Atlanta's Little Vietnam (Buford, Doraville, Chamblee: maintenance, live, design)

[arjay57]

Some interesting history about the east side of the ATL, including a good article from the Bird.

For years this area was solidly middle class, but it quickly turned into a disaster in the late 1960s.

Now it's nice as can be over there again.

Less than a year after its 1971 opening, East Lake Meadows had become known as “little Vietnam.” And by the time the project was being redeveloped in the 1990s, as Adam Goldstein discusses in his article, reports in the Washington Post, New York Times, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution could refer to East Lake Meadows by this moniker without any need for an explanation about the name’s meaning or origin. In the public’s imagination the two had become synonymous, and both symbolized all of the problems that had come to beset public housing: violence, crime, drugs, poor maintenance, and police indifference. However, the exact origins of the nickname “little Vietnam” have been lost over time and apocryphal stories have often filled the void.

More...What’s in a Name? East Lake Meadows and “Little Vietnam”

[magnetar]

I don't think anyone under the age of 30 really understands the reference; I need two hands to count the number of friends who have traveled to Vietnam as tourists. Good for East Lake, though.

[AUGnative]

I was always under the impression the Buford Hwy corridor around Chamblee and Doraville is known as Little Vietnam. Infact the slanf for Chamblee is Chambodia (which is odd, because I dont think there are that many Cambodians there but lots of Vietnamese businesses)

[AUGnative]

Oh now I see, Little Vietnam was just a moniker for it being a "war zone".. I guess that had more meaning back in the early 70s. Now when someone here's Little Vietnam, the immediate reaction is that it is an area with a large Vietnamese community.. which is definitely Buford Hwy thru Chamblee and Doraville.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Some interesting history about the east side of the ATL, including a good article from the Bird.

For years this area was solidly middle class, but it quickly turned into a disaster in the late 1960s.

Now it's nice as can be over there again.

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/atlan...ar-on-density/

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

Oh now I see, Little Vietnam was just a moniker for it being a "war zone".. I guess that had more meaning back in the early 70s. Now when someone here's Little Vietnam, the immediate reaction is that it is an area with a large Vietnamese community.. which is definitely Buford Hwy thru Chamblee and Doraville.

Kirkwood was called Little Mexico for the same reason.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

Oh now I see, Little Vietnam was just a moniker for it being a "war zone".. I guess that had more meaning back in the early 70s. Now when someone here's Little Vietnam, the immediate reaction is that it is an area with a large Vietnamese community.. which is definitely Buford Hwy thru Chamblee and Doraville.

Yeah, the "Little Vietnam" tag referred to the drugs, violence, and other problems at East Lake Meadows and the idea that cleaning up public housing projects was an impossible task.

I agree with you -- there's a different association today!

[jhtrico1850]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

I was always under the impression the Buford Hwy corridor around Chamblee and Doraville is known as Little Vietnam. Infact the slanf for Chamblee is Chambodia (which is odd, because I dont think there are that many Cambodians there but lots of Vietnamese businesses)

There is a designated Chinatown in Chamblee. There are Vietnamese businesses on Buford Highway, but many live and have businesses in Gwinnett/Norcross/Jimmy Carter area for the cheap housing.

[aries4118]

Such a good, informative article. Please read.

"Atlanta's War On Density"

Originally Posted by aries4118

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/atlan...ar-on-density/

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Such a good, informative article. Please read.

"Atlanta's War On Density"

Probably worthy of its own thread, don't you think?