Extreme Makeover, VaHi Style: Briarcliff Summit Gets Much Needed Facelift

It’d be hard to live in Virginia-Highland and not have some awareness of Briarcliff Summit.

Many know and cherish the tremendous history that almost oozes from the nine-story building on the northwest corner of Ponce de Leon and N. Highland Avenues. After all, “The Seven-Fifty” – as the building was originally known – was built in 1925 by Asa Candler, Jr., son of the famous Coke mogul. At the time, its luxury apartments were considered some of the finest in the city, with famous tenants like Al Capone. The building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

But others, while acknowledging the building’s period architecture and intriguing past, look the other way when they stroll by. They’re far from proud of the perception of crime and drug use that’s historically plagued the area around the property, and they’ve cringed while watching the building’s former owners let the proud landmark fall into disrepair.

Today, the 200-unit building provides quality, affordable housing to the elderly, many of whom live with disabilities. Much of the housing is provided under the government’s Section 8 program.

I count myself among those who have some awareness of both the good and bad about Briarcliff Summit, but I have to admit I’d never been inside the building, nor had I ever really met any of its residents. I’d pass by some of them on the corner as I’d walk to and from Poncey-Highland, and I’d often say hi. But I’d never really met them.

So, against the backdrop of a new owner who’s extensively renovating the property, I decided to pay a visit to get a sense of what Briarcliff Summit is all about.

To read more, visit http://vahi.org/extreme-makeover-vahi-style-briarcliff-summit-gets-much-needed-facelift/.