What would you like to see in Atlanta? (Macon, Auburn: middle-class, gated)

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

Apparently millions of people disagreed with you about that song...

Do you really expect Atlanta to build an Eifel Tower or a Gateway Arch? Something of that magnitude in Atlanta would simply draw ridicule from residents...and from other cities. Look at the criticism aimed at the Millennium Gate...Atlantans could have embraced it and really made a big deal about it, but most of the comments I've heard have been negative.

I didn't recognize the Bunker Hill Monument - that certainly isn't on the same scale as the others.

Not necessarily...did the Gateway Arch or the Space Needle generate ridicule among the citizens of their respective cities?
I would propose a competition among design students in metro schools to come with something, much the same as was done for the Vietnam Memorial. If it were done right, it could be amazing...and I'd love to get a jump on Houston and Dallas.

[RoslynHolcomb]

I hope we can resolve the water crisis and then build something spectacular.

Growth, research--moving forward. That's a good identity.

It wouldn't necessarily be particularly complicated. Probably just crazy expensive. Hire some Nobel genius who's been studying water for 50 years, give him a google of money and let him have at it. Giving the fact that many of our major cities have similar water problems it should pay for itself in no time. It just requires a government that actually has good sense.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Not necessarily...did the Gateway Arch or the Space Needle generate ridicule among the citizens of their respective cities?
I would propose a competition among design students in metro schools to come with something, much the same as was done for the Vietnam Memorial. If it were done right, it could be amazing...and I'd love to get a jump on Houston and Dallas.

The Memorial to Flight 93 is one of the best--from what I've read/seen online.
Flight 93 National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

Something incorporating music/sound and water would be interesting.

[Scott Summers]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

It wouldn't necessarily be particularly complicated. Probably just crazy expensive. Hire some Nobel genius who's been studying water for 50 years, give him a google of money and let him have at it. Giving the fact that many of our major cities have similar water problems it should pay for itself in no time. It just requires a government that actually has good sense.

I'm pretty ignorant on this point but shouldn't Atlanta take advantage of the schools in the metro area (GTech, some HBCUs, Emory, GSU, etc) to help with our water problems? I don't know, they probably already work with them to better the area from the science, environment, etc standpoint.

[RoslynHolcomb]

Originally Posted by Scott Summers

I'm pretty ignorant on this point but shouldn't Atlanta take advantage of the schools in the metro area (GTech, some HBCUs, Emory, GSU, etc) to help with our water problems? I don't know, they probably already work with them to better the area from the science, environment, etc standpoint.

Makes perfectly good sense. I'm sure someone has some ideas, if they don't maybe the city (or some corporate entity) could start a foundation or finance a "water chair" to give them money to study the problem. Then implement the best ideas.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

As I recall, and I was only tangentially associated with the Games on the Birmingham end, it was thought that peaches and peanuts were too agricultural. Agriculture=Slavery/Jim Crow. Apparently people still saw Atlanta from a Jim Crow perspective and they didn't want to do anything associated with that. They wanted something more focused on the future. Unfortunately, since the city is not associated with one industry, or even one historical moment not involved with slavery/Civil Rights they were pretty much stuck.

I always thought of Atlanta as 'The City That Wouldn't Die,' but of course, that's a Civil War reference as well. I think it's foolish to try to disassociate themselves from such a pivotal moment in American history, but then that's probably why I suck at P.R.

For the Olympics, I thought Atlanta should have had the Paralympics mascot (the phoenix "Blaze") or a tree.

They could have done so much with a tree mascot theme (environmental, a cast of supporting tree characters-for cartooning/children, etc.). And the tree totally represents Atlanta.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

Respectfully, I take exception to that type of generalization--'Atlanta seems to have a habit of trying to mimic others, rather than carving out its own identity.'

It has been called 'The Gateway to the South'--and if we built an arch --I suppose we'd hear from St. Louis and San Francisco. Other's call Atlanta 'The Athens of the South'--and even more disgruntled opinions if we ever attempted to build a faux Acropolis.

'The Emerald City'-- maybe we should just go with that and let the trees speak for themselves. Simple and basic.

A while back someone suggested replacing the glass tiles in the building that was damaged by a tornado last year with a pine tree design in glass. That might be the best idea yet?

Good points.
Atlanta has an identity...it's just afraid or doesn't know how to embrace it.

Atlanta's identity...

-Trees/urban forest
-capital of the south
-gateway to the south
-civil rights
-civil war
-center of southern culture/history (needs to claim/become this...totally has potential)
-the urban manifestation of "southerness/southern culture"
-Center for R+B/Hip Hop
-Center for African-American Culture
-Transportation

Atlanta also already has some nicknames, slogans that it needs to promote...

-City of Trees
-City in a Forest
-Gate City
-Dogwood City


I think a slogan that Atlanta needs to use in advertising is...

"Urban Brilliance, Southern Style."

"Urban Brilliance--Southern Style!"

"Urban Brilliance...Southern Style!"


There is already one out there that I think is pretty good...I saw it on Delta...I think it was implemented after the every day/opening day mess.

"City Lights, Southern Nights." Not bad.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

How many people recognize Vulcan as symbol of Birmingham outside of Alabama??? Very few.

Atlanta's identity is the Civil Rights Movement, the Olympics, the Civil War/Battle of Atlanta/burning of Atlanta, its international corporate headquarters, etc., etc., etc...there are lots of strong identities with this city.

All of those monuments I posted photos of earlier...there were tons of tourist photos among the ones I looked through - so I think maybe visitors are more familiar with icons and landmarks in Atlanta than the residents.

Considering B-ham's small size...a lot of people recognize the Vulcan as the symbol of B-ham!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Not necessarily...did the Gateway Arch or the Space Needle generate ridicule among the citizens of their respective cities?
I would propose a competition among design students in metro schools to come with something, much the same as was done for the Vietnam Memorial. If it were done right, it could be amazing...and I'd love to get a jump on Houston and Dallas.

Here are large grand monuments Atlanta that should build (and we should do all of them...located in strategic points in the center city)

1. A large Phoenix on a very tall tower pyre with a nightly blaze...located near Sweet Auburn (just to the east of downtown...away enough to be distinct but also overlooking it)

2. Large Hands reaching towards the sky (representing religious harmony and human rights). Located near where 41 and 78 cross. Illuminated

3. A large cross or christ monument on the water works hill. We're in the bible belt.

4. Three Maidens of the American South. Talk statues. Site to be determined.

5. A large tower clock. The U.S. doesn't have one.

6. A very large/tall symbolic fountain.

7. A Southern Wheel.

8. Southern heroes/historical figures along Freedom Parkway in Freedom Park.

9. The Tower of the American South...built just southwest of downtown...symbolic, a monument of Southern success/unity

10. A much bigger Buck Head in the heart of Buckhead.

There a more ideas, but have to go now...and I'm tired...

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Good points.
Atlanta has an identity...it's just afraid or doesn't know how to embrace it.

Atlanta's identity...

-Trees/urban forest
-capital of the south
-gateway to the south
-civil rights
-civil war
-center of southern culture/history (needs to claim/become this...totally has potential)
-the urban manifestation of "southerness/southern culture"
-Center for R+B/Hip Hop
-Center for African-American Culture
-Transportation

Atlanta also already has some nicknames, slogans that it needs to promote...

-City of Trees
-City in a Forest
-Gate City
-Dogwood City


I think a slogan that Atlanta needs to use in advertising is...

"Urban Brilliance, Southern Style."

"Urban Brilliance--Southern Style!"

"Urban Brilliance...Southern Style!"


There is already one out there that I think is pretty good...I saw it on Delta...I think it was implemented after the every day/opening day mess.

"City Lights, Southern Nights." Not bad.

I like that.

You have some good ideas--I know we've got quite a few people capable of designing and implementing these ideas.

Transportation, moving--that should be included,too. Which makes me wish something could be done to make Underground part of this iconic structure. 'The Past'/Underground and The Future on top.