Natives and Locals of Atlanta - Your Opinions Please

[NationalistFighter]

Originally Posted by tomno00

John.... We all like different things. But can we agree that ATL has a HUGE commuting issue?... a HUGE traffic issue? and a public tranportation issue? I mean the traffic alone can make a person depressed.

I'd like to see ATL become more connected and I think that starts with public tranportation... and we all have to work together to establish better transit. If it means an extra 1, 2, 3 percent sales tax, then fine. I'd happily give the city of ATL more of my money if it meant we would all be able to move about the city more easily.

Moreover, the image of ATL needs to change. We need to promote it more in the media. The actual city of ATL is thought by many to be dangerous and thugish and that the only way you can live in the city is that if you're in a gang or if you're super rich and can afford a trendy apartment near peidmont or in buckhead. We need to get more working people and familes in the city.


I understand we cant be European.... You're just not gonna convince people to pay that much more in tax to make ATL a city like those over in Europe. But certainly, we can make improvments that will get more people excited... or at least I would hope.

Ok, what sunbelt city is not car dependent and sprawled? I have not seen it yet. Even miami despite being more compact is car dependent. Atlanta happens to have the best transit system of any sunbelt city to date and recent studies show it doesn't even have the worst traffic in the U.S.(it was maybe 6 or so on the list).

[FlyiMetro]

Originally Posted by Lagwagon113

Having grown up in Atlanta I thought I would offer my take. Overall Atlanta is great place to live. The COL is pretty decent, it's a fairly large metro area so there is plenty to do. If your into music a lot of acts come through Atlanta so that is cool. Also the weather is not as harsh as some places but it can get cold and can snow.

Now for the negatives. Atlanta is a very sprawled out place. It doesn't have the density and transportation options of some places. Traffic can be very bad and you may have to drive further than you are used to for simple things like going to the grocery store due to the sprawl.

I would say that as long as you have appropriate expectations on what Atlanta is and isn't you should find it enjoyable. As always, come see for yourself and determine if the pros outweigh the cons for you personally.

Edit: I forgot to address the 40 and single part. Unfortunately I don't really have any perspective on that. I can tell you that most of the folks in the Highlands where used to hang seemed to mostly be in their 20s and 30s - at least from what I could tell.

Thats a fair take on it. I can agree with some of this.

[TimelessClassic]

Originally Posted by DTL3000

It can be challenging socially due to how spread out the city is.

The cultural scene is ok depending on what you are looking for. There seems to be a plethora of high brow and low brow entertainment opportunities but it's my opinion that the city is sorely lacking in middle brow, and even more so in unibrow options. In all seriousness, I think this city could use a couple more decent art museums. The High is ok but the feel of the place is stale and clinical and exhibit turnover is slow. The art scene is relatively anemic for such a large, important city.

Atlanta is a VERY young city, both in demographics and feel, in my opnion. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Hell, I'm barely in my 30's and sometimes I feel too old for this place.

Agree with this. It's short on arts and culture, as well as international flavor. Yes, it's a very young city. I'm late 30s and feel too old.

[Tyeishe]

Hello to all, my name is Mercedes. I have been planning on moving from NYC to Atlanta, GA, sometime at least within the next year or so. I am looking for a place to raise my children. I want a pet and family friendly neighborhood that is culturally diverse, or at least on the rise of diversity. My husband and I are in our mid-twenties(pretty young), and are the proud parents of two small boys 4 and 2. My husband is an Hispanic overnight associate at Walmart and definitely has that Spanish look(mistaken for a delivery guy a few times). I am a Black women mistaken for a Hispanic women all the time(some people see me as Black, some people see me as Hispanic, but most people stop and ask first). I am currently a Social Worker MSW soon to be LMSW at a women's homeless shelter here in NYC. Our income combined is some what between 70,000 and 80,000 annually. I have been saving for a house since my oldest son was two months old. We're ready to make that move. I definitely want a single-family home so my children have space to grow at not such a pricey pace. I basically want a house I can live in for years to come. I am doing my own research of course but thought a blog might give me some insight on making my final decision. Is Atlanta a place I want to look into? Thanks to all in advance!

[cityfilms]

Originally Posted by Tyeishe

Hello to all, my name is Mercedes. I have been planning on moving from NYC to Atlanta, GA, sometime at least within the next year or so. I am looking for a place to raise my children. I want a pet and family friendly neighborhood that is culturally diverse, or at least on the rise of diversity. My husband and I are in our mid-twenties(pretty young), and are the proud parents of two small boys 4 and 2. My husband is an Hispanic overnight associate at Walmart and definitely has that Spanish look(mistaken for a delivery guy a few times). I am a Black women mistaken for a Hispanic women all the time(some people see me as Black, some people see me as Hispanic, but most people stop and ask first). I am currently a Social Worker MSW soon to be LMSW at a women's homeless shelter here in NYC. Our income combined is some what between 70,000 and 80,000 annually. I have been saving for a house since my oldest son was two months old. We're ready to make that move. I definitely want a single-family home so my children have space to grow at not such a pricey pace. I basically want a house I can live in for years to come. I am doing my own research of course but thought a blog might give me some insight on making my final decision. Is Atlanta a place I want to look into? Thanks to all in advance!

You mention what you and your husband do in NYC, but not in Atlanta. You seem to have some imagination that you will get the same job down here? I'm sorry, but that won't happen. An "overnight associate" at any big box retailer makes about $20k per year down here, and "social work" is not as popular down here either.

If you moved down here, based on your work history, I suspect you'd end up in some immigrant infested area like Chambely or Buford highway. You'd probably have to go on wellfare also. YOU'D FIT RIGHT IN!