Summerhill is in the midst of transition, but yet it isn’t. Residents see visual changes and upgrades to their historically Black neighborhood that they like but are determined to keep its culture the same. After the end of the Civil War, Summerhill was established in 1865 as a home for freed slaves and the majority of Atlanta’s Jewish population. Georgia Avenue, one of its main thoroughfares, thrived before World War II but by the 1960s, it began a downward spiral. Today, Summerhill is going through gentrification and renewal. It has attracted medium-income, mixed-race residents to its inner-city neighborhood. Georgia Avenue is now lined with new shops and restaurants. Business owners are trying to preserve the old while breathing new life into the neighborhood.

Yet long-time residents are staying put. On Martin Street, a main artery of Summerhill, near the Center Parc Credit Union Stadium, is a small children’s farm with goats. Historic Mount Carmel Baptist Church has a lot currently under construction. New homes, priced between $350,000 and $500,000 are being built, as is apartment complexes and townhouses. There are even new modern lofts to rent near Georgia Avenue with a smart TV, a mini-fridge, internet, and big windows to admire the Atlanta skyline.

Traveling around Summerhill you can’t miss the bright colorful murals on its walls and buildings. This was started in 2013 by the Living Walls conference to attract international street artists and muralists. In the urge for a bite to eat? In Summerhill you’ll find incredible sandwiches, breweries, pastries, and ice cream.