Tucker

On the edge of Gwinnett and Dekalb counties, Pittsburg is an unincorporated community within Tucker, Georgia. Less than 20 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta, this family-oriented community enjoys a relaxed pace of life. "The people who've been here a long time are close-knit. In my neighborhood, everybody knows everybody. Twenty-six of us just went on a cruise together," says Lucy Newton, resident of the area since 1969 and Realtor at Realty Associates of Atlanta. "There's a lot of people who've moved into the area more recently, so it's not as close-knit at first, but they get there after a while." "The area has great parks," Newton says. "And we've got the beautiful Heritage Golf Course right there at our disposal." Heritage Golf Links is a public course with 27 championship holes. The largest park in the neighborhood is Lucky Shoals Park, which has tennis and basketball courts, a playground, walking trails and a community recreation center. Children cool off during Georgia's hot summers at the splash pad at Graves Park. The park also has a sand volleyball pit, soccer pitch, playground and dog park. Residents head to Main Street in Tucker for community events, dining and shopping. Each May, locals gather downtown for the Tucker Day event. "It's a real fun thing they do. They've got bands playing, all kinds of craft things going on and they close down Main Street. That's the big thing that everyone goes to," Newton says. Tucker Cruise-In is another popular event. On the second Saturday of each month from April to September, residents come out to see antique and imported cars and motorcycles on display. Thursdays from April through October bring the Tucker Farmers Market, offering a variety of fresh produce and local vendors at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. "Downtown Tucker is getting some quaint shops," says Newton, who recommends checking out Wine & Whimseys. "It's an adorable shop. The owner is wonderful as far as her knowledge of wine is concerned, and there are great gifts there." Restaurants along Main Street include Matthews Cafeteria, which has served the community since 1955. This family-run old-school restaurant serves Southern comfort food like barbecue ribs, chicken and dumplings, country fried steak and sweet tea. The Varsity, off Jimmy Carter Boulevard, is another popular spot. This 1950s-themed local chain serves chili dogs, onion rings and local favorites like its frosted orange drink. For groceries, residents can visit the Walmart Neighborhood Market off Tucker Norcross Road. Pittsburg has a variety of midcentury modern homes, ranches and split-levels built in the 1950s and 60s. These homes usually cost between $400,000 and $500,000 and often sit on half-acre lots dotted with mature oaks and maples common to the area. There's also a sprinkling of more recently built single-family new traditional homes and townhouses. "The values of homes have skyrocketed," Newton says. "There's not a lot of development happening. There's been a few subdivisions added, but many people are renovating existing homes. They're talking down walls, opening them up and modernizing them." Students in Pittsburgh attending the Dekalb County School District may begin at Pleasantdale Elementary School, which has a C-minus rating from Niche. Students may go on to attend C-plus-rated Henderson Middle School and B-plus-rated Lakeside High School. Lakeside High School offers several academic programs for students to improve their college readiness, including the AP Capstone program, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and dual enrollment. Pittsburg provides proximity to city amenities, as well as some elbow room from its hectic pace. "It's the first layer of suburbia coming from Atlanta," says Allen Breland, Realtor with Virtual Properties Realty. Pittsburg is just 2 miles from Tom Moreland Interchange, better known as "Spaghetti Junction." These crisscrossing strands of highway at the intersection of Interstates 85 and 285 take locals to Buckhead's upscale shopping centers or Downtown Atlanta's nightlife. "It's close to the main thoroughfare. The roads can be hectic over there, but you can get anywhere. You can be in downtown Atlanta in 20 minutes," Breland says.