Mechanicsville, Atlanta

Neighborhood of Atlanta in Fulton, Georgia, United States

33°44′22″N 84°23′56″W / 33.73948°N 84.39888°W / 33.73948; -84.39888CountryUnited StatesStateGeorgiaCountyFultonGovernment

• TypeNeighborhood of AtlantaTime zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)ZIP codes

30314

Mechanicsville is a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. It sits just south of downtown Atlanta.

The neighborhood is bounded by:

I-20 on the north, across which is Castleberry Hill and Downtown Atlanta
the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector on the east, across which are Summerhill and Peoplestown
the Southern Railway lines on the southwest, across which is Pittsburgh

Mechanicsville is in NPU V.^[1]

History

Mechanicsville is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Atlanta. The neighborhood sprang up in the late 19th century, adjacent to several railroad lines just south of downtown. The name "Mechanicsville" comes from the "mechanics" that worked on the railway lines. It was once a vibrant multiethnic community with working class blacks and middle class whites, and home to several prominent merchant families, including the Rich family, of department store fame. Mechanicsville was established in 1870. The mural in the background displays this information from an artists work.

The neighborhood went into heavy decline caused by out migration of many middle class families to the suburbs, rampant crime, and the construction of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and the nearby interstate highways.

Since the 2010s, Mechanicsville has undergone major revitalization due to its proximity to Downtown and Midtown. Middle class families and individuals are moving back to the neighborhood, many abandoned and damaged homes have been renovated by investors, new constructed homes are growing in the neighborhood, economic development has improved, property values are steadily increasing, and racial diversity is on the rise again.^[2]^[3]

Education

Atlanta Public Schools serves Mechanicsville. Neighborhood Charter School serves Mechanicsville.

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Mechanicsville Branch.^[4]

Neighborhood associations

The neighborhood organization is the Mechanicsville Civic Association and the Citizens Association of Mechanicsville. This CDC, SUMMECH, develops and implements strategies for revitalization of the neighborhood.

In popular culture

In the film ATL, the main characters, Rashad (played by rapper T.I.) and Ant (played by actor Evan Ross), both lived in Mechanicsville.

Big Gee of Boyz n da Hood was born in Mechanicsville and currently lives there.

References

^ City of Atlanta Online Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
^ https://saportareport.com/in-remaking-part-of-mechanicsville-the-future-may-lie-in-the-past/columnists/johnruch/
^ https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/townhomes-south-downtown-mechanicsville-for-sale-images
^ "Mechanicsville Branch." Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.