What will your vote be on the Transportation Bill in 2012? (Atlanta: condos, townhomes)

[kayrob]

If it includes Douglas County then yes.

[AcidSnake]

I would only vote for the Transportation bill if a more precise land-use plan was attached to it. More precisely, I would like to see more effort in not trying to build more McMansions as far as the eye can see or at least experiment with a combination of McMansions and condominiums, with more emphasis on the condominums.

It would be counter-productive to build more roads & rail-lines if metropolitan Atlanta at the same time created even more sprawled out housing development, because we will simply end up in the same traffic gridlocked nightmare. Maybe if Georgia looked at the Hong Kong model for its transportation & land use, I may reconsider my choice.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

I would only vote for the Transportation bill if a more precise land-use plan was attached to it. More precisely, I would like to see more effort in not trying to build more McMansions as far as the eye can see or at least experiment with a combination of McMansions and condominiums, with more emphasis on the condominums.

It would be counter-productive to build more roads & rail-lines if metropolitan Atlanta at the same time created even more sprawled out housing development, because we will simply end up in the same traffic gridlocked nightmare. Maybe if Georgia looked at the Hong Kong model for its transportation & land use, I may reconsider my choice.

Families with children...the primary demographic in the suburbs, don't want and can't live in a condo. They want a single family home or townhome. Using a pejorative such as "McMansions" doesn't change the fact that many families need, want, and will continue to purchase houses that meet their needs, whether you approve or not.

[mike7586]

I'd like to see the project list (I hope it isn't just road improvements - would be nice to have some transit projects included), but I'm most likely going to vote for it, so my answer is YES. If we don't do something our region is going to suffer.

[Adric]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Families with children...the primary demographic in the suburbs, don't want and can't live in a condo. They want a single family home or townhome. Using a pejorative such as "McMansions" doesn't change the fact that many families need, want, and will continue to purchase houses that meet their needs, whether you approve or not.

Don't want is the more accurate of the discriptions. You can buy 2 and 3 bedroom condos next to parks. Americans have this notion drilled in our heads that when we get married and have kids, we need to move out into a nice suburban enclave and have a nice house with a white picket fence. Not that there's anything we can do about this but it is an ill-concieved notion. Whatever makes people happy though.

I will most likely vote yes due to the fact that voting no will put the metro area at a standstill again for god knows how many more years when it comes to transportation. I do want to see a comprehensive plan that addresses both roads and mass transit though. Land use needs to be addressed too because like other people have stated here, what's the point in extending MARTA to Cobb if everyone will just move out to Forsyth after that?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by Adric

Don't want is the more accurate of the discriptions. You can buy 2 and 3 bedroom condos next to parks. Americans have this notion drilled in our heads that when we get married and have kids, we need to move out into a nice suburban enclave and have a nice house with a white picket fence. Not that there's anything we can do about this but it is an ill-concieved notion. Whatever makes people happy though.

A family of 5 (Mom/Dad and 3 children) cannot live in a 2 or 3 bedroom condo. BTW...I live right down the street from a national park where I can go hiking. Do you?

There is nothing noble about cramming 5 people in a small house for no reason. I grew up with my family in a small 3 bedroom apartment in NYC. It's not fun or quaint but just cramped. If I can give my children their own bedrooms and places to play, along with family space and offices for me and my wife, then there is no reason not to do so.

In my drive through Brookhaven today, I say some pretty large and nice homes, both detached and townhomes. Even people ITP like nice big homes for their families.

[Adric]

Originally Posted by neil0311

A family of 5 (Mom/Dad and 3 children) cannot live in a 2 or 3 bedroom condo. BTW...I live right down the street from a national park where I can go hiking. Do you?

There is nothing noble about cramming 5 people in a small house for no reason. I grew up with my family in a small 3 bedroom apartment in NYC. It's not fun or quaint but just cramped. If I can give my children their own bedrooms and places to play, along with family space and offices for me and my wife, then there is no reason not to do so.

In my drive through Brookhaven today, I say some pretty large and nice homes, both detached and townhomes. Even people ITP like nice big homes for their families.

Ok I'll give you the familes of five but what about all those families of four or three living way out in Gainsville? Like I said, whatever makes people happy. That's all that matters.

...and no, I moved away from the Marietta area last year to live in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood in Lindbergh where I can walk down tree-canopied streets, little boutiques, coffee shops, Lindbergh city center, parks, and of course, MARTA, all without ever opening my car door. I'm not into hiking.

[hellomrwest]

^^^Id would like to see some sort of Inter County Connector built that spans the north Metro. Its where most of the traffic seems to be in the work week.

Also, id look into improvements with operating MARTA as well as expanding into high priority areas like West Metro, North Fulton, South Metro, and even increased service ITP to areas like Moores Mill, Greenbriar, Lakewood, Emory, Cumberland, and perhaps Tucker like the original plan called for.

[AcidSnake]

Seriously?

Why does it always have to be a "my way or the highway" view on this issue? Did you not pay attention to the part where I said that we could have a combination of McMansions & Condos?

Why can't ITP have a careful land plan & the OTP be left as pristine exurbia & farmland? Would that not be a better solution so that everyone will get what they want?

I get my condo in Decatur, and you get your precious McMansion in Moreland or Winder or whatver OTP suburban/exurban haven you prefer. Rather than continue this stupid & incoherent process of people mindlessly fleeing further out & builders continually turning this whole state into a McMansion/paved road desert of gridlock, organize it!

It so easy a caveman can do it...

Originally Posted by neil0311

A family of 5 (Mom/Dad and 3 children) cannot live in a 2 or 3 bedroom condo. BTW...I live right down the street from a national park where I can go hiking. Do you?

There is nothing noble about cramming 5 people in a small house for no reason. I grew up with my family in a small 3 bedroom apartment in NYC. It's not fun or quaint but just cramped. If I can give my children their own bedrooms and places to play, along with family space and offices for me and my wife, then there is no reason not to do so.

In my drive through Brookhaven today, I say some pretty large and nice homes, both detached and townhomes. Even people ITP like nice big homes for their families.

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by Adric

Ok I'll give you the familes of five but what about all those families of four or three living way out in Gainsville? Like I said, whatever makes people happy. That's all that matters.

...and no, I moved away from the Marietta area last year to live in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood in Lindbergh where I can walk down tree-canopied streets, little boutiques, coffee shops, Lindbergh city center, parks, and of course, MARTA, all without ever opening my car door. I'm not into hiking.

Its a matter of priorities. Do you want a 2br condo for $200,000 or do you want a 4 br house, with a yard in a better school district for that same price? I would prefer something in the middle as Gainesville is way out there IMO, but am I willing to sit in traffic an extra 20 mins to provide a better environment for the upbringing of my children? Yes. Sure you can get a nice house in Peachtree Hills for $500,000+, but not everyone can afford that and they move furhter and further out where they can afford.