After completing a tour in the Air Force, Gary Gilmer moved to Atlanta in 1987. He began his career by renovating homes in the elegant Buckhead neighborhoods off Northside Drive. One year later, he was on his own, and looking for an area where he could implement his vision. He had watched and participated in what seemed to be an endless upward spiral of development in Buckhead, and now he wanted to find a location that was not as far along in development, so that he could make his own mark on it.
Brookhaven Revisited
Immediately adjacent to Buckhead, Brookhaven became the answer to Gary Gilmer's quest. It was an older, established neighborhood with wonderful old trees and sidewalks. While no less convenient than Buckhead to all of the ambiance for which Atlanta is famous, the Dekalb County section of Brookhaven remained largely undeveloped in the late 80's.
Looking more like part of the cast of Happy Days than a trend-setting developer, the soft spoken, red-haired and freckled Gilmer moved into Brookhaven, and quietly set about changing its face. In 1990, Gary Gilmer completed his first renovation. Soon Gilmer was buying lots and renovating homes in Brookhaven full time.
In 1992 he was featured in Georgia Trend Magazine for the impact he was having here. Gilmer had discovered this neighborhood just northeast of Buckhead at just the right time. "For decades the standard home here was a 2 bedroom, one bath red brick ranch on a 100 foot lot. Renovations were virtually non-existent then, because the area was under commercial speculation and the asking price for the average lot was $350,000." said Gilmer.
As homeowners acquired more realistic expectations for the value of their property, they also began to appreciate the style, quality and generally excellent value of the mini-castles that began to dot the neighborhood. As you drive the streets off of N. Druid Hills Road, Gilmer's signature style is readily identifiable.
Some of the distinctive features are:
- Old World Style Brick Work
- Hard-coat stucco accented with decorative keystones
- Exterior Stone Work
- Copper bay window tops
- Ten to twelve foot ceilings and exotic hardwood floors on the main level
- Wood burning fireplaces with gas starters, finished with custom mantles with marble or stone surrounds
- Barrel arches, triple crown molding, including turrets
Once you have visited the "main castle" at Brookhaven Heights Town homes, a gated, cobble stoned, cluster community of eighteen town homes, it is a fun journey through the adjoining streets, where you can easily spot the other "mini-castles" that are encompassed within the Gilmer Development kingdom.
Time flies...
... when you are having fun.
It is almost 2013 and Gilmer is still building and loving it. "This is what I enjoy doing more than anything. There is always room for improvement and growth. How can you get bored with that?" he says. Custom high end single family homes,Town homes and now state of the art Mixed-use development and Lofts. This type of construction is "a totally different kind of animal" Gilmer says. Solid concrete and steel construction, sixty foot tall building, commercial architecture is fascinating! To learn more about our mixed-use development project go to www.heritageloftsofchamblee.com
Although many homes are already in the hands of proud owners, allow Gilmer Development to create your own, personal mini-castle for you on one of several lots that are presently reserved for that purpose. The choice is yours. The opportunity is now. gary@gilmerdevelopment.com
