Avondale Estates Real Estate

Avondale Estates

Avondale Estates is a small city in DeKalb County just east of Decatur, covering a little over one square mile. From SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker, reaching Avondale Estates generally means following Lawrenceville Highway (US 29) or East Ponce de Leon Avenue southwest through Clarkston, a drive of about 8 miles that typically takes 12 to 15 minutes.

A Planned English Village

Avondale Estates traces its origin to 1924, when developer George Willis purchased the small community then known as Ingleside with plans to build something different from a typical Georgia town. Inspired by a trip he and his wife had taken to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Willis modeled the new city's design on an English village, choosing Tudor-Revival architecture for its downtown storefronts and public buildings. The city was incorporated in 1927, and downtown Avondale Estates still carries the half-timbered facades, steep gables, and brick-and-stucco detailing that defined Willis's original vision. The city's Historic Preservation Commission continues to review changes within the historic district to keep that architectural character intact.

Tudor Cottages and a Compact, Walkable City

Housing in Avondale Estates reflects the same era as its downtown, with many streets lined by Tudor Revival and English cottage-style homes built during the 1920s and 1930s on well-established, tree-shaded lots. Because the city covers just over a square mile, most homes sit within an easy walk or bike ride of downtown, and the compact street grid Willis laid out nearly a century ago still shapes how the community feels today.

Lake Avondale and the Rail Arts District

Lake Avondale offers a quiet walking spot near the heart of the city, with granite outcroppings visible along its shoreline. The city's Town Green, developed in phases beginning in 2022, has become a central gathering space for concerts, markets, and city events, with an adjacent mixed-use project called The Dale adding restaurant and retail space along its edge. Just outside downtown, the Rail Arts District is a roughly one-mile corridor along the CSX rail line linking Avondale Estates and Decatur, home to working studios for pottery, glass, metalwork, and other media that residents can visit on foot.

Getting Around

Lawrenceville Highway (US 29) and East College Avenue are the main routes through Avondale Estates, connecting the city to Decatur to the west and Clarkston and Stone Mountain to the east. Interstate 285 lies a short distance to the north, giving residents a quick connection to the rest of the metro highway system. The Avondale MARTA station, on the Blue Line, sits just outside the city and offers rail service into Decatur and Downtown Atlanta.

Dining, Shopping, and Local Culture

Downtown Avondale Estates has built a reputation around its small but active dining and craft beer scene, with taprooms including Wild Heaven, Little Cottage Brewery, and Lost Druid drawing visitors along what locals call the city's ale trail. My Parents' Basement, a bar and comic shop, and a handful of coffee shops and small restaurants round out the walkable downtown. The city is also home to the original Waffle House building at 2719 East College Avenue, where the first Waffle House opened on Labor Day in 1955; the building now operates as a small museum. AutumnFest, held each fall, brings art, music, and vendors to the Town Green as one of the city's signature annual events.

• Downtown's Tudor-Revival storefronts and Town Green


• Walking or biking to Lake Avondale


• Sampling the local ale trail at Wild Heaven, Little Cottage, and Lost Druid


• Browsing studios in the Rail Arts District


• Touring the original Waffle House Museum


• Attending AutumnFest each fall

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Avondale Estates located?

Avondale Estates sits in DeKalb County just east of Decatur, covering a little over one square mile, with Clarkston and Stone Mountain further to the east.

How far is Avondale Estates from SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker?

It's about 8 miles, generally a 12 to 15 minute drive along Lawrenceville Highway (US 29) or East Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Why does downtown Avondale Estates look like an English village?

Developer George Willis designed the city in 1924 after a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, choosing Tudor-Revival architecture for downtown's storefronts and public buildings.

What kind of homes are typical in Avondale Estates?

Most homes date to the 1920s and 1930s and reflect Tudor Revival and English cottage styles, set on tree-shaded lots within the city's compact, walkable street grid.

Is Avondale Estates served by MARTA?

Yes. The Avondale MARTA station on the Blue Line sits just outside the city and connects to Decatur and Downtown Atlanta.

What is there to do in Avondale Estates?

Residents can walk to Lake Avondale, visit the Town Green for concerts and markets, explore the Rail Arts District's studios, and spend time at downtown restaurants and breweries along the local ale trail.