Anthony Smith was no stranger to Ponce City Market, often enjoying its many restaurants, shopping opportunities, and entertainment experiences. So, when Signal House opened, he was curious. After touring the residential community, he felt he had found an enclave of heaven sprung up along the Beltline.
Signal House is located at 680 North Avenue in the heart of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. Smith loves the convenience of his apartment to bike trails, Piedmont Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, art museums, restaurants, and retail stores. “I just like the vibe, the energy, the aura of what’s going on,” he says. “And it’s continuing to grow.”
One thing that drew him to the property before he even took a tour was its proximity to both the Beltline and Ponce City Market. As an avid cyclist (he sold his car during the pandemic, preferring to bike around the city), he uses the Beltline daily. “The Beltline is twenty-two miles long. It should be completed in 2030. I ride it all over,” he says. “It’s just beautiful!” He also says Ponce City Market has everything. “If you are a foodie, this is the place to be. It’s a one-stop shop. We’re talking about Asian food, Jamaican food, all kinds of food, American dishes. Everything is right in Ponce City Market. They also have jazz festivals, holiday entertainment, and all kinds of places to shop. There’s even a Kroger nearby that I was shopping at before I moved here. It’s right downstairs, so that’s convenient.”
Inside Signal House, you’ll find a world of amenities to make your living situation feel tailor-made. Smith describes one of his favorite things about living there. “One of the pluses that was a deal-sealer for me to move here was our rooftop garden. Yesterday, we had our second planting for the season. When I saw the vegetables, fruits, and herbs that we had requested, I almost fainted right there. I was so excited!” He says, “We planted spinach, collards, cabbages, sweet potatoes, two different types of kale. We planted lettuce, parsley, and rosemary. It is so beautiful up there. I’m elated about it. And I like that people are slowly getting health conscious.”
In addition to the rooftop garden promoting healthy eating, Signal House provides fitness classes for a healthy body. “We have an aqua aerobics class for the swimming pool in the summertime. And we had an aqua Zumba class,” Smith says. “I do participate in Zumba!” He says they also have yoga classes twice a week. “And I participate in the yoga class. It’s from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 every Saturday in our yoga yard. That’s coming inside once it gets cold.”
He also shares his enthusiasm about Signal House’s monthly dinners for residents. “They invite a restaurant to come, bring their chefs, the wine people, the waiters, waitresses, even the owners, and serve us a meal. I’m talking about a five- or six-course meal. Very nice. I’ve met many people that I would not have met if it weren’t for the dinners. It brings us together as a community.”
He says his actual apartment is a luxurious space. The floorplans come with stainless steel appliances, a convection oven with an induction cooktop, quartz countertops, floor-to-ceiling window walls to see the amazing Atlanta skyline, and Italian cabinetry with under cabinet lighting. He also has a balcony that he loves to nap on in the temperate months.
Smith also enjoys the surrounding neighborhood of Old Fourth Ward. “I look forward to coming home. Every day is like a vacation, and I like the variety of cultures that are here,” he says. “They bring their guitars, their violins, their bands, and they sit on the side of the Beltline and just play music. I don’t have to turn my radio on. I can hear it.”
