Areas to Avoid in ATL (Atlanta, Clayton: crime, neighborhoods, restaurants)

[silvio]

Hey there. I might be considering a move to Atlanta by the end of the year and was wondering what are areas to best avoid? Is safe to walk around Midtown at night? Are the entertainment venues in Buckhead as rough as I heard...seems strange for such a ritzy area.

Let me know.

[jgu80]

Avoid MOST areas of ATL at night unless you're with a group.

[xxman777]

Most of the areas north and east of downtown are fine. Both Midtown and Buckhead are relatively safe (remember this is a major city so crime happens but it isn't rampant like some will have you think). The Buckhead crime is generally isolated to areas directly around some the night clubs. The city has also done a good job of shutting several of the worst clubs and bars so the problems aren't as severe as they were a few years ago. Most of the rough neighborhoods are either south or west of downtown. Areas such as English Avenue or Mechanicsville can be pretty rough but others such as Grant Park or Knight Park are gentrifying and can be nice.

Of course there are other areas outside Atlanta which you might want to avoid also. Some parts of Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties are rough and should be avoided.

[brianstock]

Yes, Midtown is safe to walk around at night. But this is a big city so its best to be careful.

[gottaGetOut]

Downtown is positively dead; thus disgustingly safe to walk around at night.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by gottaGetOut

Downtown is positively dead; thus disgustingly safe to walk around at night.

Well, there's a couple ways of looking at this.

If you're downtown by yourself and nobody else is around but the bums and vagrants, you are a prime target for crime.

On the other hand, if you are downtown when lots of people are around, like when a concert at Phillips Arena ends, there is bound to be some sort of crime or harassment, but the chances of YOU being the victim decrease significantly as there are thousands of other targets.

Inactivity, or dead areas, does not equal safety. Safety in numbers is a pretty good rule, so stay in areas that has a lot of activity. If you do wind up the victim of a crime, at least there will be people around who can help you after the fact.

[gottaGetOut]

well, when ya walk thru there four times a week, AT night, and you SEE what's what, you have perspective to give such a pronouncement.

If you consider a crime to be a vagrant asking for money, then going away when you refuse him.

[spacelord75]

Originally Posted by gottaGetOut

well, when ya walk thru there four times a week, AT night, and you SEE what's what, you have perspective to give such a pronouncement.

If you consider a crime to be a vagrant asking for money, then going away when you refuse him, stay in your closed-minded, fearful, conservative space.

Isn't it kind of obvious that ya kinda are a sitting duck if you're the only person with money walking around "vagrants"? For every 2 or 3 that simply walk away, how comforted are you to know there's one that would just as soon cut your throat to get your wallet?

[cool_mommy]

I was curious, are the places mentioned more dangerous just at night or even during the day? I'm coming from a small town just outside of Hartford, CT which is one of the most crime ridden cities in the nation. There are parts of Hartford that I would not visit even during the day. Therefore, I'm wondering if you have a good chance of getting mugged, carjacked, etc. during the day in certain parts of Atlanta?

[sweettea1]

yep. All of the places listed above.
Problem IMHO is this...there is no real pedestrian center in Atlanta...no shopping and strolling...very few outdoor cafes in the midtown and downtown corridors. Because of this, there is no real reason for people to gather there. Sure, there are bars and restaurants, but they're all over the place. So...if you're the one walking around looking for them, or just walking around, there aren't other people around. And this equals prime opportunity for crime. Less so during the day than the night, but I'd be cautious at all times. I'd definitely recommend walking in a group at night and know exactly where you are going.
This will change as the city changes. Development of Peachtree and shops will fill the area with tourists giving us all the energy we crave as well as bigger crowds to help lessen the current crime situation in dead areas.