About Decatur's Great Lakes

Santa's little elves brought us some wonderful buyers this week and as of yesterday, three listings are under contract!

The first is an Ormewood Park bungalow, listed at $249,900. It was on the market for 7 weeks....

Last but not least, is a charming ranch in the very charming City of Decatur.

My guess is that Santa isn't done yet! Two of the Nest Atlanta agents are negotiating offers tonight, so hopefully by Christmas Day, two more buyers will getting their dream home....

HAVE A SAFE, HAPPY, MERRY HOLIDAY!

Posted on April 19, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes

One of the most desirable neighborhoods in the City of Decatur is located just off Clairemont Avenue. Some of the most beautiful Decatur Homes are found in Great Lakes, which was named for long-vanished Lake Seneca, now a mostly dry stream in Waddell Park.

History of Great Lakes

The surrounding streets were named for the famous French explorer, Samuel de Champlain and the Great Lakeshe discovered in the early 1600′s - Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Seneca, and Lake Ontario.

Champlain was the first European to explore and describe the Great Lakes, providing some of the first maps and descriptions of the Great Lakes area - the largest fresh water system on Earth. Lake Erie, which meant Lake of the Cat, was named for the Erie Indians who occupied the southern shore, literally called People of the Panther; Lake Huron, named Lac des Hurons, was the Lake of the Huron Indians; Lake Seneca the land of the Seneca Indians; and Lake Superior was referred to by the early French explorers as Le lac Superieur, which translated to "Upper Lake".

Clairemont Avenue, which borders the historic Great Lakesneighborhood, was originally part of a Native American trail leading to a crossing at the Chattahoochee, known as Shallowford Trail.

Architecture of Great Lakes

Great Lakes was developed beginning in 1913 through the 1930′s and contains some of the most interesting architecture in Decatur. Craftsmen-style bungalows predominate, but a large variety of Decatur homesexist, including English Tudor and Georgia Vernacular bungalows, as well as newer construction that mimics prevailing styles on a larger scale. Great Lakes now falls within a Historic District which was established in 2001.

Neighborhood Park - Waddell Park

Waddell Park, a ravine-like oasis and green space, is located at the corner of Huron Street and Champlain Street and serves as a local meeting place and play area, featuring a small nature trail. Originally named "Closeburn Park", but donated by the neighborhood in 1994 to the City of Decatur and renamed at that time for a local benefactor.

Atlanta Decatur Homes, a local Atlanta real estate company serving Decatur, Atlanta, Druid Hills, Emory University and Tucker neighborhoods for over 25 years!

Homes in the Great Lakes section of Decatur, GA

Homes in the Great Lakes Subdivision of Decatur, Georgia have been in high demand for years. The homes in this subdivision are located in the City of Decatur. Shops, restaurants, Churches, schools, and mass transit are all within walking distance of this neighborhood. Decatur serves as the County seat for DeKalb County and is centrally located within the County. Homeowners in the Great Lakes Neighborhood have a mere 7 mile commute to Downtown Atlanta. This neighborhood gives homeowners the feel of quiet seclusion nestled in hardwoods with all the benefits of in town living.

There are no lakes in or around the Great Lakes neighborhood. The subdivision takes its name from the streets that comprise it. All of the streets that make up the neighborhood are named for the Great Lakes, i.e. Superior, Huron, Champlain, Erie, & Lucerne.

Living in the Great Lakes, you are within a 15 minute commute to numerous notable colleges and universities, including Emory University, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Agnes Scott, and Georgia Perimeter College. The area is within 10 minutes of DeKalb Medical Center, Emory Hospital, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Atlanta VA hospital.

Homes in the Great Lakes vary in architecture and range from grand old 2 story homes with tile roofs to quaint bungalow style brick homes. As of this writing you can expect to find homes priced on the low end in the mid 200's, to upwards of a million dollars, depending on size and the amount of renovation the home has had.

To search and view homes in the Great Lakes area of Decatur online click on the following link: http://www.georgiamls.com/agentsite/index.cfm?SiteID=BENB

The site is very easy to navigate and there is no registration required. In your search for homes for sale in the Great Lakes Subdivision, the following zip code will be helpful to you: 30030.

The Great Lakes Subdivision is located in DeKalb County, Georgia, an area that Benefield Realty Company has serviced since 1948. You can find more local information, in addition to buying and selling tips, by visiting our website at www.benefieldrealty.net. Once again, no registration is required to navigate the site.

I hope you find this information useful, and, should you visit Atlanta in the near future, WELCOME!

The Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes 2009 will be Friday & Saturday December 4 & 5 from 5:30-9:30 pm. The Tour of Homes will focus on the Clairmont - Great Lakes neighborhood in Decatur GA.

Homes on Tour include:

• 716 Clairemont Avenue
• 235 Wilton Drive
• 540 Clairemont Avenue
• 324 Oakland Street
• 332 Oakland Street
• 511 Ponce de Leon Place
• 152 Vidal Boulevard
• 116 Huron Street

Points of Interest include Clairmont Oaks and Holiday Marketplace + Café at Clairmont Elementary School.

Volunteers are needed for the Decatur Holiday Tour of Homes. If you are interested you can Download the Form to sign up.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at:

• The Seventeen Steps 235 Ponce De Leon Pl. #L Decatur, GA 30030

• Intown Ace Hardware 1404 Scott Blvd. Decatur, GA 30030

• Bicycle South 2098 N Decatur Rd. Decatur, GA‎ 30030

• The Seen Gallery 321 W Hill St., Decatur, GA‎ 30030

Proceeds benefit the Decatur Youth Fund and Decatur Preservation Alliance.

If you are thinking of of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice. Search Decatur GA homes for Sale