ATL suburb residents only! What keeps you form moving Downtown? (Atlanta: how much, house)

[magnetar]

Inman Park was once a suburb, too. I think it's safe to say Buckhead is 100% identified as being intown, both subjectively and objectively.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by magnetar

Inman Park was once a suburb, too. I think it's safe to say Buckhead is 100% identified as being intown, both subjectively and objectively.

I guess everyone's opinion counts toward that 100%... as long as they agree with you

[Mike_IN_AUG]

Ok guys, new forum with new questions coming up, make sure to check out my next post, "Is living in Downtown Atlanta really as expensive as people say"? And "which Suburbs in Atlanta area have a "city" feel to them" and maybe a 3rd, "If you had 10 Billion to spend on ATL infrastructure, what would you do"?

[AnsleyPark]

Of course Buckhead is Intown. Just like midtown. And, arguably, perimeter center area.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

One thing I have noticed from a lot of ATL residents is that they pretty much hate the city and want to live in a more traditional rural setting. Is this because of the cities new culture and no past of being such a large entity? Will Atlanta change with more urban dwelling residents moving from the dense NE cities if Boston, Philly, NYC, Pitt, Dc and Balt? Not to mention the foreign born, who are overwhelmingly from the largest urban centers around the world.

Also after looking at prices for real estate in the city, it think you guys do not realize how much value are in these properties Intown. Anything under 200k in the cities first few layers is pretty much unheard of in a city with Atlanta jobs and amenities. Go look at Boston and San Jose rents Intown and its x3 Atlanta, with similar real disposable income status.

Also Atlanta is a giant at Financial services, whom dominate the super high payed, Atlanta is killing the NE in large fin institutes relocating and paying half as much, but receiving more productivity. ATL will eclipse all but San Fran, Chicago and NYC soon. Philly, Dc, Boston and LA are bleeding business left and right to ATL and foreign cities with similar costs. Do any of you guys see this happening from your jobs? ATL is not only competitive to American cities, it is competitive with Bangkok, Mexico City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Moscow, Osaka and others, it stands a clear advantage for future growth in this field.

All is appreciated! You guys are awesome!

[erick295]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Of course Buckhead is Intown.* Just like midtown.* And, arguably, perimeter center area.

Funny you should bring up Perimeter, because I see them as analogous to one another... edge cities that are part of the overall urban corridor but have a distinct geographical separation from downtown (lower case "d").

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Mike_IN_AUG

One thing I have noticed from a lot of ATL residents is that they pretty much hate the city and want to live in a more traditional rural setting. Is this because of the cities new culture and no past of being such a large entity? Will Atlanta change with more urban dwelling residents moving from the dense NE cities if Boston, Philly, NYC, Pitt, Dc and Balt? Not to mention the foreign born, who are overwhelmingly from the largest urban centers around the world.

Also after looking at prices for real estate in the city, it think you guys do not realize how much value are in these properties Intown. Anything under 200k in the cities first few layers is pretty much unheard of in a city with Atlanta jobs and amenities. Go look at Boston and San Jose rents Intown and its x3 Atlanta, with similar real disposable income status.

Also Atlanta is a giant at Financial services, whom dominate the super high payed, Atlanta is killing the NE in large fin institutes relocating and paying half as much, but receiving more productivity. ATL will eclipse all but San Fran, Chicago and NYC soon. Philly, Dc, Boston and LA are bleeding business left and right to ATL and foreign cities with similar costs. Do any of you guys see this happening from your jobs? ATL is not only competitive to American cities, it is competitive with Bangkok, Mexico City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Moscow, Osaka and others, it stands a clear advantage for future growth in this field.

All is appreciated! You guys are awesome!

I don't know of anyone that hates living in Atlanta. Well, Mathman did, but he found his good place in Texas.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I don't know of anyone that hates living in Atlanta. Well, Mathman did, but he found his good place in Texas.

lol

[ATLTJL]

"Is living in Downtown Atlanta really as expensive as people say"?

I don't think price is the main problem downtown....the problem is there isn't housing stock that appeals to most people and the area doesn't have businesses or services that most people want to be close to.

For midtown, price is most definitely the problem.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Mike_IN_AUG

One thing I have noticed from a lot of ATL residents is that they pretty much hate the city and want to live in a more traditional rural setting. Is this because of the cities new culture and no past of being such a large entity? Will Atlanta change with more urban dwelling residents moving from the dense NE cities if Boston, Philly, NYC, Pitt, Dc and Balt? Not to mention the foreign born, who are overwhelmingly from the largest urban centers around the world.

Two observations...

That isn't quite true. The real reason we don't have the traditional urban setting had more to do of the period of development when Atlanta grew.

Atlanta was considerably smaller than the northeastern cities in the Pre-car era. It was a city mostly situated around our current downtown surrounded by streetcar suburbs (that we now call intown).

After each layer of growth people would protect their neighborhoods and resist change and nowadays many neighborhoods fill up the prime areas where an urban neighborhood would go and protect the original suburban style neighborhood with a historic district. There are legitimately pros and cons to this.

Today we urbanize by developing on old industrial sites. The problem/benefit is we are focusing on keeping the limited land we have for much higher density. We are more likely to build apartment and condo buildings to attract singles and young couples, but less likely to start building huge neighborhoods full of row houses that might life long families.

Typically if the neighborhood is any bit desirable, intown, and isn't a condo the price is pretty high.

There are some fringe areas, if you're young, you can invest into. However, the schools might not be quite there or their might be a tad bit more crime than most would desire.

If Atlanta urbanizes more, it is from the generation Y'rs gaining purchasing power.

The overwhelming majority of people in Atlanta's suburbs are from other places. Most people from Boston, NYC, Philly, etc.. are in awe of how much house/yard they can get for the money. Some of the houses you can get here are unthinkable up north, especially within a 45 minute drive of where you work and without spending over a million.

As for Foreign born... overwhelmingly Gwinnett County is attracting the most. The core suburban counties seem to be the prime spot. They do prefer not to be at the exurban edge like many Southerners and domestic transplants do.