Condo of the Week: Oakland Park: A new view of her own

“I was used to renting,” says Aiesha Bridges, 25, a teacher at Haynes Bridge Middle School in Fulton County. “But my family and my boyfriend said, ‘This is the time to buy.’ I was hesitant, but my real estate agent, Alicia Govia, said, ‘Let’s go look at some places.’ We looked for a month and saw 12 to 15 properties. I knew Oakland Park was the right choice. I’ve always wanted to live the New York City life, but not live in New York City, and this is it. And I’m paying the same amount for my mortgage as I was for rent.”

Her home: In June, Bridges moved into a one-bedroom condo. “It has 10-foot ceilings and a nice-size balcony overlooking Boulevard. There are granite countertops in the kitchen and bathroom and stainless steel appliances. “My bedroom and living room both have one wall that is a window, so there’s tons of natural light. The fitness center is a few floors down, so there’s no excuse not to work out,” she said.

Eco-friendly: “My electricity bill has been 25 percent lower than it was in my last apartment, and the dual-flush toilet helps with conserving water, especially [important] considering Georgia’s drought situation. I teach earth science, so we talk about conservation all the time. What better way to practice what I teach than to move into an eco-friendly building?”

It’s really secure: “There’s secured key entry for the building, elevator and garage.”

The rooftop: “The rooftop view is the best ever. It’s like a postcard up there. It’s a full panoramic view of Atlanta, ranging from downtown to the top of Stone Mountain.”

And a great deal: “The big reason I can afford such an awesome place in downtown Atlanta was that I received a subsidy to assist me with my purchase.” Bridges’ home was the 100th affordable unit to be subsidized by the city of Atlanta’s Eastside Tax Allocation District (TAD) Affordable Housing Purchase Program. The one-bedroom unit she bought cost $200,000, but with the TAD program and other affordable-housing subsidies, she had to finance only $112,000 of that herself. “This entire experience and opportunity has been nothing but a blessing,” she said.

Oakland Park

Address: 563 Memorial Drive, Atlanta

County: Fulton

Information: 404-688-0300; www.oaklandparkatlanta.com

Price range: $160,000s to $450,000s

Year built: 2007

Standard features: bamboo floors, eco-friendly tile and paint, energy-efficient appliances, large picture windows; carpet that meets the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program in bedrooms; EcoCycle porcelain stone tiles; high-efficiency heating and cooling units, Energy Star appliances; dual-flush toilets; low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives were used throughout the homes.

Amenities: fitness center; gated secure parking garage; secure lobby entrance; sundeck and terrace on the roof; one of the first condo residences in Atlanta to offer on-site recycling for residents.

Number of units: 65

Square footage: 688 to 1,424 square feet

Association fee: 24 cents per square foot per month; initiation fee of two months’ HOA monthly fee; covers maintenance of common areas and amenities

Broker: The Marketing Directors

Builder: Urban Realty Partners and Melaver Inc.

Schools: Cook Elementary, King Middle, Southside High schools

Directions from downtown Atlanta: Take I-75/I-85 north to Exit 248C (Freedom Parkway N.E./Ga. 10 E.). Turn right at Boulevard. Go 1 mile and turn right at Memorial Drive. Community is on the left.