Let's examine metro Atlanta's many urban areas/grids (and homework)! (Marietta: cul-de-sac, how much)

[AtlantaIsHot]

I've been following Atlanta's growth and development for years. One thing that you quickly notice is that people often note Atlanta has too much "suburban," and is lacking in grids. While it is true that much of metro Atlanta has historically been suburban in nature and does indeed have many cul-de-sacs, it's completely false that metro Atlanta lacks street grids as we will see. It's also completely false that Atlanta lacks urban areas. There are many of them in the city and metro. Street grids greatly aid urban development but they are not an absolute requirement. Urbanity can be shoehorned in with curved buildings, pedestrian alleys, seating plaza's, etc. Think 1010 in Midtown and Buckhead Atlanta for example... As we click the links, notice please the street grid present around these areas.

Let's look at how much of the metro has urban potential with little effort:

1. Douglasville's urban core: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
2. Austell's grid is conductive to urbanity: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
3. Acworth's central grid urbanity: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
4. Clarkston's street grid could urbanize easily: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
5. Avondale Estates' urban core: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
6. Conyers' urban core surprised me: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
7. Chamblee's small size doesn't subtract from it's possibilities: https://www.google.com/maps/place/At...fede2f990b630b
8. Tucker's grid could produce extensive urban development: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tu...6f4f459d766219
9. Fairburn's existing pattern provides the best bones: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5669...NrVPhvROuA!2e0

Metro Atlanta contains many urban nodes and grid networks. Many more than people think. Homework is to do what I did and go to Google maps and click through the following Atlanta neighborhoods and note the grids and Atlanta's urban infill potential:
1. Pittsburgh
2. West of Marietta Street
3. Peoplestown
4. University district west of downtown
5. The extensive grid networks around Memorial Drive

[demonta4]

10. Jonesboro has potential https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jo...d982385d?hl=en
Forest Park also
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fo...00fafefa?hl=en

[AnsleyPark]

I graduated decades ago. No homework for me!

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I graduated decades ago. No homework for me!

I graduated half a year ago and I'm saying no homework for me!

I like downtown Lawrenceville. It's an old city so it's not surprising. It's not like Athens or anything with nightlife but it's not Snellville which is just an intersection of 78 and 124.

[arjay57]

I sure wouldn't overlook beautiful old cities like Alpharetta and Marietta.

[AtlantaIsHot]

The thing immediately striking about viewing Atlanta's intown neighborhoods is the extreme amount of vacant land. Especially on the south side. Looking at all the abandoned homes and buildings makes one feel a sense of vast underuse of land. Just imagine the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and Peoplestown brimming with Boston-type townhomes and rowhouses. Pipe dream for sure but the form is there for one heckuva urban core.

Another striking thing is that once examined, the urban grids of Atlanta's intown areas of downtown, midtown, east side, west side, and south side total nearly 75% of the size of the city of Boston. Boston has it's share of curved streets mixed in as well so all hope is not lost. All Atlanta has to do is FILL IN.