3/19/06 - FRESH START/HOMES TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE:
Castleberry Hill sparks creativity
Former suburban resident discovers right spirit in downtown community

Gail Evans' home at Market Lofts in Castleberry Hill gives her an unexpected connection with her childhood up North.

"I nicknamed it 'the dance hall' because the openness of it reminded me of a town hall like the ones you'd find in northern Wisconsin, where I grew up," she says. The spacious halls were perfect for dancing and were often rented for wedding receptions.

Evans' high-ceilinged loft with wood floors definitely makes her feel like dancing, and not just because it offers room to twirl. Living in downtown Atlanta's burgeoning art district, this creative photography buff finally feels at home: "It feels in synch with who I am."

A year ago, Evans was married and more or less settled in the suburbs. Her traditional three-bedroom house in a Marietta subdivision was private, comfortable and convenient to shopping and dining.

But the setting left something to be desired for Evans. She didn't care much for yardwork, her long commute to work in Midtown was tiresome, and the surroundings did nothing to inspire her creativity.

After two life-changing events --- her mother died, and Evans and her husband decided to separate --- she paused to consider her next move. "I spent a lot of time thinking about my life and whether I was living it the way I wanted to," she says. "One of my first realizations was that suburban living just wasn't for me." She wanted a creative intown neighborhood that would feel less "disconnected" from the energy and culture of Atlanta.

"I'd always liked the thought of living in a loft and had some friends moving to Castleberry Hill around that time," she says, so she went along to have a look.

She found a whole lot of creativity going on in this three-block triangle between CNN Center and Atlanta's West End. Photographers, artists and designers of all kinds have set up shop in the historic warehouse district, bordered by Walker and Peters streets. At least a dozen art galleries are open, including Skot Foreman Fine Art and Marcia Wood Gallery. Castleberry Hill features Atlanta's largest concentration of authentic railway buildings and is on the National Register of Historic Places, but behind the gritty, industrial facades are chic lofts, studios and shops.

Evans' loft is one of 12 carved out of a warehouse built in 1860. She says its 15-foot ceilings, exposed original brick walls and ceiling beams, hardwood floors and soaring windows inspire her every day. "And having to decorate a big open area with lots of wall space, as opposed to a house with traditional rooms, was definitely a new challenge for me, but it was fun," she says.

Two additional units are in a new building adjacent to the original structure. Each of the 14 lofts has one bedroom, but several floor plans are available. No more than 20 percent of the units may be leased by owners at any given time, and rent is set by them.

The Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association addresses safety and development issues and fosters interaction among the neighborhood's 600-plus residents. A tour of lofts takes place every fall, and about every six weeks the galleries stay open for an evening event known as ArtStroll. Shopping and dining options are steadily increasing; two doors up from Market Lofts is Slice, a popular pizzeria/martini bar.

Moving to Market Lofts all but eliminated Evans' commute: "I went from putting gas in my car once a week or so to maybe once a month." The Garnett MARTA station is only a few blocks away. Even when she does get behind the wheel, she doesn't have to stay there for long. "I have easy access to 75/85 and I-20," she says. "I can get to the new Edgewood shopping center on Moreland Avenue really easily, and it's a pretty quick drive whether I'm going to Buckhead or to the airport."

The CNN Center food court, Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Dome are just a short walk away, and occasionally residents can soak up city life without setting foot outside their gated parking lot. "Last Fourth of July, one of the buildings had a rooftop party, and from there we watched the fireworks at Centennial Olympic Park and then the ones at Turner Field," Evans says.

Although she has lived in the metro area for six of the past 12 years, moving to Castleberry Hill has given Evans a new perspective. "There's a lot more to Atlanta than meets the eye, but you may never see it if you don't make the effort to seek it out."

AT A GLANCE
Market Lofts
Address: 265/267 Peters St., Atlanta
Information: Sam Pacilli, homeowners association president, 404-441-7185
Price range: $210,000-$300,000
Number of homes: 14
Style: loft
Square footage: 1,000-1,500
Standard features: one bedroom, one bath, hardwood floors, exposed-brick walls, washer-dryer hookups, stainless-steel appliances. Some have a fireplace, exposed-beam ceilings, second floor or extra half-bath.
Amenities: gated parking; rooftop deck with view of downtown; close to MARTA
Association fee: $155-$235 a month
Schools: Jones Elementary, Kennedy Middle, Washington High
More on schools: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us

Getting there
From downtown Atlanta, go southwest on Centennial Olympic Park Drive (becomes Walker Street). Go a little less than one mile past Marietta Street. Turn left on Fair Street. At dead end, turn right on Peters Street. Look for the first gated parking lot on the right, across from U-Haul.

TIP OF THE WEEK
When looking intown, Gail Evans advises, "Think about what kind of neighborhood you see yourself living in. Is it important to be able to get out and walk at night, or walk to local stores or restaurants or bars? Also, be realistic about the safety of the neighborhood. If you don't think you'll feel comfortable anytime you're not in your home or your car, then maybe it's not the right place for you."

FAVORITE THING
"What sealed the deal for me was the abundance of art galleries," Evans says. "And there's something about my place, my building, the neighborhood that gets my creative juices flowing.