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I don't think I can ever see ATL as this top 5 or even top 10 city. It feels like a giant suburb and doesn't feel large to me at all except in land area. I just don't see it.
How does it feel like a giant suburb? It's a lot more urban than a lot of the Sunbelt cities (although that isn't saying much). The beltline project from Krog Street market to Ponce City market to Piedmont Park is brilliant, with so many shops/restaurants and people walking on it all the time.
Downtown's best part is the Fairlie Poplar district with many people on the streets and eateries:
Not too far from there is Centennial Park / Coca Cola / Georgia Aquarium / College Football Hall of Fame / MLK Junior Center + Birth Home / Civil Rights Museum.
Midtown / Atlantic Station is growing rapidly, new construction going up all the time. Not to mention, Piedmont Park is one of the best urban parks in the nation.
Buckhead doesn't have much walkability but there are so many skyscrapers (better than a lot of cities) and the Shops of Buckhead has so many high-end stores.
The suburban parts like Sandy Springs also has growing buildings and a lot of corporations are moving their headquarters there (like Mercedes did recently).
How does it feel like a giant suburb? It's a lot more urban than a lot of the Sunbelt cities (although that isn't saying much). The beltline project from Krog Street market to Ponce City market to Piedmont Park is brilliant, with so many shops/restaurants and people walking on it all the time.
Downtown's best part is the Fairlie Poplar district with many people on the streets and eateries:
Not too far from there is Centennial Park / Coca Cola / Georgia Aquarium / College Football Hall of Fame / MLK Junior Center + Birth Home / Civil Rights Museum.
Midtown / Atlantic Station is growing rapidly, new construction going up all the time. Not to mention, Piedmont Park is one of the best urban parks in the nation.
Buckhead doesn't have much walkability but there are so many skyscrapers (better than a lot of cities) and the Shops of Buckhead has so many high-end stores.
The suburban parts like Sandy Springs also has growing buildings and a lot of corporations are moving their headquarters there (like Mercedes did recently).
Atlanta is seeking due recognition it expects. Its core is a tighter older grided one. It has its Midtown next door and Buckhead touted. It was and continues gaining Northern relocation and migrations.
Atlanta prides itself as a "City in a Forest". With that comes a lot of suburbia even in the city and Cul de sac developments. Both its older urban and suburban ones. Make one Atlanta.
This still means the city is not going to erase its vast suburban areas and can't just be pushed as a new greatly urban city. It is a city that combined both with a big suburban push. But you need to accept its suburban huge aspects too as a badge of honor as its older urban bones expand where they can.
It makes strides to urban developments more today. But this Cul de sac areas are going nowhete either. Embace both as your Atlanta you love. Because a "City in a Forest" moniker. Needs its suburban parts too to create it.
Great pictures though despite pushing it as much more urban-built then it is. To be more unique means you accept all its parts.
How does it feel like a giant suburb? It's a lot more urban than a lot of the Sunbelt cities (although that isn't saying much). The beltline project from Krog Street market to Ponce City market to Piedmont Park is brilliant, with so many shops/restaurants and people walking on it all the time.
Downtown's best part is the Fairlie Poplar district with many people on the streets and eateries:
Not too far from there is Centennial Park / Coca Cola / Georgia Aquarium / College Football Hall of Fame / MLK Junior Center + Birth Home / Civil Rights Museum.
Midtown / Atlantic Station is growing rapidly, new construction going up all the time. Not to mention, Piedmont Park is one of the best urban parks in the nation.
Buckhead doesn't have much walkability but there are so many skyscrapers (better than a lot of cities) and the Shops of Buckhead has so many high-end stores.
The suburban parts like Sandy Springs also has growing buildings and a lot of corporations are moving their headquarters there (like Mercedes did recently).
Most of the city outside of the core is very suburban. There are parts that's don't even have sidewalks. But it's doing well for a sunbelt city.
I agree with the vast majority who think the top 5 are New York, LA, Chicago, DC, and SF. Probably in that order, though you could argue the exact ranking. I think NY and LA clear at 1 & 2. Chicago is probably 3, but I can see an argument for DC as the capital.
I think after that there is a tight group of Boston, Dallas, Philly, and Houston. I'd probably put Atlanta right after those, but depending on exact criteria it could be in that group. Miami and Seattle are the next pair IMO, and Seattle has really risen over the last file of decades. There really isn't much separation and depending on the exact thing you want to look at. If you favor being the leader in an industry, Boston and Houston may rise bc of their respective positions as education and energy centers. If you look at urban form, feel, and history then Philly and Boston are strong. Economic diversity might favor Dallas and Atlanta. Miami has its connection with Latin America. Atlanta has its vibrant music and entertainment industry which gives it a high profile in pop culture. they all have a ton of strengths that put them in a similar category and raise them above the next tier.
If you take the gdp of nova, I think dc has an argument for three
NoVA is always included in DC's GDP though. You must be talking about using the CSA GDP in which case Baltimore comes into play.
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Because a "City in a Forest" moniker. Needs its suburban parts too to create it. 
