Edgewood Avenue

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Location of western and eastern ends of Edgewood Ave. in Intown Atlanta
Edgewood Avenue near Boulevard and "Church" bar
Edgewood Avenue near Boulevard at night
File:1883 Atlanta map showing Foster Street.JPG
1883 map showing Foster Street, before Edgewood Avenue existed

Edgewood Avenue is a street in Atlanta running from Five Points in Downtown Atlanta, eastward through the Old Fourth Ward. The avenue runs in the direction of the Edgewood neighborhood, and stops just short of it in Inman Park.[1] Edgewood Avenue was first important as the route of a streetcar line to Inman Park, Atlanta's first garden suburb and home to many of its most prominent citizens.[2] Today, the avenue is known for its restaurants and nightlife around its intersection with Boulevard.[3]

History

Old Trolley Barn of the Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railroad at Edgewood Avenue in Inman Park

Edgewood Avenue has its origins with the Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railroad Company, originally authorized to run horsecars along Foster Street to what was then the separate village of Edgewood. The company, owned by Joel Hurt, introduced Atlanta's first electric streetcar service in 1889. The streetcar was designed to make Hurt's garden suburb, Inman Park, easily and comfortably accessible.[2][4][5]

At the time, on the present route of Edgewood Avenue, there existed two streets: Line Street, which ran from Peachtree Street east to Pryor Street, and Foster Street, which ran east from Calhoun (now Piedmont Avenue) due east towards the town of Edgewood. In between were 94 houses and lots. In order to provide a direct rout for the railway, Hurt's East Atlanta Land Company demolished the dwellings, built the missing road, and improved the entire avenue, rechristening it with its present name.[2]

Restaurant and bar district

Edgewood Avenue around Boulevard had become a site of "drug traffic, petty crime, and homeless hideaways".[3] After decades of neglect, the part of the avenue located in the Old Fourth Ward has become a bar and restaurant district, home to a number of Atlanta's most eclectic nightspots. These include Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium a.k.a. simply Church, Corner Tavern, Noni's, Circa and the Sound Table,[6] which was recognized as one of the 50 Best Bars in America by Food & Wine magazine.[7] 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.[8] E-commerce site EdgewoodAve.com was founded based on, and inspired by the resurgence of Edgewood Avenue.[9]

As of 2014, more eating and drinking establishments are opening, such as Bad Dog Taqueria, the Music Room, and Panbury’s Double Crust Pies,[10] as owners seek to capitalize on improved access to the area, particularly to tourists from downtown, via the Atlanta Streetcar, which will start service in late 2014.[11]

In 2013, Creative Loafing editor Cliff Bostock called Edgewood Avenue "the most 'diverse' party and dining area in the city ... I'm talking age, sexual orientation, and lifestyle, as much as race."[3] In April 2014, Atlanta magazine noted that the avenue had become "a foodie hangout", and only "recently". The article quoted Keiran Neely, co-owner of Pizzeria Vesuvius and the Music Room, as saying: "Edgewood Avenue has begun to explode based on the streetcar ... It seems like every week there’s a new restaurant or bar."[10]

Transportation

Since late 2014 the Atlanta Streetcar has operated service along Edgewood Avenue eastbound from Park Place NE to Jackson St. NE, connecting the Centennial Olympic Park area in Downtown Atlanta to Sweet Auburn and the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.[10]

At each end, Edgewood Avenue is served by MARTA trains, at Five Points and Inman Park/Reynoldstown stations.[12]

From 2013 to 2014, the Edgewood Avenue Bridge over the BeltLine trail was demolished and replaced, costing US$4.5 million.[13][14]

Route and Points of Interest

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Neighborhood Intersection Points of Interest
Downtown Atlanta Peachtree St., Marietta St., Decatur St. Five Points. Woodruff Park. 25 Park Place.
Park Place Atlanta Streetcar eastbound enters Edgewood Ave. Hurt Building.
Peachtree Center Ave. Hurt Park. Hurt Park streetcar stop.
Courtland St. Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant at #125. Georgia State University buildings. MLK Preservation District begins, ends at Downtown Connector.[15]
Piedmont Avenue
Jesse Hill Dr. Sweet Auburn Curb Market and streetcar stop.
Sweet Auburn bridge under Downtown Connector John Wesley Dobbs Plaza
Hilliard St. MLK Preservation District begins again, ends at Jackson.[15] Hilliard streetcar stop.
Jackson St. Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Atlanta Streetcar turns north
Old Fourth Ward Boulevard Sister Louisa's Church
Randolph St.
Inman Park BeltLine trail (bridge)
Krog St. Krog Street Market
Euclid Ave. Inman Park, Delta Park, Victorian mansions
Waverly Way Springvale Park, Trolley Barn
Hurt St. Street ends at Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/theSoundTable?pnref=lhc
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Official National Park Service Map of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site & Preservation District

Template:Old Fourth Ward

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