Community events, like Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival, which runs April 28-29, can show families who are considering a move the type of activities they might enjoy in metro Atlanta’s different suburbs.
Michael and Tayrn Szweda, who were living in Austell, focused on Smyrna because of the convenience to Midtown and downtown Atlanta and after seeing other young families purchase homes there.
“I grew up in a community where there were kids in the neighborhood and you also ran around and played with them," said Michael, 34. "I think it just helps them grow up a little bit with social skills and being able to interact with other kids.”
The priority
As they looked at Smyrna neighborhoods, they searched for what they believed were two signs of a strong community: children playing outside and well-kept homes that demonstrate a sense of pride. They worked with Dee Williams and George Sullivan of Harry Norman, Realtors.
“The community was a main thing. We wanted the subdivision to be what we wanted to raise our family in,” said Tayrn, 30.
Inside the home, the Szwedas, who work in sales, sought space for two offices and a nursery for Sydney, who was born in July 2011.
The search
Years ago, they drove through Smyrna’s West Vinings Place community, but the home prices were out of their range. They looked at it again in 2011 and found the prices to be more affordable.
“Most of the communities we went to were all the same," Tayrn said. "Then we went to this community. And there was such a different feel for both of us. The charm and character of this development was unlike anything we had been to.”
The home
They found a five-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath home built in 2001. The wraparound porches, street lights and mailboxes add to the neighborhood’s Charleston-style feel, Tayrn said.
“As we were driving in, we came up to a little square that was maintained very well. There was a little kid running across it. It was inviting. That did it,” Tayrn said.
They liked the 10-foot ceilings, which added to the spaciousness of the home. There also was a screened-in porch and a finished basement. One of their offices is in the basement; another is on the third floor. Also upstairs is a room that will become a playroom.
The lifestyle
The couple initially wanted a neighborhood with a pool and tennis courts, but they have found that the community is quite active without those amenities. “That was something we had to say, ‘We don’t need it,' because this community has so much more to offer,” Tayrn said.
The tip
Find out what activities the neighborhood offers throughout the year. Soon after they moved in during March, the Szwedas received a calendar of events for the year, including an Easter egg hunt in the square and a Halloween parade. They also were invited to a play date.
