I live in and own several properties in vine city....Vine City's location is the best in the City. 5 minutes to Midtown and walking distance to everything Atlanta has to offer. Some brand new homes have been ripped apart but now that the price of metal is low again, theives are staying away from the vacant homes. 600 delbridge street is currently for sale and the asking price is 23, 500. there are multiple offers which are above the asking price. Yes for the price of a toyota camry you can buy a 4 bedroom 3 bath newer home that needs minimal work in the center of the city. Get these deals while you can...they will not last long. All different types of people are moving in....and are buying to live there....not to invest there like it was before. Gay people and single women homeowners are the fastest growing demographic in the neighborhood. Crime is a lot lower than you think. Vine City is defined as Northside to the east....lowery to the west....simpson (boone) to the north and MLK to the south.

I have a home under contract in Vine City and I am very excited about it. My street runs perpendicular to Northside Drive. When I look down my street towards Northside, I see the skyline and the new renovation for the Dome, which I'm assuming is additional parking. Even with the economy like it is, there are at least 3 construction projects going on on the streets across Northside Drive from the Dome, i.e. Magnolia, Thurmond, Rhodes, Jones, etc. Granted, the neighborhood is not very attractive looking but I don't believe it is very dangerous anymore. Personally, I think Vine City has seen its worst days already. I'm getting a beautiful new house for $65,000 (includes purchase price and renovations - yes, it had been vandalized). For all the people who are afraid of Vine City: Don't worry about it; that's just more houses for me to buy. ;)

I went and looked at a lot of homes for sale in the vine city area. They are just shell of houses with all the plumbing, wiring, airconditioners removed. In the process of removing all this stuff they tear up the sheet rock. They also take out the carpeting. There is also the old herdon homes in the area. I saw a couple of prostitutes also. Talking about ugly. I did read the 20 year vine city revitalization plan. How much do you think the city of Atlanta can give to this area when the city is broke. The plan was started in 2004. If you drive around the area there hasn't been much improvements. Herdon homes got a new face lift. There is several fairly new homes that have been foreclosed on and gutted.

i lived on vine street for 3 years, and it only got worse from beginning to end. we put the house up for sale in march of this year and moved out of the area. the day we moved the house got hit by the tornado, doing a small amout of damage. in the weeks to follow, the house was ravaged by the thieves and junkies in the "neighborhood". they ripped the gutters off the house, tore apart our caged air conditioners, broke into the boarded-up house and then put gigantic holes in the walls to pull out all of the copper wire and pipes. they even stole the porcelain sinks out of all 3 bathrooms. our beautiful house now has to be rewired, replummed, the walls must be redone, etc. the house basically is a shell, and even still they will not leave it alone. the drug dealer that sells in front of the house is violent and bold. the junkie squatting in the property next door is even bolder. i know that in the near future this entire area is going to turn around and probably be the next cool neighborhood, but as for us, that dream is over. the houses are cheap for a reason. believe me, i know.

Richard: I was just on the Atlanta Development Authority's web-site and there is information there discussing several intown development plans. Once the TAD is finally approved (hopefully) later this year, funding (tax breaks) for developers should move forward with the bigger projects.

Ramiro Garcia
http://dwellintown.com

Richard,

I read through all 3 of your questions and the subsequent answers. You are wise to seek a good buy in Vine City - on a tree lined street, maybe on a bluff or ridge overlooking the downtown skyline with a remarkable view - properties that fit this description are in Vine City!

Nevertheless, Vine City is a house by house, street by street neighborhood. I have been concerned for my safety more than once on some of the streets of Vine City. You need to be duly diligent, secure and smart.

At the same time, you seem to have a grasp of the obvious - the issue about powerlines is a compromise that will surely leave you powerless when you decide to resell.

Why don't you buy the old English Avenue school and renovate it into some cool contemporary lofts?

Get your real estate on.

Richard,
There are several homes in the Vine City area for sale ranging from $29,900 - $219,900. Some of these streets have been rehabbed, some yet to come. Sales are down as a whole but have now stablized and hopefully will begin to increase. As sales increase so will the marketability in the Vice City neighborhoods.

Now would be a great time to grab a good deal. Any home close to the city in my opinion is a good buy. I personally own a home in Vine City that is a rental property. I have no fear in entering that area day or evening to show it. I've always been of the opinion, you find what you go looking for. Want to find a "hood" as the other person called it, you can find "hood" in almost any neighborhood. Want to find some really nice folks who care about their surroundings and care about their homes, you can find that as well.

Vine City is the perfect location if you work or go to school in the city. Does it have some problems? Sure does, but show me an area that doesn't!

I would be happy to assist you in locating a great deal!
Call anytime

Donna Smith, Broker
Donna Smith Properties, Inc
678-925-2210

I haven't lived there but have driven around the area several times. It's near the Dome and the MARTA station and would right now be considered "the 'hood." Those who live in the area will have a better bead on upcoming development. I work not far away and, while it's been a slow process, revitalization has taken place in many little pockets...it could eventually happen to Vine City.