Talk of the Town - Lakewood Heights October 28 2000

Nana Nyakro often imagines historic Lakewood Heights’ past and “dreams about what Lakewood Heights can become.” After years of neglect, the neighborhood, which is filled with older homes and friendly people, is on its way to again becoming a “beautiful place to live, work and play,” says Nyakro. Lured by beautiful houses at affordable prices, enthusiastic people have recently been moving to Lakewood Heights. Nyakro knows how alluring the neighborhood’s historic houses can be. When she relocated from New York five years ago, she fell in love with a large, tree-shaded Victorian house built in 1918. The house now serves as her home and her holistic health center. The health center is devoted to inner-city populations, making Lakewood Heights — with its “unique flavor” and diversity — a perfect location to set up shop.
Nyakro is committed to the continued improvement of the neighborhood she loves and wants everyone to know about its history. At Nyakro’s urging, and with the help of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Lakewood Heights recently completed its application to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
David Collins, president of the Lakewood Heights Civic Association, shares Nyakro’s passion for the neighborhood. The urban feel of Lakewood Heights as well as its proximity to downtown drew Collins to the area. He is amazed that he is a mile from downtown but still has a yard full of pecan trees.
Because of the neighborhood’s reputation for crime, Collins says he “took some risk” when he moved to Lakewood Heights. However, in the nine years he has lived in the neighborhood he has seen safety improve dramatically. These days when Collins looks around he sees “lots of educated, hard-working people who enjoy the area and enjoy each other.”
The influx of new residents pleases Collins. As president of the Civic Association, Collins encourages growth and improvement in the neighborhood but also wants to avoid the gentrification that has disrupted other intown neighborhoods. One way the neighborhood hopes to maintain its diversity is to improve longtime residents’ low rate of home ownership. Many people rent their homes instead of purchasing them. The Civic Association’s plan is beginning to bear fruit. In recent years the number of owner-occupied homes in Lakewood Heights, as well as the value of the homes, has steadily increased.