Early Atlanta Suburb Brookwood Hills Keeps a Community Focus
Having the hindsight to set aside land for future generations, the lively neighborhood boasts architectural diversity and a hefty social calendar
Generations of Atlantans have wholesome stories from the Brookwood Hills neighborhood, the famously family-friendly community located off Peachtree just south of Buckhead (near the I-75 and I-85 split) and just north of Ansley Park and Midtown. Founded in 1922, it’s one of Atlanta’s earliest suburban developments and had the incredible foresight to set aside land for recreation. Today, the reasons to move to Brookwood Hills are the same as they were 100 years ago: the community amenities, including pool and swim teams, tennis courts and ALTA teams, the park, and storied woods where kids still have good old-fashioned exploratory fun. Any family living within the resident boundaries can join the club and attend social events. Because it was developed in phases, Brookwood Hills has rich architectural diversity, ranging from 1920s Tudors, Georgians, and Colonials, to smaller houses built following World War II, traditional two-story homes built in the 1960s, and a peppering of modern homes built within the last decade. The neighborhood is tucked away but surrounded by urban life, including a myriad of restaurants, shops, and conveniences around Piedmont Hospital, and the cultural attractions of Midtown and Buckhead.
HISTORY
Brookwood Hills was developed in 1922 by Benjamin “Mr. B.F.” Burdett and his son, Arthur. To help design the new development, the Burdetts hired engineer O.F. Kauffman, who had Druid Hills’ design on his resume, working alongside famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (where he evidently was influenced by his preference of winding streets and abundant greenspace). Oak trees planted by the original development team now create a beautiful, shady canopy. The community pool in the center of the neighborhood was originally a spring-fed lake. In the early 1930s, the Burdetts fenced in the area, hired lifeguards, and charged admission to take a swim. Residents worked together to build future projects including the pool, bathhouse, tennis courts, and playing fields—defining characteristics of the community.
$549
Highest price per square foot (sales last 12 months, single-family homes)
2,272
Average square footage (sales last 12 months, single-family homes)
3.4 Million
Highest sale (sales last 12 months, single-family homes)
FUTURE
Brookwood Hills has a robust social scene, and will kick off this spring with a touch of vintage glam as the Brookwood Hills Garden Club presents its biennial fundraiser, Palm Royale: A 1960s Palm Beach-inspired poolside soirée on April 5. The ticketed event may be attended by nonresidents (as long as they stick to the dress code: 1960s Palm Beach club chic). High-level sponsors will be invited to a pre-party at a Garden Club member’s home just across the street from the pool (and, yes, grasshoppers will be flowing at both events). The club’s goal for the event is to raise funds to restore one of the entrances to the Alex Summers Clear Creek Preserve, enhancing the space with new swings, benches, and beautiful landscaping.
“Brookwood Hills’ ability to maintain its 1920s charm while being surrounded by Atlanta’s urban development is really unique. But, what is not always expected, is the sense of community that really is the heart of the neighborhood.”—Lee Kleinhelter,
Designer and Neighborhood Resident
IYKYK
It might surprise you that Brookwood Hills, with its unassuming nature, has been home to some major wattage stars, including Ed Helms (The Office), Kathryn Stockett (author of The Help), Vern Yip (designer), and Robert Shaw (ASO conductor).
BIG BRAG
The Brookwood Hills Centennial Celebration in 2022 was a massive undertaking with formal and informal events, production of a “Dancing through the Decades” 30-minute video with historical images and news clips showing the evolution of the community over the last 100 years, and a video toast from celebrity former resident Ed Helms. Rightly so, Brookwood Hills is exceptionally proud of its history and the continued passion for the community by its residents.
WITHIN WALKING
Depending on where you are in the neighborhood, a 5- to 10-minute stroll will take you to a plethora of restaurants including El Azteca and the iconic R. Thomas and its parrots. The area’s largest employer, Piedmont Hospital, is just a quick trip down Brighton. And though it’s separated by a large wooded area with no access, parts of Brookwood Hills can detect notes of hoppy IPA in the air some days when SweetWater Brewing Company’s tanks are fired up and the wind is just right.
MASCOT
Bullfrog, in honor of the highly decorated Brookwood Hills swim team.