West Paces Atlanta, GA

Near the early 20th century, West Paces Ferry was divided into large parcels of land, which wealthy owners used to build large, stately homes. Starting in the 1950s, these parcels of land were divided into smaller portions that property developers used to construct smaller ranch homes during the time of suburban expansion. Today many of these ranch homes have been built upon to make them match the other large homes in the area. Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, is one notable person who has lived in this neighborhood.

Located on the northeastern tip of the neighborhood along the West Paces Ferry/Buckhead boundary, the Atlanta History Center teaches visitors about the history of Atlanta. West Paces Ferry does not have an established arts scene, but areas of Buckhead do, including the Side Door Lounge Comedy Club off of Roswell Road and the Professional Actor’s Studio off of Piedmont Road. Pace Academy, a neighborhood private school, hosts the annual Pace Fall Fair in October, which features inflatables, rides and a haunted house.

Most of the restaurants in West Paces Ferry lie in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood. Restaurant options include American favorites such as seafood, steakhouses and delis, as well as Mexican and Italian choices.

Select wine pairings from an iPad at the Blue Ridge Grill while enjoying the lodge-style setting. Try off-menu appetizers such as the fried pickle chips, and order the grilled catch of the day to watch it prepared tableside.

Local Three Kitchen & Bar features a trendsetting menu. The whiskey selection, along with the warm atmosphere and comfortable furniture, makes Local Three a great spot for a special yet casual night out.

For a night out, West Paces Ferry residents must head east to Buckhead to enjoy lounges, bars and clubs, such as Red Door Tavern on Roswell Road.

The most common way to get around the neighborhood is by car, as West Paces Ferry does not have as many public transportation options as other Atlanta neighborhoods. Bus Route 12 does pass along its northwestern border, but does not travel though the neighborhood. As only the 118th most walkable neighborhood in Atlanta, most errands in this neighborhood require a car or other form of transportation.

West Paces Ferry has minimal bike infrastructure, with few to no bike lanes passing through the neighborhood. Residents also have the option of booking a ride through Uber or calling a taxi. There are few, if any, public parking lots available in this neighborhood. I-75 makes up a portion of West Paces Ferry’s western border, which can be taken north to get on I-285 or south to get on I-85. Either of those highways can be taken to I-20 by downtown Atlanta.

The West Paces Ferry neighborhood does not offer any parks. The closest park to the neighborhood, Frankie Allen Park, lies a few miles outside of the neighborhood’s eastern boundary, after West Paces Ferry Road turns into East Paces Ferry Road. This park features baseball fields, tennis courts and a meadow with picnic and grilling areas.

The cost of living in West Paces Ferry reaches nearly $140,000 a year, mostly due to the cost of housing in the area. However, costs for food and entertainment remain comparable to the rest of the area. This neighborhood houses mostly owner-occupied homes, with a few rental options starting around $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

The main center of commerce in West Paces Ferry lies in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood near the intersection of West Paces Ferry Road and Northside Parkway. This includes high-end shops, boutiques and specialty stores. Gretchen's Fine Children's Wear and Gifts has been part of Atlanta since 1952 and hails as Atlanta's oldest children's clothing store. They specialize in clothes for babies, toddlers, and young children, and the customer service in the store goes above and beyond the norm. Mathews Furniture Galleries and Design stands as yet another long-standing Atlanta business, specializing in reproductions of 18th century American, English and French furniture as well as lines by current artists. Grocery stores in and immediately surrounding West Paces Ferry are large chains including Publix and Whole Foods to serve a wide range of needs. However, Wender and Roberts Pharmacy offers a limited selection of food items, mostly candy. The Peachtree Road Farmers' Market lies a few miles southeast of the West Paces Ferry boundary, running every Saturday morning from April to December.