Welcome to West End, a residential community, originally established as White Hall in 1835. Located just 3 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta, where Interstates 75/85 and Interstate 20 meet, West End was one of the first streetcar suburbs of Atlanta.
Today, West End is a unique urban community that brings together the perfect mix of the conveniences of intown living with southern hospitality, old-fashioned neighborliness and a strong historic identity. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of Atlanta’s Historic Districts, West End is amid a sort of renaissance. Many homes in West End are historic and represent a variety of turn-of-the-century architectural styles, and resident homeowners are proudly and painstakingly restoring these houses to their original glory.
West End is a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood, with many trees as old as some of the historic houses. West End boasts five City of Atlanta parks and more than a mile-long stretch of the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Cost of living is still surprisingly affordable in West End as compared to similar historic neighborhoods across Atlanta, and the commercial district affords tremendous growth potential for new and existing businesses. Furthermore, West End has great access to public transportation options and was one of the first residential neighborhoods in Atlanta to offer a Bike Share terminal when the program officially launched in mid-2016.
Families with children residing in the West End have a variety of public educational opportunities, in addition to Atlanta Public Schools (Washington High School Cluster). Multiple high performing and award-winning charter schools also serve West End and surrounding communities, including a KIPP Metro Atlanta School, The Kindezi School and Westside Atlanta Charter School.
Ask just about any resident and they’ll tell you West End life is second to none. Interested in learning more about the West End? We welcome you to take a stroll down our tree-lined streets, chat with our friendly neighbors and check out this unique Southwest Atlanta neighborhood where classic beauty meets the character of urban living.
West End has an unrivaled collection of vegan and vegetarian eateries and is home to a wide variety of historic churches and religious institutions. West End residents also benefit from convenient access to five City of Atlanta parks and public greenspaces as well as the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. If you’re interested in cultural exhibitions and programming, West End is home to both Hammonds House Museum and the Wren’s Nest, also known as the Joel Chandler Harris House.
Hammonds House Museum is prominently located along with one of West End’s most historic residential streets, and is a unique setting to explore the cultural diversity and legacy of African and African American artists. The museum is the former home of the late Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, who was a notable Atlanta physician and a passionate patron of the arts. The Hammonds House Museum is committed to preserving and celebrating art from the African diaspora, as exemplified by its more than 350 original works dating as far back as the mid-19th century.
The Wren’s Nest is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Joel Chandler Harris and the heritage of African American folklore, as told through the storytelling tradition of the Br’er Rabbit tales.
The Wren’s Nest Museum serves as an educational resource for West End residents, the greater Atlanta community and visitors from around the world, and is located inside one of Atlanta’s most historic Queen Anne Victorian homes. The Wren’s Nest was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and has since been maintained and preserved by the Joel Chandler Harris Association.
The West End neighborhood is a rare historic gem inside the city limits. We invite you to join us and discover why residents unequivocally think West End is one of the best places to live in Atlanta.
The Atlanta BeltLine
The Atlanta BeltLine is a living, breathing part of the West End community. With “Mile Marker 0” located along Industrial White Street, the Westside Trail is not only a means of getting somewhere, but is also a destination unto itself. Perfect for recreation, art installations and so much more, the Westside Trail and the associated network of parks and greenspace offers the perfect venue for Atlantans from all walks of life to connect.
Beyond the benefits of the trail itself, the BeltLine expansion is also creating exciting economic development opportunities throughout Southwest Atlanta.
The Westside Trail is a three-mile long combination of multi-use trail and linear greenspace, currently under construction on the Atlanta BeltLine’s southwest side. Completed in 2017, the Westside Trail runs through the old rail corridor from University Avenue in Adair Park north to Lena Avenue at Washington Park, directly through Atlanta’s West End neighborhood.
Funded by a combination of public and private sources, including an $18 million TIGER V grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Westside Trail will directly connect the neighborhoods of Washington Park, Hunter Hills, Ashview Heights, Mozley Park, Westview, West End and Adair Park. The Westside Trail project included funding for a 14-foot wide lighted trail, 14 points of entry with ramp and stairway systems (11 of which are ADA accessible), greenway and infrastructure planning for future transit.
The Atlanta BeltLine represents a new framework for the region’s growth and is the most comprehensive transportation and economic development effort ever undertaken by the City of Atlanta, with a long term vision of seamlessly connecting 45 intown neighborhoods. One thing is undeniable – the Atlanta BeltLine has become a tremendous source of community pride, and West End residents eagerly await its completion. Whether you’re a runner, biker, dog walker or someone looking for a safe place to enjoy a casual stroll through the West End, the Westside Trail is here for you to enjoy!
Greenspaces
The West End boasts numerous parks in and around the neighborhood. These community greenspaces offer residents a fun and safe place to gather, in addition to providing the perfect backdrop for citywide festivals as well as many other public and private events. Our West End collection of parks include:
Located at Rose Circle and White Street, Rose Circle Park is a linear greenspace along the Westside Trail corridor, featuring paved pathways through the park in addition to playground equipment and a community basketball court. Mile Marker “0” for the Atlanta Beltline is conveniently located on the western edge of the park near the Lawton Street bridge, and from there, you can continue onto the Westside Trail to explore Southwest Atlanta by bike or by foot.
With its grand opening in 2008, Gordon White Park became the Atlanta BeltLine’s first official park in Atlanta. This formerly empty, grassy lot has been revived into an urban oasis with winding pathways, landscaped garden beds, and walls and benches designed for visitors to relax and take in the surroundings. This triangle shaped greenspace is located at the intersection of White Street and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, just west of Hopkins Street.
A small grassy area on the southwest corner of Holderness Street and Lucile Avenue, Holderness-Lucile Park has recently been planted with numerous young trees in conjunction with Trees Atlanta and Park Pride. This sliver of greenspace has the potential to become an urban retreat with ample shade trees.
A cornerstone of the West End community, located at Oak Street and Lawton Street, West End Park offers something for everyone. From tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a covered basketball court for sports enthusiasts to a large playground structure for families, West End Park is the perfect gathering place for neighbors of all ages. The park also offers numerous picnic tables as well as a few benches and several mature trees for shade. West End Park plays host to the annual Malcolm X Festival each spring.
Prominently situated at Peeples Street and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, in the heart of the West End, Howell Park boasts a covered pavilion as well as a unique mural painted by Nigerian artist, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh – the same artist whose work is featured at West End Park. Winding pathways connect a small playground with basketball courts and a handful of benches and picnic tables.
All of these parks, combined with the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail, afford local residents countless opportunities to take in the great outdoors close to home.
Whether you live in the West End, are a Southwest Atlanta neighbor or you’re just stopping by for a visit to our vibrant community, we invite you to take advantage of our beautiful parks and greenspaces.