Cascade Heights

Live here? Post photos, update information, and join the conversation!

The Cascade Heights Neighborhood

Cascade Heights

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Cascade Heights is an affluent predominantly African-American neighborhood in southwest Atlanta. Along with Sandtown and other portions of unincorporated South Fulton County, the area has a reputation as having a high concentration of the African-American elite in the city.

Cascade Heights, or simply Cascade, can refer to a large area that is bound by I-20, on the north, I-285 on the west, South Utoy Creek on the south, and the Adams Park and Beecher Hills neighborhoods to the east. By this definition, this area also includes neighborhoods such as Peyton Forest, West Manor, and Mangum Manor to name a few. This situation can be paralleled to Midtown's role in Northeast Atlanta; each neighborhood is separate and distinct but the area is still known by one generic name.

[edit] History

In the early 1960s the area was a predominantly white neighborhood. During the integration movement however, a practice called blockbusting occurred. Property in the neighborhood was purchased, and multiple families of African-Americans would move in, lowering the property values. Realtors stirred up the racial tension by calling residents of the area, scaring them about lowered property values, and offering to list their property. Sunday afternoons became a traffic jam of cars full of African-Americans shopping for homes. In 1962 Mayor Ivan Allen, urged by whites in southwest Atlanta (in particular, one of his high-level employees who lived right off Peyton Road), authorized the construction of a concrete barrier that closed Cascade Heights from the Peyton Road access for black home seekers from nearby Gordon Road. The incident, later known as the Peyton Road affair, drew national attention and caused newspapers around the country to question Atlanta's motto, "the City Too Busy to Hate." The "Atlanta wall," as some newspapers called it, was ruled unconstitutional by the courts and was torn down. This event is also credited in part for helping to spur the growth and prominence of Collier Heights, which is the first affluent community in the nation built by and for African-Americans. Collier Heights, founded in 1948, was recently entered onto the National Registry of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

After that incident, by the late 60's the neighborhood transitioned into an affluent predominantly African-American neighborhood located on the southwest side of Atlanta, Georgia. It is adjacent to the Historic Collier Heights neighborhood, another affluent predominately African American community in the Northwest side of Atlanta, along with West End. For the past decade, Atlanta’s Cascade community has been expanding westward with new subdivisions and shopping centers. It resembles any other upper-middle-class suburb, with the exception being that nearly all of its residents are African-American. Notable residents of Cascade Heights include: former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, baseball legend Hank Aaron, former UN Ambassador and mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young, and past national president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and founding member of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Ozell Sutton, and Dr. Howard W. Grant,current Executive Director/Administrator of the Atlanta Board of Education

Find a Property Manager

Get a free quote from a local property manager.

Discussions

Start New

Join the conversation! Find all of the latest neighborhood issues and concerns.

Crime In Zone 3

Please Give Your Views As to Whether or Not You Feel Safe In Your Neighborhood and Things That You Think Can Be Improved To Make Our Neighborhood Safer. Thank You. All Items Will Be Kept Confidential... more
Started: March 7th 2007Replies: 12

Priorities for

What are the five most important issues that improve the quality of life for elderly adults.   Should these issues be considered by voters in Atlanta's 2017  municipal  elections. more
Started: July 22nd 2017Replies: 0

Waste and Recycle Can Cleaning

I wanted to let our neighbors know about this company we started using a couple weeks ago. We were looking for a service that cleans the trash cans that are smell from high heaven. This company comes... more
Started: June 26th 2016Replies: 0

Cascade Heights Real Estate and Home Values

See the Latest Real Estate Information about this Neighborhood

Instant Home Value

Why Is My Basement Damp?
Leak_th Why Is My Basement Damp? The source of your problem could be a water leak or high humidity. Both can lead to mold, mildew, or other biological growth. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead...

Neighborhood Resource Guide

Find essential information for homeowners, associations, and the community.
Taking Off With Frequent Flyer Miles
Ff1sm Learn how to accumulate frequent flyer miles and when to cash in for that free flight. Everyone is a fan of a free flight. But what’s the best way to accumulate points towards that free ticket? And when ...
Tags: CommunityTravelStaff Pick
What is a Personal Reimbursement Assessment?
Bill As the mail comes, you sort through the envelopes and packages like you always do. Then you see one letter in particular, from your HOA. After opening it, you find an unpleasant financial statement page...
Advertise Here!

Promote Your Business or Product for $10/mo

istockphoto_12477899-big-head.jpg

For just $10/mo you can promote your business or product directly to nearby residents. Buy 12 months and save 50%!

Buynow
Free HOA Newsletter!
Instant Home Value!