DREW VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD
Drew Valley is a deceptively large neighborhood in Brookhaven tucked off Dresden Road right across from Ashford Park. There are over 750 homes in the neighborhood. Homes range from the original 3 bed 1 bath mid century ranches to new custom homes that are 4,000 square feet or larger. In the 1990s, Drew Valley won the award for Dekalb County neighborhood of the year!
Drew Valley enjoys various benefits, including walking distance to shops and restaurants along Dresden, international restaurants and grocery stores along Buford Highway, and easy accessibility to MARTA.
Drew Valley is a wonderful walking neighborhood with an abundance of wildlife. Residents regularly see deer traveling along the creeks as well as owls, hawks, and possum. Residents might even see an occasional squirrel …
About Drew Valley
After its development in the 1950s, Drew Valley was in an unincorporated area in North Atlanta. In 2012, that changed when the area became Brookhaven, DeKalb County’s 11th city.
While Brookhaven has emerged as a sought after neighborhood in Atlanta, it has retained its spirit as a sanctuary for wildlife, trees, and nature lovers.
Nestled in the heart of Brookhaven, Drew Valley is a welcoming neighborhood of approximately 710 homes known for its mature trees, large lots, winding creeks, and family-friendly atmosphere. Conveniently located inside I-285 with easy access to MARTA, I-85, GA-400, and Peachtree Dekalb Airport, Drew Valley offers a balance of intown convenience, nature retreat, and neighborhood charm.
History: Drew Valley in the 1950s
Drew Valley’s roots date back to the 1950s, when it was developed alongside sister neighborhood, Wawona Forest, during Atlanta’s growth after World War II. Originally built to provide quality housing for workers of the GM Doraville plant (now, home to the state-of-the-art studio complex Assembly Atlanta), the neighborhood has evolved while maintaining a sense of community.
In 1954, Norwood Realty began developing the Drew Valley neighborhood along with its sister subdivision Wawona Forest. Combined, the neighborhoods consist of approximately 800 households. Most of the homes were originally constructed as 1,300 to 1,500 square-foot brick cottages or ranches. These original homes were typically constructed as 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath homes with hardwood floors and spacious yards.
Today, Drew Valley is home to a diverse mix of original homes, renovated properties, and newly built residences. Families are drawn to the neighborhood’s atmosphere, highly regarded schools, and location.
Area History
Previously, a wilderness area occupied by ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) and Mvskoke (Muscogee) nations, it has become a unique place to live. Although Drew Valley is filled with trees, creeks, and wildlife, it offers everything that Atlanta has to offer via the Brookhaven MARTA subway station, internationally renowned Buford Highway, and popular Peachtree Road.
The area’s first permanent European settler was John Evans, who started a plantation around 1810. The area was settled later by the Goodwin family from South Carolina, who became owners of the tract of land on both sides of what is now Peachtree Road in the early 1830s. In 1864, The Goodwin House was a landmark for Federal troops closing in on Atlanta during the Civil War. Goodwin descendants owned the property until the early 2000s. The Goodwin’s antebellum home and a small graveyard in which they are buried remained at 3931 Peachtree Road until 2016, when it was relocated to an unnamed site.
North Atlanta in the 20th Century
Too far away from Atlanta for a daily commute, Atlanta residents began constructing summer cottages in the North Atlanta area around 1900. In 1910, 150 acres on the west side of Peachtree Road was bought by the Mechanical and Manufacturers Club for a golf club to be called Brookhaven. The course, which encircles a large lake and is surrounded by woods, was laid out by Herbert Barker, a golf pro from Garden City, Long Island. The original course consisted of nine holes. One of Atlanta’s most exclusive private clubs, the club became part of the downtown Capital City Club circa 1911 and became known as the Capital City Country Club.
Brookhaven’s Oglethorpe University, a private liberal arts college founded in 1835, moved to its present location along Peachtree Road in 1915. It officially changed from a college to a university in 1965 and the campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school’s Conant Performing Arts Center offers concerts and classical and modern theater productions.
