Harriet Blank tried living in an active adult community outside of Atlanta, but she craved city life.
By purchasing in Buckhead, she moved closer to museums and shopping and found art and pottery classes plus volunteer opportunities. Black, 67, and a former real estate agent in New York, chatted about her search and condo.
Q: Where were you previously living and why did you move?
A: I lived in Sun City Peachtree (in Griffin). I’m from Brooklyn Heights by the Brooklyn Bridge. I wanted to be in a more metropolitan setting. I planted a beautiful garden in the back. But it takes a lot of work to keep it up. I wanted to get rid of the responsibility of the outside.
Q: Were you downsizing?
A: I had a 2,200-square-foot house. I was looking for something about 1,200 square feet. But when I saw this (the 1,720-square-foot condo) I thought, “Wow, I like the way this is laid out.” It’s so open and roomy. Then they dropped the price (to the low $200,000s), so that was it.
Q: How did you start looking?
A: I followed the market for about six months to get an idea of where things were and the prices. As I got older, I wanted an area that had more infrastructure (such as transportation) and all of the various art classes and art museums. I have been a member of the High (Museum of Art) for years. I wanted also to donate some of my time to a charity, maybe a battered women’s shelter.
Q: What were some must-haves as you looked at a condo?
A: I wanted a building with an elevator. I wanted a garage under the house. I wanted two bedrooms, two baths.
Q: What was interesting about the layout?
A: It’s the top floor and a corner unit. It has an 18-foot terrace with three sliding doors. It’s narrow, but it’s long. That’s enough outdoor space for me. The layout has a split plan, which I wanted because when the kids come down. They have their own private area. I made the dining area into an office. I have a dining area right outside the kitchen. I only need one. In my other house I never used the dining room.
Q: What changes did you make?
A: In this kitchen, I put in the new long porcelain tiles that look like travertine. I put in a glass and stone backsplash and painted the kitchen. I took some of the fixtures from my house and put them in here.
Q: What advice do you give senior buyers?
A: You are far better off as you age, especially single, to get a condo than a house because it’s less responsibility. And (find) a place where you have infrastructure. In case you can’t drive anymore, you can get a car service. If you can’t shop, you can call in and get things delivered.
At a Glance
Harriet Blank’s condo, built in 1987, has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and about 1,720 square feet of living space. She purchased it in February, assisted by Melody Harrison with Coldwell Banker Buckhead. Condos in The Richmond are priced from mid $100,000s to low $200,000s.
