Moving to Atlanta.....

[Jackofalltrades]

Commute.

[mr beauxjangles]

I live in Midtown Atlanta. Moved from Greensboro after grad school. There is obviously much more to do here than anywhere in North Carolina, but there are obvious problems. Chief among them, and more visible today than ever, is the traffic problem. Yesterday, voters in Metro Atlanta voted down a one sent sales tax referendum that would have funded $8.5 billion in transportation and transit investments over the next ten years. This referendum has dominated the discourse in Metro Atlanta for many months, and in fact years, and today we have sent a clear message to the world that we don't have the political will to fix our most glaring problem. I understand some of the arguments against the referendum (and they aren't simply the "any tax is a bad tax" arguments) but this is the most disappointed I've ever been in my adult life in the community that I have chosen as a place to live and work. Quite honestly, my fiance and I will likely leave Metro Atlanta in the next few years and yesterday's decision will be a huge reason why we are moving. This is a state and a region that lacks the political will to fix our transportation, transit, and education problems. We have an absolutely inept state legislature and local leaders that want to talk about the problems but do nothing to fix them.

I digress...

At the end of the day, I do enjoy certain aspects of living in Atlanta. There is much more diversity in amenities, neighborhoods, entertainment options, and lifestyles than anywhere in North Carolina. I live two blocks from my office and can get everywhere I need to go by foot, so my little Mini Cooper stays parked and avoids the poo-show that is Atlanta traffic. We have a great restaurant scene if that's something you're interested in; that was definitely not the case about a decade ago. The perceptions of crime and dirtiness are largely driven by those who visit Atlanta for conventions or sports and only see our downtown, which has no nightlife, very little residential, and isn't somewhere that residents actually go for enjoyment. We really have three primary central business districts in the City (Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead) as well as many large suburban business districts. Point is, I wouldn't base your opinion on the perceptions of those that have only visited Downtown Atlanta. Metro Atlanta has a lot more to offer.

I'd be happy to share more via PM. Where exactly are you moving, or considering? If you tell me what you're looking for in a neighborhood/community, I can give you some suggestions.

[pstall]

mr beau, i agree with midtown. my sis in law and her fam lives in virginia highlands and i got a couple of bros that live just outside of midtown.

the traffic i loathe immensely. when my dad lived there in the early 80's we got to ride Marta the day it opened. not sure how viable it is now.