Does Atlanta Have the worst big city downtown in the South? (Rome: stadium, best)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

I also think the predominance of John Portman architecture contributes to the lack of a pedestrian presence and street life. His buildings are designed to have almost no interaction with the outside world around them

This is mostly true, but the best section of Downtown for street level amenities, by far, is also in Portman Buildings. Pecahthree Street through the Portman complex is lined with dining and services, and the Peachtree Center Mall building is wrapped on three sides with dining, CVS, banks, etc. That's a lot better than most of Downtown.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

This is mostly true, but the best section of Downtown for street level amenities, by far, is also in Portman Buildings. Pecahthree Street through the Portman complex is lined with dining and services, and the Peachtree Center Mall building is wrapped on three sides with dining, CVS, banks, etc. That's a lot better than most of Downtown.

Agreed. I've often heard the critique that Portman's buildings don't interact with the street but it seems to me they do.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by JPD

This is mostly true, but the best section of Downtown for street level amenities, by far, is also in Portman Buildings. Pecahthree Street through the Portman complex is lined with dining and services, and the Peachtree Center Mall building is wrapped on three sides with dining, CVS, banks, etc. That's a lot better than most of Downtown.

Peachtree Center is changing and opening up to more street level activity. They host a weekly farmer's market and have been adding street level dining.

[john-staten island]

Originally Posted by stuckinsj

I just recently visited Atlanta and thought it was going to be great considering all the good press about Hotlanta and such but i thought the downtown was awful. Pretty dead during the day with not much retail, restaurants or other things going on. Maybe Im just spoiled coming from Philly but man it was a disappointment.

I later talked to people from Atlanta and they said Midtown and Buckhead was really good but i was disappointed in those two areas too. Midtown sorta felt it was built in the 80's/90's and sorta was a cross between a downtown and office park. It didn't really work and there were so few people on the streets. It felt like a ghost town during a weekday. Buckhead felt light a series of strip malls but with rail access. Like King of Prussia back home.

Is there some other urban area that people work/shop/go to because these areas totally didnt cut it for me. I have been to Dallas, Charlotte, Houston, NOLA, and others. I honestly thought that Atlanta had the worst downtown and that Midtown/Buckhead were poor substitutes compared to other places.

Please dont shoot the messenger. I hope its getting better downtown but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to know that Downtown Atlanta is not pulling its weight for such a large and prosperous region.

Back to the OP, I think it was a fair question. I would never say Atlanta has the worst downtown.I have family near the Arts district MARTA station and here's my take. I wish the Braves had stayed somewhere downtown for one thing.That move was a mistake imho, they should have found a new location downtown near transit.It's a nice city to walk around but the Underground was less then expected. The main thing I noticed is Atlanta is growing, & it will continue to grow, keep building Marta, traffic is a bear...

[Atlanta Scientist]

Originally Posted by JPD

This is mostly true, but the best section of Downtown for street level amenities, by far, is also in Portman Buildings. Pecahthree Street through the Portman complex is lined with dining and services, and the Peachtree Center Mall building is wrapped on three sides with dining, CVS, banks, etc. That's a lot better than most of Downtown.

I totally agree. I fell in love with the city when I came out of Peachtree center station. The only thing that is really holding downtown back is the homeless population. If that could be gotten under control, I think downtown would really take off.

[hilltop180]

My wife and I did a staycation at the Marriott Marquis this April and I thought it was great. We spent a lot of time at the Marriott and Hyatt. The architecture is really cool and there was some good eateries and bars. We walked over to Centennial park and the aquarium the next day. I don't think Atlanta is as great as NYC, Chicago, San Fran but I think it's better than Charlotte, Houston, or Dallas. Downtown Charlotte is incredibly boring IMO.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by hilltop180

My wife and I did a staycation at the Marriott Marquis this April and I thought it was great. We spent a lot of time at the Marriott and Hyatt. The architecture is really cool and there was some good eateries and bars. We walked over to Centennial park and the aquarium the next day. I don't think Atlanta is as great as NYC, Chicago, San Fran but I think it's better than Charlotte, Houston, or Dallas. Downtown Charlotte is incredibly boring IMO.

I completely disagree. When were you last there?

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by hilltop180

My wife and I did a staycation at the Marriott Marquis this April and I thought it was great. We spent a lot of time at the Marriott and Hyatt. The architecture is really cool and there was some good eateries and bars. We walked over to Centennial park and the aquarium the next day. I don't think Atlanta is as great as NYC, Chicago, San Fran but I think it's better than Charlotte, Houston, or Dallas. Downtown Charlotte is incredibly boring IMO.

Really? NYC and Chicago?

Houston and Dallas maybe (although I don't believe you).

[Codederick]

I think it's safe to say Midtown is the real "Downtown" even though it's obviously not geographically located Downtown.

[jsvh]

No, Midtown is not downtown. In 10 years Atlanta will have the best downtown in the south.