City of Atlanta's population hits 472,522 (Millen: section 8, rent, buying a house)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

And the city can chose to buy smaller vehicles as the industry supplies to many, many parts of the world. San Fran bought some of them, and so could we, if we bothered to try.

I do not see the advantage of having emergency vehicles access an alley, compared to the street; when most of the time they enter thru the front door.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I do not see the advantage of having emergency vehicles access an alley, compared to the street; when most of the time they enter thru the front door.

Well, smaller emergency vehicles extend to more than just alleys. Streets in general can be downsized, opening up more room for development, and saving the city infrastructure costs.

[arjay57]

I was under the impression the city had abandoned all but one or two alleys years ago.

So you'd have to work out maintenance and access with all the private property owners who now own the alleys.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I was under the impression the city had abandoned all but one or two alleys years ago.

Interesting write-up from the Va-Hi Civic Association website:

When our neighborhood was originally platted, it included alleys running behind many of our houses. Some alleys were used for service access and/or utilities, while others were never actively opened. You can see the alleys on City plats and maps officially Atlanta Department of City Planning GIS, as well as Google maps unofficially. They appear as a narrow strip between properties. The alleys were generally 10 feet wide.
Here is the story on alleys.

1. In the 1970s, Mayor Jackson and City Council abandoned all City alleys except 3 located downtown.
2. The City does not have a good complete record of what alleys it used to own – which may be one reason that they abandoned them en masse. This is no fault of our City employees today; records were a bit less formal around the turn of the century.
3. When abandoned, the alleys became the property of the adjoining properties, half to each property. For example, 5 feet of a standard 10 foot alley became the property of each adjoining house (or church or commercial establishment).
4. The alleys then became the maintenance responsibility of the property owner.
5. There is a restriction that access through the alleys had to be maintained by the property owner unless all the property owners adjoining the original alley agreed to make the alley impassible.
6. Many alleys have been absorbed into the adjoining yards, fenced, and landscaped so they are no longer passable. This often happened by acquiescence rather than formal agreement meaning there is not a signed document, but since all the homeowners have taken the land they have effectively agreed.
7. The property’s share of the alley is measured as part of the property for building permitting purposes, which is a significant benefit.

Originally Posted by arjay57

So you'd have to work out maintenance and access with all the private property owners who now own the alleys.

Yeah, that's likely not happening.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Interesting write-up from the Va-Hi Civic Association website:

Thanks for the link. We have one running next to our house that is, I think, still technically a city alley. It has a utility pole in it that provides power to our home, and there's a sewer line that runs under it as well. Half of it is paved asphalt and concrete, with the other half still being cobble stones, both being efforts of my distant ancestors.

I also used to use what alleys are still in place as a kid when getting to and from school. (I think I'm starting to sound like some of our older members now haha)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Well, smaller emergency vehicles extend to more than just alleys. Streets in general can be downsized, opening up more room for development, and saving the city infrastructure costs.

I agree that we need smaller emergency vehicles, but you did not answer my question of why using an alley is better or as good as using the street.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Thanks for the link. We have one running next to our house that is, I think, still technically a city alley. It has a utility pole in it that provides power to our home, and there's a sewer line that runs under it as well. Half of it is paved asphalt and concrete, with the other half still being cobble stones, both being efforts of my distant ancestors.

I also used to use what alleys are still in place as a kid when getting to and from school. (I think I'm starting to sound like some of our older members now haha)

Just has utility easements
http://coaplangis.maps.arcgis.com/ap...2867570d99af4b

[waronxmas]

I think we will eventually hit 800,000k. It will just take a while. with a focus on massive low income housing. We're doing a-ok for middle and upper class buyers/renters.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by jero23

Screw that dumb term "elbow room". Atlanta needs to preserve the alleys in the city so that will allow some more transportation infrastructure...

"Elbow room" is hardly a dumb term, and is one of the top reasons people moving from the Northeast love Atlanta.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

I think we will eventually hit 800,000k. It will just take a while. with a focus on massive low income housing. We're doing a-ok for middle and upper class buyers/renters.

We saw what massive low income housing did for the CoA in the 70's-90's.