Downsizing in Dunwoody is hard if you need one-level living. The newest homes approved near Perimeter are tall townhomes: 122 three-story homes on Ashwood Parkway, with only 12 elevator-ready, and 33 four-story homes at the LifeSouth site. Single-level options mostly come down to older ranch homes, primary-on-main homes and condos with elevators, and they don’t come up often.
Why is downsizing in Dunwoody so hard?
Because almost nothing being built here is one level. As a REALTOR®, this is one of the things I hear most from longtime Dunwoody homeowners. They want to stay, but when the stairs get hard, there’s nowhere to go. What they want is a patio home: one level, primary bedroom on the main, a small yard. Around here, those are tough to find.
What keeps getting approved is tall townhomes. On Aug. 24, 2026, Dunwoody City Council voted 5-1 to let Ashwood Grove LLC build 122 three-story townhomes on about 11.6 acres off Ashwood Parkway and Ashford Dunwoody Road, near the Publix and the new QuikTrip, according to Rough Draft Atlanta. An empty office building comes down to make room. Homes could be ready in fall 2027 or early 2028.
A month later, council approved 33 four-story townhomes at the LifeSouth blood center site on Ashford Dunwoody Road. I covered that one in my LifeSouth townhomes post.
Did the city push for homes you can age in place in?
Yes, but it didn’t get much. Mayor Lynn Deutsch asked the Ashwood developer to look at elevators. In the end, four blocks of three, 12 homes in all, are elevator-ready, which leaves room for a buyer to add one. The approval also includes a rental cap. Council member John Heneghan voted no. He said the project does nothing to advance the city’s comprehensive plan goal of housing for people who want to age in place.
The LifeSouth site went through the same debate a year earlier. In 2025, a developer pitched income-restricted senior apartments there. At a Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting, former Mayor Denny Shortal said residents who want to age in place want owner-occupied homes, not apartments, according to Rough Draft Atlanta. Council denied the apartments. What replaced them is 33 four-story townhomes.
Where can you find one-level living in Dunwoody?
It’s out there, it’s just scarce. Here’s where it usually shows up:
- Ranch homes in older neighborhoods. True one-story ranches come up in established Dunwoody neighborhoods, but not often, and many need updating.
- Primary-on-main homes. Two-story homes with the primary suite on the first floor. Swancy, a 13-home community on Roberts Drive by Peachland Homes, was designed around main-floor living.
- Townhomes with an elevator or elevator shaft. A few Dunwoody townhome communities, like Dunwoody Village Townhomes, Ashworth and Dunwoody Row, have homes with elevators or space to add one.
- Condos with elevator access. The simplest way to get everything on one floor, often near Dunwoody Village or Perimeter.
Status as of Nov. 10, 2026: Ashwood Parkway rezoning approved 5-1 on Aug. 24, 2026 (122 three-story townhomes, 12 elevator-ready). LifeSouth rezoning approved 5-1 on Sept. 28, 2026 (33 four-story townhomes). No single-level new-home community has been proposed in Dunwoody.
My take
Townhomes have their place, and they’re obviously profitable for builders. They’ll be great for a lot of buyers. But what Dunwoody really needs right now is ranch-style homes with small yards, so the people who built this city can stay in it long after they can’t do the stairs.
What I’m watching next: whether any builder brings a patio home or cluster home plan to Dunwoody, and whether the city starts asking for single-level homes the way it asked for elevators.
Thinking about downsizing in Dunwoody?
Because one-level homes are scarce here, it helps to know exactly what you’re looking for before you list. Main-floor primary, an elevator, a smaller yard, a specific part of town. Then you can move fast when the right one comes up. And if your current home has been yours for a long time, it’s worth knowing what it would sell for today.
Search Dunwoody homes for sale
I’m Matt Weber, an Atlanta REALTOR® who follows the top end of the Perimeter so you don’t have to. If you’re thinking about buying or selling around Dunwoody, let’s talk.
Frequently Asked Questions About Downsizing in Dunwoody
Are there one-level homes in Dunwoody?
Yes, but not many. One-level living in Dunwoody mostly means older ranch homes, primary-on-main homes, townhomes with elevators and condos with elevator access, and they don’t come up often.
What new homes are being built in Dunwoody?
Most recent approvals are townhomes. In 2026, Dunwoody City Council approved 122 three-story townhomes on Ashwood Parkway and 33 four-story townhomes at the LifeSouth site on Ashford Dunwoody Road.
Do the Ashwood Parkway townhomes have elevators?
Twelve of the 122 homes are required to be elevator-ready, meaning a buyer can add an elevator. The other 110 are not required to be.
When will the Ashwood Parkway townhomes be ready?
Homes could be ready in fall 2027 or the first quarter of 2028, according to Rough Draft Atlanta.
Why did a Dunwoody council member vote against the Ashwood townhomes?
Council member John Heneghan voted no, saying the project does nothing to advance the city’s comprehensive plan goal of housing for people who want to age in place.
Weighing a move? Start with my guide to moving to Dunwoody.