took advantage of the "Castleberry Hill Loft Tour," which happened this past weekend. During the tour, loft owners, listing realtors, and art galleries open their warehouse doors to the curious and the nosy - of which we are both. I've included a couple of shots of loft interiors here. I've also continued looking at Atlanta in terms of texture, reflection and the process of decay, reuse and renewal.
Very nice. Didn't know the history. And a big shout out to Katie - Realtor-extrodinaire for scoring us the tickets to the tour. Katie is the best and if anyone needs an agent, she is highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteHey Joe, what photo editing software are you using? Your pictures recently have some polish.
ReplyDeleteI like the one with the arrows.
ReplyDelete