Reynoldstown, Atlanta

Reynoldstown is a historic district and intown neighborhood on the near east side of Atlanta, Georgia located only 2 miles from downtown. The neighborhood is gentrifying and attracting new families, empty-nesters, Atlantans opposed to long commutes; as well as diverse culture of first-time homebuyers, single professionals, artist and students due to its close proximity to other nearby intown neighborhoods, high walkability index, urban amenities and nearby bohemian hotspots on Carroll Street in the adjoined-at-the-hip also historic Cabbagetown neighborhood [1] and in other surrounding communities.

Reynoldstown logo on rail yard wall
Gateway Park - sign and sculpture (design Brett J Harris)
Gateway Park - sculpture (design Brett J Harris)
Street art on Moreland Ave. at Seaboard Ave. in Reynoldstown, June 2012

Crime

The CRiSP - Cabbagetown/Reynoldstown Security Patrol was founded by a small group of concerned Cabbagetown residents who wanted to be proactive about fighting crime in their community and was later joined by residents of Reynoldstown. CRiSP provides additional police and private security presence in Reynoldstown and Cabbagetown, helping to make the communities safer and to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Geography

Reynoldstown is bordered on the west by Pearl Street, across which is Cabbagetown and, south of Memorial Drive, Grant Park; on the east by Moreland Avenue and Edgewood; on the south by I-20, across which is the Ormewood Park neighborhood and an industrial area which is officially part of Grant Park; and on the north by the railroad line and Inman Park.

Reynoldstown lies in NPU N. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. Local landmarks include the Colgate Mattress Factory, Trees Atlanta headquarters and nursery, and the former Atlanta & West Point Railroad depot, which now houses a restaurant.

History and demographics
Reynoldstown Historic District
LocationRoughly bounded by the CSX rail line, Memorial Dr., Pearl St., and Moreland, Atlanta, Georgia
Coordinates33°45′7″N 84°21′16″W
Built1865
ArchitectChase, William J.J.
Architectural styleRomanesque, Colonial Revival, et al.
NRHP reference No.02001405[2]
Added to NRHPApril 03, 2003

Reynoldstown is a community that was originally settled after the American Civil War by freed slaves who were employed by the railroad. Madison and Sarah Reynolds were among the first ex-slaves to move into the area, and it is believed that the neighborhood was named after them. Reynoldstown was annexed by the city of Atlanta in 1909 and celebrates its historic tie to freed slave roots and artistic expressions to empower residents with its annual Wheelbarrow Festival. The neighborhood continued to thrive and prosper until the 1950s when it was nearly 100% African-American populated, when the railroad industry began to decline. Reynoldstown began gentrifying in the 1990s, altering the demographic makeup of the neighborhood where today it is closer to a mix of 65% white and 35% African-American population composition. The neighborhood was listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.[2]

Parks and trails

The BeltLine bisects Reynoldstown north-south. It functions as a paved walking and biking trail, and possibly for transit use (either light rail or streetcar). Just north of Reynoldstown in Inman Park adjacent the intersection of Krog St and Irwin St, The East Side Trail, part of The Beltline, is paved from here to Piedmont Park through Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Poncey-Highland and Virginia-Highland. The CSX railroad Hulsey Yard forms the northern border of the neighborhood, a current issue is how to connect the southeast BeltLine to the Eastside Trail portion of the BeltLine across the yard. The southern wall of the yard on Wylie Street in Reynoldstown and Cabbagetown is a prominent location for street art in Atlanta. Lang-Carson Park (3.24 acres (1.31 ha))[3] also lies within Reynoldstown.

Transportation

Memorial Drive is the major thoroughfare passing through the south end of Reynoldstown, with mostly light industrial properties, many of which are now repurposed for residential, retail and entertainment use. Reynoldstown contains rail right-of-way that is planned for the Beltline. Reynoldstown is served by the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station.

References
  1. "Creative Loafing" Neighborhood Guide
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. City of Atlanta, Parks list

Official Reyoldstown website: http://reynoldstown.net

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