Tuesday’s Tip

You may not know the phrase now, but "Centennial Hill" is poised to become a hot destination. With the Georgia Aquarium set to open in the fall of 2005 and the World of Coca-Cola moving in next door, with an opening targeted for 2007, this neighborhood near Centennial Olympic Park is turning heads as the aquarium's huge shape etches a place in the skyline.

Meanwhile, residents are returning to this part of downtown, once known more for neglect than hospitality.

More than 600 condominiums or lofts already dot the area around Centennial Hill, and more are planned.

Meanwhile, there are plans for more restaurants and shops in the area.

"If our calculations are right and people move ahead with the projects they're talking about, this could be as big as Atlantic Station in size and scope," said A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, a not-for-profit corporation that promotes the downtown area.

According to John Akin of Novare Group, which has been a major player in the revitalization of Midtown, Novare plans to build more than 1,000 condominiums in two towers along West Peachtree, Alexander and Spring streets.

With these changes in mind, this week we take a look at three condo complexes in the area to find out what Centennial Hill has to offer and who's moving in:

Centennial House

Sitting in front of a wall of windows that looks out across downtown, Hedy and Simon Meyer explain that they moved to Centennial House because they wanted to live in the midst of the city.

Originally from New York, the couple had lived in Colony Square for more than nine years. But an obstructed skyline view and a too-sedate feel made the couple miss the pulse of city life. "It was quiet. After 6 pm., the place shut down," Simon Meyer said.

After hearing about plans for the Georgia Aquarium, they got excited about the area. Now having lived on the hill for more than a year, they name Centennial Olympic Park as the area's best asset. "We take advantage of the park more than we did Piedmont Park in the spring and summer," Simon Meyer said. "There are lots of free concerts in the area."

"If he hears music, he's out there!" Hedy Meyer said with a laugh.

Just two blocks north of Centennial Olympic Park, Centennial House was built two years ago as loft-condominiums. The homes have enclosed rooms but also include such loft signatures as exposed ductwork. The Meyers' two-bedroom, two-bath condo has about 1,400 square feet.

Todd Tillman, president of the Centennial House Homeowners Association, owns one of the building's largest one-bedroom units, boasting about 900 square feet.

With a 3-year-old daughter who visits from out of town, Tillman points out that the area is more kid-friendly than people expect. Living at Centennial House allows him to be within reach of activities his daughter can enjoy. One popular spot is the playground at the park, and another is the children's museum, Imagine It.

Meanwhile, he's still within walking distance of his office at Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership.

Museum Tower

Like Tillman, Kathy Ciovacco has a pedestrian-friendly commute. She and her husband, Chris Ciovacco, moved to Museum Tower, one block south of Centennial House, two years ago. Ciovacco's commute to her job at the Atlanta Gift Mart is now a five-minute walk.

Located above the Imagine It museum, Museum Tower is a high-rise that went up about the same time as Centennial House. Homes here range from traditional condos to lofts with exposed ductwork and concrete floors.

Before buying their loft, the Ciovaccos lived in a house in Chamblee for four years. Although they were convinced they wanted to move downtown, the couple says Museum Tower's amenities sold them on the building. Chris Ciovacco, an investment banker who works out of his home, appreciates the conference room, where he can meet with clients. He explains that when they lived in a traditional house, he had to think about whether to mow the lawn or clean up the house before someone came over. "The conference room is so convenient," he said.

The community's rooftop pool, the couple says, wows visitors. "It's a big hit on the Fourth of July," Chris Ciovacco said.

Since moving into Museum Tower, the Ciovaccos have gotten involved in the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association and say they've found a group of like-minded people. "It's a really close-knit community," Kathy Ciovacco said.

Peachtree Towers

Included in that community are residents of Peachtree Towers, a development with studio, one- and two-bedroom homes on the east side of Centennial Hill. Originally built as apartments in 1962 and converted to condos in the 1980s, the building is not new in the field of downtown living spaces. But nearing the end of a $3.5 million renovation project, it has a new look.

Resident Tom Bolin explains that the homeowners association has spent five years sprucing up the 24-story building, remodeling its corridors with new wallpaper, trim and paint, adding new screens to every balcony, replacing all windows and stripping old glaze off the building's exterior brick.

Bolin says he and his wife, Gail Hunter, chose Peachtree Towers for its location and affordability.

They bought their home five years ago when the prices were low. "When we went in that building, we got three units for $133,500. Right now, you can pay roughly $90,000 to $100,000 for a single unit in its original shape," he said. The couple joined two of the condos together, making one larger home, and plan to keep the third unit as a guest suite.

Enrique Buscanana isn't surprised by the couple's good fortune. As a planner for the city of Atlanta, Buscanana, who bought his condo in the building in 1999, says he saw the changes coming. "In the past, it felt like our building was one of the last downtown things. Now that this part of Centennial Hill is coming together, it feels like an urban city with people coming and going," he said.

Buscanana explains that the city has worked for years to change zoning requirements in the area to attract more retailers. Now that developers are looking at adding retail and restaurant space across from the aquarium, more residential growth is sure to come, he says.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROPERTY LISTED ABOVE OR THE TIP PROVIDED
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL CHRISSY@CASTLESBYCHRISSY.COM OR CALL ME AT 404.925.5335

Chrissy Neumann "Making You Feel At Home" www.CastlesByChrissy.com
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