Relocating to ATL from The Bronx New York.... Is Camp Creek a good area to relocate to? (Atlanta: transplants, apartment complexes)

[ymack24]

About Me:
I'm a 27 year old black female of Jamaican descent. I graduate college in August with a BBA in Accounting and am relocating to ATL no later than June 2010. I've been researching on places in ATL to relocate to and my choices are:

1. Camp Creek
2. Cascade - I heard that cascade was boring and has no shopping center.

I'm looking for living arrangements that are similar to my current environment but would also love to have a little more diversity.

Current Living Environment:
Though I've been told that these areas are in the SWAT area of ATL and have been warned that that area is a little grimmy. I know I know I live in the Bronx, however I currently reside in a decent residential area predominately black and hispanic but working middle class people who take pride in there property and family. My neigborhood is very clean for NYC (put it like this my current neigborhood doesn't have street cleaning or alternate parking which is a big deal in NYC). Back to the topic at hand I really like the properties that I've seen via the web in Camp Creek and am ready to take the plunge.

Anywhere but NYC:
I have no immediate family and want to go to GSU for my MBA. This isn't an issue for me being that I've left NYC twice to live elsewhere in Philly and Ft. Lauderdale. I hated Philly because it seemed as if I never left NYC and it's full of crack heads. I loved Ft. Lauderdale but the job market back then was bad and even worst now. I want to live in a metro/city atmosphere without feeling cramped hence the reason for my prior two moves.

I'm basically sick of NYC I was born and raised here, I'm tired of paying taxes to drive in potholes, I'm tired of paying over a grand in rent to live in a shoebox, soon they'll be taxing on beverages (I'm serious they're going to start taxing bevrages). I want to get the hell out of dodge before they start taxing air.

NYC vs. ATL:
People ask me constantly what's in ATL and my reply is what's in NYC? I pretty much will be making the same accounting salary in ATL as in NYC but I'll be able to carry it a lot further and won't be living in a matchbox.

Please advise as to the pros and cons of the Camp Creek area. The facts that I currently know of are:

1. Predominately black- which isn't a problem to me so long as it's not a bang bang shoot em up area. I do prefer a diverse area but am all for living amongst civilized black folks like myself.

2. Shopping areas are good and becoming more developed, as well as there is entertainment and restaurants.

3. School system is ok or avergae at best- this is ok because I'm single and don't have children.

4. Location is 10-15 mins from airport - This is great as I love to travel and currently work in aviation. More than likely I'll try to seek employment at the corporate offices of Delta within finance or accounting.

5. Location is 20-45 minutes from downtown ATL - which basically the same time it takes to get to work on the subway here in NYC so not really a problem.

6. Location is 20mins from Georgia State University.

7. There's are a plethora of beautiful single family homes in the area - I'll most definately be living like a queen.

With all these already known fact I won't be missing anything in NYC except for my family.

Please provide me with more information on these locations.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[atlantaATL]

Depends on which end you stay in one part of Campcreek is where alot of million dollar homes and wealthy blacks live same with cascade. then there is the other end that is kinda grimmy

[onemanarmy]

Well, being of Jamaican decent most of your heritage is located on in the Stone Mountain/ Lithonia area. If this is not important, than Camp Creek is a nice area, I suggest you rent for a year and get a feel for the city. It's not Manhatten living, but its certaintly better than the Bronx overall.

[tonygeorgia]

Make sure you live on Camp Creek OTP instead of ITP and you will be ok

[ymack24]

Originally Posted by onemanarmy

Well, being of Jamaican decent most of your heritage is located on in the Stone Mountain/ Lithonia area. If this is not important, than Camp Creek is a nice area, I suggest you rent for a year and get a feel for the city. It's not Manhatten living, but its certaintly better than the Bronx overall.

Being around other carribean people is not a priority. I have been told that stone mountain / lithonia has a strong carribean community but like I said it's not that important for me to be around them. Hey the Bronx isn't that bad but like you said it's not Manhattan either.

Thanks alot for advice.

[ymack24]

Originally Posted by joe2000

Make sure you live on Camp Creek OTP instead of ITP and you will be ok

What is OTP and ITP? Is it a acronym for the Atlanta perimeter? There's no bang bang shoot em up in th OTP is there?

[George Chong]

Originally Posted by ymack24

What is OTP and ITP? Is it a acronym for the Atlanta perimeter? There's no bang bang shoot em up in th OTP is there?

ITP = Inside the Perimeter

OTP = Outside the Perimeter

Perimeter = the loop that I-285 creates

[ymack24]

How about Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County is that a good contender to Camp Creek?

[grindin]

Originally Posted by ymack24

How about Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County is that a good contender to Camp Creek?

Lawrenceville is quite distant from DT Atlanta and the Airport, about 40 miles or so. It is a nice area, more diverse than the Camp Creek Area, but it is way.out.there . I wouldn't live in Gwinnett County unless I had a job out that way. The traffic getting into the city, especially down I-85 is legendarily horrific. If you're trying to go to GSU, and trying to commute down from that area, you'd have to be a glutton for punishment

I have an Aunt and Uncle that live in the Camp Creek area, and it is really nice. A combo of transplants and old timers in the area, depending on where you are. Solid, black middle-to-upper-middle class area. Convenient location, about 20 minutes from DT Atlanta and about 15 minutes from the airport. It is a bit "rural" in appearance, sort of like the outer reaches of Westchester or other various NYC exurbs, so that will be an adjustment coming from NYC, but it sounds like you're needing a change-of-pace.

Camp Creek Marketplace will be your main shopping center. It has just about everything you need there. Lowes, BJ's Warehouse (sort of like Costco), Publix (I'm pretty sure you're familiar w/this store b/c you lived in FL), Movie Theater, Barnes & Noble, a ton of restaurants, Target, etc. The closest mall to you will be Greenbriar (which is ok, but it is kinda hood) or Arbor Place in Douglasville if you're looking for a more suburban type of mall is about 30 minutes away.

Just like others were saying, it will be best to stay out on the newer side outside the Perimeter moreso than inside. However, home invasions have occurred in the area, but nowhere near the amount of home invasions down in Clayton or out in Dekalb.

I work in Clarkston/Stone Mountain, and I think the area is just alright. Many of the neighborhoods are nice, but there are a lot of apartment complexes that have had issues with crime in the area, and the Memorial Drive area has been dealing with suburban blight for quite awhile now. However, there is a large Caribbean and African population out this way, and there are great restaurants that cater to the community (Kool Runnings is my favorite Jamaican restaurant in the area).

Lithonia is decent, but I-20 is a PITA getting into the city in the morning and out of the city in the evening. That freeway needs to be widened! Also, there are pockets of riff-raff depending on what part of Lithonia you're in, but south of 20 tends to be better than north of 20, especially the further out you go. The Stonecrest area, off I-20 and Turner Hill will be the main shopping area. This area is severely congested, especially on the weekends. Stonecrest Mall is pretty decent as far as malls go, but you'll have the gang of obnoxious teenagers on Saturday nights like any other mall, but you won't have the pretentious posers there like you have at Lenox Square.

Hope this helps, let us know if you have any more questions.

[BKATL]

Originally Posted by ymack24

About Me:
I'm basically sick of NYC I was born and raised here, I'm tired of paying taxes to drive in potholes, I'm tired of paying over a grand in rent to live in a shoebox, soon they'll be taxing on beverages (I'm serious they're going to start taxing bevrages). I want to get the hell out of dodge before they start taxing air.

I too was born and raised there (Bklyn). I felt the same way about 6 years ago and now I'm ready to go back. Atlanta does not have the diversity like NY. Everyone has there own experience when they make their life changes, for me it just seems I would have been better off staying in NY for mulituple reasons. I still have not adjusted to this place as of yet, but I'm thankful for having a job in this economy. I would advise you to get a feel for this place before you make your move. Good Luck!