A Theory About Atlanta (Dallas, Pitts: transfer, living, moving to)

[blondandfun]

Originally Posted by teasol

I don't know why we keep responding to this post. Blondfan obiviously does not want our opinion on why we think Atlanta is okay. Actually Blond is calling us all ignorant because we don't believe the way they do.

Blondfan in case you don't get the point of forums such as this one, you state something and other members have the opportunity to reply. If you just want to write something down and not have anyone respond to it then you should start your own blog or put it in a diary. And to bash people and call them ignorant just because they don't feel about Atlanta they way you do is ignorant all on its own.

Yeah, but I want to help others who may be thinking of moving here from making the same mistake I did, that's what I'm doing here. I'm not here to debate with Mr. Chamber of Commerce with all his statistics... give me a break. I don't own a house in Atlanta, and I am not tied here (except for the cash I need to get out isn't saved yet), but if I were I could see myself trying to defend Atlanta also.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Underground was a touristy place for us to take visitors back in the 90s. Not so much today I would imagine. It has morphed. Been a while since I have been, but from the word of other posters here, sounds like it is a successful venue for the young AA crowd. White tourists probably won't like that. I know my mother-in-law would be nervous, lol. She is more used to her minorities being more of the hispanic variety. She wasn't racist against a certain percentage of blacks, but when the numbers were at a tipping point and she was in the minority, the old racist roots would suddenly sprout.

Could this be your issue?

Oh, my good brother Saintmarks...thank you for bringing the issue up. It should almost start a separate thread. I think one of the main issues that many non-AAs have with Atlanta is not the AfAms themselves per se, but the large number of AfAms in Atlanta (all over the metro area, all class levels)..."a major, prosperous world/international city with a large, un-contained black population...what is this???"

You find this sentiment in a lot of code-language (on and off this forum) with things like, "I wish Atlanta was more diverse..."; "Atlanta needs to be more like LA, NY, etc with more {insert ethnic group here}..."

Atlanta's distinguishing feature on the world/international city arena (along with the trees/forest, being the American South metropolis) is its large and influential black population.

People...let Atlanta be Atlanta. Our energies need to be how to help the "powers that be" acknowledge, nurture, promote, and strengthen Atlanta's unique assets (and they are a legion!)...not try to make Atlanta "not Atlanta" with things like Atlanta needs "water" (um?), a "Little Italy" (what?), etc...

[DPAT]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

Underground is far from the entertainment/shopping/dining attraction that I would like for it to be, but it is nowhere near a failure. After the mass exodus of tenants around '93 or '94, Underground lost money and looked headed for the same fate as the original Underground. But it is currently doing well, most spaces are occupied, and there are decent crowds with the combination of students/tourists/office workers/residents. I don't go to Underground and haven't for at least a year or longer, but from what I understand it's doing okay. There are also annual events that bring attention to the area - New Year's Eve, the Jazz Festival, St. Patrick's Day, a holiday gingerbread house thing...etc.

The photos really don't depict a "failed" effort at Underground...

Deacon, I must respectfully disagree with you. What I see in those pictures is visually appealing architecture with not enough people to enjoy them. I mean the idea is nice, but the attraction is simply not there - the exception being the night time scene at Kenny's Alley. While it may not be a failure, I do believe it is failing. I don't see how those merchants (outside of the clubs/bars) make a profit. I feel that the Underground needs vast improvements to its day time appeal before I would call it thriving, successful, appealling... or anything other than failing. I'm a big proponent of GSU taking this place over.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by DPAT

Deacon, I must respectfully disagree with you. What I see in those pictures is visually appealing architecture with not enough people to enjoy them. I mean the idea is nice, but the attraction is simply not there - the exception being the night time schene at Kenny's Alley. While it may not be a failure, I do believe it is failing. I don't see how those merchants (outside of the clubs/bars) make a profit. I feel that the Underground needs vast improvements to its day time appeal before I would call it thriving, successful, appealling... or anything other than failing. I'm a big propent of GSU taking this place over.

Me too.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Me too.

Me three. I was never happy with the Rouse Co. "mallification" of Underground. It was so much better in its' first incarnation...it actually looked like it would have in the 1800's. I want that Underground back.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Me three. I was never happy with the Rouse Co. "mallification" of Underground. It was so much better in its' first incarnation...it actually looked lke it would have in the 1800's. I want that Underground back.

Yep, that Underground has so many possibilities. And they can bring it back if they wanted to...

[teasol]

Originally Posted by blondandfun

Yeah, but I want to help others who may be thinking of moving here from making the same mistake I did, that's what I'm doing here. I'm not here to debate with Mr. Chamber of Commerce with all his statistics... give me a break. I don't own a house in Atlanta, and I am not tied here (except for the cash I need to get out isn't saved yet), but if I were I could see myself trying to defend Atlanta also.

Yeah, but you are stating your opinions and if someone wants to move here they will, but they shouldn't be called ignorant for doing so, or ignorant for wanting to stay. My father was in the military so I have lived in a lot of cities, and let me tell you some of those cities in my opinion were worse than Atlanta. This city may not be for you and thats okay, but not everyone is going to move to Atlanta for downtown. So you can't put down all of Atlanta because there are parts you don't like. Well you know what you can, but don't expect everyone to be so receptive. And maybe people would be more receptive to your views and opinions if you could state your opinion without putting people down at the same time.

[mjtinmemphis]

I don't think Atlanta is a failed city. I think it functions in a different way than "Chicago or NYC" but its still functional.

Early this year I had a list of a 4 cities to choose from for a job transfer Dallas Atlanta St. Louis and Chicago. I chose Chicago due to the urban lifestyle and all of the benefits that come from living in that type of city.

Atlanta and Dallas came up during a time when america was moving to the suburbs. You don't have the busling sidewalks of Chicago nor the ethnic neighborhoods like the Hill in St. Louis. However, Atlanta without the traffic represents one of the best suburban cities to live in along with Dallas and Houston. They must be doing something right because its still growing.

If a person is going to up and move to Atlanta for the urbanism or for the big city sophisticated lifestyle. They will be disapointed. However if they are going to move there because of the booming economy, affordable mc mansions, mild winters and greenery they may be able to go without having the booming downtown and may like Atlanta.

[MorelandWalker]

GSU has nearly 30,000 students and people are talking about downtown being abandoned?

I'm guessing, as usual, the people with the strongest opinions are the ones who don't have much information. New businesses are popping up all over Fairlie-Poplar, the new Edgewood Ave corridor that's becoming quite trendy, Marietta St, etc.

[MorelandWalker]

Although I do concur that Underground sucks.