Ashford Park

Ashford Park, located just northeast of the Atlanta city limits in northwest DeKalb County, has everything a young family could want. The homes, though not large, are sturdy and still affordable, and the location provides excellent access to Buckhead, I-85 and Ga. 400. Most of the houses in the neighborhood were built in the 1950s and are the typical "rambling ranches," perfect for raising children. The ranches are also well suited for home additions/renovations, which many owners have done in recent years.

A native Atlantan, Leann Goins had not given the often overlooked neighborhood much thought before she moved in. "We wanted an affordable place inside 285," she explains. After seven years in the neighborhood and a whole-house renovation, she is hesitant to ever leave. She loves the neighborhood's convenience and the family atmosphere. Plus, she says she has made a number of friends all within walking distance from her home.

Mary and her husband Jeff Smith bought their first house in Ashford Park four years ago. They felt such a strong attachment to the Ashford Park neighborhood that when they needed a bigger house to accommodate their growing family, they didn't think about leaving the neighborhood or even changing streets. They simply bought a larger house about 10 houses down the street from their first home. Such a short move may have been pointless to some but made perfect sense to the Smiths. "We can't think of another neighborhood where we would rather live," explains Mary Smith.

One of the real perks of the neighborhood is the number of young couples and families who have recently relocated to this intown area. Many of them meet at the neighborhood's recently renovated J. Kilpatrick Park. With its brand-new safe equipment, the park "is great for kids" says Smith. Other neighborhood activities keep the social life of both young and old hopping. "We have a neighborhood play group and a dinner club," she says. "We also have a group of mothers that meets on Fridays at 4 p.m. for margaritas." To most living in Ashford Park, the community represents an intown, yet suburban-like paradise with all the amenities of the city.