The Curbed Cup, our annual award for Atlanta’s “Neighborhood of the Year,” is kicking off with 16 neighborhoods vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. We’ll reveal each of the neighborhoods this week, and polls will be open for 24 hours, so you can cast your vote as to which ones should advance. (Seeding from 1 to 16 was determined by reader nominations this month). Now, let the eliminations commence!

Westview (1)

Like its Westside brethren West End in 2015, Westview seems bound and determined to achieve Curbed Cup glory this year. Despite its relatively small size, this historic neighborhood of roughly 1,200 residences garnered by far the most nominations of the 2017 tourney, snagging a No. 1 seed as West End did the year it won.

And why not? It’s been a huge year in Westview, with the opening of the Beltline’s three-mile Westside Trail, the announcement of federal cash to boost a neighborhood park, and the celebrated openings of non-greenspace attractions such as Greens and Gravy.

Now, let’s hear from adorning locals from 2017’s top seed:

Writes one nominator named Chana: “Our newest venture ‘This Old House’ supports seniors in our neighborhood who need repairs to their homes, but cannot afford it. The latest was Ms. Hattie, who has been in the neighborhood for a number of years. The community got together and did repairs to her home, including repairing her roof, painting her entire house along with other repairs. I proudly nominate WestVIEW!”

Here’s Jay: “[Westview has] a growing retail corridor on Ralph David Abernathy with the majority of the businesses owned by neighborhood residents ... The neighborhood is home to the KIPP Strive Academy and now that the Westside Beltline is open the community is becoming a true live/work/play area.”

Last but not least, this from Lisa: “I moved to Atlanta from Eastern Connecticut 17 years ago and purchased a home in Westview. This Southwest Atlanta neighborhood has been through a great deal yet, it has been the BEST neighborhood ...

The neighbors are second to none, nestled within the most wonderful mature canopy that provides a perfect backdrop for a housing stock of spacious 1910-1950 bungalows ... Our infamous porch gatherings are adored with neighbors current, past, and soon to be.

Sure, the Beltline and breweries and gentrification have finally come to our ‘‘hood’ however, Westview is a place where people mix and mingle and share a community love ... Your arms will get a workout from waving to folks. Come check us out.”

Upper Westside (16)

This contestant is sure to get people talking—and possibly scratching their heads.

We asked for nominations to determine seeding, and “Upper Westside” scored just enough shoutouts to squeeze into the 2017 bracket. As one nominator named Becky enthused: “The Upper Westside ... is booming. We have B’s Cracklin’ BBQ, and were are directly in between SunTrust Park and West Midtown/downtown/Midtown/Mercedes-Benz Stadium. We can get to any area with ease (maybe excluding Decatur). We are soon to have Westside Village on Moores Mill and easy access to the Beltline in the future.”

Curbed Atlanta

As a newly coined place with somewhat nebulous ITP borders, the Upper Westside is making its tournament debut this year. But in terms of sheer investment (roughly $1 billion across numerous developments), this former industrial hub west of Buckhead is becoming a pretty big deal.

Beyond a regional barbecue attraction, the Upper Westside is home to Scofflaw Brewing, zoning for Buckhead schools, and neighborhoods that include Riverside, Bolton, and quaint Whittier Mill Village. Some new homes are fetching north of $500,000, while projects such as Eden Rock’s Westside Village at Moores Mill and Selig’s The Works are drawing in boutique shopping and restaurants.

Welcome to the Neighborhood of the Year dance, Upper Westside.