Atlanta's Size

[Saintmarks]

An argument for Atlanta to either annex, merge or consolidate has nothing to do with a density argument. It is a question of local government and pulling down layers of government. Anything that could possibly be annexed within the existing Fulton or DeKalb counties is already built out, there is no undeveloped land to speak of to annex unless Atlanta took in portions of far South Fulton.

Whether Atlanta's footprint were the current 131 sq miles or took in everything ITP or even beyond, that is simply changing governmental structures and population tallies and what it would look like on a map. The forces that make the area car centric and more or less dense are still there to play whether this happens or not.

[Saintmarks]

I have proposed before that Atlanta should look to London as an example of a form of city government. Sometime in the 60s, the county of Middlesex (London's county) was merged with some surrounding areas of Surrey and Kent into Greater London. Within greater London are dozens of boroughs of around 100,000 (more or less) that give more local control.

Like others have posted before, I think all of Fulton and DeKalb should be swallowed into a Greater Atlanta (let areas north of the Chattahoochee go back to Milton) and then have Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, along with other areas that aren't currently cities, both in the current city of Atlanta and DeKalb, etc be boroughs within this Greater Atlanta.... Buckhead, Cascade, Panthersville, Redan, East Point, etc, etc. Maybe take in parts of Clayton (give the panhandle to Fayette). Let these boroughs be areas of 50k to 100k, have a good dozen or more, then have a combined greater Atlanta of 1.5 million or more.

I don't see any of the current leadership of any of these cities doing this, no one wants to give up their little fiefdom. It would most likely have to come as orders from the state, a proposal from a governor perhaps and then voted on by residents. Hard to see it coming, would have to be sold well, but would be much better than the current situation.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I have proposed before that Atlanta should look to London as an example of a form of city government. Sometime in the 60s, the county of Middlesex (London's county) was merged with some surrounding areas of Surrey and Kent into Greater London. Within greater London are dozens of boroughs of around 100,000 (more or less) that give more local control.

I could see something like that.

For city-wide decisions is there a mayor and/or city council?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Nanosolar

Everything ITP should be the actual city of Atlanta.

I strongly suspect Cobb County would have serious issues with that, since both Vinings and the Cumberland district are ITP.

Atlanta should stick to its home counties.