Westside – Nia Knowles:Westside West End Westview Atlanta REALTOR

We like the breeze flow straight out of our lids

Them they got moved by these hard-rock Brooklyn kids
Us floor rush when the DJ’s booming classics
You, dig the crew on the fattest hip-hop records
He touch the kinks and sinks into the sounds
She frequents the fattest joints caught underground
Our funk zooms like you hit the Mary Jane
They flock to booms man boogie had to change
Who freaks the clips with mad amount percussion
Where kinky hair goes to unthought-of dimensions
Why’s it so fly cause hip-hop kept some drama
When Butterfly rocked his light blue-suede Pumas
What by the cut we push it off the corner
How was the buzz entire hip hop era
Was fresh and fat since they started saying outtie
Cause funks made fat from right beneath my hoodie
The poobah of the styles like Miles and shit
Like sixties funky worms with waves and perms
Just sendin’ chunky rhythms right down ya block
We be to rap what key be to lock

But
I’m cool like dat [x7]
I’m cool…I’m cool..

http://genius.com/Digable-planets-rebirth-of-slick-cool-like-dat-lyrics

Needless to say, I am in a reminiscent state. I would blame it on “Throw Back Thursday”, however I’ve been falling into this state every time I sit in our office on RDA and look out the window. It’s a bit emotional. I get emotional when I think of how far we (community, colleagues and myself) have come, in a short period of time. Reviewing the work done to get us here is even more overwhelming. However, the joggers on the Beltline, festivals in the parks and multiple offers on a single home have been the reward and just the tip of the iceberg.

Let me back up for those who are new to the Rebirth of my SW ATL..

2004

A trip home to Brooklyn NY, changed my life. I was very aware of the on going transformation in Harlem since the 90’s.

.. I saw it…I heard of it.. however, I did not live it since I didn’t frequent Harlem. It was something happening “over there”..as if Harlem was another Country and certainly something that would not impact me.

In the 90’s, I was comfortable living in Bed-Stuy. I had a 3rd floor Brownstone apartment , paying $800(all inclusive) a month and thinking THAT was too high since it was technically ONLY 1.5 bedrooms,a livingroom, eat in kitchen, hall and bathroom with skylights, walk thru his/her dressing area equipped with marble sinks and builtin dressers. How dare my 80yr old landlord share her old house with ONLY my 2 person family and expect us to pay all that?

Yup…Hindsight is 20/20.

During this trip home,a visit to 592 Decatur Street was priority as she was now 90, and had not seen my daughter in 3 years. It felt wonderful to really be home. I mean, truly home- with all the same sights, sounds, smells and yes, NY dirt I love. I was home and taking full advantage of everything. I had franks from the food CART (no truck needed to cart boiling water and buns), an authentic FRESHLY MADE Beef Patti from real Jamaicans (not the box from the supermarket), Gyro from the Gyro King off 34th St, a Hero sandwich from the corner Bodega (who already knew American cheese is suppose to be YELLOW) and a Mystic drink. Nothing disappointed me- it all was just as I had remembered and longed for.

Sitting on the stoop “people watching” was a nice evening pass time. Something I missed and still miss (Atlanta does not have stoops, most drive everywhere and if we had stoops, the mosquito’s would run us off!) However, there were many faces I did not recognize. My ex-landlord was quick to fill in the blanks with all the gossip (after all, she lived there over 50yrs and knew everything) “..she’s a doctor. That’s Ms. So& So daughter-she took over the house when her mom died, he’s the baby of the family-he’s grown now and has a wife home…” I didn’t mind listening one bit, she took pride in knowing and was happy that EVERYONE KNEW HER. I did notice some passing did not receive any recognition or introduction, despite their evening greeting. They were polished. A different race. And looked out of place, based on my memory of the street. Her only comment on this, “… Brooklyn is changing…like what they did in Harlem. My taxes have gone up…”

We were silent.

It was a sad moment for me to feel her unspoken fears. I did not know how to reassure her.

What could I possibly reassure? She was 90, I was 27. She lived longer and saw more.

Change is inevitable.

My return back to Atlanta was refreshing. I HATE to admit this, but I was tired after NY and welcomed the slower pace, a house with central AC and the stillness nightfall brought. I had come to find peace in the predictability of stores closing, transit stopping and people being indoors by a certain time.

But, my soul longed for a balance.

………to be continued next Throw Back Thursday

Have you searched your community online? If you’re reading this blog, I’m sure you have! Did you see more crime stats and warnings about your neighborhood opposed to the great things YOU know the community offers? If so, it’s time for YOU to get to Tweeting, Facebooking, Yelping and link that neighborhood into positive press!

Most of our communities on the Westside are in a redevelopment or revitalization stage. We are actively recruiting home buyers. With this in mind, did you know 88% of the people searching for a home review homes on the Internet FIRST. After they’ve found a home, what do you think they look for next? Of course, ‘information on the community’ the home resides in! It is important to spread the good news occurring within our communities; don’t let the MEDIA develop the image; WE live here! This is why I believe in writing positive reports and comments about the communities I serve in public forums.

It’s disappointing when communities do not maintain or have a website. What does this say about your neighborhood? Are you inactive and blighted? Not innovative but outdated? Disconnected and unconcerned about sharing your events? If you are disconnected and unconcerned, how safe can it be to live by you?

Here is a great solution, Neighborhood Link will host your website FREE. It’s “plug and play”- just enter the information and it’s already designed.

A few other great sites:

Patch, Everyblock

These sites are syndicated- which means they will be picked up in a search -yes, on google. The more you write- the positive press will move up in the search results.

Get to writing and see the difference you can make in your community!