Honesty without a lens
Is Penelope Neighbors safe?
Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Penelope Neighbors as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Penelope Neighbors
“Go with care. Penelope Neighbors is primarily a quiet, residential Westside community, but elevated crime rates along nearby commercial corridors require caution. Visitors have little reason to linger as a tourist due to sparse commercial amenities, so daytime visits with a specific purpose are best.”
City infrastructure projects and Westside Future Fund initiatives continue to target road resurfacing and affordable housing stabilization in surrounding Northwest Atlanta neighborhoods.
About the area
Penelope Neighbors is a modest, historically working-class residential neighborhood situated in Northwest Atlanta near West Lake and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. It features mid-century single-family homes along rolling, wooded streets with gradual redevelopment underway. While daytime walks are generally calm, the neighborhood directly borders corridors with higher crime statistics and limited pedestrian infrastructure.
- Residential
- Developing
- Quiet / Modest
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Penelope Neighbors
Walk score: 45/100 · Bike score: 41/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse within Penelope Neighbors, but cyclists can access the Proctor Creek Greenway and Westside BeltLine Connector roughly a mile to the north and east. Relay Bike Share docking stations are located primarily near West Lake and Bankhead MARTA stations.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient proximity to the West Lake MARTA rail station
- Quiet, low-traffic residential side streets during daytime hours
- Easy access to recreational green spaces at nearby Anderson Park
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime and violent crime incidents along adjacent corridors
- Inconsistent sidewalk quality and missing pedestrian crossings on interior streets
- Almost no retail, dining, or tourist attractions within the immediate neighborhood borders
- Subpar street lighting throughout residential side streets after dark
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets of Penelope Neighbors. However, panhandling and unhoused individuals are regularly seen along the commercial stretch of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and near the West Lake MARTA station.
What Penelope Neighbors is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents depart for work, with moderate bus traffic and commuters walking toward MARTA.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Relatively quiet on interior blocks, though situational awareness is still needed near major boundary avenues.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets empty quickly around dusk; pedestrian safety decreases as lighting is dim on several side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking on foot is not recommended due to limited illumination, isolated roads, and higher risk of opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
The West Lake MARTA rail station (Blue Line) is located approximately 10 to 15 minutes away on foot to the south. MARTA bus routes 51 (Joseph E. Boone) and 58 (Hollywood Rd/Lucile Ave) run along perimeter streets with direct connections across the Westside.
Street parking is free and unmetered throughout the residential blocks with ample curb space. There are no paid parking garages, but free surface parking lots are standard at commercial centers along Hollowell Parkway.
Things to do in Penelope Neighbors
- Take a walk through historic Anderson Park to enjoy sports courts, walking paths, and skyline views
- Connect to the Proctor Creek Greenway trail located just north of the neighborhood for a scenic paved walk
- Explore community arts and revitalization hubs in neighboring Bankhead and West Grove Park
Local favorites
- Bankhead Seafood · Seafood RestaurantA revived Westside institution located nearby offering classic fried fish platters, hushpuppies, and southern sides.
- Local Green Atlanta · Health Food / Vegan EateryPopular nearby eatery serving flavorful plant-based, vegan, and pescatarian wraps and bowls.
- Bellwood Coffee · Coffee ShopA trendy specialty roaster and cafe situated along the nearby corridor serving artisanal drinks and pastries.
Scores blend recent reported crime levels, area poverty and walk/bike access, refreshed nightly. They are a guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.