ATL suburb residents only! What keeps you form moving Downtown? (Atlanta: crime, schools)

[Mike_IN_AUG]

ATL resident, who live in the suburbs, what are the main reasons you live in the suburbs? I know education and crime are obvious factors, but what are some smaller details of living in the city that you do not like? What do other cities have that you have seen that Atlanta does not?

Thanks in advance!

[AnsleyPark]

Mike - Many of us have lived Intown - some for a very long time and loved it. Some of us moved to the suburbs for affordability and great schools. Some, I'm sure, for other reasons. You'll receive a host of replies on this question but most responses should not be because one area is better than the other. It really all depends on where you are in your life and what you desire.

[DaBurgh]

I work in the Burbs. If I worked in town, I'd live there too. I'd prefer to be in town, so I am actively making plans to find work there.

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by Mike_IN_AUG

ATL resident, who live in the suburbs, what are the main reasons you live in the suburbs? I know education and crime are obvious factors, but what are some smaller details of living in the city that you do not like? What do other cities have that you have seen that Atlanta does not?

Job, friends, church, business interests, familiarity with the area, local relationships, local civic involvement.

It was never a conscious decision of "I'm choosing the suburbs instead of living downtown." Just had a lot of reasons to live in Smyrna/Vinings and no reasons to live downtown.

Everything that matters in my life right now is here, and I don't like commutes, so I've always just lived here.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Mike - Many of us have lived Intown - some for a very long time and loved it. Some of us moved to the suburbs for affordability and great schools. Some, I'm sure, for other reasons. You'll receive a host of replies on this question but most responses should not be because one area is better than the other. It really all depends on where you are in your life and what you desire.

What is "Intown"? Does this refer to the area simply inside 285?

Bulkhead is considered Atlanta still right? I read that it is in the city limits, but people generally consider its own entity.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

So would you guys say that native Atlantans are more likely to live in the suburbs?

People who move to Atlanta (like me), are wanting to go there for the city life, we do not really think to much of suburbs, I doubt I will ever go to Buckhead or Riverdale, and do not consider them as options, although Buckhead is somewhat in my field of business (Marketing).

I guess the appeal of the city has lost its light with some.

[MattCW]

Cost and crime. The places with less crime are too expensive, the places I could afford are overrun with crime. Clean up the entire city and you'll have more reasonably-priced, lower-crime areas open up. We're starting to see that I think with the western (the not pointless side) Beltline. Traffic is another. Run the buses on reasonable frequencies and I could use them to perform my daily errands instead of having to drive. I've driven in numerous parts of Atlanta at all different times of the day for each area, I don't understand how people can tolerate being socked-in with traffic that bad, so often.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Mike_IN_AUG

So would you guys say that native Atlantans are more likely to live in the suburbs?

People who move to Atlanta (like me), are wanting to go there for the city life, we do not really think to much of suburbs, I doubt I will ever go to Buckhead or Riverdale, and do not consider them as options, although Buckhead is somewhat in my field of business (Marketing).

I guess the appeal of the city has lost its light with some.

The area covered is a huge difference. There are many more suburbs than COA (City of Atlanta). That said, MANY more people live in the suburbs versus intown.

My reason is because the grandmother (maternal) of my child lives so far up 85 (Jackson County) that it only made sense to live OTP. I also commute to the airport. It isn't pretty, but I am literally half way.

Do I like it? NO! I don't really have much of a choice at this point though.. if I want to continue free family child care.

Would I live in town? In a heart beat. Gwinnett County isn't that bad of an area though.. traffic congestion aside. I especially like Downtown Norcross and the amenities of Pleasant Hill very close by... and Doraville for that matter. Buford Highway Farmers Market is a favorite shopping spot of mine. I do REALLY wish MARTA was expanded into Gwinnett though. That is a huge inconvenience for me.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Cost and crime. The places with less crime are too expensive, the places I could afford are overrun with crime. Clean up the entire city and you'll have more reasonably-priced, lower-crime areas open up. We're starting to see that I think with the western (the not pointless side) Beltline. Traffic is another. Run the buses on reasonable frequencies and I could use them to perform my daily errands instead of having to drive. I've driven in numerous parts of Atlanta at all different times of the day for each area, I don't understand how people can tolerate being socked-in with traffic that bad, so often.

You could not find any areas close to Downtown with little crime?

[flamadiddle]

Once you have kids, you will not want to live in the city. If you're young and single, go for it.