Best part of Midtown? Toward Peachtree or toward the Park? North or South? (Monroe: subletting, apartments)

[SuddenlySouthern606]

If you could live anywhere in Midtown, where would you choose? Close to the Whole Foods and shops? Or close to Piedmont Park?

Any areas you’d avoid?

Many thanks!

[Smocaine]

I prefer the area closer to Piedmont Park. It's a hair more developed than the western half of Midtown and is appreciably quieter and just nicer. The western side near the Whole Foods is a little more Wild West and it's not bad or anything, it's just a little behind.


As for areas to avoid, IMO, Midtown starts to really fall off around 6th or 5th street, going south. Midtown between 5th and 14th streets is really where you want to be if you're interested in Midtown.

[grin123]

Agree. Once you drive south down 5th street and get past those townhouse apartments it gets ugly quickly as you come into Downtown. Nobody's clamoring to move downtown for a reason. Stay near Piedmont Park/Colony Square, nice urban area. Piedmont Park is a fantastic park.

[Datdudebrah]

I agree with the others, north near the park

[DoubleZ OTP]

Originally Posted by SuddenlySouthern606

If you could live anywhere in Midtown, where would you choose? Close to the Whole Foods and shops? Or close to Piedmont Park?

Any areas you’d avoid?

Many thanks!

I live in Midtown

The best part of Midtown, IMO, is anywhere north of 5th, south of 15th, east of West Peachtree, and west of Piedmont/Piedmont Park. The closer to the park, the better (but also more $$$).

The southwestern area of Midtown (west of West Peachtree and south of 10th) is nice but mostly home to Georgia Tech students and very recent college graduates.

The northwestern area of Midtown (west of West Peachtree and north of 14th/Whole Foods) is nice, but it feels a bit disconnected from the rest of Midtown and especially the Colony Square/Museum area. There are too many lifeless, empty lots and there is not quite enough density at this time to make the area feel lively (this is changing rapidly and for the better as there are probably a dozen buildings under construction in this corridor).

The area just south of 5th (southern Midtown) is fine, but it's not the most desirable part of Midtown. I would avoid the area south of North Avenue entirely.

[SuddenlySouthern606]

Originally Posted by DoubleZ OTP

I live in Midtown

The best part of Midtown, IMO, is anywhere north of 5th, south of 15th, east of West Peachtree, and west of Piedmont/Piedmont Park. The closer to the park, the better (but also more $$$).

The southwestern area of Midtown (west of West Peachtree and south of 10th) is nice but mostly home to Georgia Tech students and very recent college graduates.

The northwestern area of Midtown (west of West Peachtree and north of 14th/Whole Foods) is nice, but it feels a bit disconnected from the rest of Midtown and especially the Colony Square/Museum area. There are too many lifeless, empty lots and there is not quite enough density at this time to make the area feel lively (this is changing rapidly and for the better as there are probably a dozen buildings under construction in this corridor).

The area just south of 5th (southern Midtown) is fine, but it's not the most desirable part of Midtown. I would avoid the area south of North Avenue entirely.

Very helpful DoubleZOTP!

[waronxmas]

I like to think of these parts of Midtown like the following.

The "new" Core - Going from North Ave to Pershing Point, bounded by the Connector and Piedmont Ave it's ostly new urban high rises with older buildings and offices sprinkled in. Younger folks who have good jobs or trust funds than can afford the rents or mortgages.

The Historic District - Going from 5th street to 14th street, bounded by Piedmont and Monroe Drive. It's mostly Victorian and early 20th era houses and apartment blocks and a mix of old money and newer money, but more family oriented.

South Midtown - Go from Ponce to 5th street, bounded by Piedmont and Monroe. This is area has seen a lot of gentrification, but it is historically the "rough and tumble" part of Midtown. The housing stock is mostly low rise apartments and duplexes/quadplexes with apartments that are on the "small side". Mostly filled with working class people, students, and people just starting their careers without the benefit of their parents money it has a grittier tone and at night the streets come alive. It's still not uncommon to see prostitution, drug dealing, and all other sorts of activity. While it is has certainly calmed down a lot in recent years it's still there.

Overall, it really depends on your budget and how adventurous you are. For me, South Midtown has more in common culturally with O4W and other east side neighborhoods and is more up my alley. It also allows one to take advantage of all Midtown has to offer without breaking the bank.

If you have the money, the Core would probably the most enjoyable area to live.

The historic district: Forget about it unless you are ok subletting a cottage house or having a lot of roommates unless you can afford it.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by Smocaine

I prefer the area closer to Piedmont Park. It's a hair more developed than the western half of Midtown and is appreciably quieter and just nicer. The western side near the Whole Foods is a little more Wild West and it's not bad or anything, it's just a little behind.


As for areas to avoid, IMO, Midtown starts to really fall off around 6th or 5th street, going south. Midtown between 5th and 14th streets is really where you want to be if you're interested in Midtown.

This is spot on, I agree on all fronts.

Whole Foods is nice, but has you get close to the highway it just becomes less liveable and more about business. Closer to Piedmont park is a bit quieter and liveable in my opinion.

Once you start getting down by The Varsity and Bank of America building, it's starts to decline.

East of W Peachtree, north of 8th street would be ideal if that's what you're asking. It's not bad outside of that area, but I think that's the nicest.

[SuddenlySouthern606]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

I like to think of these parts of Midtown like the following.

The "new" Core - Going from North Ave to Pershing Point, bounded by the Connector and Piedmont Ave it's ostly new urban high rises with older buildings and offices sprinkled in. Younger folks who have good jobs or trust funds than can afford the rents or mortgages.

The Historic District - Going from 5th street to 14th street, bounded by Piedmont and Monroe Drive. It's mostly Victorian and early 20th era houses and apartment blocks and a mix of old money and newer money, but more family oriented.

South Midtown - Go from Ponce to 5th street, bounded by Piedmont and Monroe. This is area has seen a lot of gentrification, but it is historically the "rough and tumble" part of Midtown. The housing stock is mostly low rise apartments and duplexes/quadplexes with apartments that are on the "small side". Mostly filled with working class people, students, and people just starting their careers without the benefit of their parents money it has a grittier tone and at night the streets come alive. It's still not uncommon to see prostitution, drug dealing, and all other sorts of activity. While it is has certainly calmed down a lot in recent years it's still there.

Overall, it really depends on your budget and how adventurous you are. For me, South Midtown has more in common culturally with O4W and other east side neighborhoods and is more up my alley. It also allows one to take advantage of all Midtown has to offer without breaking the bank.

If you have the money, the Core would probably the most enjoyable area to live.

The historic district: Forget about it unless you are ok subletting a cottage house or having a lot of roommates unless you can afford it.

Nice! Only part you left out is the sliver between the Core & the park (from Piedmont on the West to the park on the right, and 14th on the north and 10th on the south

[seussie]

People will rationalize this case from all sorts of perverse angles, but this was an incredibly brutal killing at Piedmont Park and it still is not solved: https://www.11alive.com/amp/article/...c-edebd43e16fc. Zone 5 had a $150% increase in murders, slight increases in aggrravated assault and auto thefts, mirroring a national trend. (https://www.atlantapd.org/home/showp...89869741430000). But outside of this data you'd be interested in, I actually recommend nearest Whole Foods. It's less congested over the weekends with parking, etc., but still quite near the park, and you have access to a few major one-direction thoroughfares. I live in SWATs though, so, I'm biased. I prefer new and shiny over older and bottlenecked.