The Neighborhood Hot List: Old Fourth Ward

The Old Fourth Ward -- or simply O4W to the locals – has become one of Intown’s hottest neighborhoods in less than a decade. With an influx of new homes, apartments, restaurants, retail and the construction of the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, the historic and the modern have created an eclectic mash-up of a community.

1. BeltLine Eastside Trail

The Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail was a big catalyst for the renaissance of O4W. Running along the district’s eastern edge, the trail connects residents to some of the neighborhood’s big draws like the skate park, Historic Fourth Ward Park and Ponce City Market.

2. Ponce City Market

The adaptive reuse of the giant Sears & Roebuck building into a dining, retail and business destination is one of the city’s biggest success stories. With the opening of The Roof this summer – offering miniature golf, amusement rides and a beer garden – the renovation of the nearly century-old landmark will be complete.

3. Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site

The birthplace of the Civil Rights leader and the surrounding neighborhood, including Ebenezer Baptist Church, are an international draw for visitors.

MLK’s life and work is chronicled at The King Center, which is also the final resting place for the Nobel Prize winner and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

4. Edgewood Avenue

In just a few short years, Edgewood Avenue has transformed from vacant storefronts to one of the city’s restaurant and bar districts. Sister Louisa’s Church of the

Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium (or simply Church), Noni’s, Sound Table, Thumbs Up Diner, Staplehouse and many more are packing them in.

5. Festivals

From the Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival (coming up June 25-26) in Historic Fourth Ward Park, to the Fire In the 4th, to the Brunch Festival to the Lantern Parade along the BeltLine that kicks off the annual Art on the BeltLine, there’s always art, food and fun happening in O4W. To find out more about the community, be sure to visit the Old Fourth Ward Business Association website at o4wba.com.

The Princeton Prize in Race Relations has been awarded to high school students who are doing exceptional volunteer work to advance the cause of race relations. The winning student receives a $1,000 cash award and an expense-paid trip to Princeton University for a symposium on race. The Atlanta honoree for 2106 is Jordan Williams from North Atlanta High School. Receiving organization certificates of accomplishment are North Atlanta High students Danielle Kimboro, Margaret Richardson, Augustin Jimenez and Shabeha Haque. Individual certificates were given to Matthew Boutte (The Lovett Shool), Teresa Campos (Morrow High School), Tahir Murray (McCallie School), Luis Padilla (The Westminster Schools) and Natalie Peek (Riverwood International Charter School).

Kindezi Old Fourth Ward has been awarded a Walk Audit by Safe Routes to School. This will allow input by school officials, teachers, community stakeholders and public officials about the safety concerns and traffic hazards in the neighborhood. The group will spend an hour walking the streets around the school. They will help to identify first hand some of the most pressing issues that families deal with travelling to and from school. Next, a report will be developed that will be submitted to various government agencies. This will help guide future decisions around funding and planning.

Georgia’s only Waldorf high school, Academe of the Oaks in Decatur, was honored on Earth Day with the Green Flag Award presented by Eco-Schools USA and the National Wildlife Federation. Academe is only the second school in Georgia to receive this recognition. In order to be eligible, Academe underwent a rigorous application process, including environmental audits, curriculum evaluation and community involvement. Students oversee the school’s energy and water use, organize recycling and waste management, and a composting program. The Academe recently installed a massive rainwater cistern, which will be used to water the gardens. Academe students also tend to the school’s organic vegetable garden, goats, chickens and honeybee hives. Last year students planted a butterfly garden and fruit trees, converting an area of overgrowth into a thriving ecosystem.

Jill Binkley, founder and executive director of the nonprofit TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation , has been named recipient of the 2015 American Physical Therapy Association Oncology Section Research Award. Binkley launched TurningPoint in 2003 with a mission to improve quality of life for women with breast cancer by providing, promoting and advocating specialized and evidencebased rehabilitation. The Atlanta-based nonprofit provides services such as physical therapy, massage therapy, counseling, nutritional counseling and education programs. For more information, visit myturningpoint.org.

carafem , known for its eye-catching billboards and controversial advertising campaigns, has opened a state-of-the-art health center in Midtown, providing a variety of birth control and early abortion care options.“We know it’s difficult to access health services in the South where women are facing more and more barriers to care,” said carafem president, Chris Purdy. carafem provides flexibility, including 24-hour appointment making, little to no waiting time and a visit that lasts about 60 minutes. For more information, visit carafem.org.

In support of the Georgia Food Bank Association (GFBA) and its state-wide work to provide access to meals to children, the Arby’s Foundation and a private family foundation have announced they will award $200,000 in grants that will go directly to summer and afterschool meal sponsors and their efforts to provide healthy and nutritious meals while school is out of session. Some of the local organizations that will share in the grant money include Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Kidsplosion and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

OrthoAtlanta recently opened its newest location in the Piedmont West Medical Building at the intersection of I-75 and Howell Mill Road. The facility offers one stop for musculoskeletal care, including initial exam, onsite X-ray and MRI-imaging, treatment and physical therapy. Visit orthoatlanta.com for more information.

Everyone wants a dog like Clyde. He is charming, attentive and eager to please. He loves making new friends and approaches everyone with that big ol’ goofy smile. He seems to do well with other dogs and people of all ages. If you are looking for a big, loyal, wonderful best friend, then look no further than Clyde.

Cecil is a charmer for sure. He can convince almost anyone to let him crawl up and fall asleep in their laps. He loves attention and massages more than anything else in life, but he is a fan of other kitties as well. Cecil is an easy-going guy and takes whatever life throws at him. If you are looking for a zen kitty with a good dose of personality, then come out and get Cecil.

To adopt Clyde or Cecil, visit PAWSAtlanta.org or drop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Doggies on the Catwalk and its philanthropic founder, E. Vincent Martinez of fashionado, will present an evening of fashion, cocktails, bites and four-legged friends – all for a great cause. The event is set for June 4 at 7 p.m. at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, where some of the cities’ most notable personalities will don the latest trends with loving pups in tow. The event benefits Canine Assistants, which provides service dogs to assist children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs. Tickets are available at fashionado.net/ doggiesonthecatwalk.

Texas-based FarmHouse Freshhas donated 75 dog beds (valued at $5,000) to PAWS Atlanta animal shelter in Decatur. The 75 beds include small, medium and large beds in a range of thicknesses, plus kuranda beds and mats, so that the rescued dogs will no longer have to sleep on cold, hard concrete floors.