Why would people think Atlanta is ugly?? (Decatur: cul-de-sac, 2015)

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Thank-you! As I've often said, San Francisco is an ugly city with some nice views. There is something to be said for what a city looks like at street level, and unfortunately, much of San Franciso is very ugly at street level.

Hmmm that's interesting. Makes sense though. But I actually liked San Fran enough at street level (home architecture, open squares, design of city buildings, hills), so that when you combine views that are absolutely stunning, it's still top 2 IMO.

And yes while beauty is subjective, some things can be argued more effectively than others. Like, I'd have an easier time justifying why Gabrielle Union is physically beautiful versus Wendy Williams, for example. Sure, it may not be fact. But some opinions are just more reasonable than others.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Nairobi

As much of a fact that Nene Leakes represents the average Atlantan woman.

Ouch!

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

...And as I've comparison shopped for apartments in both cities, the rental prices and even prices of some condos in northern hoods in Chicago are astonishingly on par with the City of Atlanta and some even better values (considering I was looking at lakefront property with all the bells and whistles).

I've gotten in debates with people in the Atlanta forum for stating this very thing. Because I moved here from Chicago and not from NYC, LA, or SF, I never understood what people meant when they say Atlanta is cheaper. Chicago and Atlanta rents are pretty much the same, especially to live in the nicer areas. And Chicago isn't like NYC where $1200 gets you a tiny dump of a studio. You can get a spacious one or two bedroom in a nice area in Chicago for that.

I've found apartments in affluent Atlanta suburbs with rents equal to what you'd pay to live in a two or three bedroom on the lake (Edgewater) in Chicago. I still do think that both cities have very gorgeous areas. I never got the local pre-occupation with trees though. I mean yeah, there are a lot of trees here. I guess it's something I never really thought about, because contrary to what people believe, Chicago actually does have trees lol. I've lived all over Chicagoland and I've lived on many a tree-lined street; and I've spent many occasions hiking, picnicking and sledding in forests in Chicago. I also used to live in a hilly neighborhood in Chicago.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I've gotten in debates with people in the Atlanta forum for stating this very thing. Because I moved here from Chicago and not from NYC, LA, or SF, I never understood what people meant when they say Atlanta is cheaper. Chicago and Atlanta rents are pretty much the same, especially to live in the nicer areas. And Chicago isn't like NYC where $1200 gets you a tiny dump of a studio. You can get a spacious one or two bedroom in a nice area in Chicago for that.

I've found apartments in affluent Atlanta suburbs with rents equal to what you'd pay to live in a two or three bedroom on the lake (Edgewater) in Chicago. I still do think that both cities have very gorgeous areas. I never got the local pre-occupation with trees though. I mean yeah, there are a lot of trees here. I guess it's something I never really thought about, because contrary to what people believe, Chicago actually does have trees lol. I've lived all over Chicagoland and I've lived on many a tree-lined street; and I've spent many occasions hiking, picnicking and sledding in forests in Chicago. I also used to live in a hilly neighborhood in Chicago.

It's true that Chicago is very affordable for a city it's size.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Thank-you! As I've often said, San Francisco is an ugly city with some nice views. There is something to be said for what a city looks like at street level, and unfortunately, much of San Franciso is very ugly at street level.

Dude, I couldn't help but constantly take camera shots on the streets of San Francisco. Very attractive place. And across the Golden Gate bridge is the Muir Woods with the redwoods. Now those are amazing trees! Couldn't even see their tops they were so tall.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Dude, I couldn't help but constantly take camera shots on the streets of San Francisco. Very attractive place. And across the Golden Gate bridge is the Muir Woods with the redwoods. Now those are amazing trees! Couldn't even see their tops they were so tall.

Yeah, I don't know what he's talking about. Is it because SF is an actual city with long avenues and streetwalls that make it ugly? Atlanta lacks avenues and boulevards that go miles and have a continuous streetwall...just a bunch of SFH and strip malls with a canopy of trees. Without the trees, Atlanta would be ugly. SF is attractive without trees.

[residinghere2007]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I've gotten in debates with people in the Atlanta forum for stating this very thing. Because I moved here from Chicago and not from NYC, LA, or SF, I never understood what people meant when they say Atlanta is cheaper. Chicago and Atlanta rents are pretty much the same, especially to live in the nicer areas. And Chicago isn't like NYC where $1200 gets you a tiny dump of a studio. You can get a spacious one or two bedroom in a nice area in Chicago for that.

I've found apartments in affluent Atlanta suburbs with rents equal to what you'd pay to live in a two or three bedroom on the lake (Edgewater) in Chicago. I still do think that both cities have very gorgeous areas. I never got the local pre-occupation with trees though. I mean yeah, there are a lot of trees here. I guess it's something I never really thought about, because contrary to what people believe, Chicago actually does have trees lol. I've lived all over Chicagoland and I've lived on many a tree-lined street; and I've spent many occasions hiking, picnicking and sledding in forests in Chicago. I also used to live in a hilly neighborhood in Chicago.

I agree that Chicago is affordable. I tell people all the time that Atlanta really isn't that much cheaper than Chicago except for homeowners because Chicago taxes are more than Atlanta, which is why I think in general Chicago is much better kept than Chicago. They have excellent city services

I also don't understand Atlanta's focus on the "uniqueness" of the trees here. I am from NW Ohio and we have trees too and they are better planned since you will rarely find one intruding into the street or sidewalk as our bumper from the sidewalk to the curb is three times the ones in Atlanta (many parts of Atlanta don't have the bumper at all). Many Chicago neighborhoods have tree cover that is equal to Atlanta neighborhoods. A cousin of my husband lives in Beverly a southern neighborhood in Chicago and he lives on a very beautiful tree lined street, along with my MIL who lives in West Pullman near Roseland. It is sometimes easy for me to forget that she lives in a very crime ridden area due to the beauty of her street. Roseland looks worse and you can tell when you are over there versus her "side of the tracks" (she lives next to transit/train tracks).

Detroit even has pretty neighborhoods with equal amounts of treescape to that one can find in Atlanta. The only difference in regards to trees IMO here in Atlanta is the tree lines freeways. Where I'm from we don't have trees along the freeway and I do think it is pretty, especially this time of year, going up 75 especially because of the fall colors on the trees. But in the neighborhoods, I don't see it as all that unique since practically all the Midwestern cities I have been to have tree lined neighborhoods.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

I agree that Chicago is affordable. I tell people all the time that Atlanta really isn't that much cheaper than Chicago except for homeowners because Chicago taxes are more than Atlanta, which is why I think in general Chicago is much better kept than Chicago. They have excellent city services

I would agree with this about this taxes, except I think what Atlantans make up for in taxes here versus Illinois, they pay in HOA fees. The intown areas that are nice in Atlanta where there are no subdivisions, the homes are no cheaper. There are no subdivisions in Chicago or the burbs there so there are no HOA fees (unless you are waaaay out and there are some newer subdivisions there).

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

Many Chicago neighborhoods have tree cover that is equal to Atlanta neighborhoods. A cousin of my husband lives in Beverly a southern neighborhood in Chicago and he lives on a very beautiful tree lined street, along with my MIL who lives in West Pullman near Roseland. It is sometimes easy for me to forget that she lives in a very crime ridden area due to the beauty of her street. Roseland looks worse and you can tell when you are over there versus her "side of the tracks" (she lives next to transit/train tracks).

This is 100% correct. I'm from Beverly and I've lived in Roseland. Roseland and Pullman have/had gorgeous blocks. Things get rougher-looking going to Doty Road or further south down Michigan.

[residinghere2007]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I would agree with this about this taxes, except I think what Atlantans make up for in taxes here versus Illinois, they pay in HOA fees. The intown areas that are nice in Atlanta where there are no subdivisions, the homes are no cheaper. There are no subdivisions in Chicago or the burbs there so there are no HOA fees (unless you are waaaay out and there are some newer subdivisions there).



This is 100% correct. I'm from Beverly and I've lived in Roseland. Roseland and Pullman have/had gorgeous blocks. Things get rougher-looking going to Doty Road or further south down Michigan.

I agree regarding HOAs. When we were house hunting here, my husband and I made a point not to move anywhere with HOA fees.

But there are a lot of nicer neighborhoods in SW Atlanta that are cheap and are neighborhoods so no HOAs. I am black so wouldn't mind living down there and my husband keeps going back and forth over moving away from Atlanta or staying, if we stay we will move down to SW Atlanta for a bigger yard, home and no HOA fees lol.

[gerrythesnake]

If "Atlanta" was a girl she would win the Miss America pageant.