Chatter

By Suburbanite

March 14, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

I heard it’s a scary place full of black people and gays everywhere!

By Scrappy

March 14, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

I’ll come back downtown when there is mass transit that will take me there from Cobb county. I’m not fighting traffic to get to a new ‘hip’ restaurant to pay $10 to park, $10 for a bottle of beer, and then $10000 for the DUI on the way home.

By Nope

March 14, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Nope…no desire to…no matter what “improvements” they make.

By Ghetto scumbag

March 14, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

There’s nothing in downtown Atlanta worth seeing or going to. A few restaurants, big deal. Restaurants are everywhere. The Underground and Coca Cola museum? Once you been why would you want to go back? The city of Atlanta is full of currupt police officers, thugs, gang members, homeless and traffic—NO THANKS!!!

By Bill

March 14, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

No downtown for me if I can avoid it. Its not worth the chaos.

By Rick

March 14, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Why would I go downtown often?

Other than the occaisional Braves game or High Museum trip, I get everything else more conveniently in my own Gwinnett neighborhood.

By MrHughes

March 14, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

@Scrappy

That’s is the fault of your government in Cobb County. Marta has been ready to move into there for at least a good 20 years. It’s seems some of ya’ll thought Marta was a “scary place full of black people and gays everywhere”. It’s the county’s loss. Case and point the economic development seen around the Perimeter Area in Sandy Springs.

Downtown needs more shopping. The Richs store was an institution. Having the Macy’s building on Peachtree was a dream. Maybe a reworking of Underground and The Old World of Coke would bring some of that back. On the otherhand, maybe Atlantic Station can stay is the shopping district and we can somehow link it to downtown via mass transit.

By Kiljoy

March 14, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Downtown needs more of everthing; more shopping, more nitelife, more attractions and more police who are actually working. I’ve go downtown for the Hawks, Braves, Falcons, Musuems and not much else. I can’t think of a single place I want to shop at or eat at that I can’t get in Gwinnett.

By greg

March 14, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

DownTown Sucks but it has nothing to do with race you prick!

By John

March 14, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

I’m not afraid of DownTown but there’s nothing there to come to…I go out in Midtown all the time though. There’s probably not even a mile between the “borders” of DownTown and Midtown but the boredom factor just goes through the roof when you go south on Peachtree over the connector. I love the downtown skyline though.

By Jen

March 14, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

I live less than 3 miles from downtown yet I almost never go there…

It needs a higher residential proportion, more kid friendly attractions, and better public transit.

I think public transit, ie, ease of access, is the main thing it needs…

By jen

March 14, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Rarely do I venture downtown. A few times I went down there to take my daughter to the circus, a dora show, and the children’s museum. Other than that, no. I feel unsafe, I don’t like driving there where there’s so many one way streets and I don’t know where I’m going, difficult to find a parking space, which I have to pay for. No thanks.

By Stewie

March 14, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

My wife and I go downtown frequently, and I used to live there.

I’d love to see them clear out the panhandlers. From living there, I can tell you that many, if not most, of them are just street hustlers and scammers.

The On The Bricks series of concerts was good at bringing in folks from outside the area and letting them see that downtown isn’t as scary as they think. If you want to bring in the suburbanites, just schedule old washed-up rock groups…you know, like the ones who play at Chastain and the new amphitheatre in Alpharetta.

As others have said, though, most aren’t going to come downtown just for restaurants, but they will come for attractions (i.e. the aquarium) and for events.

By Jamal

March 14, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

There are alot of dumb,ignorant white people here in Atlanta. Most can’t get past the third grade with these ridiculous comments. If you don’t have anything to say that requires much thought, you should stay in your own suburban town….because we don’t need your sorry a**…

By QweenB

March 14, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I only go downtown for work and it’s more like Midtown than downtown. My own neighborhood in Dallas, Paulding County has much more to offer, less traffic and no hassle from police and others looking to spoil the fun.

By Scrappy

March 14, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Mr. Hughes - You need to lighten up. I didn’t place blame on anyone just pointed out why I don’t come downtown. And while I am not Suburbanite, most posts of those nature are sarcastic, intended only to get a rise of others, which seems to have worked.

By VineCityAttorney

March 14, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

I am a professional living in Vine City, a downtown Atlanta neighborhood on the rise. Downtown is starting to blossom into an affordable alternative to buckhead and midtown. One can check out Castleberry Hill if they are interested in the arts or go to the zoo in Grant Park. Downtown provides the young urban professional with an opportunity to be at work in 10 minutes as opposed to 2 hours. By the way, there are no gay bars in downtown as of yet….all are in midtown or in dekalb. So to the suburbanite who thinks there are a lot of gays…..your dead wrong. You obviously have never experienced life outside of your Cobb County experience. I truly feel for you and your ignorance. Good luck selling your home…i hear traffic is just gonna get worse once they start repaving the 85/75 connector in conjunction with the closure of techwood.

By JJ

March 14, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

The traffic and the roads downtown are horrible. They need to install left turn lanes. I thought my tires were going to fall of the vehicle at Colony Square. The traffic is horrible. It took us 30 minutes to get from the Fox to Lenox…..

I go downtown for the Christmas Parade, and sporting events, and occassionally the Fox Theater. Other than that, I am a happy camper in Gwinnett County…….We have plenty to offer up here, prices are way better. I would much rather go to the Gwinnett Arena than the Dome. And parking is free……

We have the Georgia Force, the Gwinnett Gladiators, and coming soon, the Atlanta Braves. I have lived in Gwinnett for 16 years and I absolutely LOVE it up here!!!!!

By Nobody

March 14, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

Jamal

That’s the pot calling the kettle black. Speak for yourself. We’ll stay in our “suburban” towns and we’ll keep distancing ourselves from Fulton and Atlanta’s racist corrupt goverment. You can have your city and Clayton county. We’ll keep Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Milton, and South Forsyth. And you can kiss my white a$$

By .

March 14, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Because gay people are SOOO scary!!! Violent, nasty people!

Whatever.

By Nobody

March 14, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Jamal

That’s the pot calling the kettle black. Speak for yourself. We’ll stay in our “suburban” towns and we’ll keep distancing ourselves from Fulton and Atlanta’s racist corrupt goverment. You can have your city and Clayton county and keep voting for the Mckinney’s and Lewis’s. We’ll keep Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Milton, and South Forsyth. And you can kiss my white a$$

By atldweller

March 14, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

if you think that downtown needs more mass transit, look at a MARTA map. sure, the entire metro area could use better transit, but downtown has 7 MARTA stations (trains every 5 to 7 minutes), converging on 2 lines at Five Points. not to mention tons of bus service. and if you want to get downtown from Cobb without driving, your county has a bus system that connects to MARTA in midtown.

By .

March 14, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

How does Clayton County play into Downtown Atlanta???? WTF???

By Downtown Not So Bad

March 14, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Downtown Atlanta has come a long way in the 15 years I have lived here. It used to be an absolute ghost town except for office workers and conventioneers. But now, go down there on a nice day, and you see thousands of college students (Georgia State) walking around Woodruff Park and families with kids playing in Centennial Park. I have even seen pick-up football games being played in Cent. Pk.

Are there still homeless people, yes. There will always be homeless and panhandlers. I have experienced this in most every other large American city. I fact, I was in Dublin, Ireland last week, and you would be surprised by the number of homeless there.

My wife and I have made an evening of going to the Aquarium and then dinner downtown without being hassled or feeling afraid.

I think a lot of people on these forums just like to talk and haven’t been downtown in ages. It is definitely not perfect, but not as bad as people make it out to be.

If suburbanites do not want to go down there because they have everything they want in their backyard that’s fine. I live near downtown and feel the area has everything I need and have no desire to go to the suburbs.

By MiMi

March 14, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

When we take the cue of the Mayor Daleys of Chicago and see what they did there, I will come downtown. I lived in Chicago for 30 years and NEVER had one moment of fear when I walked around at night like here esp from the panhandlers who are very aggressive. That does not fly in Chicago. There is great nightlife, wonderful little neighborhoods tucked everywhere, museums, plays and wonderful MASS TRANSIT that takes you everywhere you want to go. I stay in North Fulton where I can find everything.

By Edward

March 14, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

I live in midtown and love it. But downtown? The only reason I ever go downtown is for some government office business (car tag, etc.). I took visiting family to Underground once and that was a huge mistake, they still talk about how bad that place is and I have to agree with them. They liked Centennial Park until a couple of “homeless” began following us and shouting nasty expletives at us because we wouldn’t give them money. We couldn’t leave downtown fast enough.

By Bill

March 14, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Geee lets think: Downtown = dangerous, traffic, gangs, thugs, gays, in debt, marta, TERRIBLE schools, more thugs. The NICE burbs like east cobb, johns creek, etc = white, safe, less blacks, very nice. Tough call on that one!

By slim

March 14, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

Need to have police seen but unheard.

Atlanta police need classes in Tact and Customer Service.

Do their jobs when their jobs is required to be done other wise leave.

Seeing them means there is crime expected it doesn’t make the scene appear safer.

Let them patrol Buckhead.

I know that won’t change and I won’t be downtown Atlanta any more than to work and go home.

Atlanta Police are the most overweight, short bus riding waste of tax payer money.

I dare the ajc to position an undercover reporter for 1 week in 5 pts just to watch the actions of the Marta and Atlanta Cops. Then report front page on how they saw the Police treat the citizens who do not live in Buckhead.

No I will not come downtown.

By Green

March 14, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Being a resident of downtown and not scary like the poor unfortunate bigot above. Downtown is a wonderful place to live we could defiantly use more shopping, dining and activities for locals. But the one thing we certainly don’t need is afraid agitated suburbanites giving off bad energy in an upwardly moving diverse part of town.

By Bad Energy for Green

March 14, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

“…we could defiantly use more shopping…”

Huh?

By Spitzer

March 14, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Downtown needs more prostitutes! I will be there then.

By Katie

March 14, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

I wish Atlanta was more like San Francisco. SF has the warf area, china town, little Italy and so much more to see. Atlanta has what??? oh yeah, nothing in comparison.

By Camille

March 14, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

I go downtown maybe once every 6 months. I hate driving around downtown ATL because of the traffic problems and all the one-way streets. Took Marta once (from the Doraville station) to a Braves game. Huge mistake! The ride there was not bad. The ride back was horrible because it took almost 1 1/2 hours just to get back because the trains don’t run frequently at night (on the night of a Braves game, at that). So, to the person that says that Marta runs every 5 minutes or so; maybe during the day it does, but it definitely doesn’t at night. That is a huge hindrance to using what passes for public transportation in the metro area and will keep us suburbanites from going into downtown Atlanta more frequently.

By JD

March 14, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Downtown is starting to come along but it still has a good way to go. I live in midtown and I almost never go south of North Avenue. There’s just nothing for residents to do down there. The attractions are mostly tourist-oriented.

There’s the Tabernacle and Rialto but there’s not much else as far as entertainment.

I am looking forward to a downtown Waffle House. It’s about time. That’s what downtown needs. More “regular” places and not “upscale” or touristy places.

By ..

March 14, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

All of these people comparing Atlanta to other cities: if you don’t like it here, move to those other cities. Nobody is stopping you!

By Downtown Resident

March 14, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Elliott Street Pub is the best! That alone is reason to come downtown.

By Upwardly Moving

March 14, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I am defiantly agitated now.

By Old Guard

March 14, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Why would any sane person go to Downtown Atlanta? It’s full of thugs and lazy ass panhandlers. The restaurants are overpriced. The racsist attitudes down there are in full bloom. Ya’ll can have it. Now GET out from round here.

By AeroNautica0909

March 14, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

I live in Henry County right now but I want to move to Downtown Atlanta. Growing up in New York (Queens, that is), I’m a city guy and the suburbs aren’t too bad- but I crave the city life. I love Downtown more than any part of the metro. It amazes me how people live in the suburbs and believe they have it all. I’ve been to Cobb County, Gwinnett, etc- but NONE of them have the beauty of a city like Downtown has. Actually, most of the suburbs are going to end up being lower end and lower class since everyone in the metro lives in the suburbs versus the city itself.

I look forward to graduating from school and moving into a condo downtown. I won’t have to deal with high gas prices and ridiculousn traffic and everything will be right at my fingertips. I bet in another 10 to 20 years Downtown will be just as good as Midtown and Buckhead is right now.

I applaud the efforts of the city and organizations that are working to bring Downtown back. They’re doing a good job and I hope they continue.

By Gorgeous but I live OTP

March 14, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

I live OTP and recently had occasion to go thru downtown via the connector on my way to a social event south of Metro. It had been quite a while and I was blown away by the beautiful skyline, which has developed far beyond what it was just a few years ago. I think downtown Atlanta is a great place for tourist and conventions, for those who choose to live there, and for those who enjoy cultural events, although increasingly there are excellent venues OTP. But I do indeed think the Downtown/Midtown areas are very beautiful and have a lot to offer. But I don’t personally go there a lot since I’m a quiet homebody who doesn’t go out that much except to socialize with friends closer to home.

By 20 year Atlanter

March 14, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Atlanta up until recently had no real downtown. It was place to work, see a concert, do govt business and leave. It is coming around, but has a ways to go. Dwtwn Atlanta does not have an identity where the community is…downtown, like San Francisco, NYC, Boston. How the suburbanites can say they have it all is funny. I lived in B’head for 12 years and moved to Woodstock for 5 years. Got the h…l out of there and now live in lower East Cobb. We can get downtown in no time, but have no reason to go there. Midtown, Buckhead and the Highlands are places we frequent often and can be home in no time. The Atlanta area is full of narrow minded people and that is one of the things Atlanta city will need to overcome to get local people to visit. The metro area is made up of so many communities where most feel they can get what they want close by without the hassle.

By John

March 14, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

I wish Atlanta was more like SF also..here’s what we need to do. The state needs to buy up enough land from the Atlanta city limits all the way down to the coast…then we need to bulldoze a huge hole from the ocean to Atlanta..several hundred feet below sea level…then viola`, the ocean will pour in the hole and Atlanta will have a bay… All of the displaced people can re-settle along the bay and make great livings doing whatever people do beside a bay…it’s win-win for all of us. I can smell the sourdough now.

By shane

March 14, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

Wow, I wasn’t expecting the slew of negative impressions of downtown Atlanta - although they are pretty much dead on - I really expected more downtown folks to post positive experiences - I guess those folks either don’t read the AJC, or maybe there just aren’t that many positive experiences to mention. Regardless, yes, Atlanta is chock full of homeless people (and not the polite kind, like you find in California), plenty of thugged out dudes, plenty of scary-ass police who’d sooner arrest you for looking at them wrong than to smile and/or respond when you say “good afternoon officer”, BUT, there are also some neat things in downtown - unfortunately Atlanta’s leaders weren’t very forward thinking, so there hasn’t been much in the way of planning for people to come back downtown - i think all the leaders assumed that Atlanta wasn’t gonna grow so quickly and that folks were gonna actually wanna live downtown again.

By common sense

March 14, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

A lot of people would go downtown if there were a CASINO

By Buzzer

March 14, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

There is a downtown?

By Buzzer

March 14, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

There is a downtown?

By Buzzer

March 14, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

There is a downtown?

By Darn

March 14, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

Question from a dorky white guy… Does more white people equal safety?

I live in Lithonia and 80% of my neighbors are black and our neighborhood is very safe. Just never thought being around people who had my same skin color would mean I’d be safe.

Just askin’.

By Sarah

March 14, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

One can pepper their post with ” one only has to go Vinehill..” all you want but truth be told, downtown Atlanta is relevant only to go to an event and then leave. I cannot imagine a girls night out downtown, it’s just not a city conduscive to having a night on the town, downtown. This applies to Buckhead as well. Gone are the days we’d go out in Buckhead and feel safe or secure. Downtown is banal and uninteresting and Buckhead is a live version of ” Pimp Your Ride ” with all the vehichles riding around with loud rap music and spinner rims. Not my cup of tea, nope…not at all. I’ll stick to Virginia Highlands or Decatur.

By OITH

March 14, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

MR HUGHES - MARTA CAN’T EVEN SERVICE ATLANTA YET, LET ALONE SUBURBIA. ATL IS THE ONLY 24HR CITY WHERE THE TRAINS AND BUSES STOP AT MIDNIGHT

By JJ

March 14, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

20 year Atlanter How the suburbanites can say they have it all is funny.

I have it all in Gwinnett. I have a huge house, on a huge lot, that I paid $140,000 for, three bedroom, 2.5 bath, living room, den, 2 car garage that could hold 3 cars, all in 2,200 square feet, with a huge fenced in back yard, full of trees; I have a job in Gwinnett I have been at for 16 years; I have my child in Gwinnett Schools. I am 10 minutes from Lake Lanier, I can get home from work, and 15 minutes later be at the lake with my boat.

Here in Gwinnett, especially Suwanee, we do have it all. We have restaurants, shopping, arenas for concerts and sporting events, we have an arena football team, we have the largest Mall in the Southeast, we have an arena ice hockey team (Free parking at the arena, and 10 minutes from home), we are getting the Richmond/Atlanta Braves and building a new stadium for them. We have more greenspace in Suwanee than any city in Georgia, us citizens voted to keep it that way. They just opened a 400 acre park, and there are several more scheduled to open within the next year.

The one thing we don’t have is panhandlers hanging out in our parks harrassing people. We actually feel safe at night out here in Suwanee. I don’t feel I have to keep my doors locked 24/7 and I very rarely hear any sirens.

We have free concerts at several parks, and the traffic moves fairly smoothly. We don’t have 35 high rise condos going in on one city block. We don’t have “infrastructure” issues like downtown has. Our police officers are friendly and will smile and wave at you.

So happiness is where you find it, and I have found it in Gwinnett.

By Reality

March 14, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

The following are words of a DEA agent: “Authorities have found homes in Buford, Norcross and Dacula that did not have much furniture but had large caches of drugs.

DEA agents in the last three years have made two of the largest seizures of methamphetamine on the East Coast in Gwinnett. In Buford, $50 million worth of crystal meth was seized in 2006, which topped a previous record set in Lawrenceville, where $17 million of crystal meth was seized in 2005.” So tell me Rick, what were you saiyng about your convenient Gwinnett neighborhood? And downtown is sooo scary! Take off your blinders, people. It’s easy to harp about homeless and the downtrodden in downtown because we don’t hide them. Peace!

By Atlantan

March 14, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Downtown is getting better but I must say of any city i’ve been to Atlanta’s downtown has the highest concentration of homeless I have ever seen. I know this does not paint a pretty picture for those trying to promote downtown as a destination for outsiders. I feel for the homeless but honestly most people will choose to not be around that and go somewhere else. and that will continue until the situation is addressed.

By Waste

March 14, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

I’ll go DT for a sporting event, concert, etc but will never drive down Peachtree heading south pass Underground. Holy Sh@%. Its like entering a jungle. I also made the mistake of taking an out of town friend to Underground and then had to spend the rest of the her visit trying to repair her scared image of Atlanta. Homeless people everywhere, Hoopty’s rollin by blaring their music, and not a single worthwile thing to do. What a mess. I’ve lived in Atlanta for 30 years and DT has never really attracted me. Too bad. They’ve never been able to clean up the mess.

By RJ

March 14, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Jamal Thanks!

I rarely go downtown because it’s too expensive to park and there’s very little to do. Downtown Atlanta needs more places to shop, more restaurants and affordable parking. I tried to go to the parade one day and there was parking for $25! No thank you! Also, a larger police presence is needed. I don’t feel safe walking down the street most of the time.

By Whiskers

March 14, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Suburbanites are country mice and intown folks are city mice..that will never change. And the gay mice live in both places, even among the rats ( the poster Suburbanite being one of them). There’s crime everywhere, and the homeless problem is relatively small compared to the square mileage of metro Atlanta. Same with drugs, You have cocaine and pot ITP and meth OTP. Everyone needs to live and let live.

By Earl

March 14, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Downtown Atlanta? Yeah..right. You must have suicidal idiations to want to go to there. All the homeless people begging for a dollar and big fat nasty women that smell like bacon foul up the air.

By MrHughes

March 14, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Yea, I love the restaurants in Gwinnett. Chilli’s, Applebee’s, Sonny’s, Panda Express, Zaxby’s, and Johnny Carino’s hit the spot. Please!! All of those restaurants have their place and are great in their own right, but places you are talking about don’t compete with the restaurants inside the city because you can find them anywhere! That’s why they are franchises! Where’s Gwinnett’s “6 Feet Under” or “Mary Mac’s Tea Room”? Why are most of the nicer restaurants in the downtown area?

Personally, I’m not scared of homeless people. A person asking me for money doesn’t bother me. My college calls all the time to ask for money and I always get the pitch at charity events. But, I’ve been around the world and realize that homelessness is not limited to downtown Atlanta. I didn’t realize there were gangs in downtown Atlanta… Really, what do the gangs do there? Drink free Coke at the museum… Or, try to sneak into a spin class at LA Fitness or a movie at Atlantic Station. Some of you folks sound ridiculous. It would be better to just say “I’m scared of brown people and/or poor people” and leave it at that. The sad thing is that you are missing out on life, but that’s your choice.

As for people who have trouble navigating the streets… Please don’t venture to any metropolitan area. Clearly, the Georgia DMV made a mistake when they handed you your driver’s license. If a street is one way, then it’s going the other way on the next block. (Case and point: Piedmont Rd, Courtland Ave, Peachtree Center Ave) It ain’t that hard. Buy a GPS or a map!! Navigating downtown and finding parking should not be too difficult for anyone with an 8th grade education. Who cares if you make a wrong turn. You can just get going the right direction in two blocks…

I love the downtown area… There’s so much to do there that people don’t think of. Take visitors to the Cyclorama or take the historical tour at Underground. Walk around Centennial Park or take your dog to Piedmont Park on Saturday or Sunday. Grab a meal at the Varsity or grab a ghetto burger at Miss Ann’s. Tour CNN center and take in a Hawks, Thrashers, Dream, or Falcons game. Walk around Ikea or take in the gorgeous park and arch going up at Atlantic Station. Grab a meal at the Majestic and talk a walk down the bike path’s or check out the Carter Center. Go to Rosa Mexicano and have your guac made at the table and enjoy a great meal. Visit the Margaret Mitchell House or the Botanical Gardens. See a Broadway show at the Fox or check out the symphony. The options really are limitless and are not only for tourists. There’s tons to do here. Don’t miss out…

By Whiskers

March 14, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

And oh yeah, you want to see homeless? Walk down Market Street in San Francisco for a mile…you literally have to step over them.

By Becky

March 14, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is a nice city.. No, I don’t always feel safe there, but I will go..People that are talking about the number of homeless must of never been to DC..As for the gay people, you only need to worry about them if you have some self confidence issues..

By JJ

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

MrHughes Do you have restaurants on the lake downtown? NO, we do, and they aren’t franchises. And they serve up some of the best food and ambiance. I would much rather be at a restaurant on Lake Lanier hanging the locals, then any foo-foo restaurant downtown. As a matter of fact, I dined at Gordon Biersch (SP) close to the Fox Theater on Saturday, and lunch for my daughter and myself was $46.00, outrageous, but we don’t do that ever and we had tickets to see Bill Cosby that day, so it was considered a “treat”.

You may have wonderful restaurants downtown, but they are extremely expensive, and people down there, especially in the Lenox area, are way too snobby for me.

So, to sum it up you have expensive restaurants and snobby people. I’ll stay in Gwinnett with the friendly folks and my huge house and huge yard.

By ATL

March 14, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

WTF? JJ says.. I have it all in Gwinnett. I have a huge house, on a huge lot, that I paid $140,000 for, three bedroom, 2.5 bath, living room, den, 2 car garage that could hold 3 cars, all in 2,200 square feet, with a huge fenced in back yard, full of trees Sounds like you have a huge hunk of plastic! You better be careful, we’re in the tornado season and that thing you call a huge house may just collapse with a strong wind. Huge house…please!

By SteveO

March 14, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

MrHughes

This thread is about Downtown. The Cyclorama is in Grant Park, Piedmont Park and the Fox are in Midtown, the Majestic is in Poncey-Highlands, the Carter Center is in Inman Park, and Atlantic Station isn’t a part of downtown.

To everyone else - Downtown is boring with nothing cool to do, but your suburb is even worse.

By leigh

March 14, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

where are all these skeery gay people downtown???downtown is a scary scary place at night. i live in midtown. don’t come downtown except to work. they need to fill underground in with concrete.

By To JJ

March 14, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

To JJ… Glad you love Gwinnett, but I avoid it more than downtown. Bad traffic, bad drivers and poor planning is the big turnoff. Gwinnett is gross, but admit the Suwanee & Alpharetta side is nice. You have your own set of problems and this is another story for another day. I have lived in Atlanta for 21 years and see what has happened to JC Blvd and the Gwinnett Mall. Your Mall of Georgia is big, but poorly stocked stores. For me and many of the readers, it is easier to get to Atlantic Station, Perimeter or Lenox. I feel safer in Atlanta than in Gwinnett. Glad you are “Likin’ it” up there in Gwinnett.

By JJ

March 14, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Like I said earlier, Happiness is where you find it……..some find it downtown, some find in the burbs…

By Bill

March 14, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

I for one would not take my family to down town Atlanta not a safe place to be. If we want to see atlanta we will climb stone mountain and see it from a distance.

By MrHughes

March 14, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

@Steve-o

It seems that this dicussion has morphed into ITP vs OTP. Everything I mentioned is within 5 miles of downtown, so I think it applies. But, I will stick to “downtown” attractions this time…

Landmark dinner, Dailey’s, Hardrock, Churchhill Grounds, the Rialto, the historical Underground Tour, High Mus, Atlanta Contemporary Mus, CNN Tour, Aquarium, Apex Mus, Civic Center, Braves Mus, Carter Center & Library, Centennial Park, Cotton Club, Dad’s Garage Theater, The Whole World Improv Theater, Earthlink Live, EyeDrum Gallery, Capitol Mus, GA Dome Tour, GA State Uni Art School and Design Gallery, Halo, High Folk Art and Photo Galleries, Imagine It, King Plow Arts Center, Latitudes Bistro, Musuem of Design, Shakespear Tavern, Oakland Cemetary, Philips Arena, Push Push Theater, MLK Center, Spellman College Mus of Fine Art, the Masqurade, The Tabernacle, and Youth Art Connection…

…several of the attractions mentioned above are downtown as well.

There’s plenty to do in Atlanta…

Also, stop complaining about parking. How expensive do ya’ll think parking is in New York and Chicago? New Yorkers on average walk more than a mile a day in part because parking is so expensive. Clearly, you paid the price so you could afford it. It’s not like those parking people kept food off your table. Do you realize that they had to make parking at Gwinnett free because that’s one of the only ways they can sell the arena? I go to events downtime all the time, drive and don’t pay $25 for parking. Keep your head on the swivel, be willing to look around and walk a block or two. I park for $8 at the Fox and the walk takes 5 minutes. I pay $10 or less at Hawks and Thrashers games. It’s all about not wanting to park across the street from where you are going. But, that requires a moderate amount of physical fitness. Your heart and joints will thank you for it.

By SteveO

March 14, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

MrHughes

Apparently, it is a discussiong of OTP vs. ITP, but you’re still a bit confused about where downtown ends. You’ve still got a ton of Midtown and Inman Park locations lumped in with downtown. Halo, Earthlink, and Whole World are very much in Midtown. Dad’s Garage and Carter Center are in Inman Park. MLK Center is in Sweet Auburn, I’d say that Eyedrum is in Grant Park along with Oakland (practically Cabbagetown) and Push Push is about 10 miles from Downtown in Decatur.

Everything else you’ve mentioned is for tourists. You go once and never go again. What’s the point. The only bar I guess one would go to in downtown would be the Mark or maybe Dailey’s. I wouldn’t hold up Hard Rock as something that anyone would actually want to go to.

There’s a ton to do in Atlanta. There’s nothing to do Downtown.

By CL

March 14, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Yes. But then I work in Midtown and live in Buckhead. Not sure what it needs right now but it will be a happening place in the future. It’s inevitable.

By Outa There...

March 14, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

The good times are way over in Atlanta, or THE ATL as the rapper thugs like to call it. I worked downtown for ten years and lived nearby in midtown for 15 years. Don’t try to tell me that tired old argument that “it is only a perception that downtown is unsafe”. Downtown is about as unsafe as it gets and it won’t change with the current crop of people that are running it. Wake up people, and quit trying to justify your lame purchase of an overpriced loft aprtment.

By John

March 14, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett is downtown to me.

By Dennis

March 14, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

The last time downtown was worth going to was in 1998, just before Buckhead started to slip into the ghettofabulous mode that eventually caused the bar hours to be changed and then the bars to be closed and bulldozed.

Bring back the clubs without the hip hoppers and we’ll talk.

By T.O

March 14, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

GA DOME TOUR??? Man where do I sign up for that one?

By Aurora

March 14, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

CL Buckhead USED to be a happening place until Thugs took it over.

10 years ago it was great to go do the Buckhead Crawl. But then the wrong element moved int, took over and that is not where I would want to be on a weekend night without a gun……

By it's me!

March 14, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

I prefer to stay in north Cobb. Downtown Atlanta doesn’t have any attractions worth seeing. The aquarium is expensive & if I want to see fish I’ll buy my own tank. Underground Atlanta I wouldn’t set foot in. I went back when it re-opened in the late 80s & that was enough for me. Hard Rock BTDT. Centennial Park I prefer not to be harrassed & hounded by hoodlums.

By anbi

March 14, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

I pretty much avoid the hassle of driving downtown, except to catch a new exhibit at the High or if a visiting relative wants to go to the Botanical Gardens.

It’s too expensive for a family of four to attend a Braves game, and I have no interest in the other professional teams.

So no, I don’t get downtown much and have no plans of changing any time soon.

Similarly, I rarely go to a mall any more, because there is plenty of good shopping near my home. With high gas prices, it’s just not worth it.

By CL

March 14, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

OH Aurora,

I hate to play these games but here goes: the question is “Do you spend time in dowtown?” My answer was Yes. That’s mainly because I live in Buckhead and work in Midtown. If I lived in Larryville or Mayberryetta, I probably wouldn’t go downtown as much (if at all) because of the drive. And I worked in the bar biz in Buckhead in the late 70s and early 80s (yes I’m that old) and since then, with the exception of Mike N Angelos, I never frequented the bars there. And it’s gone now anyway. I doubt I’ll be eating, drinking or shopping at the new Rodeo Drive or Worth Avenue or whatever they’re going to call it either. But I will continue to “Yes” spend time in Downtown.

By Ron

March 14, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Buckhead is not anything now..except boarded up store fronts. It’s all bought up and the developer is waiting for the market to turn around before he starts putting in shops and condos.

So who does anything in a city anyway?…young people. There are plenty of clubs and bars downtown or nearby on the Westside and in Midtown that are always packed…

There’s just nothing for us mature adults to do. But that’s true for most cities except places like Manhattan.

By TI

March 14, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

I have a funny story to tell: I know this guy that grew up in Marietta area that now lives in Macon. He tells his wife and others that he grew up near “downtown” and not to go there. I had to explain to them that he didn’t know what he was talking about because Marietta, well is in another county and not even Atlanta but anyway… kind of makes me laugh still.

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

I’d sooner spend time in hell.

By To BILL

March 14, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

If you dont like that black people move somewhere where the is more of you. We are just as rich, famous, influent as anyone else. I hate to say it but racism is still alive and it is people like you that makes African Americans mad enough to kill. Downtown is merely a place not some spectacular scene where you have to be. Oh and for the record last time I checked the statistics BILL=WHITE=INCEST=DAUGHTER HAVING FATHER’S BABY=WHITE PEOPLE AND THEIR VISCIOUS CYCLE OF RAPING THEIR OWN DAUGHTERS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS=SAFE? YEAH THE HELL RIGHT!!!!! GROW THE HELL UP AND REALIZE THAT WHITE DOES NOT EQUAL SAFE BUT MERELY EQUATES TO GETTING AWAY WITH BREAKING THE LAW!!!!!!!

By brad

March 14, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Downtown? Why?

By MrHughes

March 14, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Steve-O

I think the Downtown/Midtown thing is ridiculos. If you are within 5-10 mins from downtown I think it’s safe to say you are pretty much downtown. Midtown is 2 mins of Spring/Williams St from downtown. In other words, if you can read Marriott on the Marriott Marquius, then I consider that geographically downtown. Based on your definition almost nothing is downtown. TurnerField is technically Mechanicsville/Summerville, Dailies adn ModernArt would be Peachtree Center. Some consider Oakland Cemetary Grant Park, which is the wrong side of the highway and completely off when you realize that it’s in the shadow of the capitol. Is the Carter Center Inman Park, Edgewood, or Reynoldstown? Is Georgia Tech Downtown or Midtown? Does that make the Varsity downtown or midtown? What about the Olympic Village… Did that change neigborhoods when that changed from GA State to GA Tech? In my opinion… downtown has more than a 10 block radius, but maybe that’s just me…

I welcome the Waffle House… I just hope they don’t put it in Poncey Highland or Grant Park because ya’ll will be all over it. Actually, does anyone know where they are talking about putting the WaffleHouse… There really isn’t one close to downtown… Maybe it will be a bit larger since I am sure it will be swamped on the weekends.

By Jim

March 14, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

My wife, born and raised around Stone Mountain, and I (a transplanted westerner) usually stay downtown a couple of times a year for a weekend getaway, and, quite honestly, it’s not that great.

The last time we went, she insisted that we go to Underground, which she hadn’t been to in years, and I had never been to.

We left the Westin, and started the trek that way. After stepping over, on, and around about a half dozen homeless people during the walk there, we arrived, and immediately knew we had made a mistake. Now I know how the slowest antelope in the herd feels when the leopard heads your way. Saw one other tourist type couple. Between the crude comments and the gang colors, we figured out very quickly it was time to leave, so the four of us spent less that 20 minutes there.

I’m sure we’ll continue to make an annual trek downtown, which is fine withe me, but more often than that, not likely.

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

I’d sooner spend time in hell.

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Actually, hell will probably have many of the same inhabitants as downtown Atlanta.

By MDinGA

March 14, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

I don’t go inside 285 unless I am going to an event (which is rare) as I don’t go to sports games any more. There are plenty of restaurants and stores in my neighborhood - no need to go downtown for those. Like some of the other posters said - too much crime, traffic, pollution, etc. plus the additional cost (either taking your car or riding Marta).

By Akima

March 14, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

If you dont like that black people move somewhere where the is more of you. We are just as rich, famous, influent as anyone else. I hate to say it but racism is still alive and it is people like you that makes African Americans mad enough to kill. It’s not comments about downtown that make you “mad enough to kill”, its a vicious cycle you don’t care to break. Instead of making yourselves better, you want to blame someone for your problems, then sit back and wait on your government check…….Ya’ll are keeping yourselves down, not the white man….

What part of Africa are you from?

By Whatever

March 14, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

I live downtown and I am bored out of my brains. I have to go to Midtown to have fun… then drive home! What a joke. This city is not NYC and it needs to stop trying to be. If downtown does not work then it does not work. Midtown and Buckhead are enough for this small of a population.

By MC

March 14, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

@meg: Now, who said I was going to hell? Let’s keep this an adult conversation, please. :D

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

If you’re not saved you’re going to hell. If you don’t believe in Christianity, then why do you care if I think someone is going to hell? You’re only revealing that deep down you believe it too. Hell is adult, no kids allowed.

By Shirley

March 14, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Somebody must like it because they would not be buying $200,000 and up condos. Those are the smart ones actually because just think what realest prices will be 5 to 10 years from now when the markets settles down in the future. Of course some of you wouldn’t understand that, but oh well just try to be happy for those who choose to live there. You enjoy your vinyl-sided homes in the burbs.

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

If you’re not saved you’re going to hell. If you don’t believe in Christianity, then why do you care if I think someone is going to hell? You’re only revealing that deep down you believe it too. Hell is adult, no kids allowed.

By MC

March 14, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

“Actually, hell will probably have many of the same inhabitants as downtown Atlanta.”

The reason I care is that I’m moving in on the 28th, and I don’t think you know me nearly well enough to characterize me as an undesirable.

By It needs to be family friendly ...

March 14, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

At our house we have a 66 yr old, 42 yr old , 38 yr old, 6 yr old and 1 yr old. Going dowtown is too much work for me. There isn’t enough family geared entertainment, plus it’s too hard to move around with small children or those that don’t want to walk alot. I think of it as a place for young adults. And if that’s the case, it has alot of competition because there’s plenty of places like that in Metro Atlanta.

By jane

March 14, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Marta does not need to come to Cobb as the transit in Cobb is called CCT and does go into Atlanta. I do go to downtown, midtown and Buckhead. I enjoy a variety of things, museums, restaurants, salons, boutiques and concerts etc. Happiness folks is where you find it. You can choose to be narrow minded or not, racist or not, you can be mean or not. I CHOSE the high road - I will find do and go where I wish because I am an American and have the luxury to chose.

By MrHughes

March 14, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

Gangs at Underground…

They must like having their palms read, drinking a malt at Johnny Rockets and those $3 sammy’s at Quiznos.

Please… If a brown person has on red that does not mean they are a member of the bloods.

I’m wearing a black hat… Could that mean I’m a crpt. Or, maybe I don’t know that I’m in a gang.

By T.O

March 14, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

shut up Meg!! You’ve posted enough today.

By P-Diddy

March 14, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Downtown or Suburbs, Atlanta is an area full of either ghetto hip hoppers who don’t know how to act and never been anywhere, and when they do they say shawty and yell ATL very country and ignorant.
Atlanta is also full of country bumpkins who live in a metropolitan area and complain about it or either think that Atlanta is the most happening City in the world, but never stepped foot in a city outside of the south.

By meg

March 14, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t referring to you personally, my best friend lived downtown years ago and I got to hear some of the crime stories from her neighborhood. I said “many of the inhabitants”, not all. As I understand it, things have only gotten worse since then. I do not envy anyone moving there. The whole city is pretty undesirable to me, there’s nothing there I want, so I wouldn’t risk crime, traffic, pollution, etc to visit there. That was the question, that’s my answer. I sympathize with anyone who has to live there.

By MC

March 14, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

I suppose it all depends on where you are. My new residence is a 15th-floor studio on Peachtree, across from the Fox, so I’m not exactly scared. And, yes, I did (enthusiastically) choose to live here.

By meg

March 14, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

T.O. Didn’t mean to scare you.

By meg

March 14, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Congratulations on your move then, stay safe!

By km

March 14, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

Those who think Buckhead is full of thugs and pimps haven’t been here lately. That crowd moved on to Atlantic Station. Now if only somebody would build something decent south of I-20…

By MC

March 14, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Thank you meg…and I will. Those 30 lb weights have been getting some use ;D

By Sandy_G

March 14, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

I come downtown everyday to work and I walk everyday at lunchtime. Downtown is absolutely beginning to blossom. As more residential space is being built, more boutique hotels are popping up and even the older hotels such as the Hilton and Marriott are pouring millions of dollars into renovations. New restaurants are opening up and the older restaurants are all renovating to prepare for the wave of upscale, young residents that are moving into the area.

In the summer, areas like Sweet Auburn, Five Points and Fairlie-Poplar are buzzing at lunchtime with sidewalk cafes, people eating lunch in the park or just people-watching.

Are there homeless people in the parks? Sure. Are there a lot of different ethnic groups and ethnic business? Absolutely. That’s what I love about cities, the excitement and energy of so many different types of people all in one place together.

Downtown does need more shopping. I think the whole concept of taking people off of the streets and putting them into tubes that run between the buildings was misguided. All of the shopping is currently in underground venues like the one under Peachtree Center. We need more shops outside along the sidewalks and I think this will happen as more people move in to downtown. I love being down here every day and watching all the new buildings going up and seeing more residents on the street. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to see more.

By ATLDOWNTOWNSXS

March 14, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Don’t care for downtown, it is dirty and the people there are rude, rude, RUDE! You guys can have it.

By BPJ

March 14, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

My favorite things to do Downtown: Theatrical Outfit, the Rialto, Atlanta Shakespeare, the Tabernacle, the GSU art galleries, Churchill Grounds jazz club (the best!), the Fox, lunch at FAB (that used to be Brasserie le Coze, at Lenox - it moved Downtown and has done very well!), Rosa’s Pizza, the jamaican restaurant on Walton Street (don’t recall its name, but it’s excellent!), Ted’s Montana Grill (the mother ship), the new Peasant restaurant by the Aquarium, and the City Grill.

It’s sad some people are frightened of any place with substantial numbers of black people. And it is odd to hear these people say nobody goes Downtown and the traffic is too bad. Well, which is it?

Downtown has a ways to go, but it’s headed in the right direction. I work Downtown, and I have encountered more aggressive panhandling in 5 days in San Francisco, than in 5 years Downtown.

By markattwelve

March 14, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

It’s shocking to see a bunch of people so afraid of others. At least they have the nerve to leave their sheets in the closet. I just moved to Twelve in Downtown. It is always fun to be a part of something that is growing, something that is diverse. It appears that residential growth at Ivan Allen Plaza and the Aquarium is going to continue. There may even be a Publix across from the Coke Museum in a couple of years. Retail is lacking; but, it should follow the increasingly affluent residents. Downtown might not be for everyone; but, there is growing desire to be in a work, live, play area that does not require automobiles. I am proud to be part of an emerging downtown Atlanta.

By kat

March 14, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Hmm, I own a condo downtown (south of Five Points, north of Castleberry Hills) that I love and that’s increasing in value. I’m a fairly well-off, married, female architect. I feel comfortable walking around downtown. I hate traffic, malls, chain restaurants, McMansions, Wal-Marts, people with no taste, etc. I like being able to walk just about anywhere I want to go, with the exception of a grocery store, or take marta on either line - ten minutes to downtown Decatur, High Museum, L5P/Candler Park, whatever…

By Jakki

March 14, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Im black and Im scared to go downtown.

By Sandy_G

March 14, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

For JJ: I too, live in Gwinnett, southwest side of the county. Anytime you want to see chollos (gangbangers), just take a drive down Jimmy Carter Blvd. Gwinnett Sherriff’s dept. has had to create a special gang unit because of the 100’s of gangs (not 100’s of gang members, 100’s of gangs) that are currently operating in Gwinnett.

In my neighborhood near Lilburn, we deal with gang graffitti on a daily basis. Add to that, the crippling traffic situation (it takes me 20 minutes to go 3 miles from my house to the on-ramp at I-85 every morning), the fact that “white flight” from Gwinnett and the influx of non-english-speaking immigrants has turned our school system from excellent to “needs improvement” in the course of just 6 or 7 years, makes me more afraid to walk the streets of Gwinnett at night than downtown.

We have drive-by shootings, home invasions, armed robberies, bank robberies, murders and drug busts almost every single day in Gwinnett. You may have found a little “bubble” of safety in Suwannee, but the southern part of Gwinnett has just as much crime, homeless people and probably more gang-bangers than downtown does at this point in time.

By tblade92

March 14, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

i think this report would be a more accurate assessment if we only heard from the people who actually visit the downtown area at least once a month or maybe during a sporting season. all of these emotion filled responses are ridiculous! By the way, I think any growth and development is great!

By John

March 14, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

The Waffle house is going to be on Upper Alabama Street just across from the Hagen Daaz store. It is right next to the dorm.

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I have come across are black. And the beggars in other cities are no more or less agressive than they are here in Atlanta

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I have come across are black. And the beggars in other cities are no more or less agressive than they are here in Atlanta

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I have come across are black. And the beggars in other cities are no more or less agressive than they are here in Atlanta

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I have come across are black. And the beggars in other cities are no more or less agressive than they are here in Atlanta

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I have come across are black. And the beggars in other cities are no more or less agressive than they are here in Atlanta

By samuel

March 14, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

I want to make a few points here. First, I have traveled all over the world, and I have come across homeless beggars in most of them, lncluding London;Paris;Madrid;Barcelona;and especially San Francisco Very few of the beggars that I h