What if an empty Buckhead office floor became a roller skating rink? Denise Starling kicks off her Buckhead, Reconsidered series with an unconventional idea backed by some surprising research. While Buckhead has plenty of shopping and dining, its recreational offerings lag behind comparable communities. With insights from a commercial real estate expert, Denise explores how creative entertainment concepts could breathe new life into underused spaces and give people more reasons to visit, connect and play.

What if parents could enjoy a great meal while their children played safely nearby? In the second installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling revisits a business idea inspired by her own parenting experiences: a restaurant designed to make outings enjoyable for the entire family. Drawing on consumer spending data and examples of successful shared experiences, Denise explores how Buckhead could create destinations where children have fun, parents can relax and everyone leaves happy.

What happens when an office building outlives its original purpose? In the third installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling explores the possibilities for transforming underused office space into something new. From residential conversions to unexpected community uses, she examines the opportunities, obstacles and creative thinking needed to give these buildings a second life.

Buckhead’s dining scene is evolving with new flavors, fresh concepts and experiences for every occasion. From Michelin-starred restaurants and neighborhood favorites to casual dining and unexpected discoveries, a new generation of restaurants is building on the hospitality and sophistication that have long defined Buckhead. Denise Starling explores how this growing variety is strengthening the community while keeping Buckhead unmistakably itself.

When a new development sparks controversy, many assume the community can simply stop it. But the rights to build may have been established decades ago. Denise Starling explores why zoning cannot always reverse those decisions and how Livable Buckhead works with developers, neighborhoods and the City of Atlanta to shape better buildings, more walkable streets and more sustainable development within the rules already in place.

Buckhead’s reputation for mansions, luxury shopping and extraordinary wealth is well established, but it tells only part of the story. In the sixth installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling explores the striking differences between eastern and western Buckhead, revealing a community that is younger, denser and more diverse than many realize. The research raises an important question: How can Buckhead plan for two very different ways of living while remaining one community?

What if one of Atlanta’s most overlooked areas is actually one of its greatest opportunities? In the seventh installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling explores how Lindbergh’s convergence of MARTA, highways, creeks and regional trails could transform an overlooked transportation hub into a vibrant destination. With major planning decisions on the horizon, she challenges us to stop thinking of Lindbergh as a collection of disconnected projects and start imagining it as one of Buckhead’s most important gateways.

From the nightlife of Buckhead Village to the arrival of PATH400, Buckhead has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past three decades. Denise Starling reflects on the buildings, neighborhoods, public spaces and partnerships that reshaped the community, and why Buckhead’s evolution offers an important lesson: preserving what makes a place special and embracing change don’t have to be competing goals.

Building a beautiful park is only half the challenge. Getting people to use it, connect with one another and keep coming back takes something more: a personal invitation. In the ninth installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling explores why successful public spaces need more than thoughtful design. From organized walks and community gatherings to simple opportunities for neighbors to meet, she makes the case that programming, hospitality and a dedicated “party person” are essential to turning greenspace into genuine community destinations.

Buckhead has built an impressive collection of hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment destinations. But what happens when visitors step outside their hotels looking for something memorable to do? In the tenth installment of Buckhead, Reconsidered, Denise Starling explores how local stories, cultural experiences and a fresh approach to hospitality could transform a few free hours into a reason to return.

For years, Denise Starling has pushed back against defining Buckhead by its shopping destinations. But a closer look at the area’s retail economy reveals something far more significant than malls and luxury brands. From independent boutiques and art galleries to design showrooms and regional tourism, shopping plays a surprisingly important role in Buckhead’s identity, economic strength and future.

After 27 years working to make Buckhead a better place, Denise Starling set out to challenge some of her own assumptions about the community. Across these articles, the research confirmed some instincts, complicated others and revealed how closely Buckhead’s many assets are connected. In this final installment, Denise reflects on what she learned, why Buckhead’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and how the community can continue evolving without losing what makes it distinctive.