Old Forth Ward Real Estate

Old Fourth Ward

Old Fourth Ward is an intown Atlanta neighborhood just northeast of Downtown, roughly bounded by Piedmont Avenue to the west, Ponce de Leon Avenue to the north, the Atlanta BeltLine to the east, and the MARTA Green Line and Oakland Cemetery area to the south. From SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker, the drive typically covers about fifteen to eighteen miles, most often via Interstate 285 to Interstate 85 South, or along the more direct surface route down US-78 and Ponce de Leon Avenue.

One of Atlanta's Oldest Neighborhoods

Old Fourth Ward takes its name from the historic Fourth Ward, one of Atlanta's original political wards, and its westernmost blocks were built up not long after the Civil War, making it one of the oldest developed sections of the city. Within it, the Auburn Avenue corridor known as Sweet Auburn grew into a center of Black-owned banks, insurance companies, churches, and businesses through the early and mid-twentieth century, once described by Fortune magazine as the "richest Negro street in America." Martin Luther King Jr. was born on Auburn Avenue in 1929 and grew up in the neighborhood, and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he and his father both preached, still stands on the same street. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, redesignated from a National Historic Site in 2018, now preserves King's birth home, the original Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King Center, and the tomb of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King.

Shotgun Houses and Historic Infill

The neighborhood's housing reflects its long history. Rows of shotgun houses and Victorian-era cottages sit alongside Craftsman bungalows built in the early twentieth century, particularly near Sweet Auburn and Boulevard. In recent years, renovated historic homes have been joined by new infill construction and multifamily apartments, especially near the BeltLine and Ponce City Market, giving the neighborhood a visible mix of eras from block to block.

Historic Fourth Ward Park and the BeltLine

Historic Fourth Ward Park opened in 2011 on land that had been a declining industrial site next to a former Sears warehouse. Its centerpiece is a five-acre stormwater detention pond, engineered to hold several million gallons and manage major flood events, with a grassy amphitheater wrapping part of its edge. The park also includes a 15,000 square foot skate park, recognized as Atlanta's first public skate park, along with a splash pad and playground. A short connector parcel links the park directly to the Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail, which runs along the neighborhood's eastern edge and gives residents a car-free route toward Piedmont Park and other intown neighborhoods.

• Walk or bike the BeltLine Eastside Trail along the neighborhood's edge


• Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park on Auburn Avenue


• Spend an afternoon at Historic Fourth Ward Park's pond and skate park


• Browse the food hall and shops at Ponce City Market


• Tour the neighborhood's shotgun houses, Victorian cottages, and Craftsman bungalows

Ponce City Market and Getting Around

At the neighborhood's northern edge, Ponce City Market occupies the former Sears, Roebuck and Company building, a 2.1 million square foot structure completed in 1926 that later served as Atlanta's City Hall East before Jamestown redeveloped it into today's mix of shops, a food hall, offices, and residences, completed in 2014. The building sits where the BeltLine crosses Ponce de Leon Avenue, linking the neighborhood on foot to both the Eastside Trail and the Freedom Park Trail. The MARTA Green Line's North Avenue station serves the western edge, while Freedom Parkway and Boulevard carry most car traffic through the area.

Dining and Nightlife on Edgewood Avenue

Edgewood Avenue has grown into one of the neighborhood's main dining and nightlife corridors, lined with restaurants, bars, and music venues inside older storefronts. Ponce City Market's food hall adds another concentration of dining at the neighborhood's northern edge, and the streets around Sweet Auburn continue to host restaurants and small businesses tied to the corridor's long commercial history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Old Fourth Ward located in Atlanta?

Old Fourth Ward sits just northeast of Downtown Atlanta, bordered by Piedmont Avenue, Ponce de Leon Avenue, the Atlanta BeltLine, and the area around Oakland Cemetery.

Is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Old Fourth Ward?

Yes. The park sits along the Auburn Avenue corridor known as Sweet Auburn, within Old Fourth Ward, and includes Dr. King's birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the King Center.

Does the Atlanta BeltLine run through Old Fourth Ward?

The BeltLine's Eastside Trail runs along the neighborhood's eastern edge and connects directly to Historic Fourth Ward Park, giving residents walking and biking access toward Piedmont Park and other intown neighborhoods.

What is Ponce City Market?

Ponce City Market is a mixed-use development inside the former 1926 Sears, Roebuck building at the neighborhood's northern edge, combining retail, a food hall, offices, and residences.

What styles of homes are found in Old Fourth Ward?

The neighborhood includes shotgun houses and Victorian-era cottages, Craftsman bungalows from the early twentieth century, and a growing number of renovated homes and new construction near the BeltLine.

How far is Old Fourth Ward from SRA Signature Realty's Tucker office?

The drive covers roughly fifteen to eighteen miles, generally by way of Interstate 285 and Interstate 85 or along the more direct US-78 and Ponce de Leon Avenue corridor.