Old Fourth Ward

Old Fourth Ward sits east of downtown, bordered by Inman Park to the east and Sweet Auburn to the south. It’s the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the site of the MLK National Historical Park, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the King Center. The 17-acre Historic Fourth Ward Park, the Atlanta Beltline Eastside trail, and the Ponce City Market mixed-use complex all sit inside or border the neighborhood.

Renovation here has been more intense than anywhere else intown since the Beltline opened in 2012. Edgewood Avenue went from underused to one of the city’s densest restaurant strips in less than a decade. The Old Fourth Ward Skate Park draws skaters from across the southeast.

What makes it different

The Beltline density. Old Fourth Ward has more frontage on the Eastside Beltline than any other neighborhood. The result is that the housing stock has appreciated faster than almost anywhere intown since 2014.

Historic significance. The MLK Historic District boundaries protect part of the neighborhood’s character but also limit renovation flexibility on certain houses. Always check designation before pulling permits.

What to watch

Block-level variance. Old Fourth Ward is wide and uneven. The stretch near Ponce City Market and the Beltline trades at a premium. Blocks further south near Memorial are still in transition. Don’t assume the whole neighborhood is one price tier.