West Village (Vinings -Cobb County) (Smyrna: apartment, condo, neighborhoods)

[Kiki_Anderson]

I was visiting family and I couldn't help but notice that West Village near Vinings, seemed like a very sterile, empty souless community. My relative informed me that it's a relatively good area, but I still didn't get the sense that there was any sort of community in that area.

Has anyone else noticed this about West Village?

[viningsgt]

I don't know anyone that lives there, but McCray's, Blue Moon, and Starbucks are always packed. There are a couple of other restaurants in there as well. I'm not sure if it hit the mark as a vibrant live-work-play community, but it certainly doesn't seem dead or soulless.

[CAWjr]

It's not a live/work/play place like Atlantic Station, but it's hardly sterile. The restaurants & shops are always busy, and the residences there are, well, residences. It's a much larger version of Smyrna Market Village, but with about 10 times the residence space.

It is in a good area & if you were looking for that condo/apartment type of living, I would recommend it.

[JoeP]

New developments can't be old and have that old character, but they can be smartly done. For a suburban center, it ain't bad.

[gtcorndog]

It is new and after 3-4 years of stagnation it is really getting moving again.

Give it 10 years to develop some character and fill in.

I thought the place might really die a few years ago, but the recent construction and development is coming along nicely.

[westau]

It always seemed nice when I would go to Five Guys or Mccrays. Not enough parking though.

[Kiki_Anderson]

The complex seemed very sterile. I didn't see anyone walking around outside. I kind of felt like I was in the twilight zone. Things just seemed odd. I can't really explain it, but I didn't get a sense that people actually lived there and interacted with their neighbors.

Is this pretty much the norm for that particular area?

[JoeP]

I don't know why interaction would be different from other complexes, but having street level restaurants probably helps.

[CAWjr]

Originally Posted by Kiki_Anderson

The complex seemed very sterile. I didn't see anyone walking around outside. I kind of felt like I was in the twilight zone. Things just seemed odd. I can't really explain it, but I didn't get a sense that people actually lived there and interacted with their neighbors.

Is this pretty much the norm for that particular area?

I'm not sure what you expected. My neighborhood in Smyrna is very social, but you don't see people partying in the streets at all hours. Just because West Village is a live/play complex doesn't make it Bourbon Street.

[cxbrame]

The sterile feeling might come from the the suburban location and lack of effective integration into existing neighborhoods. While built as a 'village', you still have to drive there, and there's no anchor to attract the activity you might be looking for. There's some potential to change that in the future though.