What was Atlanta like in the 1980s? (Savannah, Sandy Springs: sales, apartment complex)

[bgNCATL]

Originally Posted by ajjam

So basically is everyone saying that 80s ATL was still bigger and more progressive than Charlotte 2010?? That's crazy I only remember hearing about Atlanta in the 90s mostly because I was born in 83. So 70s Atlanta is more comparable to Clt? That's two generations behind

Present day Charlotte metro is around 1.7 or 1.8 million people. Atlanta was this exact same size in 1970. This is why I said that Charlotte is more comparable to 1970 Atlanta. I currently live in Atlanta, but grew up in NC. I have always had family here. From what I remember, 80's Atlanta still felt bigger than present day Charlotte. As someone else said, Atlanta had a lot of the things that's in place today back in the 80's. Remember Atlanta started it's bid for the Olympics in 1987 and was awarded it in 1990.

[LexingtonDad]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

Actually the Hawks of the 80s haven't been mentioned...seven playoff appearances with series losses to the Celtics, Pistons, and 76ers(some eventual NBA champions) and 3 Division titles. Some great players graced the court in Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers, Cliff Levingston, Spud Webb, Kevin Willis, Tree Rollins, and NBA Coach of the Year Mike Fratella in 1986.

My brother in law had seats a couple of rows behind the Hawks bench during the 70s and 80s and we saw some great basketball from our perch. I still remember the playoff series against Boston in 1988 as some of the greatest ball I ever witnessed and recall the final game of the series (played in Boston) that some regard as the best playoff game ever played, especially the 4th quarter duel between Bird and Wilkins. I don't think I ever sat down that quarter, despite watching the game from home. Those were some good times.

[ATLnSAV]

YES, Metro Atlanta was bigger in the '70s than Charlotte is today. Atlanta had well over 2 million people by the 1980 census, over 3 million by 1990, more than 4 million in 2000 and by most estminates around 5.5 million today. No other place in the history of the United States has grown as quickly -- and at the rate -- of Metro Atlanta over the past 30 years. Charlotte would have to break all kinds of records to eclipse Atlanta's rate of growth anytime soon. And that's not likely to happen. Nor should it be desired. As for sheer numbers, even if present rates of growth continue, Charlotte will always be 3-4 million people behind ATL. There's no way it can catch up to it.

[cwkimbro]

Well ... when we stop expanding our infrastructure, then we will start to lose some of our growth. There will still be lots of rooms for infill development and we will continue you to grow, but it will be a little bit more expensive for the private market and we won't be able to compete with the lower tier cities who can offer lots of land/access... etc.. So you never what the distant future will hold.

The asset that Atlanta has that will be hard to beat out is our airport. It literally is one of the most efficient airport's in terms by cost per passenger cost, but mainly its location. I always tell people to get a map and draw a circle around Atlanta. It is easy to draw a circle that nearly goes between Chicago, the Texas Triangle, Miami, and the DC-NY-Boston corridor. We have that central location between all the major cities that aren't out west. It's the major reason for our building boom. We even have higher business tax rates than most of our neighbors and our competition in Texas and Tennessee. (I'm not sure about North Carolina)

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

I agree. I cannot recall when I285 was completed. IIRC, I85 became a reality during the early '60's. Perhaps the Perimeter was completed by the early 70's?

MARTA--mid to late 70's.

And so on.

According to Wikipedia, 285 opened in 1969 and MARTA's first train ran in 1979.

Interstate 285 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Zone6]

It was much closer to the Nashville of today in size. It is much more open and you can go more places without fear, especially around downtown. The 4th Ward/Sweet Auburn area was crack city with Grady & Capitol Homes, Gartrell Court, U Rescue Villa, etc. just blocks from downtown. Every few months a new 10-12 story residential building has sprung up somewhere. The Olympics had a huge impact, as did razing the projects and economic ebb and flow.

[am2]

Originally Posted by ATLnSAV

YES, Metro Atlanta was bigger in the '70s than Charlotte is today. Atlanta had well over 2 million people by the 1980 census, over 3 million by 1990, more than 4 million in 2000 and by most estminates around 5.5 million today. No other place in the history of the United States has grown as quickly -- and at the rate -- of Metro Atlanta over the past 30 years. Charlotte would have to break all kinds of records to eclipse Atlanta's rate of growth anytime soon. And that's not likely to happen. Nor should it be desired. As for sheer numbers, even if present rates of growth continue, Charlotte will always be 3-4 million people behind ATL. There's no way it can catch up to it.

CLT has about 2 million today, I doubt that CLT in my lifetime will pass or catch up to ATL, but I highly doubt that ATL will grow anywhere the rate over the next 30 yrs as it did the last. CLT however, is not done growing yet. In 2040, I couild see CLT having maybe between 4 and 5 million people, and ATL having 6 and 7 mil.

[Caltovegas]

Didn't they have WCW wrestling back then?

[am2]

Also, I doubt that Nashville will keep up with CLT in its growth. 30 yrs from now, Nashville prob. wont be much bigger than it is now, where as CLT's population could double.

[fkrodw]

in the 1980's Atlanta had the energy of todays Austin, Raleigh, or Nashville.

Now it's more like Philly, Detroit or Cleveland. It's an industrial northern city that doesn't realze it's in the South.