Atlanta had the largest urban area growth. (Clayton, Lenox: homes, established neighborhood)

[cqholt]

The 2010 Census declared that the Atlanta metro area saw the largest growth in size between 2000 and 2010. The amount of land grabbed up for low-density development is appalling, 683 square miles in 10 years. It is time for the Atlanta region to put growth limits before all the land concrete.
America's Growing Urban Footprint - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities

[waronxmas]

I agree with your sentiment. HOWEVER

One thing this story doesn't tell is the shape of that growth. Mainly, the story implies that this growth of the urban area is even and outwards at all points from the original urban area.

In reality, the exurban expanse hugs the Interstate corridors tightly with little development past it the further out you go. In other words the Atlanta region isn't developed as one massive 28 county blob, rather a massive central blob with spokes radiating outwards.

Again, though, this is the only point on which I'll defend the exurbs. I find the entire idea of exurbs dumb quite frankly and I cannot understand why anyone would ever think it was a good idea to have an 80 mile commute each day. I also think the developers got drunk with greed pushing this model and ultimately led to the demise of an entire industry and helped spark a Recession.

Now, let me remove myself from this thread or any other about it as the above points will be lost on a lot of people. I also literally want to vomit when I see people use the word "Sprawlanta" seriously. I do not like vomit on my keyboard.

[aries4118]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1juelXlBz1qc63pwo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId =AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1333007306&Signature =4VReL87rAwGXJALM03y%2BxKpbYCc%3D (broken link)

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by aries4118

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1juelXlBz1qc63pwo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId =AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1333007306&Signature =4VReL87rAwGXJALM03y%2BxKpbYCc%3D (broken link)

Breaking my rule to post on what a graphic that is. The "blob" is basically the City of Atlanta, the incorporated areas of Fulton county (which does not include most of South Fulton), North Clayton, Dekalb county, Cobb County, Gwinnett County. The rest of the urban area that connects to "the blob" is what causes the urban area to be as large in size as it is despite the menacing size of "the blob".

[cqholt]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr....y%2BxKpbYCc%3D (broken link)

Great graphic to explain your above post. The metro area is very much like an Octopus. A large body with tentacles along the interstate corridors.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The 2010 Census declared that the Atlanta metro area saw the largest growth in size between 2000 and 2010. The amount of land grabbed up for low-density development is appalling, 683 square miles in 10 years. It is time for the Atlanta region to put growth limits before all the land concrete.
America's Growing Urban Footprint - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities

I don't understand the argument against low density and then complaining about everything being concrete. Low density means larger yards and more green.

Buckhead within the city limits of the core city is one of the least dense areas of the metro area.

[cittic10]

I have yet to find another east coast city suffering so heavily from the effects of sprawl.

I do feel partly responsible as I keep moving further and further out.

[arjay57]

Some commentators now argue that the "city vs. suburb" distinction is dead.

For example, suburban populations have become increasingly diverse (more than those in cities in many cases). Poverty, including concentrated poverty, is rapidly suburbanizing. Suburban infrastructure is aging, so it won't be surprising to see them come up against the same kind of needs for major overhauls of water and sewer systems that cities have had to deal with. There's also a growing need for transportation and transit upgrades in the suburbs.

Here's an interesting presentation from Brookings that talks about some of these changes.

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Fil...esentation.pdf

[ATLTJL]

Just sit back, relax, and watch what happens.

You may not understand why someone would commute 80 miles. Someone who does that may not understand how someone can live in a shoebox in the city.

Whatever.

My pont is, we do not need any regulations dictating growth. It will happen organically as market conditions dictate.

I have much more faith in the invisible hand than I do Atlanta's legislative leadership.

[cqholt]

Buckhead within the city limits of the core city is one of the least dense areas of the metro area.

Are you talking about Buckhead area as a whole? The Lenox area and Peachtree Road Corridor are pretty dens, but the single family neighborhoods are very spread out.

I don't understand the argument against low density and then complaining about everything being concrete. Low density means larger yards and more green.

Sea of parking lots to handle all the cars because most suburbs where not built with pedestrian or transit in mind. True suburban homes have larger lots, but those lots have bigger homes than older established neighborhoods. Its only recently that suburban development has focused more on pedestrians, but cars are still the major mode of transportation.