Burrowed between Old Irving Park, New Irving Park, and Lawndale Homes, Kirkwood is a tight-knit community of neighbors including first-time home buyers, young families, and long-time neighborhood residents. Kirkwood is dubbed “the most patriotic neighborhood” and features a long-standing Independence Day celebration and year-round patriotic décor to boot (like the red, white, and blue stars that are painted along the streets).
Sitting on quarter to half acre lots, homes in Kirkwood fit a variety of needs ranging from 700 square feet all the way to 3000 square feet. Kirkwood Place apartments are a new and welcome addition to the neighborhood’s charming single family houses. Tucked in the middle of the neighborhood is Kirkwood Park which features a playground, a basketball court, and benches. It’s hard to find a time of day when there isn’t a dog being walked or a baby being strolled on the star-studded streets of the neighborhood.
Kirkwood feels welcoming and accessible because of inviting amenities like Little Free Libraries, year-round neighborhood events, beautiful yards and lots of trees, and a community bulletin board in the park.
Explore Like a Local
Kirkwood is situated perfectly to easily enjoy all the Midtown area of the city has to offer, and can be accessed by short drive or a walk.
- Hungry for a quick, local lunch? Lox, Stock and Bagel and Mythos Grill will hit the spot. Looking for a date night or delicious dinner? Local favorites Pastabilities, Lucky 32 and 1618 Midtown are minutes away. And don’t forget dessert at Maxie B’s.
- Watering holes of all varieties are nearby for neighbors to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Tap Room, Gate City Growlers, and Terminal Tap are just a few from which to choose.
- Fitness enthusiasts can take advantage of nearby studios like Radiance Yoga and F45 Training or hop on the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway for a run or bike ride.
- Nearby shopping is abundant and diverse. Gift shops like Fleet Plummer and The Feathered Nest carry a little something for everyone. Watkins Sydnor and Seagrass feature unique home goods and interiors. Strike and Flame Candle Bar, which offers candle-making workshops, doubles as a shopping and DIY experience. Local boutique, Polliwogs, is known for its traditional and trendy clothing for infants to tweens.
- The staples are just a stone’s throw away too. The Lawndale Crossing Shopping Center, across the street from Kirkwood, is anchored by Harris Teeter, Target, and PetSmart.
While Midtown is the most easily accessed area, Kirkwood residents can quickly find their way to other pockets of the city like Country Park (5 minutes), Downtown (8 minutes), and State Street/Revolution Mill (6 minutes).
Insider Tips
Kirkwood began as a swath of farmland owned by the Kirkpatrick family that became a group of gridded streets named Liberty, Independence and Colonial in the early 1920’s. Only a few grandiose houses were constructed before the stock market crashed in 1929 and the Great Depression ensued. One of these houses is the Holt House which remains in the neighborhood today. The home was modeled after architecture found on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the hometown of the owners.
By the mid 1940’s, construction began again in Kirkwood but with a much different focus. Veterans returning from World War II were seeking affordable homes for their young families, and post-war ranch homes were built in the neighborhood to accommodate those growing needs. As the neighborhood moved into the 1960’s, mid-century modern and split-level homes were also constructed.
It was in the post-war era that Kirkwood created its strong sense of community, and the neighborhood’s well-known Fourth of July parade was established in 1949. Present-day Kirkwood carries on the tradition of the parade and has added a flag raise and Kirkstock (a street festival) to the Independence Day celebrations. Other neighborhood activities include an Easter egg hunt, a fall festival, and holiday luminaries that line the streets in December.
