Sorry For the Festival Goers!!!

It's doing something we really, really need in Atlanta....BAD! Raining! Like, for two days now! It's so strange, we had forgot what it was like! So here I sit, finding time to blog (note last date I got a posting on here...not good!)

But is also really sucks (sorry, best word I could use) for those people attending the Earth Day Event at Glenwood Park on Saturday or the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes Saturday and Sunday! I was looking forward to venturing out! We had a break in the rain, a slight peek of sunshine, so I grabbed the ladder and cleaned the gutters (I'm at my house today, not in the condo) and yes, I always remember to clean my gutters once I see all the water pour out of them instead of down the downspout....oh well!

This is my pond at the house....one of the reasons I keep my house AND my Midtown Condo...it's kind of a zel-like retreat from he hustle and bustle...and not a 90 minute drive to the mountains either! Mind you, it does not look quite that good right now from a lack of maintenance, so will be working on that in the coming weeks, to bring it back to life. UGH!...it took me forever to get the water right last time!

Anyway, we had the Midtown Tour of Homes the first weekend in May. We had rain on Saturday, but still had about 175 people visit the home where I was at. Sunday, we kicked butt with almost 400 people coming through! Yippie! The Tour of homes is a fund raiser for the Midtown Neighbors' Association, of which I am a member of the Board of Directors and Chair the Membership Committee.

This was the house where we were House Captains....a great example of a home rescued from a recking ball, and restored to all it's glory!

I love the historic part of Midtown, and when it makes sense, both financially, and physically, I like to see these homes preserved. It sure makes for a great evening walk through the tree lined streets...and then we can head back to our "home in the sky at Plaza Midtown!

Sorry For the Festival Goers! I'm getting my desk cleaned up!

Atlanta Among Top 5 U.S. Cities For Job Growth!

CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY!!!

There are all kinds of reasons to move to Atlanta, Georgia.

Weather.....we have all kinds, hot, cold, wet, dry, mild, severe.

People....we have all kinds, and I will leave it at that!

Things To Do.... From Piedmont Park, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Stone Mountain, Shop Till you Drop Malls, North Georgia Mountains

Traffic....well, no, don't move here for that....unless you want to live in Midtown Atlanta...then you don't have to worry about it at all!!

But most of all, we are one of the Top 5 Cities in the US for Job growth! How cool is that! Come here, move here, enjoy everything we have to offer, and we'll even get you a cool job in the process!!

Now, of course, when you move someplace like Atlanta, you gotta have somebody that knows the ins and outs and where to live, right? Guess who that would be!!

So, come on down, and let us show you Midtown Atlanta -- Manhattan of the South!

You'll be glad you did!!

The Residences of Aqua Midtown

The Residences of Aqua Midtown

Introducing a New Standard of Condominium Living to Midtown Atlanta!

A living environment that is monumental and airy,

forward looking yet timeless!

The Residences of Aqua Midtown feature every conceivable amenity, including gracious, expansive living space -- the most valuable amenity of all.

A limited selection of City Residences is available for Immediate Occupancy!

The moment you arrive, you know this is what Midtown living is all about. From the valet who glides your car into the private garage, to the glistening lobby with your concierge who has your tickets for the Fox Theatre, living at The Residences of Aqua Midtown is above all else.

A radiant new landmark, set in the midst of Atlanta’s vibrant Midtown District, The Residences of Aqua Midtown are sophisticated and sublime – a rare combination of first-class service, a spectacular setting and suburb amenities. Step into your private elevator which lifts you away from the hustle and bustle, and opens directly into your residence. From your vantage point at Aqua Midtown, the lights of Midtown sparkle through your window walls. Attention to detail is visible in the rich hardwood flooring and cabinetry. Viking appliances and Kohler fixtures set a standard you’ll appreciate. Each home is a tranquil, in-city retreat high above the vibrancy of the city below.

Designed for those who truly appreciate in-city living, you are just steps from shopping, dining at some of Atlanta’s best restaurants, or take in the latest theatre production at the Fox Theatre.

For your Private Showing of these Exclusive Residences, Please contact:

Thomas Abbott, GRI, Associate Broker

The Thom And Ray Team @ Morris & Raper InTown Real Estate

770-713-1505 Direct

404-228-2691 Office

Midtown To Host 5th Annual Tour of Homes

Midtown Neighbors' Association (MNA) will host the 5th Annual Tour Of Homes, April 5-6, 2008. As in the past, the Tour will feature a variety of homes that are what make Midtown such a unique place to live.

From modern high-rise condominiums to single family homes constructed in the early 1900's, the Tour is an annual delight in Midtown.

Additionally, various "points of interest" are often included on the tour. They might include a local church, school or other unique site that visitors to Midtown might otherwise miss.

Tickets will be available soon at the Tour Website. Later ticket outlets will include Outwrite Bookstore at 10th and Piedmont, and the Presenting Sponsors, Morris & Raper InTown Real Estate. Our company is pleased to be a part of this great event! It truly gives people the chance to see what "living" in Midtown is like. Many of the ticket sales for the tour are from OTP (Outside the Perimeter)

Additionally, I serve on the Board of Directors for MNA as the Membership Chairman. MNA is a not-for-profit association, completely managed and operated by volunteers (like myself, giving some 20+ hours a month to the organization) with the goal of making Midtown a better place to live.

The proceeds raised from the Tour are reinvested back into the neighborhood for projects that include everything from installing additional street lights, funding private security patrols, purchasing trash cans, neighborhood cleanups, and other neighborhood events. MNA is also the only organization officially recognized by the city which gives the neighbors a voice "at the table" when issues come up.

So mark your calendars and join us and see what Midtown Atlanta is all about! Make sure you bring your appetite...we have lots of great restaurants, some which are sure to be Tour Sponsors and maybe offering Tour specials!

The Proposed Peachtree Street Car

Already 2 or more years in the making (or study process), the Peachtree Street Car is making tracks (no pun intended) towards becoming a reality! The task force issued their findings in March, 2007, and now they are seeking public input into the proposed Street Car. What is it going to look like? This is a picture of the Portland, Oregon Streetcar, and the same type that could be gliding up and down Peachtree Street between 16th Street in Midtown and Downtown within 6 years. (Hey, nobody said we do everything fast in the South, right?)

I attended the first of 4 public meetings that are being held (actually now only 2 left as two of them were today, and the others will be next week and the following week in Midtown. Here is that meeting information:

Wednesday, January 16, 6-8 p.m. AT&T Midtown 2 Building,

725 West Peachtree Street AT&T: (404) 888-0349

Tuesday, January 22, 6-8 p.m. First Presbyterian Church,

1328 Peachtree Street, N.E. First Presbyterian: (404) 892-8461

The meeting will cover the vision of the Street Car, where it initially will go, how long it will take to build and become operational, and MOST importantly, the proposed funding to build it! The current proposed funding will have a long term impact on anyone who lives or owns a business in the proposed special assessment district.

I hope to see many of my neighbors there!

First and foremost, let me say to everyone.....

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Secondly, yes, I have been very absent from blogging! I think it's an awesome part of the Internet. I've just been having a challenge working the time into my weekly schedule to blog on a regular basis....as you can see from the date of my last blog! It's not the New Year yet, and you can call it a resolution if you want, but in 2008,

I WILL BLOG!!!!

My Christmas Eve was a quiet one...at home with my partner watching movies. We are like most people, we watch movies for entertainment. Sometimes, you'll watch a movie that has a message you can truly relate to, and want to carry on! I always judge a movie by whether I would watch it twice, or pay to own the DVD. Last night, I found a keeper! It's called The Ultimate Gift....I encourage you to rent it, buy it and watch it! Once you do, I think you will know why I think it's such a great movie!


Let Me know What you Think!

My family is all in Montana....so no white Christmas here in Atlanta! (Altho we did have a bit of sleet this morning...whoopie!!!) I was home back in September, so it was good to see everyone then.

Many times, the holidays can be a depressing time for people. There is the pressure of parties, buying gifts, traveling, being alone. I'm thankful to spend my time with someone I love! And The Ultimate Gift made me realize that I need to be more thankful of the little things in life, and as I read the other day in an article...."Make sure you are participant in life, not a spectator." I take that to mean, get out, and enjoy life! Don't sweat the small stuff!

Not much to say today! Just hope you are having a great time...whether it be with family, friends or loved ones! Just take time to enjoy them...savor the moments, the look on a family members face when they open that gift, the smell of the turkey in the oven (I can smell mine now!) a time for peace.

Merry Christmas!!

Spire Midtown A Condominium Community

In various posts here, I want to introduce you to the various "vertical communities" with in the Midtown Neighborhood. If you have not had an opportunity to "see inside" these buildings, I hope I'll be able to give you that look. Also, if you are considering Midtown Atlanta for your next home, don't forget stop by our website for more information!


Spire Midtown arrived at 860 Peachtree Street in 2005. It was the first new high-rise construction since The Metropolis was built in 2002.(I'll talk about Metropolis in a future blog!) And what a hit it was! The building sold out in a record 3 weeks time! In fact, when I bought my condo there, I had to lean against the wall in the Sales Center and sign my contract on my leg....it was that busy!

Standing 28 stories tall, the views from Spire are awesome. Of course, the higher you are, the better the view! The building features studio, 1 and 2 bedroom homes. The floorplans are unique in that all 1 bedroom homes do not have bedroom doors or floor to ceiling walls. 2 bedroom homes do have doors and full walls. But this makes for some great decorating options! The sizes of the homes range from 606 sq ft to over 1200 sq ft.

When you arrive in the lobby, one is taken back to an art-deco hotel in Miami Beach (I'm always looking for the ocean!) There is a concierge 24 hours a day, but the building has a unique security system in that you can only access your floor, the amenities floor and the parking garage.

Inside the building, the 2-story Club Room is located on the 7th & 8th Floors. It features fireplaces, pool table, Internet stations, catering kitchen, areobics room, weight room and cardio room. Just to the right of this picture is the pool deck.





Spire offers its residents convenience with the street-level retail area. Currently, Fresh To Order, Firehouse Subs, Fune Sushi Restaurant and Midtown Community Bank are some of the services available.





No visit to Spire would be complete without a glimpse of one of the homes.....

Spire is in the Heart of Midtown's Miracle Mile...a mile long shopping district that is still coming along, but will be awesome once completed! Be sure to click on the link to learn more about it!

If you are considering making Midtown Atlanta your home, then consider Spire Midtown. I'd be delighted to show you a variety of homes currently For Sale!