Opinion Talk

By GeoffDawg

June 20, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

When I think about having to cut the grass in 90 degree heat this weekend, intown living has its allure.

By Nickie

June 20, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this

I can’t say suburban living is superior. What I can say is it fits us. Before we both retired our jobs were in the suburbs, our kids went to good schools, services from libraries to police and fire were nearby and seemingly efficient, taxes are reasonable, while not non-existent, the crime rate is fairly low, when we bought our home nearly 20 years ago the price was reasonable, home values have increased at a modest rate, while not in walking distance, a large variety of stores are nearby. I suspect, but don’t know for sure, that intown living would be considerably more expensive and less convenient for us.

By Typical Georgian

June 20, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this

That’s easy… I live in the suburbs cause there are fewer minorities and fewer people who don’t look or think exactly like I do! Go Sonny! Go Bush! Go McCain! Go Jesus!

By kitty

June 20, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

I wouldn’t mind living in town. However, even with gas prices it is still cheaper to live in the suburbs plus I have larger living quarters. My family would kill each other in a condo. :)

By Rob

June 20, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

I have a 1BR/1BA rental condo that is 647 square feet downtown (Fulton County). My personal residence is a 6BR/5BA, 5,500 square feet in South Forsyth County. My annual taxes are basically the same for both properties, and the public services are better in Forsyth by a long shot. The Fulton County and Atlanta City government are completely incompetent.

By Take Me Out...

June 20, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

to the suburbs…..

I must agree with Nickie. Living in the suburbs fits my family better than intown living.

The schools are better than the state average and compete with the national average, which you will not find intown unless you enroll your child in a private school.

Taxes are considerably lower and cost of living overall is lower. While driving 30 miles one way to work has major drawbacks, the 30 mile drive home makes it all worth it.

Overall, I cannot foresee my family moving intown for many reasons: 1. Green grass 2. My own yard 3. Lower cost of living / taxes 4. Better school systems 5. Lower crime

For me, the list goes on and on, but the list above is my top five.

By Jeff

June 20, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

I agree with GeoffDawg!

Apartment living has its benefits…

Of course, there are also apartments in the suburbs…

If you REALLY want a slower pace of life though, the further South you go, the better off you are. (South GA is GREAT, right now my wife and I are looking at retiring to somewhere south of Cuba!)

By jimbo

June 20, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I’ve lived both in town and in the suburbs and I’d much rather live in the far country.. around the North Carolina line. I’m in a high rise off peachtree and let me tell you, I can identify the sirens of ambulances, firetrucks, and cop cars. I can tell you what a crown vic sounds like launching to a crime scene. I am starting to be able to identify specific motorcycles and I can tell you what modifications the idiot ricers have made to their civics. I am 100% up to date on what’s going on with both current hip hop and my idiot neighbors below.. all from the comfort of my 10th floor apartment.

The nice thing is that I can walk just about anywhere I need to go and the view is pretty great.. but man .. I can’t imagine the people buying multi-million dollar row houses right off the street.

Don’t get me wrong, the suburbs have their own challenges and I didn’t like it there either. The more contact I have with people the more I’d like to be smack dab in the middle of acreage. Too bad the job market in the middle of acreage ain’t that great.

By John

June 20, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Just what constitutes the suburbs in the Atlanta area? Most of think of ITP vs OTP but is that really true? There are several communities inside 285 that at one time were probably considered Atlanta suburbs. Inman Park and Midtown were once considered suburbs to downtown Atlanta. Sandy Springs, Vinings, and Brookhaven are all “intown” but those areas aren’t really urban. You still can get quiet neighborhoods, a nice yard, and a nice house without having to spend all day on one of the major interstates to get to work. Of course you do get more house for the money the farther out you go, but how much house do we all really need? I’d prefer a comfortable older ranch and a 10 minute commute to a 3000 square foot house and a 45 minute commute.

By AH

June 20, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

I grew up in a ranch style house with a half acre yard. I now live in a small Midtown condo. I like condo living better. You don’t keep crap around that you don’t need. You never worry about having to spend a weekend ‘fixing’ the house or doing yard work. Your free everyday to go and do what you want.

Also Location Location Location you can’t beat it.

By Paul

June 20, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

I have children and that is my only reason for living in the suburbs. I can not afford the higher cost of living and pay private school tuition in the city. I’m fortunate not to live near typical Georgian, Terry, and Curious George. They may be the sexual predtors that we have to watch out for. Other than that I love my neighbors…

By grelican

June 20, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

I understand why people move to the burbs. If you look over the past 60 or so years of American history it makes a lot of sense.

After WWII, my aunts and uncles got out of stinking tenements in Brooklyn and the Bronx to get cute places with little lawns in Jersey where everybody talked to each other over their picket fences.

My grandparents were literally burned out of the city (Baltimore) during the ‘68 King riots (they’re white, the people who did it were white… ‘cuz they started a food drive for their mostly black neighborhood.

I grew up in cities. I can’t tell you how often I overhear conversations between people from the suburbs talking about how they’re afraid of getting mugged when they come into town, or they live where they’d never send their kids to an urban school. Well I’ve never been mugged and I went to those schools (no spell check here).

Cities are great. Even in Atlanta, with such a suburban culture, most of the best restaurants are in town. Most of the music is in town. Most of the cool bars are in town. If you want to use your legs to move from place to place, you’re probably in town. And Atlanta is one of the most affordable cities in the country with a good job market.

I live in a part of town that’s got a ton of places to walk to for dinner or an ice cream cone, constant community activities, and lots of young parents who are going to be here for the long haul.

While there are some appealing things about the burbs, they’re isolating, wasteful places. Property is cheaper and it’s often a quieter existence, but you’ve gotta drive 15 minutes to get gas! Once you’ve been to more than one Olive Garden or Applebees there is very little that’s culturally redeeming about the places. It’s really about buying your way out of fear, running ever further from the boogie man.

Wherever people choose to live I hope they make the decision to take some ownership over their communities. You can’t just buy your kids an education by moving into Gwinett. You’ve gotta be involved.

People in the cities need to take control of their streets and their schools… and they are doing it. Something’s changing. People are fed up not only with the $4 gas, but also with trading their souls for a half acre. Cities are made up of the people who live there. They decide how things are going to go. You can be a victim of crime and bad schools or you can take control. I think America’s waking up to this.

We’re headed to a new urban era. Many suburbs will be bulldozed for biodiesel.

By Daedalus

June 20, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

What’s the quickest way to get to Alabama from downtown Atlanta?

20 miles in any direction. Once you are outside 285, its all Alabama.

By AlpharettaChick

June 20, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Why do I live in the burbs?
Because the city sucks. I hate the noises, smells, and pretentious dwellers that think they are so better than you because you live OTP. I like not having homeless people hanging out in my yard and throwing trash everywhere. We have all the same things Atlanta has, just in a safer environment and everything is closer together. The suburbs of Atlanta aren’t really the burbs anymore, they are more like mini-metropolitan cities of their own. I can walk from my house under 1 mile to the grocery store, bars, restaurants, encore amplitheather, 2 parks, and more.

By Free to be me

June 20, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Hi, Curious George, are you White or Black? I am Black and ask myself the same question. I moved to the suburbs because this is where I could afford to move but I agree with you. Why does this have to be the case and it happens no matter where it is, suburbs, intown or even the moon.

By uh Duh?

June 20, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Uh Duh? I thought the burbs were the best place to make meth? Or if you want to mess around on your wife, move her out to the burbs so you can hang in the strip clubs? Oh I get it, your wife tricks you into moving her to the burbs so she pretends she’s baking cookies but really getting her pipes cleaned by Tyrone or Hosea while you work late…I’ll take the city thank you!

By Elizabeth

June 20, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

I didn’t want to raise my children in a cookie cutter subdivision with cookie cutter people. I wanted them to live in a community where walking was the norm—not riding around in Chevy Suburbans. I wanted them to experience the world as it really is—not everyone is rich or poor, not everyone is black, white, indian, etc. I wanted them to grow up with respect for people that were different than them and an appreciation of how we all have to do our part to respect the environment. That’s why my husband, two children and I—along with a dog and two cats live intown.

By Forsythcounty

June 20, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

I live far outside the city because people like “Typical Georgian” above live in the city. You are right pal, we all need less God and Jesus, we would be much better off. (sarcasm)

Hey city people: The suburbs and especially Forsyth county are horrible places to live, and dirty, so please DO NOT come out here. Stay in your cage, I mean condo.

By T

June 20, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Suburbs. better living. sure. unless you bought into clayton co.

By Amos

June 20, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

All the good neighborhoods get ruined by the blacks, so we have to move out farther and farther. But they are entitled…i keep forgetting.

By Nobama

June 20, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

No matter whether you chose to live in town or in the suburbs, it’s strange to me that there is such a drive to judge everyone else’s choices. People who take pride in their openmindedness are arrogant and condescending when the urban/suburban issue comes up. Why do we feel the need to attack other people and their choices to justify our own.
I live in the suburbs. One of my kids lives in an old, intown neighborhood. We both made tradeoffs. Neither of us has to attack the other. We don’t need to make ignorant assumptions about the other person’s character. When I go downtown, I enjoy being there. When they come to the far reaches of Cobb County, they like being here. Neither of us wants to move. Stop judging to justify your own choice!

By Rev. Wright was right

June 20, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

And to think that Cynthia Tucker actually wrote a column claimiing that racism was dying. White hatred is alive and well in Georgia!

By Jen

June 20, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

I see the hate has started, along with the stereotypes.

I’ve lived both in the burbs and now in the city. For ME and MY FAMILY we prefer the city, but that’s because my husband and I both work in the city and we found we really, really, really, really, really, really, really hate long commutes.

However, had we worked closer to our suburban home we likely would have stayed there. Granted, the lifestyle is more car dependent in that you have use your wheels for just about every excursion from the house. However, I predict that will change in the burbs as gas prices continue to rise….they will start demanding sidewalks out there and then people will walk or ride bikes.

Now, living in the city IS more expensive (for the same size house) and you probably deal with more opportunistic crime (as opposed to the gang crime you find in the burbs) and definitely higher taxes.

But, I DO have a yard all my own that I have to care for. It’s not an acre…I can’t afford the houses in Druid Hills that have acre lots…but it’s sufficient for our needs! Besides, we’re across the street from a really fabulous city park if we really need to stretch out.

There are no homeless people sleeping on my front porch. It would take too much effort for them to climb up the steps off the sidewalk onto my front yard and then the steps up to my porch. The homeless tend to sleep under overpasses…

My son goes to a REALLY awesome public school…that’s right PUBLIC school.

I don’t drive to work anymore. I bike. I also don’t drive to the grocery store. Now that I live a 5 minute bike ride from the store I don’t need to do a big huge shop-for-the-week trip and just go a few times a week to get what we need. I actually make a point to crank up my car on the weekends to keep the battery alive.

Oh, and I get home from work at 5:20. I leave work at 5pm.

I get TO work before 8:15 after leaving my house between 7:45 and 8am.

I really love that. When I lived in the burbs I’d leave work at 5 and get home closer to 7….

All the other great things I mentioned…it’s the last bit I like best.

But, when I lived in the burbs it was definitely cheaper. I knew there was a good school waiting. I was really good friends with one neighbor and we did a lot of gardening shopping and gardeing stuff together. I was not unhappy there. I was just unhappy with the commute.

So, live in the burbs if it suits your needs. And be happy about it. But don’t get defensive and trash the city.

And city slickers…lay off the superiority complex.

By delois

June 20, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

We have ridden out the foreclosures, etc. in our Lawrenceville neighborhood and now people who are buying these empty houses are middle-aged empty nesters who are getting out of the big houses and want something mid-sized but in a neighbordhood that is stable. The thugs and anchor babies are leaving in droves because their parents are getting forclosed on. The longtime residents are cheering because our neighborhood is suddently making a comeback. We have had a very diverse neighborhood for a long time and enjoyed it. The longtime minority residents are cheering the departure of the thugs too. You can get a decent sized house for a good price and then spend the extra money you saved on the house by fixing the house up. Also, we live in the City of Lawrenceville - you can get a cop or ambulance to come out within 5 minutes and the City services are excellent. Try that living in town sometime.

By Wily Armadilla

June 20, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

because I couldn’t afford decent housing in the city.

By Jen

June 20, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

delois, I lived outside the city limits of Lawrenceville but I always thought the city of Lawrenceville was a sweet little city and probably the most interesting location in all of Gwinnett.

By Maria

June 20, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

I live in the city and I love it. Being a 30 year old single woman with no children, suburb living would be too boring for me. When I moved to Atlanta 8 years ago, I lived in Marietta. I didn’t like it because I was totally dependent on a car and my apt complex neighbors were not very neighborly. Now I live in a house in the Westend. I have a yard; I have neighbors who say “hello everyday;” and I can hop on the train to commute to work and anywhere else I want to go if I chose not to drive my car.

I also love the activity of people going to and fro’. It reminds me that world is still turning.

By city dweller

June 20, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

People’s hatred of Atlanta makes for a self-fulfilling prophecy. I wish people had the guts to come into town and take back their city. This is a nice place only as much as when people choose to take care of their surroundings, and to vote for responsible representatives. You don’t get it handed to you.

Atlanta is also probably the most unpretentious, welcoming place I’ve ever been in America. I’ve never met hipsters anywhere who smile and say hello when you make eye contact. People who call Atlanta city-dwellers snobs need to look at themselves and ask if they’re maybe a hair insecure.

Put the racism aside. If someone’s acting poorly, call ‘em out on it. Don’t call ‘em names on some blog. If you can’t do that, stay the heck out in the boonies. We don’t want your kind here.

Suburb-dwellers, feel free to justify a boring, wasteful, obesity-inducing life “for the schools”.

If you genuinely like it there, well you can have it. If you’re just not a city person, it’s a free country.

It’s also a free market. Don’t complain when your ARM mortgage, lifestyle and driving habits make gas and life expensive for you. You don’t like it? Write your free market congressman and see if you get anywhere.

Cities are on the rise, suburbs are crumbling, even though vinyl takes a long time to degrade. In the long run your way of living is falling apart. Time to adapt or move to Dahlonega.

Run for the hills!!!

Atlanta: Resurgens!!!

By RMJ

June 20, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

I moved from the burbs to the city this past Dec. I do not regret my decision. I was tired of the commute when I wanted to go to a social event. I was also tired of the lack of culture in the burbs. But I understand a lot of folks stay in the burbs if you have children for the schools. It is a personal choice. The city of ATL is not perfect, but it is making a lot of progress. If anyone is interested in moving to the city, now is the time with the housing market downturn. You can get in on the groud level.

As far as the neighborhoods, there are plenty of wonderful neighborhoods in the city. You have to do your research. I spent a year looking at different areas. I also am involved in my neighborhood to help improve it and make a difference. I actually feel like i’m contributing the the city and setting an example for some.

So good luck to everyone regardless of your choice.

By Keon Johnson

June 20, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Wow,

Greglican had the best comment. At this time I live in the burb’s because it’s actually more affordable! I’m not in the position to buy property but I am young and single and would rather have a condo than a large home with all the responsibilities. Many jobs are out of the city and driving out of the city is easier than driving in.

Apartment living in the city isn’t affordable or convient for working in my field. Most of the jobs that pay decent tend to be in Cobb, N. Fulton, N.Dekalb, and Gwinett. However they don’t pay enough for you to live near them.
I’ve found some acceptable things for around the 500/mo range. That’s unheard of in the city unless you go to SW atlanta away from the jobs. The place in the city that would be around 650…have few amenities accept they are in the city.

Atlanta may be affordable compared to other large cities… But the rate of pay has NOT kept up with the rate of housing. Even housing on Buford highway is around the mid 600s and much of it isn’t safe. If you mk under 30k…where are the places designed for you? Who is affording thes condo’s starting at 300k 1bd 1ba?

By T Ramsey

June 20, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

I bought a house in Midtown because I like the old construction. The oldest house I could find in my budget was a 1926 bungalow. I have all the original deeds and I just like the history. Also, after spending 10 hours stuck on I-95 during a snowstorm in 1987, I made it a rule to always live within walking distance of work.

By jasper

June 20, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

Thought I’d come check out the soft pitch topic in the shallow end of the pool, but you guys have all been peeing in it. See ya!

By Forsyth

June 20, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

I hope everyone realizes that the racist comments that have been posted are from better than thou liberals projecting onto others. I live in Forsyth is a very diverse community with Indian, Black, Asian, and White at equal percentages. At least in my part of Forsyth, race is a non-issue.

By Jen

June 20, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Actually, the racist comments are coming from trolls…not real people. We’ve actually done a good job of ignoring them.

Good for us!

By anne

June 20, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Keon- my 1bd/1ba condo is on Peachtree Street, walking distance from everything, and cost about $160K. My commute to my N. Fulton job is about 25 minutes.

I think lots of people have impressions about city living (too expensive, crappy schools, homeless people everywhere) that simply aren’t true. It makes me a little sad, but then I remind myself that such people are the reason I would not live in the suburbs.

(Also, who monitors this board? The blatant racism is disturbing and completely inappropriate in Atlanta’s flagship publication.)

By grelican

June 20, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

I’ve got a house on 1/3 acre with a big deck where I know all my neighbors and live 15 minutes from Turner Field and downtown, and 1.5 blocks from a Kroger. I paid 200 K for it in ‘05. You can’t get a much better deal on urban living anywhere.

600 K on Buford Hwy? I can’t even picture that.

If you want look at affordable, safe, neighborly parts of town, look to the infamous South of 20 (thunder claps, horses neiiighhh). It’s really not as bad as the mythology has many to believe. Maybe 10-15 years ago there was some reason to avoid it. My S-20 neighborhood is good old fashioned craftsman houses with big porches under big trees, with people outside on their rocking chairs sipping beers, saying hi to each other and kids riding bikes in summer evenings.

East Atlanta is getting written up nationally as a cool, up and coming urban neighborhood.

Sure there’s some crime. So you get an alarm system and you and your neighbors keep an eye on each others’ houses. They want your 46” Sony LCD, not your first born.

Marketwise, shortsighted developers overbuilt on condos everywhere so there are a million deals to be had in the city and the burbs. They’re desperate to sell. The ones in town might eventually appreciate. Don’t hold out hope for those up I-585, etc.

Keon, if you make <30K, you might be better off renting, saving some money and investing in stocks and bonds or whatever. You can definitely afford to rent an awesome loft in an awesome part of town for that kind of money. Beats living in the middle of nowhere while getting hosed on a hi-APR variable mortgage in some new development that they’ll never finish.

By David

June 20, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Hey Daedalus -

Are you a native Atlantan, or a transplant?

By DDT

June 20, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Forsyth and Fulton have already revised their zoning codes for mixed use developments (i.e., 60 to 100 dwellings per acre) in the suburban parts near the cities on every block where there’s a commercial development like Kroger. DeKalb will soon follow. (Check out every county’s comprehensive plan on their county land planning website). Predictable future problems due to overpopulation will occur that wouldn’t occur if people lived in the suburbs. Namely, major water shortages, food shortages after water restrictions on agriculture are imposed without thought, more disease as sewage overflows into creeks, higher taxes, and congested traffic. At least in the suburbs, water resources aren’t as taxed, and you can potentially have your own garden and well which will come in handy as food and water shortages hit us when there’s twice as many people here (due to unenforced immigration laws). Don’t worry, this will be sold to the population. Team DEKALB is a marketing team that will respond to redevelopment “emergencies”. Marketing techniques are in full force on the population. “Diversity” is now a good word. “Green” conjures up warm and fuzzy feelings for cities that are anything but green. People, resist these new zoning revisions that are under the table without public input. Think about the “real” picture of these cities. They won’t be like winding suburbs in Paris with bike trails. There will be one bike trail that won’t lead to anything, and traffic congestion everywhere you look. There will be no streetcars, and the city won’t work the way its being planned. There will be more and more fascist rationing and water restrictions, and any well you have near the city will dry up as big businesses will drink up groundwater quickly. Big cities work near oceans and huge water sources. If you want to move when it gets bad, there won’t be many suburban houses left because of greenspace laws limiting the amount of development outside designated human growth centers. Suburbs will have 50 immigrants living in each single family house.

By velvel in decatur

June 20, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

I grew up in Morningside. I can give you a few reasons to be in the ‘burbs (although I would rather live in the city.) 1. Emma Darnell.
2. The rest of the Fulton Commission. 3. Bill Campbell. 4. The Atlanta City Council. 5. McMansions. 6. The Atlanta Public Schools. 7. Nonplanning for replacement of sewers and waterlines and road maintenance. 8. Fancy palaces for public employees like Lomax Towers (sorry, the Fulton County Admin Building), the Atlanta City Hall, the Gwinnett Admin Building and Courthouse, the Clayton Courthouse….and we could go on. All these buildings took form over substance and are typical of pols spending money without accountability. Question: does anyone do it better? Likely not, but at least they return phone calls in some places in the ‘burbs.

By Grandfather

June 20, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

All suburbs are racist.

By Denny

June 20, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is unique. Very different from say New York City or London. Good jobs are everywhere. You do not have to work in the city and most metro Atlanta residents do not work in the city.

Anyone who wants to can live, work, shop and play without ever going into the city.

Those who want to live, work, shop and play in the city have that option.

Ditto living in Suburbia and working it Urbia or living in Urbia and working in the Burbs.

It is your choice. Just don’t complain about your decision after you make it.

By BPJ

June 20, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Different people want different things, and that’s good. Intown works better for me, but I understand why suburbs suit some others better.

I wish some of the suburban commenters realized the city of Atlanta is generally a nice, nonscary place to live, and I wish some of the intown commenters realized that most suburbs are not so conformist or ethnically homogeneous as the stereotype would suggest.

By R

June 20, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

I say , do your research, crunch some numbers, and talk to people living in both places and youll find there are plenty of neighborhoods in the perimeter or at least closer to the work concetrations that are “like” the suburbs but without the rediculoud commute and sprawl. Sure, my apt is more than some crap 3 story sprawl complex in marietta, but i save over 200 a month on utilitites b/c it is built better, and has decent sq footage. Sure, its higher price, but i walk EVERYWHERE and save hundreds on gas a month, get excercise, talk to people, socialize, and see the world, or at least a tiny corner of it. I have found the burbs MORE expensive, spending hours upon hours in the car with myself, and isolating. Its not easy to live green in the burbs, you have to drive half mile to the grocery store. add that up, and the burb lifestyle is overkill. I say to burbanites, do some research and you might be pleasantly surprised in the city, instead of b*** about how your ARM rate has doubled and how your AC bill is high (in your 3000 sq ft house for three people) and how you cant afford gas for your lawnmower. Time to cut what you dont need and start living.

By reebok

June 20, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

We live in a very close-in ‘burb that has its’ own downtown area, great churches, decent shooping and restaurants…but downtown Atlanta with its’ sports, museums, and entertainment is only 20-30 minutes away. And our house is BIG, which we enjoy for now. So where we live is perfect for us at this point. When we downsize, we will probably do a high-rise condo ITP.

By Maniac is accurate

June 20, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

I’d love to live in the suburbs instead of the exurbs where the shrew can have horses that I provide all the care for. In suburbs, you have swim and tennis where you can from behind the safety of your sunglasses ogle the neighborhood wives in their bikinis and tennis shorts. And the pickings for potential extramarital flings are better.

By Syd

June 20, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

John nailed it. I live ITP but by all means consider it the suburbs. However, I can be downtown in 12 minutes. All the communities he mentioned, Brookhaven, Vinings, etc are suburbs. Many consider them “in-town” but it is not “urban” living. Urban living is being able to walk down the block for your day to day shopping, etc. Very few spots in ATL offer that.

I can’t stand the divide ATL has on ITP and OTP. If one is young, single and wants to hit the bars etc every night, in-town is where you need to be. If you have kids, etc, perhaps a house in the ‘burbs is where you need to be. For some crazy reason being believe that where one lives defines “who they are”.

By Syd

June 20, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

John nailed it. I live ITP but by all means consider it the suburbs. However, I can be downtown in 12 minutes. All the communities he mentioned, Brookhaven, Vinings, etc are suburbs. Many consider them “in-town” but it is not “urban” living. Urban living is being able to walk down the block for your day to day shopping, etc. Very few spots in ATL offer that.

I can’t stand the divide ATL has on ITP and OTP. If one is young, single and wants to hit the bars etc every night, in-town is where you need to be. If you have kids, etc, perhaps a house in the ‘burbs is where you need to be. For some crazy reason being believe that where one lives defines “who they are”.

By Dunwoody wife

June 20, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Maniac, Bob’s on a week-long retreat that started today. Come hither, big boy.

By Syd

June 20, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Elizebth…I’m sure you are long gone from this blog, but are you blind. Have you been to the ‘burbs lately? I live in-town currently but have a rental house in Roswell (and lived there for 5 years). The ‘burbs are VERY diverse these days. 25 years ago I would have agree with you but not today. When I lived there we had all sorts in the neighborhoods. We even had a gay couple next door and a mix-race couple with kids across the steet!! Can you believe that…in the ‘burbs!!

By Been on both sides

June 20, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

I’ve lived in the Atlanta area for 21 years, both ITP & OTP. We now live in lower East Cobb. I lived ITP, just out of college and enjoyed being close to work, nightlife, walking, shopping and never felt unsafe. That was 1986. In 1998, we moved to Woodstock and after about a year, could not count the days to move closer in. I grew up in a historical hood in SC and while at USC, lived downtown. My first time living ever in a burb was when I was 38 years old - culture shock! I could not grasp driving to the store, having a house that looked like the others, having a HOA, and neighbors that were invisible. Not wanting to deal with Fulton taxes and at the time, outrageous prices, we bought in East Cobb, about 5 minutes from SSprings. We are now in our 40s and what attacts us now, is not the pulse point of our 20s. I am at Lenox in 15 minutes, and still like to go out and attend intown functions. Many forget there are good schools & communities intown. Rough people and crime exist everywhere. When we leave East Cobb, we leave Atlanta. Atlanta is not a city like NYC or Chicago, but a maze of many small towns/communities with their own identity. It is funny when folks talk about “city living”. Are we a true city yet?

By shaun

June 20, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

I lived in the City of Atlanta for 12 years. My cars were broken into 31 times; my home was broken into 7 times and I was robbed twice, once at gunpoint. I filed police reports each time. The cops couldn’t have cared less and never looked for any of the perpetrators. I finally got the message and moved.

By @@

June 20, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

So I could have a large tract of land, grow vegetables, manhandle a tractor, and have neighbors close but not too close.

I’ve got close friends that live off The Metro. Quiet neighborhood with nice neighbors but they’re too close with tiny lots.

The city dwellers came out to my neck of the woods over the last 12 years. Now they’re moving back into the city?

Hallelujah! Bring in the old folks from Florida ‘cause our schools suck.

Signing off from that burb’n burpin’ paradise known as Clayton County.

By Frederick Douglass

June 20, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Amos keep moving Pal, don’t forget that you’re taking taking your stupidity with you, not to mention those spoiled rotten kids that you’ve shaped into mini versions of yourself. Sleep tight behind your steel re-inforced bed room door that you had to purchase to keep junior from bashing your noodles out.

By M. R. Biggins

June 20, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

I like living in the suburbs (exurbs actually) because I can walk through my back yard to my lawn chair and catch bass, crappie, bluegills and channel cats from the convenience of my dock. And since I live on a state park lake I don’t have to worry about being assessed for repairs to the dam. Plus there is a 10 HP motor limit and no night time boating so it is very quiet and the lake stays calm. There is nothing like living on a lake if you are an avid angler as I am. The only down-side to living here is you are limited in your landscaping due to the over abundance of deer.