Why are people in the city opposed to density? (Atlanta: condos, home) - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

newat6 · 08-13-2009, 05:15 PM

Further evidence that Atlanta has a long way to go to achieve urbanity.
Beltline proposal near Piedmont Park prompts concerns about density | Fresh Loaf
I love this plan, but what do you think?

neil0311 · 08-13-2009, 05:21 PM

What's wrong with residents in a single family home neighborhood being opposed to an 8 story building? That type of development would be completely out of character for the neighborhood. Why would putting one up be good or "achieve urbanity" (whatever that means)?

What is the fascination that people have with trying to stuff as many people as possible into a small area and thinking it's the end all be all of modern existence? I just don't get it and wonder if the same folks have ever lived in that kind of an urban setting. I have and there is nothing to long for.

newat6 · 08-13-2009, 05:30 PM

I think many people expect something denser next to transit. Atlanta has an over abundance of single family neightborhoods. I'm not saying tear them all down and replace them with condos, but there has to be some compromise in order to make transit feasible. Yes, denser buildings will be "out of character" with the neighborhood. So is that giant storage building! So are the banal strip shopping centers! If keeping in character means repeating the same low density building that Atlanta has practiced up to this point, there is no hope for creating a more walkable environment. And as for multi-story builings, what about the tall building right there on Virginia Ave?

jfre81 · 08-13-2009, 05:33 PM

In Sun Belt cities, people are scared of "becoming Manhattan." There is only one Manhattan. Not even San Francisco or Boston are on that level. But down south, if there are more than 5,000 in a square mile it's Manhattanization. Urbanity's a new concept in the south, and Southerners aren't always receptive to change. They'll get used to it in time, and Atlanta will urbanize in time. Just like Houston, Dallas or Charlotte.

The space is there for people who want the urban experience to have it, and for those who want the SFH/suburban experience to have it. Everyone can get what they want. It's not a bad thing.

neil0311 · 08-13-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newat6

I think many people expect something denser next to transit. Atlanta has an over abundance of single family neightborhoods. I'm not saying tear them all down and replace them with condos, but there has to be some compromise in order to make transit feasible. Yes, denser buildings will be "out of character" with the neighborhood. So is that giant storage building! So are the banal strip shopping centers! If keeping in character means repeating the same low density building that Atlanta has practiced up to this point, there is no hope for creating a more walkable environment. And as for multi-story builings, what about the tall building right there on Virginia Ave?

And people wonder why folks move to the suburbs and leave the urban centers. Why do we have to turn nice areas into Manhattan to satisfy some notion of what a city should be?

jfre81 · 08-13-2009, 05:40 PM

Wow, did I not see a Manhattan reference coming? I must be psycho....er, psychic. Yeah.

neil0311 · 08-13-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfre81

The space is there for people who want the urban experience to have it, and for those who want the SFH/suburban experience to have it. Everyone can get what they want. It's not a bad thing.

Exactly. Part of the appeal of Atlanta is that it's NOT Manhattan or Boston or Chicago. Atlanta has always been a city with trees and had that "touch of country in the city" (yeah, I know that's Doraville

).

jfre81 · 08-13-2009, 05:42 PM

Chicago was once a sleepy little railroad town in the Midwest too. Cities evolve.

neil0311 · 08-13-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfre81

Chicago was once a sleepy little railroad town in the Midwest too. Cities evolve.

Understood, but doing it against the will of residents is forcing evolution. I know all too well what it means to grow up and live in a dense city (NYC) and I've also watched Atlanta go from a small southern city to what it is today. Trust me, it's evolved plenty since 1982 when I first moved here to go to college.

ericsonga · 08-13-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil0311

Understood, but doing it against the will of residents is forcing evolution. I know all too well what it means to grow up and live in a dense city (NYC) and I've also watched Atlanta go from a small southern city to what it is today. Trust me, it's evolved plenty since 1982 when I first moved here to go to college.

Yes, cities do evolve. They should not be allowed to. There is no place for stagnation within a city. However, there are no set guidelines on what a city needs to evolve into...