What will it take to push Atlanta into international greatness (Kennesaw: amusement parks, townhomes)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by kittyjo

Put it this way, if you got hold of a bunch of travel bucket lists from around the world, very few of them would list 'Eat some Arby's at the CNN center' along with 'Climb the Eiffel tower'......

Considering that the vast majority who vist the Eiffel Tower take the elevator and would die of a heart attack if they had to climb it, I'm thinking Arby's actualy IS on a lot of people's bucket list.

[kittyjo]

Originally Posted by JPD

Considering that the vast majority who vist the Eiffel Tower take the elevator and would die of a heart attack if they had to climb it, I'm thinking Arby's actualy IS on a lot of people's bucket list.

Wow, so the fact that the Eiffel tower has a lot of stairs means that 'a lot' of people in the world would rather go to Arby's instead?
Anyway, you can only climb the stairs to the second level, a pretty easy journey. The rest are closed off. Just FYI, the term 'climbing the Eiffel tower' always means taking the stairs to the first or second level, then getting the elevator the rest of the way if you want to go to the top.

To go back to the OP, you can't be an international city unless you attract a high level of international visitors. Atlanta doesn't do that now, and even with the belt line etc it won't do that in the future.

http://www.enjoyourholiday.com/2011/...-in-the-world/

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

according to the wikipedia article on global cities:
Global city - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atlanta ranks as an "Alpha-" global city. The other categories are "Alpha++", "Alpha+", "Alpha", "Beta+", "Beta", "Beta-", "Gamma+", "Gamma" and "Gamma-"

On the "Global Cities Index" we are #39.

On the "Global City Competitiveness Index" we are #31.

Atlanta also has 25 embassies. On an international scale, we're pretty big, but we're not Chicago, Washington, New York, Los Angeles big.

Atlanta has 25 consulates. Embassies are only in the official capital city--in our case, Washington.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by kittyjo

Wow, so the fact that the Eiffel tower has a lot of stairs means that 'a lot' of people in the world would rather go to Arby's instead?

It was a joke. Settle down.

[neil0311]

What would it take? Let me see if I can provide the desired response....

1) annex all the suburbs for 50 miles and make part of the City of Atlanta.
2) eliminate auto traffic inside the perimeter, make all streets pedestrian malls with bike lanes, and require walking, bicycle riding or transit ridership. The downtown connector could have rails 8 lanes wide with stations where each exit currently sits today.
3) No homes may be larger than 1500 sq feet, unless two families live there, and then they can be up to 2000 sq ft.
4) Secede from the State of Georgia.

[cqholt]

What would it take? Let me see if I can provide the desired response....

1) annex all the suburbs for 50 miles and make part of the City of Atlanta.
2) eliminate auto traffic inside the perimeter, make all streets pedestrian malls with bike lanes, and require walking, bicycle riding or transit ridership. The downtown connector could have rails 8 lanes wide with stations where each exit currently sits today.
3) No homes may be larger than 1500 sq feet, unless two families live there, and then they can be up to 2000 sq ft.
4) Secede from the State of Georgia.
[+] Rate this post positively

You are so anti-City of Atlanta. No tourist ever comes to Atlanta to visit Cobb or Gwinnett counties, most of the tourist stuff is concentrated.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You are so anti-City of Atlanta. No tourist ever comes to Atlanta to visit Cobb or Gwinnett counties, most of the tourist stuff is concentrated.

Agreed, but you probably get the occaisional war buff who wants to visit Kennesaw Mountain. That's about it, though, unless there are tourists stupid enough to have an interest in the big chicken.

[Prytania]

The only 2 things Atlanta needs IMHO are transit, and great outdoor spaces (not specific stores or cafes) but more infill, built up to the street with ground floor retail. The city is well on its way toward these two.

(And don't forget the city is Southern...and there is nothing wrong with embracing that heritage. That's one of the best parts of cities like Boston, NYC, New Orleans, Washington, Chicago)

[alco89]

Originally Posted by kittyjo

I don't think it will ever be considered an international city. Most people outside of the US haven't heard of it. But really, an international city needs a cohesive, highly populated city center that is walkable for tourists with access to history, wide ranging attractions, high-end retail etc. Downtown Atlanta will never be that.
Put it this way, if you got hold of a bunch of travel bucket lists from around the world, very few of them would list 'Eat some Arby's at the CNN center' along with 'Climb the Eiffel tower'......

Oh really? Have some faith!

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You are so anti-City of Atlanta. No tourist ever comes to Atlanta to visit Cobb or Gwinnett counties, most of the tourist stuff is concentrated.

I'm not the least bit "anti-City of Atlanta" and have never made any comments to that effect. I was merely parodying the typical comments from some folks on this forum when asked what could "push Atlanta to International greatness" or other such silly questions. Wanting to be left alone here in the suburbs doesn't make me "anti" anything. It's not a zero sum game.

Actually, the fact that I chose to go to school here (in the City of Atlanta), then remain here for 6 years, and then return here in 2007 would tend to show that I like the area quite a bit.