The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the Atlanta Neighborhood of the Year, is kicking off with 16 areas vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. This week we'll have two matchups per day, and all the results and the full tournament bracket will be reviewed on Friday. Voting for each pairing ends 24 hours after it begins. Let the eliminations commence!

East Lake

Not all that long ago, an East Lake home listing in the $600,000s would be cause for eyes poppin’ and jaws droppin’ (the golf-course-adjacent castles notwithstanding). For better or worse, large residences routinely list in that range these days, which speaks to East Lake’s burgeoning desirability and rise as a family-friendly destination due east of downtown Atlanta. The loudest buzz these days involves the Hosea + 2nd project, which is transforming a derelict intersection into a thriving restaurant hub. Beyond that venture and its cherished housing stock, East Lake is home to a richly historic golf course, designed by legend Bobby Jones, and the award-winning, eco-friendly architecture that is Drew Charter School’s futuristic campus.

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Midtown

Curbed Atlanta

Midtown is the epicenter of Atlanta’s post-recession boom times. It’s growing and metamorphosing so fast, even professional development trackers have a hard time keeping up. Standout proposals include a 74-story tower as part of the larger Opus Place complex on 14th Street. Meanwhile, Portman & Associates’ Coda project at Tech Square and North American Properties’ redo of iconic Colony Square promise to be game-changers elsewhere in Midtown. Culturally, the neighborhood’s Atlanta Botanical Garden nailed another exhibit this year with the spellbinding Chihuly showcase, and next-door Piedmont Park remains the city’s greatest greenspace. In terms of sheer changes and big dreams, nothing rivals Midtown these days.