Atlanta's not a world class city[CL Article] (Buckhead: to live in, shop)

[EarlofCardigan]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

I suppose that's the conundrum-- we want a world class city without the world class prices. However, somehow, Chicago is able to do it. I'm not sure why.

I was really baffled as to how a city of Chicago's caliber could be so cheap. I think Chicago is an ideal mix of urbanity and livability, both in the quality of life and cost of living. I'd hope Atlanta can work towards that as well.

But Chicago is several steps down from NY and SF, and its winters make NY look like Boca Raton. I'd rather be in Atl,

[arjay57]

-- Olympics summer games host city (along with Barcelona, Sydney, London, Beijing, etc.)
-- the CDC and and an NCI designated cancer center
-- world's busiest airport
-- major league sports franchises and two new state of the art stadiums
-- extensive heavy rail transit system
-- internationally renowned universities (GT and Emory)
-- population growth of 1,000,000 per decade in the last 50 years
-- an eye-popping skyline that is instantly recognizable around the world
-- one of the world's largest monadnocks
-- home of the world's 3d most valuable brand
-- home of the world's second largest retailer

We could go on, but how much more do you need to be "world class"?

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by EarlofCardigan

But Chicago is several steps down from NY and SF, and its winters make NY look like Boca Raton. I'd rather be in Atl,

And Atlanta is several steps from Chicago. Your point?

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by arjay57

-- Olympics summer games host city (along with Barcelona, Sydney, London, Beijing, etc.)
-- the CDC and and an NCI designated cancer center
-- world's busiest airport
-- major league sports franchises and two new state of the art stadiums
-- extensive heavy rail transit system
-- internationally renowned universities (GT and Emory)
-- population growth of 1,000,000 per decade in the last 50 years
-- an eye-popping skyline that is instantly recognizable around the world
-- one of the world's largest monadnocks
-- home of the world's 3d most valuable brand
-- home of the world's second largest retailer

We could go on, but how much more do you need to be "world class"?

Atlanta is certainly an international city. The article makes a clear point of how it's not world class.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

I pretty agree with this article. Small Excerpt below with link to full article.

Atlanta's not a world-class city | Opinion | Creative Loafing Atlanta




You can't tell me Atlanta's a world class city when:

1)Downtown is dead past 5:30
2)Lack of vibrant urban, walkable neighborhoods.
3)25%+ of your downtown is just parking lots.
4)Subpar public transportation system that struggles with corruption and improvement
5)Half of the downtown area won't get development because of the 'riff raff' element

Sounds like you just described Los Angeles.

[EarlofCardigan]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

And Atlanta is several steps from Chicago. Your point?

My point is that I'd rather live in Atl than Chi.

[EarlofCardigan]

Originally Posted by arjay57

-- Olympics summer games host city (along with Barcelona, Sydney, London, Beijing, etc.)
-- the CDC and and an NCI designated cancer center
-- world's busiest airport
-- major league sports franchises and two new state of the art stadiums
-- extensive heavy rail transit system
-- internationally renowned universities (GT and Emory)
-- population growth of 1,000,000 per decade in the last 50 years
-- an eye-popping skyline that is instantly recognizable around the world
-- one of the world's largest monadnocks
-- home of the world's 3d most valuable brand
-- home of the world's second largest retailer

We could go on, but how much more do you need to be "world class"?

All "new" American cities lack the grandiose, old buildings that one finds in NY and Boston.

Photos by me on a recent trip to NY.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by EarlofCardigan

All "new" American cities lack the grandiose, old buildings that one finds in NY and Boston.

Yes, but that hardly means we are not world class.

[EarlofCardigan]

That 's part of it, though.

The other parts are that it lacks world-class museums, operas, and ballets. It's not an international political center or media center. Indeed, even CNN had basically jumped ship for NY.

It has no internationally-known landmarks, and it doesn't even have a grand urban shopping district; instead, it has a mall. Atlanta is awesome, but it's not remotely world-class.

[AnsleyPark]

Well, it's not ancient like Paris and London. That doesn't mean it's not a world leading city. CertInly it is.