the biggest problem with intown atlanta development (Lenox: apartment, rentals)

[whodean]

In most parts of the world, suburbs/exurbs are slums, as the US becomes more like this we will see the the same dynamic here.

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by whodean

In most parts of the world, suburbs/exurbs are slums, as the US becomes more like this we will see the the same dynamic here.

Very unlikely.

[afdinatl]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i think i've found one of the biggest problems with intown atlanta development. the problem is that there is no development directed towards middle-class or lower income residents.

out in the suburbs, you have tons of multifamily and single family development directed towards middle and lower class residents. intown? you have empty lots and dilapidated structures, until the property value rises enough that big-time developers come in and create condos and apartments for people in the six-figure range.

there are tons of places intown that are seeing little or no development, such as downtown, sweet auburn, summerhill, etc., but there is plenty of demand for people to live there— just not rich people. the areas that *have* seen development such as mechanicsville and around collegetown, are all car-oriented developments, built with parking lots surrounding them and zero retail. the problem is that there are all these undeveloped lots, and no one is willing to develop them unless they can get $2 a square foot for rent.

there needs to be some real urban development going on for "the rest of us", with basic apartments, street level retail in a walkable environment, and a real neighbourhood environment.

the problem is that no one is willing to pony up the cash unless it's high-end. all lower and middle class development is still centred in the suburbs.

when do you think we will see real urban development for working class people in atlanta?

Go to your bank and ask them for a loan so that you can build a high-rise for middle income people and see how fast they give you the money

[LovelySummer]

I was under the impression that there were numerous apartment buildings in downtown that were affordable for middle class incomes. Is this wrong? They are older - also older buildings in Midtown. Many GTech students live in them, right?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by LovelySummer

I was under the impression that there were numerous apartment buildings in downtown that were affordable for middle class incomes. Is this wrong? They are older - also older buildings in Midtown. Many GTech students live in them, right?

Yep, there are.

You can buy / rent places downtown for cheaper than you can many places in the suburbs.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

Very unlikely.

Not really. Suburbs have really only been desirable for the last generation or so. People expect an about 30 to 1 hour commute to their job. Cars allowed faster commutes and cities spread out. However, baring some unexpected changes soon, the data shows we have reached peak sprawl. The decades of cheap green-field subdivisions is ending and the housing stock in the suburbs will start to age badly. Given a choice in building infill housing the trend seems to be build closer to jobs and walkable / transit connected communities.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i think i've found one of the biggest problems with intown atlanta development. the problem is that there is no development directed towards middle-class or lower income residents.

out in the suburbs, you have tons of multifamily and single family development directed towards middle and lower class residents. intown? you have empty lots and dilapidated structures, until the property value rises enough that big-time developers come in and create condos and apartments for people in the six-figure range.

there are tons of places intown that are seeing little or no development, such as downtown, sweet auburn, summerhill, etc., but there is plenty of demand for people to live there— just not rich people. the areas that *have* seen development such as mechanicsville and around collegetown, are all car-oriented developments, built with parking lots surrounding them and zero retail. the problem is that there are all these undeveloped lots, and no one is willing to develop them unless they can get $2 a square foot for rent.

there needs to be some real urban development going on for "the rest of us", with basic apartments, street level retail in a walkable environment, and a real neighbourhood environment.

the problem is that no one is willing to pony up the cash unless it's high-end. all lower and middle class development is still centred in the suburbs.

when do you think we will see real urban development for working class people in atlanta?

Its a long run problem.

Intown Atlanta did nothing for decades-all the new middle class housing was in the suburbs. So they don't have medium age neighborhoods that can serve the middle class. They've got old neighborhoods (with lots of work required) and they've got expensive neighborhoods. But they don't have much of those middle-aged neighborhoods.

And what's getting built now is mostly very high end.

The only place is going to be gentrifying neighborhoods-getting in on the low end. Or perhaps some places in the process of sliding down, not really a place you want to buy a house in (for example if Northlake declines as the neighborhood and residents age).

[bu2]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Not really. Suburbs have really only been desirable for the last generation or so. People expect an about 30 to 1 hour commute to their job. Cars allowed faster commutes and cities spread out. However, baring some unexpected changes soon, the data shows we have reached peak sprawl. The decades of cheap green-field subdivisions is ending and the housing stock in the suburbs will start to age badly. Given a choice in building infill housing the trend seems to be build closer to jobs and walkable / transit connected communities.

Neighborhoods have life cycles. The inner suburbs are now getting more poor people. That will redevelop and the next level outward suburbs will decline. Eventually maybe most of those high end inner city apartment complexes become slums and the outer suburbs redevelop.

The Sun Belt cities are behind some of the northern cities in that life cycle.

[bryantm3]

the reason you wouldn't charge $1600 is that you couldn't get $1600— i'm not talking about building places in midtown or virginia-highland, i'm talking about building on cheap property in places like pittsburgh, grove park, peoplestown, etc. the costs would be lower, so the rent would be lower.

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Not really. Suburbs have really only been desirable for the last generation or so. People expect an about 30 to 1 hour commute to their job. Cars allowed faster commutes and cities spread out. However, baring some unexpected changes soon, the data shows we have reached peak sprawl. The decades of cheap green-field subdivisions is ending and the housing stock in the suburbs will start to age badly. Given a choice in building infill housing the trend seems to be build closer to jobs and walkable / transit connected communities.

Again, not likely. Most middle class and upper middle class families reside in the burbs. The central cities attract the upper classes who have kids and can afford to send them to private schools, the upperclasses without children and who, as a result, don't care about the school situation, and the poor.

There really is no in between. And there are no signs of that changing.

Possessing a car and driving to get groceries or get to work is presented as the boogeyman today.
But the majority don't subscribe to this mode of thinking. How many older people or families with kids desire to walk most places? For whom is it practically sustainable?

Why is development that prices out and does not appeal to most (ie floor plans, lots and square footage conducive to families) heralded as progress?

Moreover, job centers are increasingly suburban. That means more development will occur where those jobs are. Alpharetta, I think, would be a great example of corporate relocations and incredible numbers of higher paying jobs not downtown.