The Vibrancy Problem (Atlanta, Nashville: condos, purchase, public schools)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

That is exactly where it should start. Downtown's seas of parking lots, Midtown's empty lots, and undeveloped or underdeveloped areas right at MARTA stations. I would also extend that to ex-industrial or nearly-condemned parts of the city near rail transit or on major arterial roads. This would be for higher-density development.

Then areas along minor arterial roads which are currently undeveloped or nearly-condemned would be prime for more residential-style medium-density development. A prime example of this, which I drive down nearly daily, is Joseph E. Lowery between Hollowell and MLK. Driving down that road is like driving through Detroit.

Once again I will refer you to the Atlanta City Design, which shares your views (called Growth Corridors/Areas.)

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

Atlanta has never been a pedestrian oriented.. at least not since the automobile. The entire layout of the city is designed around automobiles not pedestrians..The downtown connector cuts the urban core in half, lack of sidewalks also dont help and where sidewalks do exist they are often in poor condition.

Atlanta is much like LA in that most people drive everywhere. Almost everyone has a car and it realy is a necessity to have access to a car to get around and function. Now yes there are small pockets here and there.. neighborhoods that are pedestrian oriented.. mostly the older intown neighborhoods... but it is a hodgepodge.
I think The successful beltline is helping in making Atlanta more pedestrian and bike friendly by connecting these pockets together..
Also, the Big Stitch wil be a big help to make downtown and midtown more pedestrian friendly.

That's demonstrably not true for the City of Atlanta. With the exception of Buckhead and Southwest Atlanta, all of the intown neighborhoods were developed around the streetcar not automobiles. The problem we find ourselves in now is that in second half of the 20th century, infrastructure for the automobile was plopped on top of this already developed area. Hilarity ensued.

Basically, we just need to undo that mess and we'll be alright. We're already starting to see that take off in a meaningful way.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Once again I will refer you to the Atlanta City Design, which shares your views (called Growth Corridors/Areas.)

I know........I was agreeing with you (hard to believe, I know).

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by DavePa

No one would say Atlanta would build that and Atlanta has NO street-grid anyway. Philly had the first planned one that is basically its core today.

Atlanta absolutely has a street grid, Dave. Downtown and Midtown are both on grids.

[primaltech]

Atlanta has a terrible street grid that should be fixed and improved. More connections. More actual 4-way intersections. More streets that aren't just short dead ends to feed into larger streets, where all the traffic gets bottle-necked.

If the grid were fixed up and connected, traffic situation around here would be better. But doing so would require acquiring private property.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Atlanta has a terrible street grid that should be fixed and improved. More connections. More actual 4-way intersections. More streets that aren't just short dead ends to feed into larger streets, where all the traffic gets bottle-necked.

If the grid were fixed up and connected, traffic situation around here would be better. But doing so would require acquiring private property.

I just don't see how to do that w/o demo of homes, businesses, etc. Which would be expensive and create public backlash.
Now in the case of Moores Mill, it made sense, and Atlanta, GDOT, etc. should look at redevelopment opportunities for creating a grid. Another example is the H4WP area and Buckhead's CityPlace. Wrap these 'Texas Donuts' apartments with narrow, residential streets so when nearby parcels get redeveloped, a grid can be created.
Of course The Benz is an example of screwing that up.

[primaltech]

Midtown/West Midtown's grid could be VASTLY improved pretty easily, with just a few things demolished. A couple of small homes, maybe a couple industrial buildings, some parking lots, but not much is really standing in the way.

I'd like to see 16th St extended to Huff Rd. 15th St with a new bridge, and extended all the way to Mecaslin St, with no gaps.

13th extended to Williams and Peachtree streets on either side.

11th extended over to Williams. Williams extended down to North Ave. Etc etc. 10th St/Virginia Ave fixed/straightened.

Wouldn't be all that hard. And Buckhead could improve the grid in its village area, and in the Lenox area. Even if those 2 never get connected because of Peachtree Park.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Midtown/West Midtown's grid could be VASTLY improved pretty easily, with just a few things demolished. A couple of small homes, maybe a couple industrial buildings, some parking lots, but not much is really standing in the way.

Those are people's homes and businesses.

I'd like to see 16th St extended to Huff Rd. 15th St with a new bridge, and extended all the way to Mecaslin St, with no gaps.

A little thing called Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, where water is treated for over 1.2M people everyday.

13th extended to Williams and Peachtree streets on either side.

Yes, needs to happen.

11th extended over to Williams. Williams extended down to North Ave. Etc etc. 10th St/Virginia Ave fixed/straightened.

Yes, as these underused parcels are redevelopment it presents the opportunity to do that, in exchange for higher density and lower parking minimums.
Wouldn't be all that hard. And Buckhead could improve the grid in its village area, and in the Lenox area. Even if those 2 never get connected because of Peachtree Park.

[primaltech]

And what the heck is this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7845.../data=!3m1!1e3

Can't they move 12th St a measly 30ft south on the east side of that intersection, so that the dang street can connect with itself?

Tons of examples of that kind of thing throughout the city.

Grid improvement would go a long way towards more urbanization. The city needs more 4-way intersections, with traffic lights. Roads and streets that provide alternative connections between areas. That kind of thing would benefit everybody- pedestrians and cars.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Midtown/West Midtown's grid could be VASTLY improved pretty easily, with just a few things demolished. A couple of small homes, maybe a couple industrial buildings, some parking lots, but not much is really standing in the way.

I'd like to see 16th St extended to Huff Rd. 15th St with a new bridge, and extended all the way to Mecaslin St, with no gaps.

13th extended to Williams and Peachtree streets on either side.

11th extended over to Williams. Williams extended down to North Ave. Etc etc. 10th St/Virginia Ave fixed/straightened.

Wouldn't be all that hard. And Buckhead could improve the grid in its village area, and in the Lenox area. Even if those 2 never get connected because of Peachtree Park.

Its done all the time in other places. Georgia is the "Can't do" state. The Jimmy Carter "limits" syndrome.