In 1949, seventy acres of land off Briarlake Road became "Amberwood". Amberwood was regarded as the ideal, outstanding location in Dekalb County. The first homes were constructed in 1963 on Castleway Lane. The homes were custom built with protective covenants regarding size of lots, square footage of houses, landscaping, fences, and so forth.

Plans for a neighborhood association were initiated in late 1964. The necessary fifty-one percent of residents signed a petition for street lights and met with county officials to ensure that county codes were adhered to and street surfaces and drainage were improved. The organizing meeting was held June 7, 1965 at Briarlake Elementary School. There was 100% representation at the meeting.

The association, including residents attorney Asa Candler and NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton, presented to the Secretary of State, the signatures of ninety-eight residents representing forty-nine homes, petitioning to become charter members of Amberwood Association, Inc.

The charter was granted July 8, 1965 and there have been twenty-nine association presidents. There were sixty-eight homes by 1969 and there are one-hundred-ten now. Charter members still occupy sixteen homes. Original owners occupy twenty-nine homes. Several homes in Amberwood were designed by famed architect Robert Green, apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright.