The Legacy of Tuxedo Park’s Beauty and Sustainability Lives On

Perhaps Atlanta’s most elegant neighborhood, Tuxedo Park’s visibility is highest on the iconic drive down West Paces Ferry. The road is lined by the Governor’s Mansion and the Neel Reid Colonial Revival known as Arden—famously inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate—plus a collection of architecturally significant homes, from Georgian and Greek Revival to Tudor and Italian. Generally bounded by West Paces Ferry on the south; Roswell Road on the east; Putnam, King, Tuxedo, and Blackland on the north; and Northside Drive on the west, every street is worthy of a gawk, defined by sprawling estates on large, tree-filled lots.

HISTORY

In the 1800s, the land was owned by James H. Smith and was the main thoroughfare to the Chattahoochee River. It was mostly rural until land started changing hands, notably to James L. Dickey Sr. in 1903, to-be-mayor Robert Maddox in 1904, then to Charles Black, who is credited for much of the development. These and other prominent Atlantans began building summer homes along Paces Ferry (their primary residences were in the busy city center, just 6 miles south). While most homes transitioned to full-time as Buckhead transformed, the tradition of well-heeled owners and the most revered architects remained.

$17M

Highest sale (in last 12 months), of a 50,000-square-foot estate on nearly 4 acres

7,100

Average home square footage (for sales in last 12 months)

$486

Average price per square foot (for sales in last 12 months)

$4M

Average sale price (for sales in last 12 months)

FUTURE

The future of Tuxedo Park is all about preserving its historic nature—“the charm and allure of the rolling hills, the original land plan with large lots, and protecting the tree canopy,” says Gigi Rouland, resident and former Tuxedo Park Civic Association (TPCA) president. “We’re advocates for Tuxedo Park’s integrity, beauty, and sustainability.” According to resident and TPCA advocate Gloria Cheatham, who had a critical hand in the process, an application for a proposed Tuxedo Park Historic District has been approved by the Georgia State Preservation Division and will be presented to the Georgia National Register Review Board at its November 1 meeting. One change Tuxedo Park embraces? New neighbors—TPCA has its highest membership on record, with more social events being planned, according to Rouland. Along with the historic district, Tuxedo Park also welcomed parts of Chastain Park, including King, Pineland, and a sliver of Powers Ferry.

“Tuxedo Park’s greatest asset is the natural beauty of the perfectly rolling landscape, complemented by some of the finest homes and architecture found anywhere. The neighborhood is home to a fascinating mix of residents, each with their own unique story.” —Ben Hirsch, Tuxedo Park Resident and Realtor at Hirsch Real Estate

If You Know, You Know

The City of Atlanta gifted 3488 Tuxedo Road to beloved golfer Bobby Jones after his famous Grand Slam in 1930. The home (which will be listed by Ansley Real Estate Christie’s International this winter following its run as the 2024 Home for the Holidays Showhouse) has been renovated, but the wood-paneled walls in the study remain intact. Legend says that Bobby Jones and Cliff Roberts developed the concept of the Masters Tournament in this
very room.

Big Brag

One of Charles Black’s early Tuxedo Park advertisements read, “the preservation of the beauty and the architecture of the section will be rigidly observed.” In 2023, the Atlanta City Council unanimously approved the Special Public Interest District 25 (SPI 25), which gives important protection to the Tuxedo Park neighborhood’s most important characteristic: the deep lots and thoughtful placement of residences that have, since the inception of Tuxedo Park in the early 1900s, made the neighborhood a true park-like community.

Next Chapter

Tuxedo Park founder Charles Black’s home is for sale for just shy of $10 million by Ansley Real Estate Christie’s International. The English Manor has been renovated and modernized by Ladisic Fine Homes and Wolf Design Group, and includes a very of-the-moment amenity: a pickleball court.

If there were a Mascot

It has to be a penguin because of the outfit, right?