Chamblee

Built by brothers, Embry Hills is a master-planned community teeming with midcentury homes just 15 miles from Atlanta. Established in 1956, the original homes were built on 600 acres of farmland purchased by the Embry family. Its prime location, at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Interstate 285, allows residents to easily connect to Atlanta's amenities. “It's a really close-knit community. They have a lot of informal gatherings at Embry Hills Club. It’s a private club, but most families join,” says Jody Steinberg, a Realtor with Bolst, who lives in the area. “There’s a full range of ages and family types. There are original homeowners from 60 years ago and newer ones. You even have two-generation families, with kids who grew up there and then bought into the neighborhood. The neighbors really look out for each other. I have a client who ended up there who says she almost likes the neighborhood more than her house.” Homebuyers will find a wealth of 1960s ranch houses, split-levels and condos, as well as some contemporary homes with two-car garages. "Embry Hills has bigger homes than the downtown Atlanta area,” says Stephen Jones, a real estate investor with Light Box Homes and an area resident. “A lot also come with basements built in the 1960s, which are very durable." The average sales price hovers around $325,000. A two-bedroom condo may cost around $225,000, while a four-bedroom with a heated pool could fetch more than $800,000. “Priced-right houses are on the market for a week or less,” Steinburg says. “It’s a beautiful neighborhood and extremely walkable.” Public school students may attend multiple schools, including Henderson Mill Elementary, Henderson Middle and Lakeside High. The schools are part of the DeKalb County Schools district and earn B-minus, C-plus and B-plus Niche grades, respectively. As part of the district’s Digital Dreamers program, students at all three schools are provided with laptops and wireless access. For higher education, Mercer University’s Atlanta campus is directly south of Embry Hills. More than 2,000 students attend the private university, which offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The private Embry Hills Club on Alton Road offers a pool and tennis courts, as well as year-round festivities like Festivus and Memorial Day cookouts. Silverbacks Park, on Atlanta Silverbacks Way, is a sports complex with four fields that regularly hosts adult soccer and rugby leagues. After a game, locals can walk to the park's on-site restaurant, Willie B's Bar and Grill for burgers or their signature “flaming mac and cheese” dish. At Brook Park, just west of the community in Doraville, residents can take their kids to play on the playground, walk the dog or play a game of tennis. Embry Hills' proximity to Atlanta is a major draw to the area. With a 15-mile drive, residents can catch a Falcons football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or see the Hawks basketball team play at State Farm Arena. Centennial Olympic Park offers walking paths, a splash pad to cool off in the warmer months and historical significance, as it hosted the 1996 Olympic Games. At Embry Village, on Chamblee Tucker Road, residents can stock up on groceries at Kroger, work out at Planet Fitness, or grab coffee at Starbucks. The shopping center also hosts popular burger joints like Three Dollar Café and Wayback Burgers. “It’s got all the basic services anyone would need,” Steinburg says. For greater shopping options, Lenox Square Mall is only 10 miles southwest, offering more than 250 luxury stores, including Bloomingdale's and Louis Vuitton. Embry Hills residents are largely car dependent. "Sidewalks are present but not the most consistent to make a grocery run walkable,” Jones says. Residents can reach downtown Atlanta with a 14-mile drive south on Interstate 85. The Doraville MARTA station is also less than 4 miles away to connect residents to the Atlanta metro area.