NYC Couple moving to ATL (Atlanta, Decatur: apartments, condos, townhomes)

[Artist812]

Hi.

My husband and I are sad to have to leave NYC and Hoboken, NJ and move to Atlanta for job relocation.

We love NYC and Hoboken because there's so much to do!

We want to move to an area where there are people, shops, restaurants, etc. Also, a place busy with young people or single people.

What area of Atlanta is safest and most upscale?

Thanks so much!!!!

[john1963]

i would look into buckhead...zip code 30305...others will recommend midtown

[sweettea1]

Look in Garden Hills and Peachtree Hills. Also look in Virginia Highland.
These are all in-town neighborhoods with charm, shops (more in Va/Hi) and access to everything.

[jeweloflight]

I want to take this time to welcome you to Atlanta. NY is the heart of America, and there is just no place like it, so be prepared for a major adjustment coming to the south. I'm sure you already know that though. Atlanta is a surburban sprawl to the max. Unless you arrange to live, work, and play, all in the same part of town, you'll be driving forever to get everywhere, and dealing with traffic.

That being said, please also be aware that the south's claim to fame are big box stores, chains, and strip malls. There are areas of town that have unique boutiques and specialty shops for clothes and food, but that's a sort of small percentage of the overall picture.

The happening areas of town are Buckhead, Midtown, Virgina Highlands, Decatur, Little Five Points, Inman Park, Grant Park,"East Atlanta Village",and a brand new community called Atlantic Station.

Buckhead is predominately white, and the most exclusive area in the city. Gorgeous homes and expensive townhomes and condos. Buckhead though, can be party central, and kinda noisey if you don't chose the right part of Buckhead. But it has nice boutiques, upscale malls, endless restaurants, and easy access to interstates 85 & 400. The traffic be can a little congested, but so is all of Atlanta. A new home there starts at around $850k.

Midtown is gay capital, and also pricey to live. Midtown has a little more character than Buckhead, and the demographics are more diverse. Midtown is more of an apartment area, than a homeowners area. It's only minutes from Buckhead, and Downtown, which is where Georgia Institute of Technology is and Georgia State University, so you have student life in and around the parameters of Midtown.

Virgina Highlands has a high lesbian and young professionals occupancy; also young couples with children. Very expensive also, and historic. Lots of old homes that have been redone and updated. The apartment scene is more of homes that have been made into several apartments or small apartment buildings with lots of character.

Decatur, specifically North Decatur is near Emory University. It's full of educated types, professors, students, young families. This area is not cheap either, and has a mix of new and older homes. There's another part of Decatur that is artsy and hip with old record shops and clubs. I don't know a whole lot about Decatur, but people I know that live there are pretty happy.

Little Five Points and the East Atlanta Village. Just think tatoos, piercings, and health food stores. Enough said.

Grant Park & Inman Park are kinda "up and coming" areas that are being revitalized. Young couples and professionals moving in, the ghetto people and homeless/drug addicts moving out.

Atlantic Station is a brand new live/work/play community, and deathly expensive. I mean, everything is literally brand new. The is young professionals capital, and some young couples, and not flooded with children. You can walk out your door and cross the street to Starbucks or the Gap, and see Ikea from your kitchen window. Lot's of people come to Atlantic Station that don't necessarily live there to shop and such. It's in town and convenient to Midtown, Downtown, and all the areas I've mentioned.

Happy Trails!!

[Artist812]

I really appreciate that you took the opportunity to help me and my husband. Ironically, he's been looking just outside of Buckhead in some of the newer construction Townhomes. It will be very difficult to leave my family and friends but I get the feeling that people in Atlanta will be extremely friendly compared to NYC/NJ.

Can anyone recommend any gyms? I'm used to working out a few times a week. Also, not used to grocery shopping because NYC is big on take-out. Maybe I can suggest delivery to a few places but then again, I guess I'll have to get used to driving...

Thanks so much!

[sweettea1]

You'll love Jeanne's Body Tech right in Buckhead. If you want a chain, go with LA Fitness. It's cheap and everywhere.