Historic Roswell for young families (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: appointed, to live in, shops)

[rackensack]

Originally Posted by sweettea1

Back to my original question:
What's traffic like on Roswell Road around Riverside and up through Roswell (the part where they've got two lanes that switch direction) around Rush Hour? Is it a better option than 400?
Just trying to gauge timing from Historic Roswell to Northside Hospital.

If you're starting from the downtown Roswell area, Atlanta Street/Roswell Road is probably a viable option -- whatever time you give up on the surface-street-vs-freeway side you get back in not having to take Holcomb Bridge to get to 400 in the first place. Traffic on Roswell Road once you're across the river is heavy but generally moving pretty well, unless there's a problem on 400, in which case everyone bails on it over to Roswell Road and clogs it up also. Once you're below Holcomb Bridge, 400 generally moves relatively well unless there's a serious wreck or something, so one option would be to take Roswell Road south to Dunwoody Place, then take Dunwoody Place/Roberts Road to the Northridge exit and get on 400 there. As with Roswell Road, however, it can also back up pretty badly if 400 gets congested.

I haven't had a lot of experience with the part of Atlanta Street from the Roswell Square down to the river at that time of day -- my impression is that traffic's heavy but moves relatively well, but others may have a better take on it.

[sweettea1]

Perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[spacelord75]

I actually think it would probably be better to take 400, honestly. Roswell Rd. gets really backed up trying to cross over the river (because there are so few roads that cross it) and really, 400 from Glenridge to Holcomb Br. is not really that bad. The surface streets getting to/from 400, though, could be tough. We actually have a Sandy Springs office, and I would drive from it to the LA Fitness on Holcomb Br. via Riverside from Roswell Rd. at around 4:30pm after work and it was okay then, but when I was driving back home (around 5:30 or so) going the reverse, Roswell Rd. was typically backed all the way back to Dunwoody Place in stand still traffic. I have a co-worker who lives in the Cobb portion of Roswell, and he gets off at the Holcomb Br. exit and says it is not really that bad, but he is probably hitting it around 4:30pm.

[sweettea1]

Yeah, did a dry run last night. As much as I love it over there, not going to work. Back to Dunwoody. Thanks, everyone.

[spacelord75]

Originally Posted by sweettea1

Yeah, did a dry run last night. As much as I love it over there, not going to work. Back to Dunwoody. Thanks, everyone.

I feel ya on this one, as that historic Roswell area is pretty nice, but the drive from D-wood is pretty quick. My wife and I will pop up there every once in a while for lunch on the weekend and looking at the antique places. Also we take our dog for walks in Vickery Creek park, which is a pretty broad expanse of trails that start just off Riverside near Roswell Rd. Although the area is pretty quaint, I don't really feel like I'm missing out on anything by not being able to walk to it.

[ramblinwreck17]

Too bad sweetea. We would have loved to have you as a neighbor! We love historic Roswell especially with all the new restaraunts on Canton St- ceviche and red salt.

[sweettea1]

Your post is convincing! I may need to rethink it all... or at least see you in a few years!

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by spacelord75

I actually think it would probably be better to take 400, honestly. Roswell Rd. gets really backed up trying to cross over the river (because there are so few roads that cross it) and really, 400 from Glenridge to Holcomb Br. is not really that bad. The surface streets getting to/from 400, though, could be tough. We actually have a Sandy Springs office, and I would drive from it to the LA Fitness on Holcomb Br. via Riverside from Roswell Rd. at around 4:30pm after work and it was okay then, but when I was driving back home (around 5:30 or so) going the reverse, Roswell Rd. was typically backed all the way back to Dunwoody Place in stand still traffic. I have a co-worker who lives in the Cobb portion of Roswell, and he gets off at the Holcomb Br. exit and says it is not really that bad, but he is probably hitting it around 4:30pm.

Off-topic for the OP but I can't resist responding. I too live in the Cobb portion of Roswell and work in Sandy Springs and I would never commute all the way 'round by the 400. Your co-worker is crazy! Well ... maybe your office is in the southeastern part of Sandy Springs. That might make a difference.

My office is in northwest Sandy Springs and I commute on the direct route - Johnson Ferry Road all the way. Admittedly, it backs up at the bridge, but it's much less distance than the other routes you mention (less gas cost) and I doubt it's actually more bottlenecked than the more costly alternatives.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by sweettea1

Yeah, did a dry run last night. As much as I love it over there, not going to work. Back to Dunwoody. Thanks, everyone.

Sweettea1, I want to congratulate you. Trying it yourself is absolutely the best thing to do! Seems obvious, if you possibly can do it, but I get the impression that not all home buyers are so practical.

[sweettea1]

Thanks. We've made a few of these mistakes before...been taken by the homes and the area...but the day to day commute made life very frustrating. I like Spacelord's suggestion of using the town for recreation but not having to rely on getting back and forth. But doing a dry run anywhere at the hardest times of the day is a real eye opener. Highly suggested to anyone looking to move!!