Atlanta vs. Charlotte (buildings, city limits, year)

[hokiehigh]

^^^
Agree!

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by crider

Charlotte is not Atlanta twenty years ago. The city of Charlotte is larger than the city of Atlanta is now. The Atlanta Metro has five million plus people. The Atlanta metro covers twice the square miles than the Charlotte metro. Over six million people live within a hundred mile radius or less than a hour and a half easy drive of Charlotte which in a business recruiters eyes would go a long way toward neutralizing any metro advantage of population. In reality these two cities are NOW the Power houses of the Southeast that is why this Atlanta vs Charlotte is such a popular and lively topic.Atlanta has been the undsiputed King of the southeast for so long it is hard for some to accept that there is a new challenger in the neighborhood. So much so that they are in denial. People and Companies are just beginning to discover Charlotte and NC.
Atlanta has more skyscrapers, and "big city" amenities and "big city feel" and other advantages over Charlotte the same as Charlotte has some advantages over Atlanta, and it dominates its region in a way that Charlotte dosen't. But Charlotte more than matches Atlanta in the the quality of life issues and in many other ways that business recruiters and transpalnts may be searching for. Charlotte may need to compete with cities like Columbus and Nashville but like it or not Atlanta is doomed to compete with Charlotte not tomorrow but NOW.

I admit in some regards Charlotte has better quality of life.Mostly for families though.Not single people.Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC® Rank 2008 Best U.S. Cities for Relocating Singles™The edge is not a "colossal" difference.Its not like the suburbs or neighborhoods with amenities are much different in Charlotte than Atlanta.The advantages that Atlanta has FAR exceeds in advantages that Charlotte has as far as quality of life.Especially if traffic is the sole reason for that belief.Some one looking for an excellent quality of life would moved to Madison,Wisconsin or Raleigh-Durham.As far as traffic goes,Charlotte has less people,hence less traffic.That said I can remember plenty of times driving up Interstate 85 sitting still in traffic for rush hour in Charlotte.Traffic is an issue when dealing with companies moving here.However most of the time the advantages of living in Atlanta far out weigh any bad attributed with our horrendous traffic.Like having the busiest airport in the world to move not just people,but cargo as well.Having Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is usually one of the top(if not the top) reasons companies stay or relocate here.Or having the port of Savannah where they can transfer goods by rail /truck to air and vice versa.Traffic is bad period.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by NYnowNC

I stepped away from the computer for only a weekend and come back to numerous posts from ATL residents defending their city to the end....

Well, if I were still in B'More considering relocating further south and Atlanta and Charlotte were my final options, then I would still go with Charlotte. If didn't already have prior experience living in Atlanta, then I would move to Atlanta solely based on the hype.

Culture in Atlanta? Well, I will not deny the many museums, Universities, large companies located in Atlanta. I just haven't had anyone say to me that they must go to Atlanta all the time for anything extremely specific. The reasons I would go now is to visit family and friends, The Arts Festival, MLK Center and Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles restaurant. I don't need to live there just to have this experience. Plus, these aren't things I would do weekly. My weekly weekend activities can easily be accomplished in Charlotte.

For me, Charlotte beats Atlanta on traffic issues hands down. Yeah, other cities have traffic too, but Atlanta and Charlotte are in close proximity of each other and are the two cities future transplants are pondering over. Personally, I would rather live in Charlotte and visit Atlanta as needed.

For the record, while living in B'More I would drive to NYC as needed. I no longer have to live in NY or have certain things in my backyard in order to feel like I am living. My only true requirement of any city is that a diverse community exists and I am able choose from a decent amount of activities.

the "

It has nothing to do with defending the city in which we live.Their are only facts.The fact is that like Atlanta was 30 years ago trying so hard to be something it was not(NYC),Charlotte is doing the same thing trying to be Atlanta.The difference is, like NYC,the "wheel has already been invented".NYC being so far away has given Atlanta the opportunity to fill a place in the south that can be as close to its Southern counterpart as possible.Atlanta like NYC has time and history on its side.For instance,it would take Charlotte 20 to 30 years to get its 9mile "light rail system "to be as large as Atlanta's.

The fact is that if you live in Atlanta you have no NEED to go to Charlotte.I can go to Birmingham and get the same things I can get in Charlotte.You can find anything that you WANT in Atlanta much more than in Charlotte.Both can sufficiently fulfill your NEEDS .On most levels, most cities in the U.S. can.In the end its a matter of are your NEEDS more important than what you WANT.I personally think its better to have both.

Before you say something about NYC let me say this in regards to living in Atlanta.NYC is not typical of most cities in the world.To expect that you can have a lifestyle that can compare is crazy.However you can shop(like stores such as Gucci,Prada,Vera Wang or Roberto Cavalli.)You cannot in Charlotte.You can see The Color Purple or The King Tut Exhibit in Atlanta.You cannot in Charlotte.You can receive top medical care for procedures that are uncommon in the country, in Atlanta.You do not have to travel .You cannot in Charlotte.The fact is that if you live in Atlanta you have no NEED to go to Charlotte.I can go to Birmingham or Nashville to get the same things I can get in Charlotte.You can find anything that you WANT in Atlanta much more than in Charlotte.Both can sufficiently fulfill your NEEDS .On most levels, most cities in the U.S. can.In the end its a matter of are your NEEDS more important than what you WANT.I personally think its better to have both.You can see exhibits or plays that you cannot see in a smaller city like Charlotte.( I honestly do not mean that as negative ,just factual)museums of better quality other than just local or even regional.Even go to attractions that are of a global scene.Such as the Aquarium.

[bgNCATL]

Originally Posted by crider

Charlotte is not Atlanta twenty years ago. The city of Charlotte is larger than the city of Atlanta is now. The Atlanta Metro has five million plus people. The Atlanta metro covers twice the square miles than the Charlotte metro. Over six million people live within a hundred mile radius or less than a hour and a half easy drive of Charlotte which in a business recruiters eyes would go a long way toward neutralizing any metro advantage of population. In reality these two cities are NOW the Power houses of the Southeast that is why this Atlanta vs Charlotte is such a popular and lively topic.Atlanta has been the undsiputed King of the southeast for so long it is hard for some to accept that there is a new challenger in the neighborhood. So much so that they are in denial. People and Companies are just beginning to discover Charlotte and NC.
Atlanta has more skyscrapers, and "big city" amenities and "big city feel" and other advantages over Charlotte the same as Charlotte has some advantages over Atlanta, and it dominates its region in a way that Charlotte dosen't. But Charlotte more than matches Atlanta in the the quality of life issues and in many other ways that business recruiters and transpalnts may be searching for. Charlotte may need to compete with cities like Columbus and Nashville but like it or not Atlanta is doomed to compete with Charlotte not tomorrow but NOW.

You could take away half of those Atlanta counties and still come up with 4.5 million people. Charlotte has always seen itself as a challenger to Atlanta;This is nothing new. Nobody is saying that Charlotte is not important to the region and most people down here know that it's a big city. It's just no where near Atlanta. We see Charlotte the same way we see Nashville, Jacksonville, Tampa, etc. Charlotte just has a few more skyscrapers than those cities, but that's about it. Atlanta doesn't feel treated by any off these cities. Charlotte is just closer and has a bigger mouth, so Atlanta just has to pull out the belt every now and then to let her know who daddy is. For the record, If you want to downplay Atlanta's Skyline, big city feel and everything else; you can say my hometown Greensboro is competing with Charlotte. It already has a bigger coliseum and a downtown baseball stadium. Oh and traffic is even better...What then!?! Don't let me pull Raleigh in this. Remember size doesn't always matter LOL.

[Akhenaton06]

Just a few thoughts.

Originally Posted by afonega1

The fact is that like Atlanta was 30 years ago trying so hard to be something it was not(NYC),Charlotte is doing the same thing trying to be Atlanta.

And it's that boosterish attitude that helped Atlanta become the city it is today. Nothing wrong with aspiring to be like the big boys, just make sure that desire is tempered with reality. Remember, these sorts of "Atlanta vs. Charlotte" news pieces come from the AJC, NOT the Charlotte Observer. We're pretty realistic with where we stand in the region and the nation.

Atlanta like NYC has time and history on its side.For instance,it would take Charlotte 20 to 30 years to get its 9mile "light rail system "to be as large as Atlanta's.

You DO realize that 20-30 years is merely a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things, right? Look at what's happened to Detroit in that relatively short time period, and conversely, look at how far Charlotte has come in that period of time. This is why time and history don't necessarily mean anything. Charleston and Richmond have time and history on their side than the vast majority of Southern cities, and while they still have great things going for them, they are far from being the major players that they used to be.

The fact is that if you live in Atlanta you have no NEED to go to Charlotte.I can go to Birmingham and get the same things I can get in Charlotte.You can find anything that you WANT in Atlanta much more than in Charlotte.Both can sufficiently fulfill your NEEDS .On most levels, most cities in the U.S. can.In the end its a matter of are your NEEDS more important than what you WANT.I personally think its better to have both.

Well "wants" differ from person to person, so that's subjective.

You can see The Color Purple or The King Tut Exhibit in Atlanta.You cannot in Charlotte.

Correction: you CAN see "The Color Purple" in Charlotte. And we may be working on the King Tut Exhibit. Even if we don't get it, we get comparable exhibits anyway.

You can receive top medical care for procedures that are uncommon in the country, in Atlanta.You do not have to travel .You cannot in Charlotte.The fact is that if you live in Atlanta you have no NEED to go to Charlotte.

If Charlotteans need some sort of specialized medical treatment, there is no need to travel to Atlanta. We'd go to Durham, Charleston, or even Augusta first. But you point is well taken concerning the level of medical care available in Atlanta.

[atlantaATL]

Originally Posted by crider

Charlotte is not Atlanta twenty years ago. The city of Charlotte is larger than the city of Atlanta is now. The Atlanta Metro has five million plus people. The Atlanta metro covers twice the square miles than the Charlotte metro. Over six million people live within a hundred mile radius or less than a hour and a half easy drive of Charlotte which in a business recruiters eyes would go a long way toward neutralizing any metro advantage of population. In reality these two cities are NOW the Power houses of the Southeast that is why this Atlanta vs Charlotte is such a popular and lively topic.Atlanta has been the undsiputed King of the southeast for so long it is hard for some to accept that there is a new challenger in the neighborhood. So much so that they are in denial. People and Companies are just beginning to discover Charlotte and NC.
Atlanta has more skyscrapers, and "big city" amenities and "big city feel" and other advantages over Charlotte the same as Charlotte has some advantages over Atlanta, and it dominates its region in a way that Charlotte dosen't. But Charlotte more than matches Atlanta in the the quality of life issues and in many other ways that business recruiters and transpalnts may be searching for. Charlotte may need to compete with cities like Columbus and Nashville but like it or not Atlanta is doomed to compete with Charlotte not tomorrow but NOW.

Alright keep dreaming. Atlanta People dont go by city population, Thats why our city limits is more developed than charlotte because we use the whol region. CHarlotte has over 700,000 people in its city limits and it looks like it has 300,000. Atlanta has over 500,000 and looks like a the city has over a million. 20 years ago Atlanta had a metro over 2 million and we had a heavy rail subway system when you look at PIctures of Charlotte today and Atlanta 1984 then you see the same thing. People in Charlotte on this forum wants to be where Atlanta is now SOOOOOOOOOOO bad. Like we keep saying When Charlotte can accomplish the things Atlanta has over achieved then ill give credit but until then it is still a medium sized city thats up and coming.

[atlantaATL]

Originally Posted by Carolina Blue

I know Atlanta “iz been grabb’in yung professionals fo a lone time”. I don’t’ dispute that. My point was that the Census tracks the migration of “Young Professionals”, and historically Charlotte not only has one of the highest growth rates, but also one of the highest retention rates. A city can’t attract and retain young professionals if it doesn’t have the amenities that appeal to them…

Census Study on Young Professionals: http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/censr-12.pdf

To use an analogy, many of your arguments about Charlotte are like saying the bronze medalists in the Olympic 100 meter dash is not fast. He may not be as fast as you would like for him to be, but that doesn’t mean he’s not faster than the average person. People are coming here for several reasons, and its not just to raise a family. Even given the recession, Charlotte was one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country last year, and even grew at a faster growth rate than Atlanta for the first time I can ever remember…

Fastest Growing Metros: Ten Cities Where Americans Are Relocating - Forbes.com

And it still has about 20 more years before it reaches 5 million metro

[atlantaATL]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Just a few thoughts.



And it's that boosterish attitude that helped Atlanta become the city it is today. Nothing wrong with aspiring to be like the big boys, just make sure that desire is tempered with reality. Remember, these sorts of "Atlanta vs. Charlotte" news pieces come from the AJC, NOT the Charlotte Observer. We're pretty realistic with where we stand in the region and the nation.



You DO realize that 20-30 years is merely a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things, right? Look at what's happened to Detroit in that relatively short time period, and conversely, look at how far Charlotte has come in that period of time. This is why time and history don't necessarily mean anything. Charleston and Richmond have time and history on their side than the vast majority of Southern cities, and while they still have great things going for them, they are far from being the major players that they used to be.



Well "wants" differ from person to person, so that's subjective.



Correction: you CAN see "The Color Purple" in Charlotte. And we may be working on the King Tut Exhibit. Even if we don't get it, we get comparable exhibits anyway.



If Charlotteans need some sort of specialized medical treatment, there is no need to travel to Atlanta. We'd go to Durham, Charleston, or even Augusta first. But you point is well taken concerning the level of medical care available in Atlanta.

That article was written from someone that used to write for the Charlotte observer and Now writes for AJC.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by bgNCATL

For the record, If you want to downplay Atlanta's Skyline, big city feel and everything else; you can say my hometown Greensboro is competing with Charlotte. It already has a bigger coliseum and a downtown baseball stadium. Oh and traffic is even better...What then!?! Don't let me pull Raleigh in this. Remember size doesn't always matter LOL.

Actually, Charlotte and Greensboro have competed for shows and concerts for a while now, so that's pretty accurate. Greensboro's advantage is the size of its coliseum, while Charlotte's advantage is its Uptown location.

[bgNCATL]

Originally Posted by NYnowNC

I stepped away from the computer for only a weekend and come back to numerous posts from ATL residents defending their city to the end....

Well, if I were still in B'More considering relocating further south and Atlanta and Charlotte were my final options, then I would still go with Charlotte. If didn't already have prior experience living in Atlanta, then I would move to Atlanta solely based on the hype.

Culture in Atlanta? Well, I will not deny the many museums, Universities, large companies located in Atlanta. I just haven't had anyone say to me that they must go to Atlanta all the time for anything extremely specific. The reasons I would go now is to visit family and friends, The Arts Festival, MLK Center and Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles restaurant. I don't need to live there just to have this experience. Plus, these aren't things I would do weekly. My weekly weekend activities can easily be accomplished in Charlotte.

For me, Charlotte beats Atlanta on traffic issues hands down. Yeah, other cities have traffic too, but Atlanta and Charlotte are in close proximity of each other and are the two cities future transplants are pondering over. Personally, I would rather live in Charlotte and visit Atlanta as needed.

For the record, while living in B'More I would drive to NYC as needed. I no longer have to live in NY or have certain things in my backyard in order to feel like I am living. My only true requirement of any city is that a diverse community exists and I am able choose from a decent amount of activities.

Again, people in Greensboro could say the same things about Charlotte. It has less traffic, and people there can drive to a Panthers game on the weekend. If you want to look at it like that, What is there to really do in New York that you can't do in Atlanta. Hell, you can go to a bar and grab a drink in Asheboro, NC. It just sounds like you have reached that point in your life where you have completely slowed down and big cities don't appeal to you anymore. there is nothing wrong with that. It's funny that everything you say is telling us that Charlotte is not a "big city" like ATL, while everyone else up there is trying to say it is LOL. You have People drawing a 100 mile radius around Charlotte to beat ATL population and people saying Charlotte is "catching up". This is the type of foolishness that people in Atlanta are debating, not quality of life.