Transit Oriented Development (TOD) stirs all the right feelings in the breasts of urbnaists. Gentrification seems the name for evil, on par with McMansion. That's another blogger's blog to blog.

The architecture tourist is particularly interested in the contrast of style and form and will enjoy the construction as a spectator sport. I hope I'll like them, hope they'll feel like home.

Right now all the hoopla is about Edgewood/Candler Park Station TOD being built in the MARTA parking lot. It's called "Spoke," 224 units with park, restaurant and performing arts center, 20% of the units allocated as affordable housing.

But there are three more projects under way within a couple of blocks all sharing access to MARTA and everything.



 
Spoke is what 4-story mod apartments look like these days, maybe they'll throw in some natural finishes though the current renderings don't show it.


1463 LaFrance: Modern Dwellings by Cablik looks like 5 townhouse boxes on a shotgun lot. They've got that modern look.



1388 LaFrance Street by Minerva USA is a traditional styled townhouse development on a corner lot. With Spoke it will form a landmark canyon gateway between the Candler Park and Edgewood neighborhoods. A good thing I think I hope.




La France Walk by Eric Kronberg is a Cottage Court on a shotgun lot, standalone houses in vernacular style that echoes the neighboring houses. My pre-race favorite.


Please say hey if you see me out there.

Last September I noticed sample colors on the Gilded Angel.

Candler Park has two little "embedded" business centers, Clifton at McLendon is downtown. Oakdale at MeLendon is uptown and home to the Gilded Angel, now dressed in green.


It's a fine little gas station. Property records say it was built in 1925. Note the single column holding up the roof. Reminds me of the single porch column at Robert A.M. Stern Architects' House at Seaside.

This ain't Seaside but Candler Park is just a picturesque: How about that porch next door?

Here is the before and the sample colors.

 
Hmmm.....


I'm OK with it.


I love these neighborhood centers.


View Larger Map

I don't hate billboards as much as I should. I don't like legal graffiti as much as I should.

All I know for sure is that I like 'em when I like 'em.

The string of neighborhoods along the tracks east of Atlanta are delights for architecture tourists. The MLK Historic District, Old 4th Ward, Inman Park, Little 5 Points, Candler Park, Lake Claire, and Decatur define eclectic. The thoroughfares, Moreland, Dekalb Avenue, and McClenden just tease.

There are a little pockets of hidden streets that seem from another place or another era: The War Streets, The State Streets, The Park Streets, Southerland Hill. Each has it's own personalty enhanced the the proud and hardy folks who live there.

The Lady Streets are Elmira Place and Josephine Street, a couple of blocks east of Moreland Avenue. They are side by side but not exactly a matched pair.




Do you need a reason? How about the Inman Park Festival , Little 5 Points, or the original Flying Biscuit. Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q is between the lady streets and worth driving a few miles.


The Battle of Atlanta was fought here.


Elmira feels broad, flat and shady. Josephine's houses evoke New Orleans. The houses are impossibly close to the narrow street by Atlanta standards, like parts of the Old 4th Ward. My pictures can't show it:


If you are in the neighborhood, have a look.

Thanks,
Terry

These rainbow homes are on Euclid Avenue in the neighborhood most likely to have a rainbow row. It starts on the west site with a pink house.