Concept
Two miles east of downtown Atlanta lies Glenwood Park, a community built firmly on the foundations of new-urbanism. The community of 375 green homes, which is built on top of 28 acres of once deserted land, is a pedestrian friendly haven. Wide streets lined with cafes, large shade trees, and narrow streets shift the focus from a city built for cars to a neighborhood built for people. Large front porches and stoops encourage residents to come outside and socialize and keep the streets safe at all times. Glenwood Park is truly a place that is being built the right way.
The developers of Glenwood Park wanted to create a place to live, to work, and to gather for a diverse population of residents. To accomplish this, they started by building several different housing types, varying from small condos above downtown shops, to larger single family homes. They also created several areas for retails shops, community amenities, and office space, which encourages community activity and creates jobs. Finally, civic gathering spaces and green spaces were introduced as a place for the public to gather and socialize, forming strong bonds which tie the community together.
Resources Efficiency is important at Glenwood Park. All homes within the community will be built to EarthCraft House program standards. The site selection also exemplifies resource efficiency. Previously the 28 acre site was covered in 85% impervious concrete without a tree or plant on the property. Through the course of development, over 259 million pounds of waste concrete have been reused to create infrastructure and over 1,000 plants and trees have been planted. An area that lay to waste has been made green again.
Water usage is also a main consideration. A stormwater runoff system reduces the amount of runoff by 2/3 and creates nearly 12 million gallons of treated water per year. Even more, the community doesn’t use any municipal water to irrigate its native landscaping.
Neighborhood
The neighborhood has been designed to allow for evolution over time, much like that of Savannah, Georgia. With a solid pedestrian friendly foundation, there will likely be change over time, but the community will remain intact. Glenwood Park is being built with 4 times greater density than a typical Atlanta neighborhood, which effectively saves about 100 acres of land.
Current amenities include a junior-Olympic size swimming pool, one large public park, one off-leash dog park and a couple other smaller public spaces. Glenwood Park plays host to many different festivals throughout the year. Previous events have included Atlanta Earth Day Festival, Hotoberfest Beer Festival, and Earthshare of Georgia's Party in the Park.
There are numerous shops, bars, and restaurants located throughout the community. From casual alfresco dining with the family, to a romantic night out, the neighborhood can offer it all.
Homes
Glenwood Park offers a variety of home styles which include: Single family homes, traditional and stacked townhouses, live/work units and condos. Condos start at about 760 square feet and are price in the low to mid $100s. Townhomes are larger, ranging from 1,700 to 2,700 square feet and start in the mid $400s. Single family homes are larger yet, usually including at least 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and start in the $500s.
Homes at Glenwood Park are built to the standards of the EarthCraft Building Program. Since the types of homes and builders vary it isn’t possible to outline the specific green materials used, however, the EarthCraft Building Programs Standards Include
- Energy Efficiency Systems
- High indoor air quality
- Resource efficient building materials
- Water conservation
Transportation
Glenwood Park is located 2 miles east of downtown Atlanta just south of I-20. Public transportation is available in the form of busses, which run near the community and MARTA, the Atlanta light rail system, which is also nearby. Biking downtown is also an option, as bike lanes are available on most surface streets. Throughout the community, most transportation is done on foot, as nearly every area is easily walk able.
Glenwood Park - Green Homes 
Overview
