What else is there besides Vinings, Smyrna, Marietta, Roswell? (Atlanta: appointed, apartment complexes)

[SweetP72]

Hi!

My husband and I are taking the leap and moving to Atlanta. He's accepted a job by Atlantic Station and in a few weeks we will be living in corporate apt housing in Dunwoody for a month. So during that month we need to find a good place to live. My husband's new boss says that the only good places to live are between 10pm and 2pm if you look at Atlanta like a clock face. Don't know if that is true, but we don't know anyone from Atlanta.

We are from Chicago and live downtown, so at first we thought we'd like to live in the city itself. But through research I see that many people think that Atlanta is not that safe. It is kind of hard for me to believe that Atlanta is more unsafe than Chicago. I've read about this so much now that I am starting to feel that I should more seriously consider these opinions and look at areas around and OTP. I've been looking at Vinings, Smyrna, Marietta, Roswell. But then people seem to freak about the commute. Is it really that bad? ITP lately I've been looking at Decatur but online it looks a little rundown. I'd really like to rent a home or apt that is only about 30 minutes commute for him. Is that at all possible? I'd also like easy access (I'd love walking distance but it doesn't have to be) to some neighborhoody like solo proprietor shopping, coffee shops or restaurants. We don't have kids yet so school system is not an issue for us right now.

I'd like to know about other towns too. I've recently heard about Mableton (sp?). Any recommendations about other towns? Or am I on a decent track with the ones I'm currently researching? (We are coming to visit next weekend to start scouting areas and get a feel for things.)

Thanks much!

SP

[noah]

I'd revisit living in the city. Many of us do and enjoy it. Was out tonight and the streets are full of people and it is perfectly safe. For independent coffee shops etc consider Virginia Highlands, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward and maybe even west midtown (right by his work). Midtown is also an excellent choice for a cosmopolitan view.

If you like living in the city why go OTP, sounds like chains and the suburban life do not interest you anyways.

Visit and look around before you decide it has to be OTP. I really think you would be very disappointed by somewhere like Mableton based on what you want. You won't be doing any walking to coffee shops and won't find many local shops there. If you have any questions on living in the city you can send me a message.

If a big house is more important then definitely OTP is it but it doesn't sound like that is what your looking for.


By the way if you live in the city I think traffic will not be an issue in your life, especially since your husband will be working in the city also. We find that traffic is barely a bother for us, those that complain the loudest live in the overcrowded suburbs.

[lastminutemom]

You are a perfect candidate for intown living. Renting will allow you to try it out.

Noah has given you lots of good suggestions.

[StAubin]

Atlanta is alot safer than Chicago

[SweetP72]

Thanks Noah and LastMinuteMom, your thoughts are really appreciated! Part of me wanted to try the suburbs because I wanted a little patch of grass to call my own. But I also don't want to get stuck anywhere either.

We called this free apartment service called "Promove.com" the other day to get a sense of apartment options inside the perimeter. When we arrive we will go to their office and plan out a day of apartment hunting. We were also going to compare what we find in the city to the burbs options. Do you guys happen to have any opinions about the apartment complexes -- either to avoid or to seek out?

SP

[StAubin]

Originally Posted by SweetP72

Thanks Noah and LastMinuteMom, your thoughts are really appreciated! Part of me wanted to try the suburbs because I wanted a little patch of grass to call my own. But I also don't want to get stuck anywhere either.

We called this free apartment service called "Promove.com" the other day to get a sense of apartment options inside the perimeter. When we arrive we will go to their office and plan out a day of apartment hunting. We were also going to compare what we find in the city to the burbs options. Do you guys happen to have any opinions about the apartment complexes -- either to avoid or to seek out?

SP

In Atlanta you could live in the city walking distance from everything and still have a yard.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by SweetP72

Hi!

My husband and I are taking the leap and moving to Atlanta. He's accepted a job by Atlantic Station and in a few weeks we will be living in corporate apt housing in Dunwoody for a month. So during that month we need to find a good place to live. My husband's new boss says that the only good places to live are between 10pm and 2pm if you look at Atlanta like a clock face. Don't know if that is true, but we don't know anyone from Atlanta.

We are from Chicago and live downtown, so at first we thought we'd like to live in the city itself. But through research I see that many people think that Atlanta is not that safe. It is kind of hard for me to believe that Atlanta is more unsafe than Chicago. I've read about this so much now that I am starting to feel that I should more seriously consider these opinions and look at areas around and OTP. I've been looking at Vinings, Smyrna, Marietta, Roswell. But then people seem to freak about the commute. Is it really that bad? ITP lately I've been looking at Decatur but online it looks a little rundown. I'd really like to rent a home or apt that is only about 30 minutes commute for him. Is that at all possible? I'd also like easy access (I'd love walking distance but it doesn't have to be) to some neighborhoody like solo proprietor shopping, coffee shops or restaurants. We don't have kids yet so school system is not an issue for us right now.

I'd like to know about other towns too. I've recently heard about Mableton (sp?). Any recommendations about other towns? Or am I on a decent track with the ones I'm currently researching? (We are coming to visit next weekend to start scouting areas and get a feel for things.)

Thanks much!

SP

Based on your criteria and job location, you should look into:

1. Various Intown Locations
2. The Smyrna/Mableton/Vinings Area


And that's really it. Consider yourself lucky.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by SweetP72

We are from Chicago and live downtown, so at first we thought we'd like to live in the city itself. But through research I see that many people think that Atlanta is not that safe. It is kind of hard for me to believe that Atlanta is more unsafe than Chicago.

it's hard to believe because it isn't true. atlanta, especially midtown and buckhead, is definitely safer than chicago. whoever told you that chicago is safer than atlanta is a dope. the westside of atlanta is not a safe area, but you'll know if you get over there, there's no grocery stores or restaurants or anything in unsafe areas that are in town, and recently those places have become fewer and farther between.

and whoever called decatur rundown, you need to smack them upside the head. decatur is probably the nicest place inside the perimeter, low crime, great schools, great restaurants, urban feel, but also quiet, it's like a small college town dropped into the middle of a big city.

so you live in downtown chicago? would you like to live in an urban area, a single family home, etc? we have tons of options all inside the perimeter and close to atlantic station. you can even live in atlantic station if you want.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by SweetP72

Thanks Noah and LastMinuteMom, your thoughts are really appreciated! Part of me wanted to try the suburbs because I wanted a little patch of grass to call my own. But I also don't want to get stuck anywhere either.

We called this free apartment service called "Promove.com" the other day to get a sense of apartment options inside the perimeter. When we arrive we will go to their office and plan out a day of apartment hunting. We were also going to compare what we find in the city to the burbs options. Do you guys happen to have any opinions about the apartment complexes -- either to avoid or to seek out?

SP

well "in-town" neighbourhoods here still have homes and yards, but they're all historic, nothing new. for example, virginia-highland, where i was tonight, is completely walkable but houses there outnumber apartments.

try google streetview, do you know how to use that? you go to maps.google.com and you can check out what various places look like from the view of the streets.

atlanta is weird because we don't have a single "urban center" where there are high rises and apartments and everything that radiates out from that center point gets smaller as you go out. here, we have multiple urban centers with parks and neighbourhoods in between it all. for example, you'll find something like this:



and you'll *think* you're in downtown.

then you'll drive a few miles south, and see something like this:

Google Maps

and think "oh, i must be in the suburbs." wrong, because then you run into this:

[ATLTJL]

It would really help if you indicated what your budget is.

That's going to be huge in determining the best place for you.