Interested in NYC like neighborhood names Atlanta has obtained. (Buford: homes, organic)

[Lagwagon113]

I've seen some NYC like nicknames for parts of Atlanta mentioned on this board. For instance a place similar sounding to NoHo or SoHo was referenced. At first I laughed because I thought it was people trying to hard. Now though I am curious. What are these terms, what do they abbreviate, and what section of town do they refer to?

[oakhurstlauren]

SoNo = South of North Ave

[plessthanpointohfive]

It IS silly how they're trying real hard to name things in a "New York Style", rather than let the names come organically (ie, Cabbagetown). But the names aren't usually overly contrived, meaning they usually have some geographic meaning. Such as Sono = South of North Ave, as mentioned above.

[testa50]

SoNo is the only one I know of, and to my understanding the name is contrived; nobody called it that until someone decided that is what it should be called.

I think they should keep the SoNo name until the shelter finally closes (or scales down), then change the name to South Midtown or something and rebrand the neighborhood. On those tourist signs that have arrows indicating attractions, seeing "SoNo District" alongside The Fox, Midtown, Centennial Olympic Park, etc, is frankly a little bit embarrassing and bewildering. I can think of easily a dozen attractions more worthy of being on a sign than SoNo.

[Lagwagon113]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt they sounded contrived. So I guess SoNo is the only one huh? That's good I think.

[plessthanpointohfive]

SoNo is the only one I can think of that's contrived like that.

Maybe also Poncey-Highland. But I have the impression that P-H was originally part of Inman Park until they carved out Freedom Park/Carter Center, which dislocated it from the rest of the neighborhood. So, then it was orphaned and the locals came up with a way to describe it's location...Ponce and Highland...

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

SoNo is the only one I can think of that's contrived like that.

Maybe also Poncey-Highland. But I have the impression that P-H was originally part of Inman Park until they carved out Freedom Park/Carter Center, which dislocated it from the rest of the neighborhood. So, then it was orphaned and the locals came up with a way to describe it's location...Ponce and Highland...

Poncey-Highland is not contrived.


Definitely organic, definitely original, definitely pure Atlanta.

Poncey-Highland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association > Home

http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/government/planning/npu%20system/maps/npu_n.pdf (broken link)

[plessthanpointohfive]

P-H wasn't originally part of Inman Park, before they cut through IP with Freedom Park/Carter Center?

The wiki doesn't really settle that.

And I don't mean it's completely contrived. Just probably not original. Otherwise, where was the dividing like between Inman Park and Poncey-Highland before Freedom Park/Carter Center? It has a natural border at Ponce and Moreland and N Highland. But what was the border to the south?

[DTL3000]

Like everyone mentioned there's SoNo.

I think the terms Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown were created in or in reference to NYC. It makes sense since the geographical layout of the city is pretty much north to south.

Both cities have a Five Points although Atlanta's is probably better known than NYC's nowadays. For some reason the abbreviation of Little Five Points(L5P) makes me think of the Lower East Side(LES).

There's the idiotic Bu-Hi for the Buford Highway area. I almost puke every time I hear it.

I've heard Castleberry Hill called the TriBeCa of Atlanta. I have no idea why anyone who's actually been to both could think they are similar.

Poncey Highland and Virginia Highland seem to be more in line with San Francisco and Haight Ashbury.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

P-H wasn't originally part of Inman Park, before they cut through IP with Freedom Park/Carter Center?

The wiki doesn't really settle that.

And I don't mean it's completely contrived. Just probably not original. Otherwise, where was the dividing like between Inman Park and Poncey-Highland before Freedom Park/Carter Center? It has a natural border at Ponce and Moreland and N Highland. But what was the border to the south?

I think better way to see the "organic-ness" of Poncey-Highland is in the name.

It is named for the intersection of North Highland and Ponce De Leon Avenue--the collection of business/retail/homes just south of the intersection. This is just like Virginia-Highland. The name "Poncey-Highland" has been around for a long time.

The boundary between Inman Park and Poncey-Highland was probably more fluid before Freedom Parkway--as Poncey-Highland was really about the retail district and the streets/homes surrounding. The completion of Freedom Parkway then just made the boundary more distinct.

Does this make it a little more clear?