Seeking the straight dope on Atlanta; not seeking dope. (Decatur: low income, houses)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

I was @ Georgia Tech. Yet, even to this day, people continue to walk into dorms and rob students at gun point.

What? When did this happen? Do tell.

I felt totally safe my whole time at GT...I was an RA (CA) in the dorms.

And gt6974a, we had Tech time overlap (96-98).

*gt6368a (also known as aries4118)

[martarider]

Originally Posted by aries4118

. What a recent opportunity we had to have a unique monument in Atlantic Station, but instead we have a "Las Vegas/Disneyesque" Arc de Triumphe (sp?...I don't speak francais).

Don't even get me started on the arch

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Very well said yourself, Mrs. Lovin!


...and I couldn't agree more. What a recent opportunity we had to have a unique monument in Atlantic Station, but instead we have a "Las Vegas/Disneyesque" Arc de Triumphe (sp?...I don't speak francais).

LOL are you referring to the "Arc de not so Triomphe"? Exactly.
Where is our Space Needle? Our Eiffel Tower? Our Brandenburg Gate?

[atlantagreg30127]

I personally think they should have just made a 200 foot tall gold covered Big Chicken for Atlantic Station - with water coming from it's mouth into the lake, filled with silver and gold "Izzies" from the 1996 Olympics.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Alphabetadada

gt6974a: Forgive me, but did you say "you carry" as in a gun? As a northern, the thought of a whole bunch of people walking around strapped freaks me out fully. I've been reading about this gun-law thing and I don't like it. Of course, I may change my tune once I am down there but at the moment that screams trouble to me. Am I being totally naive? I come from the school that believes carrying a weapon increases exponentially the chance of being hurt by one. Is the south that different??

I moved down here from the Twin Cities in 2004, and I don't see any more guns or weapons of any kind down here than I did up there. More to the point, I've not seen any that weren't attached to someone in a police uniform. And I don't know anyone personally who carries, either.

I wouldn't worry about it. Atlanta isn't rural Montana or Texas.

[gumboula]

Originally Posted by JBnC

I know you say that you are a country bumbkin. The thing I find about living in this area is that it has a very small town feel. People think of Atlanta as being this vast city, but the people who actually live in the city, it's very small town for us.

I totally agree with you on this small town feel thing of living in-town. I actually feel overwhelmed when I have to go OTP for anything. I rarely get on the interstate or even a large, busy road (like Cobb Parkway).

To the OP, seems to me that all of the in-town neighborhoods you have mentioned are places you would feel quite safe. If you have been in the Peace Corps, I think you will be able to figure out how to take care of yourself in a city neighborhood without a problem. There are definitely rough areas of the city, but you haven't mentioned any that are problematic. The south of I-20/around I-20 issue is rather dated IMO. In no way equivalent to Bankhead Highway per an earlier post!

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by aries4118

What? When did this happen? Do tell.

I felt totally safe my whole time at GT...I was an RA (CA) in the dorms.

And gt6974a, we had Tech time overlap (96-98).

*gt6368a (also known as aries4118)

Happened when I was in Center Street Apt, I think 98. Happened in the ULC around 00, around same time cars were being stolen by the dozen. My buddy(who was an RA also) got his car back after it was found on Bankhead Highway stripped.

And just this past fall when Tech took over Ga State dorms, several students were robbed at gunpoint, inside the dorms, in their rooms/hallways.

We assumed it was the Bankhead thugs coming over. Home Park cars got hit on a nightly basis and just last summer or summer before, two sets of kids got robbed inside their house at gun point.

I never really felt unsafe on/off campus but the crime happened on a regular basis.

[Alphabetadada]

JBnC: Actually, I said I am not a country bumpkin. I've lived in cities all over the world, and most of that time was in the "Murder Hill" (Mission Hill/Roxbury) section of Boston. But I do live in Madison, WI at the moment and I have grown really really comfortable with NOT having to worry about a goddamned thing, ever. I could probably leave my house unattended and unlocked here for a month and nothing would happen. IN FACT, we have a very very nutty homeless woman here who considers herself, essentially, the godmother of my neighborhood and she would probably watch my house for me--she sweeps my steps and recently jumped in to help when my girlfriend was moving stuff out. She also somehow manages, literally, to walk barefooted all year long... I live in Wisconsin... barefoot... no socks even... it's amazing.

ANYWAY, I am starting to think that Atlanta is totally fine and the statistics are misleading (unless you live in the rough neighborhoods) and that a lot of the people who whine about the crime just aren't city people.

Time for a new thread.

[masonbarge]

I live way in-town (near Piedmont Hospital) and I don't even lock my door when I leave the house during the day. There is an occasional car break-in, in the neighborhood. But then, I don't lock my car either, so a robber won't break a window.

[Chris_Davis]

Originally Posted by Alphabetadada

A few more things:

I am not in the market for purchasing a house. Been in graduate school for the past 6 years, Peace Corps before that = I don't have much money. So, I am looking for rental friendly neighborhoods intown.

And to be specific about the type of neighborhood I want: I would love something quiet with a coffee shop nearby, groceries within walking distance (ideally) and a few friendly neighborhood bars. I like charm, older architecture, and a strong sense of neighborhood.

Also, I understand LOUD AND CLEAR about the traffic issues and the need to (desirability of) living near my job. For the time being, I am going to assume I'll be working downtown.

You might like the East Atlanta area... it has a lot of the things you mentioned. I just moved here and love it so far.