By Lillian Aynes.
Located on the east side of Atlanta is one of the city’s core neighborhoods, Little Five Points. The neighborhood is widely recognized for its walkable atmosphere, filled with unique culture and small businesses.
Recently, the Findley Plaza area in Little Five Points has undergone construction to improve the functionality of the space, add new trees, benches, and bike racks. The redevelopment was funded by the City of Atlanta, the Little Five Points Community District, Park Pride, and the Atlanta Regional Commission, along with a variety of other small businesses and individual donors.
Atlanta property management landlord Scott Pendergrast said the one-of-a-kind businesses in Little Five Points draw in visitors from all over the city, making it important that the neighborhood remains a safe and inviting area.
“One of the cool things about Little Five Points is that it does have some real draws to it, like Stratosphere Skateboards, the best skateboard shop in Atlanta,” Pendergrast said. “People come from all over outside the perimeter to shop at Stratosphere, Junkman’s Daughter, Variety Playhouse, Seven Stages, and Aisle 5. People come to the music venues and the theaters. So it has a lot to offer. And the Findley Plaza redevelopment will make it more inviting and attractive.”
Pendergrast said the idea for the renovations originally came about over a decade ago, and it has taken immense planning and approval to move forward with the construction.
“It was an idea that some of us came up with about 11 years ago, when the Community Improvement District was first being formed,” Pendergrast said. “We identified Findley Plaza as something that needed attention, and it should be a doable project, but we just had no idea that it would take 11 years to get it going.”
Humberto Bermudez, owner of Brewhouse Cafe in Little Five Points, said the changes will result in a better community, along with improved tourism and success for businesses.
“The redevelopment is being built to start a process of building up a better and a safer environment,” Bermudez said. “The improvements will benefit our visitors, tourism, and businesses.”
Candler Park resident Lauren Chekanow said that she hopes the renovations will foster a more family-friendly setting for the community.
“We live close to Little Five Points,” Chekanow said. “I think it would be great if the renovations could help improve safety in the area and attract more visitors.”
Pendergrast said that the plans include moving the sidewalks to increase foot traffic and accessibility for customers.
“The new design of moving the sidewalks inside the landscape zones and having the interior of the plaza more open, flexible, and usable,” Pendergrast said. “It should be great for the local businesses and also much better for festivals to operate there.”
Pendergrast said the construction is set to last two months, and during that time businesses located behind the construction fences may struggle.
“During construction, which is just going to be about two months of disruption and construction fencing around the entire site,” Pendergrast said. “It’s challenging for the small businesses who are operating behind the fence.
Pendergrast said that although the construction may limit visibility for the businesses, the sidewalks and shops are still open and accessible for pedestrians.
“The sidewalk will always be open and there’s still a good pedestrian zone along the storefronts of Crystal Blue and Criminal Records and Porter Beer Bar and all that,” Pendergrast said, “But their visibility is restricted and in the real estate business visibility and accessibility are important. They are the key features that determine value and viability of businesses. You want to be visible, you want to be accessible. These businesses are temporarily accessible.”
Bermudez said the changes will be beneficial to the local businesses and additionally provide a safe and walkable area for residents and newcomers.
“I think this renovation will help build a safer environment and make the neighborhood more approachable,” Bermudez said. “The people who were already here will remain, but new ones will come as well which is good news for us.It will also prompt people to improve the look of their businesses.”
Pendergrast said he hopes in the future, that families will be able to visit Little Five Points together and have a positive experience.
“One of my little stories is that I hope that I have a family with young children who move into the Candler Park or Inman Park neighborhood, and say, ‘Hey, let’s put the kids in the stroller and go up to Little Five Points and check it out.’” Pendergrast said. “I hope that they have a good experience to and say, ‘Oh, that was great.’”