Celebrating the East Side

When a neighborhood is growing, it finds all kinds of ways to celebrate. So, why not throw a parade?

It must have started about 4 years ago that we saw the signs of a growing and flourishing neighborhood in East Lake. It's a beautiful place. Some of the streets are decked on either side with what you might call "Granny Houses." Many of us had a grandmother who lived in one of these Post-War era box cottages or salt boxes. These were the garden homes of yesterday, the perfect neighborhoods for young families. Sidewalks along the soft rolling slope of the streets and the closely nestled homes gave a feeling of coziness and safety. Interspersed with the post-war homes are tudors, bungalows and craftsman style houses, offering diversity for the eye that new postage-stamp suburban settlements can't provide. Not to mention that these homes were built with yesterday's craftsmanship, a trade that has largely fallen by the way in this era of geterdone quick-like developing.

Now, with the expansion of Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, which overlooks the entire neighborhood and separates it from Irondale, a whole new dynamic is coming into play. And what's more, the home prices are still in that first-time buyer pricepoint, a sweet spot for the young folks who are ready to claim some space of their own but want to remain in the city. Ten years ago, that neighborhood was Crestwood, but now Crestwood has come into its own and finally outpriced most of Birmingham's young up and comers.

Additionally, there is Keep East Lake Weird, an official neighborhood group that is pushing to attract artists and GLBT into the neighborhood in an authentic way. KELW has been working to establish the area as the East Lake Arts District, a label that expresses both intent and vision for KELW. On East Lake Arts District's Trulia page, they describe the neighborhood as "ethnic and orientation diverse." The push for this group began sometime around January of this year and will culminate on December 13th's Purple House Parade.

This "parade" is designed to showcase the three most compelling things about the neighborhood to potential buyers - artists, musicians, and the attractive, affordable housing. In each home on the real-estate tour will be an area artist or musician, helping to showcase the culture of the neighborhood. The Purple House Parade is, if nothing else, a giant celebration of neighborhood pride.

Among other real-estate companies and agents present that day will be the impressive power house and husband-wife home rehab team, Rollins-Crawford Properties. Rollins-Crawford is a project of pure passion that is showcased in their immaculate home redos. The work of this team is beyond a simple fix and flip. Rather, they give homes a more intense workover, revealing original architectural details, tastefully modernizing the fixtures, and making sure that they are turning over a house that is move-in ready. From new plumbing and a new roof to cosmetic make-overs, this team is putting their heart and soul into each house. Once they are ready to show a house, they stage it with a giant backstock of furniture and accessories, warming up their hard work with finishing touches. Their version of an open house, in Margaret Crawford's words, is to "just have a big party," complete with wine and snacks, to celebrate their accomplishment and show it off to neighbors and friends. Sometimes they even sell the house before the party is over.

Another area agent with an unlimited source of energy for East Lake real estate is Realty South's Paige Patterson. Patterson's name seems to be on 60% of the neighborhood's listings, her name now synonymous with her catch phrases, "Performance" and "Immaculate."

To be clear, these agents are also East Lake residents. And this isn't Mountain Brook or Homewood. In other words, they aren't exactly coming away with giant commissions from these sales, yet they are extremely passionate and devoted to their efforts. The Purple House Parade is, if nothing else, a giant celebration of neighborhood pride.

Houses on the tour range in style from Spanish Mission to Tudor and Bunglow to Mid-Century and are priced from $44,000 to $189,000. Rollins-Crawford will also have their retail spaces on the corner of Rugby and 81st open for the tour. Being that I'm a resident of the area of myself, I can't wait to check out the parade on Sunday.

Rollins-Crawford 4th Avenue House