$92,677Average Value$104Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
What makes Gate City a unique Birmingham neighborhood?
Gate City is a small, mountain-side neighborhood in East Birmingham that has experienced industrial decline and cycles of disinvestment, but generations of residents have shown resilience, building a strong sense of community and proud homeownership. This community offers charming and affordable post-war houses with mature landscaping. The bluffs of Mount Ruffner peek over the horizon, providing a verdant backdrop every summer. Next to Eastlake, it’s only a couple of miles from mountain trails, shopping, dining, major highways and the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
Houses are rare on the market, but sell under $100K in Gate City
“It’s good for investors or anyone looking to stop renting and buy their first home; there’s value there,” says local James Faulkner, a Realtor with RealtySouth. Houses for sale in Birmingham are rare and tend to go quickly. The median price is $50,000, significantly lower than the city’s median. On its hilly west side, homebuyers and investors can find a collection of vintage midcentury houses, including brick ranch-style and raised ranch-style houses, vinyl-sided cottages and Craftsman bungalows. Many of these charming homes sit on modest lots, set into grassy hillsides under the shade of old pines, water oaks and tulip poplars. Front gardens and garages are common. Driveways are standard. Streets are narrow, and many are lined by sidewalks. The neighborhood’s east side is home to Marks Village, a public housing project of low-rise brick apartment buildings built in the 1950s.
Each street in Gate City features a variety of different home styles.
Ranch-style homes can be found in Gate City.
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Families can apply to magnet programs through a lottery system
Birmingham Public Schools serves the community. Families can apply to magnet programs, where seats are awarded by lottery if demand exceeds capacity. Open enrollment is limited to students zoned for priority schools, and out-of-district transfers require tuition and district approval. The district has specialized college- and career-prep programs, from CTE and the Academies of Birmingham to the IB Diploma Programme and the Gifted and Talented Education Program. The neighborhood is roughly 2 miles from each school it’s zoned for, including Oliver Elementary School, W.E. Putnam Middle School and Woodlawn High School.
Oliver Elementary School is named for Henry Oliver, a former principal.
Putnam Middle School is located on a 9.5-acre campus, minutes from Gate City.
Woodlawn High School serves about 600 students in the Birmingham Public School System.
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Parks, shopping and dining are minutes away from Gate City
Though primarily residential, Gate City is central to auto shops, restaurants and grocery stores, playgrounds and sports facilities. “It doesn’t get much more convenient than here,” Faulkner says. “You’re 5 minutes from the airport, less than 15 minutes from downtown, and there’s plenty of light industry, restaurants and shopping one neighborhood over in @Irondale and @East Lake.” The longstanding Irondale Cafe, famous for its appearance in the 1991 film “Fried Green Tomatoes,” serves Southern fare right down Georgia Road. A go-to for grocery runs, Piggly Wiggly, is also only a mile away on U.S. Route 11, while Aldi is closer to 2 miles away. For big-box shopping, The Home Depot, Michaels, Walmart, Office Depot, Ross Dress for Less and more are off U.S. Route 78, roughly 3 miles away. The shopping corridor also has various eateries, including Jack’s Family Restaurant, Pancho's Méxican Grill and Hamburger Heaven.
Lewis Park has a ballfield, playground and walking trails on the north side, while Downey Park spans over 10 acres with a playground, basketball court, open green space and a walking trail in the next-door neighborhood of @Eastlake. Ruffner Mountain — less than 2 miles away — invites hikers to explore more than 1,000 acres of forest and 11 miles of scenic trails. Lakeside leisure lies at East Lake Park, about 3 miles away. Its 45-acre namesake lake is popular for fishing. Trails and playgrounds round out the recreational scene.
The Irondale Cafe, located minutes away from Gate City, features homestyle cooking that residents can sink their teeth into.
Aldi is located close by to Gate City, providing residents with all their grocery needs.
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Greater Birmingham is car-dependent, and Gate City is near highways
Gate City – along with the rest of Greater Birmingham – is car-dependent, but there are Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) bus stops on Georgia Road. Drivers enjoy proximity to:
Oporto Madrid Blvd, a direct connection to Interstate 20 and U.S. Route 78
U.S. Route 11, which has a ramp onto Interstate 59 about a mile away
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is 2 miles away
Downtown Birmingham, about 7 miles away via I-20
Interstate 20 is located just south of Gate City.
Max Transit stops are located all across the Gate City neighborhood.
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Crime
Gate City has a complex history at the heart of its modern, high crime rate. Racial zoning practices from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as community fragmentation by highway construction, contributed to the area’s CAP Index Crime Score of 9 out of 10, significantly higher than the national average of 4.
Birmingham is tackling crime in Gate City through a mix of strategies, including traffic access restrictions to deter quick getaways, targeted police patrols and community-based programs focused on prevention and youth engagement, such as the RESTORE Juvenile Re-Entry Program.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Gate City
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
9
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
9
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Gate City Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Gate City, Birmingham sell after 60 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Gate City, Birmingham over the last 12 months is $45,000.
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Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
