Atlanta: Glenwood Park Neighborhood Guide | Beltline & History

Located along the Atlanta Beltline in southeast Atlanta, Glenwood Park is one of the city’s most unique walkable neighborhoods. Designed according to the principles of New Urbanism, Atlanta’s Glenwood Park blends charming residential streets with restaurants, shops, offices, parks, and public gathering spaces to create a true live-work-play community. Tucked between Grant Park and Ormewood Park just south of I-20, this thoughtfully planned neighborhood feels like a small town in the heart of the city.

What is New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Development?

Before we get started, I want to explain why Glenwood Park is so unique to intown Atlanta.  The Glenwood Park neighborhood was intentionally designed according to the town planning principles of New Urbanism.  It was specifically planned as a Traditional Neighborhood Development or TND.  The goal of this design philosophy is to bring back the design principles of historic neighborhoods that are walkable with a mix of homes, retail, and businesses.  Think about all the things that you love when you visit a quaint European town.  Now boil them down to urban planning design principles.

New Urbanism Principles:

• Walkable streetscapes
• A mix of uses including housing, businesses, shops, and restaurants
• Inviting public spaces where people can gather
• Narrower streets – designed at a human scale, not for automobiles
• Building massing that creates outdoor rooms
• Housing (condos) located over businesses and retail – lights on a night – eyes on the street

History of Atlanta’s Glenwood Park

From Industrial Property to Brownfield Site

Glenwood Park and the areas surrounding it were previously zoned industrial.  This property was once a concrete recycling facility.  By the turn of the 21st century, this industry was gone – leaving an empty brownfield site behind. 

Vision for a Walkable Neighborhood

In the early 2000s, Charles Brewer of Mindspring.com, turned his attention to real estate.  His company Green Street Properties purchased the 28-acre brownfield site just south of I-20.  He envisioned remaking this fallow land into a connective neo-traditional neighborhood following the principles of New Urbanism.  In addition, he envisioned an environmentally friendly neighborhood with all construction certified by Earth Craft.  The first step was responsibly mitigating the brownfield site. 

Planning & Design Principles

Green Street Properties hired Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning to create a vision and site plan for its new neighborhood.  The firm created the master plan and architectural design guidelines following an initial on-site charrette.  TSW operated as the local Atlanta architecture and planning firm.  At least 8 architecture firms participated in the neighborhood design.  Hedgwood Homes and Whitehall Homes were a couple of the major single-family builders in the neighborhood.

Shaping Glenwood Park

I live nearby and I have been fortunate to watch Glenwood Park evolve from a brownfield site into the mature TND neighborhood that it is today.  While working for an architecture firm, I contributed to this neighborhood through the design of the Southern Living Idea House and the brick townhouses on Bill Kennedy Way.  At the time of design, we affectionately called these live-work units “Savannah-style townhouses” due to the sweeping curved stairs inspired directly by historic Savannah homes.

I had the opportunity to see Andres Duany speak at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.  He spoke about his pioneering TND town of Seaside, Florida.  He told the crowd that unfortunately Seaside has grown up to be an unhappy adult.  I do not think that this is the case for Glenwood Park.  The neighborhood blends directly into its surroundings and serves as a walkable community hub for its residents and nearby neighbors – which was the original vision.

Glenwood Park Today

The urban brownfield site is a distant memory.  Glenwood Park feels like a mature neighborhood today.  One of the reasons is because extra-large street trees were planted in 6ft wide planning strips during development AND they were planted closer together than typical.  Green Street Properties used soil cells to provide tree roots with a place to grow without impacting adjacent sidewalks and streets. 

In the dense retail section of the neighborhood, housing above retail shops and offices makes the streetscape feel cozy at all times of day.  The neighborhood is never deserted because there are people who live and work here. 

Atlanta’s Glenwood Park Restaurants & Retail

The neighborhood restaurant and retail area is centered in the corner of the neighborhood near Bill Kennedy Way, Glenwood Avenue and Brasfield Square.  This area includes retail services such as hair salons, gyms, a pediatrician, a dentist office, and even a Montessori preschool.  I highlighted a few restaurants and shops below.

Glenwood Park Restaurants

• Vickery’s Bar & Grill – this has been my family’s go-to restaurant for many years.  We have a family member with food allergies, and they always take her order seriously.  Everything is good.  We love brunch, lunch & dinner.  You can’t go wrong here for a casual meal with friends or family!
• Drip – this coffee shop is the perfect place meet a friend or to simply grab breakfast or something quick for lunch in addition to a coffee, tea, or smoothie
• Emmy Squared – this pizzeria features Detroit-style pizzas and classic cocktails.  We’ve tried the Classic, the Big Dawg and seasonal pizzas and enjoyed them all
• Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – everything here is yummy.  My kids love to come here for a scoop
• Gunshow – this is a date night or special occasion restaurant that you need to make a reservation for in advance.  A bevy of chefs bring out a series of unique dishes for you to try.  Seating is at communal tables.  This is a fun and unique chef-driven experience! 
• Vesper Atlanta – a tapas bar with an excellent beverage selection
• Trattoria Lucia – an upscale Italian restaurant perfect for a date night
• Westside Creamery – a place to grab a sweet treat including ice cream, cookies, cakes, and floats
• TENSAN Ramen – an Asian fusion restaurant
• Chick-fil-A at Glenwood Place – this restaurant is across the street from the Atlanta Beltline on Bill Kennedy Way

Glenwood Park Retail

• 3 Parks Wine Shop – a popular place to find a new wine.  The friendly staff is happy to help you make a selection and they are especially helpful when you are looking for a gift
• In the Meadow – this florist has a gorgeous signature style.  Pop in to check out their delightful shop or contact them for a special delivery that will brighten anyone’s day
• Pink Sky Boutique – women’s clothing store
• Glenwood Place – this shopping center includes Glenwood Place Kroger featuring the Kro-BAR (as we locals like to call it) plus a gas station, Waffle House, Marco’s Pizza, Great Clips, UPS Store and more

Greenspaces in Atlanta’s Glenwood Park

The neighborhood features both public and semi-public spaces.  There is a “secret” path that leads from the mailboxes to Brewer Park – along the side of the Southern Living Idea House’s wrap around porch – that only neighbors know about.  There are additional paths that provide neighbors with direct access to Brewer Park.

Brewer Park

The signature oval park was designed as the recreation center piece of the neighborhood.  In addition to the playground and greenspace, the park also functions as the neighborhood’s stormwater retention pond.  This park handles all the water runoff from the neighborhood in a visually appealing way.  The entire field area is designed to get wet at the 100-year flood water mark. 

Brasfield Square

Hang out and play bocce ball at this picturesque square near Glenwood Park’s retail center.  This outdoor room is the heart of the neighborhood where people gather.  During the holiday season, you will find the Glenwood Park Christmas tree on display here.  I’ve seen this space tented for gatherings and parties before.

The Atlanta Beltline

The Atlanta Beltline is a rails-to-trails initiative. The project reclaimed the former railroad right of way looping around the center of Atlanta. It currently features a pedestrian and bicycle path that rings the city. Fun retail and restaurant destinations along with public art installations line the trail. This is an excellent place for people watching. I think of it as a people superhighway.

The Beltline runs along the edge of Glenwood Park adjacent to Bill Kennedy Way.  It connects the neighborhood to the Reynoldstown neighborhood to the north of I-20 and to the Ormewood Park and Grant Park neighborhoods to the south. 

Signature Events in Atlanta’s Glenwood Park

Glenwood Park Community Yard Sale

Look for the annual community wide yard sale to take place in the spring.  Multiple households participate.  You can find books, furniture, baby gear, home décor, and more.  Plus, you can check out Glenwood Park’s formal retail shops and grab a bite to eat or a sweet treat at one of the neighborhood establishments. 

Halloween in Glenwood Park

Ok – this is not an official neighborhood event, but Glenwood Park does Halloween very well.  The neighbors go all out decorating their houses.  The TND style neighborhood is the perfect place to trick-or-treat because the houses are close together and the neighborhood is so walkable.  Look for additional activities that may happen in Brasfield Square.  If you are looking for trick-or-treating experience that you’ve seen in the movies – this is it!

How to get to Atlanta’s Glenwood Park

Driving

This neighborhood is easily accessible from the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) and I-20.  Free street parking is available.  A parking lot for retail stores is available behind the townhouses on Bill Kennedy Way.  This is a paid parking lot; however, Glenwood Park’s restaurants and retail stores validate parking.  Businesses have struggled with people parking here to access the Atlanta Beltline, so the neighborhood made this a paid lot to support their businesses. 

Ride Share: Uber or Lyft

Give your driver a specific address in Glenwood Park or simply have them take you to Brasfield Square SE.  Taking a ride share means that you don’t have to worry about parking!

Public Transportation: MARTA

• MARTA Bus Route 21 – Memorial Drive
• MARTA Bus Route 22 – Glenwood (travels along Memorial Drive between Grant Park/Cabbagetown, down Bill Kennedy Way, and then across Glenwood Ave)

The Atlanta Beltline

Walk, jog or bike on the Atlanta Beltline to or through Glenwood Park!

Hanging out in Atlanta’s Glenwood Park

Whether you are exploring the Atlanta Beltline, searching for walkable neighborhoods in Atlanta, or simply looking for a great place to grab dinner or coffee, Atlanta’s Glenwood Park offers a unique blend of thoughtful urban design, local restaurants, greenspaces, and community charm.

From its New Urbanism roots to its vibrant neighborhood center, Glenwood Park continues to stand out as one of southeast Atlanta’s most inviting places to live, visit, and explore. Have a favorite Glenwood Park restaurant, shop, or hidden gem? Share it in the comments below!