Atlanta?

[A Gruesome Time]

I spent 4 years commuting from Canton to Atlanta in prime rush hour traffic, although it does suck - It sucks much less than a lot of other cities I've spent time in... 50 miles of "bumper to bumper" from 575-to 75south to 285 East was only about an 1.5 hour commute - When I was in LA that would have taken 4 hours, NYC about the same... Not familiar with DC traffic, but Atlanta definitely not bad by nationwide standards.

It's great how cheap it is to live here, I had a friend move here from Long Island recently and he was paying $1800 rent on a one bedroom apt, $1800 rent/month here gets you a 5 bedroom house in a gated community haha.

[A Gruesome Time]

Also if it's any time in the near future I need a new room mate as of today.

[slmda4]

Born and raised in Kennesaw (a suburb about 20 minutes north of the city). Kennesaw, Marietta, Alpharetta, Duluth, Vinings, Decatur, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs etc are some good suburbs in Atlanta. Buckhead is nice and all, but a bit too flashy. I dont mind going there, but I dont love that area either.

I currently live in the Virginia Highlands/Midtown area and really enjoy it. I drive to 50 miles round trip to Duluth and back for work everyday. I'll say this- Going the opposite direction of traffic is IDEAL for my commute. I leave the city while everyone is going towards it, and visa-versa.

Like others have said, traffic sucks but its all ive been used to growing up with it really. You'll find that in 55 mph zones, people are usually averaging about 70 mph. Just go with the flow when it comes to driving here.


All kinds of people live here, its a good mix. Great restaurants, music venues, brewery's, people, parks, lakes, etc here. Let me know what else you'd like to know and i'll be happy to try and help.

[NWarty]

I moved to Roswell in 1979 when it was still a sleepy, borderline-country town just starting the likes of suburbia. The town, other than Old Roswell is virtually unrecognizable from what it was like in the early 1980's. Moved away from Alpharetta after I graduated college in 97 and never came back. My family still lives there in Cumming. I miss it every once in a while, but then remember what it's like to spontaneously combust when you walk outside in mid August.

I do love visiting though but could never move back.

P.S. And I do remember GA 400 being only two-lanes wide in each direction with a 50-foot grass median. All the way from the Perimeter/Ashford-Dunwoody/Holcomb Bridge/Haynes Bridge/Windward Pkwy/McFarland and on up into Dahlonega

[chris@revotechnik]

I spent 4 years commuting from Canton to Atlanta in prime rush hour traffic, although it does suck - It sucks much less than a lot of other cities I've spent time in... 50 miles of "bumper to bumper" from 575-to 75south to 285 East was only about an 1.5 hour commute - When I was in LA that would have taken 4 hours, NYC about the same... Not familiar with DC traffic, but Atlanta definitely not bad by nationwide standards.

My GFs dad does Canton to ATL as well (VP at the PBA station) he goes in at like 5am and leaves early afternoon so it isn't as bad but I just cant imagine doing that. I've done central NJ to philly and central NJ to Queens (by car and train) Both are worse overall on a regular basis ATL is just unpredictable.

When I lived in Buford and my GF lived in Grant park some days I could get to her in 40 minutes other days it took 2 hours.

I now do lilburn to buford and she does liburn to grant park so I'm reverse and she is going into the city but she takes 78 and then 285 looping down towards the airport so she is going towards the city bit kind of against traffic.

It's great how cheap it is to live here, I had a friend move here from Long Island recently and he was paying $1800 rent on a one bedroom apt, $1800 rent/month here gets you a 5 bedroom house in a gated community haha.

It really is cheap and the hardest part of it being this cheap is thinking about leaving it.. My house in NJ was 800sqft and my property tax payment a month is about what I pay for my entire mortgage here.. including taxes on a house about 3X as big. If your job is going to pay you about the same as it did in DC you will totally be able to stretch your dollar a lot farther while probably improving the way you live. My neighborhood is older so other then picking up my house off foreclosure for pennies is well established and wasn't full of people living off credit, most of my neighbors have at least 1 extra car, a trailer and atvs, plus a boat. And there are places down here to use all of those.

Won't go as far in the actual city but still it will go further then DC.

[Zanardi.]

P.S. And I do remember GA 400 being only two-lanes wide in each direction with a 50-foot grass median. All the way from the Perimeter/Ashford-Dunwoody/Holcomb Bridge/Haynes Bridge/Windward Pkwy/McFarland and on up into Dahlonega

When my dad moved from Sandy Springs to Haynes Bridge, the first question his mom (my grandmother) asked was why he was moving so far into the country.

I remember being a kid and passing by North Point Mall which was nothing but kudzu. But you're right, things sure have changed.

[NWarty]

When my dad moved from Sandy Springs to Haynes Bridge, the first question his mom (my grandmother) asked was why he was moving so far into the country.

I remember being a kid and passing by North Point Mall which was nothing but kudzu. But you're right, things sure have changed.

North Point Mall, aka Devil Worship Road? You're right, that was a huge chunk of farmland back in the day. Brings on the nostalgia when I think about what Haynes Bridge and Old Alabama Rd. used to look like. I remember where the hospital in Alpharetta is now and how it was once a huge farm with this massive barn; painted on the side was the cartoon donkey from the show Hee-Haw.

I spent a lot of time in Sandy Springs as a kid as I went to a private elementary school there, had a bunch of HS friends from North Springs HS, rec. league football, etc.

Almost saddens me when I visit home that the roads and scenery have changed so much, I almost get lost.

[Swallow Doretti]

I love how all these folks are like "Look at Roswell/Sandy Springs/Woodstock/etc." when the OP said his job would be DOWNTOWN. If you want an hour-plus commute each way, then that's definitely a terrific idea. Want it to be shorter? Stick with these general areas:

- Midtown
- Virginia Highlands
- Little 5 Points
- Edgewood
- Kirkwood
- Decatur
- Candler Park
- Grant Park
- East Atlanta

We have a loft we still own right at the intersection of Edgewood, Kirkwood and Candler Park (walking distance to the Edgewood Target), though we're now living in DC and have no intention of moving back. Once the economy improves (if ever), we'll hopefully sell.

Some differences between DC and Atlanta:

- There is no public transit. If you complain about Metro now, wait till you get to experience MARTA. It's positively third-world by comparison. Wait times for a train on weekend run up to 30 minutes, and buses aren't much better. Also, it doesn't really go anywhere. Plan on driving everywhere.

- Which brings me to...Atlanta drivers are ATROCIOUS. People speeding is the least of your worries, because no matter what time of day or night, it's apparently the law you must talk on your cellphone while operating a moving vehicle. Watch out for the people who are traveling along in the left lane of 200 or the Connector, talking on their phone, when they suddenly realize THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO MISS THEIR EXIT. These people will then STOP in the roadway and creep across all lanes of traffic...without ever putting down the phone. Seriously, only Florida drivers are worse.

- As much as the food scene in DC has improved over the years, Atlanta still has it going on when it comes to cuisine. There's a lot less ethnic food (Ethiopian, for example, only exists in theory), but you do get a plethora of amazing restaurants that are far cheaper than what you'd pay for in DC.

- Speaking of cheaper, housing is significantly less than whatever it is you're paying in the Metro area. We're currently renting out our loft (a 1,400 sq ft deal with built-in Ethernet, W/D, gated parking, private patio, 20' ceilings, spa tub, the list goes on) for about $1,600. A similar place in the District proper is a $3,500/mo affair--and hence why you should live in town, rather than going out to the 'burbs (we also currently have it listed for $219K--and you know what $219K buys in DC? Nothing, that's right).

- If someone says "bless your heart," pull out a gun and shoot them in the face. Hey, you're legally required to own a weapon in some parts of Atlanta, so why not?*

*Seriously, you are: http://www.rense.com/general9/gunlaw.htm

[chris@revotechnik]

- If someone says "bless your heart," pull out a gun and shoot them in the face. Hey, you're legally required to own a weapon in some parts of Atlanta, so why not?*

*Seriously, you are: http://www.rense.com/general9/gunlaw.htm

Just be careful and make sure it is a gun in actual city limits of ATL (assuming you are licensed to carry)

A blade over 3" is illegal in the city of Atlanta and the state does not define a bladed weapon a weapon until 5". So if you are in Atlanta make sure your knife is under 3" or over 5"s if you have a Georgia Weapons License. You can be legally (if licensed) carrying a gun in the city of Atlanta but if you are caught with a knife 4" long expected to be arrested. I'm dead serious.



In regards to "bless your heart" expect it to blessed quite often along with your deli meats, day, dry cleaning, coffee and just about anything else someone in retail may hand you.

[NWarty]

In regards to "bless your heart" expect it to blessed quite often along with your deli meats, day, dry cleaning, coffee and just about anything else someone in retail may hand you.

Or just a Southerner's way of politely saying "Oh honey, you're retarded".

[Swallow Doretti]

Or just a Southerner's way of politely saying "Oh honey, you're retarded".

This is to what I was referring. Atlantans also use it often as a scoffing remark to anyone from "the North," so the OP can expect to hear it a lot--the irony being, of course, that last I checked, DC is still about 100 miles south of the Mason-Dixon line...

[VadGTI]

Hmm.. yes I know about this flooding you speak of.

I think you need to talk to your architect and construction guys. That's a strange design for a pool. Do you keep jet skis in the garage?


(also, looks like it needs some more chlorine)

[NWarty]

This is to what I was referring. Atlantans also use it often as a scoffing remark to anyone from "the North," so the OP can expect to hear it a lot--the irony being, of course, that last I checked, DC is still about 100 miles south of the Mason-Dixon line...

It's all about context

Helping an old lady across Peachtree Street: "Oh honey, bless your heart" = You're a gentlemen and thank you

Talking about neighbors or acquintances:

1. "He sure is a nice man, bless his heart" = Should be wearing headgear

2. "She's a sweetie, bless her heart" = Really nice gal but hit every branch down on the ugly tree.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

I just bought a place off briarcliff in morningside near emory. I love it. It's actually dirt cheap to buy here if you can swing it. You can get a condo in buckhead with a cheaper mortgage than renting the equivalent.

Don't live OTP (outside the perimeter). I plan to stay centrally located b/c the commute is easy AND if I ever get a position somewhere else, it won't matter.

I'd stay north of I-20. I roll up and lock the windows once I get past edgewood.

[Rogerthat]

I lived in Seattle for 2 years.

I lived in ATL ITP near Vinings for 3 years.

I'm back in So-Cal and could see myself moving back to Seattle.................but not ALT.............nope, never. I've visited though and miss the small music and art community thats there.

It's a small town city, if that makes any sense.

[2slojetta0L]

Here's a great website with lots of info http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/

[Metallitubby]

When you get here, come see me and I'll take care of ya.

[NWarty]

Here's a great website with lots of info http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/

That's a very good forum for someone moving to ATL

[Aonarch]

Northside is nicer. I'm in Sandy Springs.

I prefer the North Side too.

I am from Atlanta, Atlanta, like the city, but I moved up to the northrn burbs to escape the craziness.

Love it.

[Metallitubby]

Well actually just one dude...with LOTS of hair.

Sounds hot. Where does one find such hotness?

[hrama803]

I think you need to talk to your architect and construction guys. That's a strange design for a pool. Do you keep jet skis in the garage?


(also, looks like it needs some more chlorine)

Just my 2 wheel ski...

[Zanardi.]

North Point Mall, aka Devil Worship Road? You're right, that was a huge chunk of farmland back in the day. Brings on the nostalgia when I think about what Haynes Bridge and Old Alabama Rd. used to look like. I remember where the hospital in Alpharetta is now and how it was once a huge farm with this massive barn; painted on the side was the cartoon donkey from the show Hee-Haw.

I spent a lot of time in Sandy Springs as a kid as I went to a private elementary school there, had a bunch of HS friends from North Springs HS, rec. league football, etc.

Almost saddens me when I visit home that the roads and scenery have changed so much, I almost get lost.

That's funny, the neighborhood I grew up in was near the corner of Haynes Bridge and Old Alabama. It's still there though it looks out of place next to the McMansions so prevalent in that area now.

[dubjager]

I spent 4 years commuting from Canton to Atlanta in prime rush hour traffic, although it does suck - It sucks much less than a lot of other cities I've spent time in... 50 miles of "bumper to bumper" from 575-to 75south to 285 East was only about an 1.5 hour commute - When I was in LA that would have taken 4 hours, NYC about the same... Not familiar with DC traffic, but Atlanta definitely not bad by nationwide standards.

It's great how cheap it is to live here, I had a friend move here from Long Island recently and he was paying $1800 rent on a one bedroom apt, $1800 rent/month here gets you a 5 bedroom house in a gated community haha.

That is a huge thing for me. I think my pay will be adjusted accordingly, but regardless I think I will be able to live in a much nicer place..

It really is cheap and the hardest part of it being this cheap is thinking about leaving it.. My house in NJ was 800sqft and my property tax payment a month is about what I pay for my entire mortgage here.. including taxes on a house about 3X as big. If your job is going to pay you about the same as it did in DC you will totally be able to stretch your dollar a lot farther while probably improving the way you live. My neighborhood is older so other then picking up my house off foreclosure for pennies is well established and wasn't full of people living off credit, most of my neighbors have at least 1 extra car, a trailer and atvs, plus a boat. And there are places down here to use all of those.

Won't go as far in the actual city but still it will go further then DC.

I am really looking forward to having a much bigger place.. the studio I live in right now is nice...but would ideally have a nice place to work on my car and the like, plus there is nothing as relaxing as cutting some grass

I love how all these folks are like "Look at Roswell/Sandy Springs/Woodstock/etc." when the OP said his job would be DOWNTOWN. If you want an hour-plus commute each way, then that's definitely a terrific idea. Want it to be shorter? Stick with these general areas:

- Midtown
- Virginia Highlands
- Little 5 Points
- Edgewood
- Kirkwood
- Decatur
- Candler Park
- Grant Park
- East Atlanta

We have a loft we still own right at the intersection of Edgewood, Kirkwood and Candler Park (walking distance to the Edgewood Target), though we're now living in DC and have no intention of moving back. Once the economy improves (if ever), we'll hopefully sell.

Some differences between DC and Atlanta:

- There is no public transit. If you complain about Metro now, wait till you get to experience MARTA. It's positively third-world by comparison. Wait times for a train on weekend run up to 30 minutes, and buses aren't much better. Also, it doesn't really go anywhere. Plan on driving everywhere.

- Which brings me to...Atlanta drivers are ATROCIOUS. People speeding is the least of your worries, because no matter what time of day or night, it's apparently the law you must talk on your cellphone while operating a moving vehicle. Watch out for the people who are traveling along in the left lane of 200 or the Connector, talking on their phone, when they suddenly realize THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO MISS THEIR EXIT. These people will then STOP in the roadway and creep across all lanes of traffic...without ever putting down the phone. Seriously, only Florida drivers are worse.

- As much as the food scene in DC has improved over the years, Atlanta still has it going on when it comes to cuisine. There's a lot less ethnic food (Ethiopian, for example, only exists in theory), but you do get a plethora of amazing restaurants that are far cheaper than what you'd pay for in DC.

- Speaking of cheaper, housing is significantly less than whatever it is you're paying in the Metro area. We're currently renting out our loft (a 1,400 sq ft deal with built-in Ethernet, W/D, gated parking, private patio, 20' ceilings, spa tub, the list goes on) for about $1,600. A similar place in the District proper is a $3,500/mo affair--and hence why you should live in town, rather than going out to the 'burbs (we also currently have it listed for $219K--and you know what $219K buys in DC? Nothing, that's right).

- If someone says "bless your heart," pull out a gun and shoot them in the face. Hey, you're legally required to own a weapon in some parts of Atlanta, so why not?*

*Seriously, you are: http://www.rense.com/general9/gunlaw.htm

Thank you so much for this. I live in NW DC and it ain't cheap. I am paying 1200$ for a small studio in a walk up. It ain't bad, but I can't believe how much it costs. The market here I feel is so competitive too, so you don't really see good rentals sitting around longer than a day on CL. I totally agree with you on the lack of ethnic vibes here. I live in Columbia Heights/Mt Pleasant and that is as ethnic as it gets (still pretty sad). Thank you for all the help, really good to get the perspective of someone living in both places! Really appreciate it!

Here's a great website with lots of info http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/

Thanks, I had seen that, but it was a lot of people asking about what schools are best Still a big help!

[NWarty]

That's funny, the neighborhood I grew up in was near the corner of Haynes Bridge and Old Alabama. It's still there though it looks out of place next to the McMansions so prevalent in that area now.

Willow Springs was one of THE neighborhoods to be in, in Roswell in the early 1980's. I lived in three different subdivisions on Old Alabama Rd. throughout 79-84.

One of my friends on FB posted something about returning home to Roswell and saw how much it was different. Strange that drastic changes can occur in an area in less than 20 years.

I'm just a displaced southerner that now calls the pacific northwest home.

[the_toad]

For somewhere cheap to live, you gotta look otp. North of the city is still a lil pricey, but where I am is pretty cheap compared to how close I am to the city. Yeah I know I don't live in the best area in town, but other than the train, its a quiet neighborhood and there's a lot of necessities very close by.

[Zanardi.]

Willow Springs was one of THE neighborhoods to be in, in Roswell in the early 1980's. I lived in three different subdivisions on Old Alabama Rd. throughout 79-84.

One of my friends on FB posted something about returning home to Roswell and saw how much it was different. Strange that drastic changes can occur in an area in less than 20 years.

I'm just a displaced southerner that now calls the pacific northwest home.

Willow Springs 81-86 checking in.

[Metallitubby]

Willow Springs 81-86 checking in.

I go by there everyday.

[NWarty]

Willow Springs 81-86 checking in.

Was a very good time in Roswell. Still remember that one home in WS with the solar panels.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

Is Roswell even really considered Atlanta? It's pretty far outside 285.

[OOOO-A3]

Is Roswell even really considered Atlanta? It's pretty far outside 285.

By some measures, everything between Macon and Cartersville is "Atlanta"

[GeoffD]

I love how people say they live in Atlanta when they really live in the Anywhere, USA uncontrolled suburban sprawl outside the city. Atlanta is just a huge, sprawling edge city. Lots of people work in the city center. It's mostly abandoned at 5pm when everybody hops in their car and flees to the suburbs. If you define quality of life by proximity to a suburban shopping mall and the density of chain restaurants like Olive Garden, Chili's, Chipotle Grill, and Starbucks, I guess it's a wonderful place.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

I currently live in the Virginia Highlands/Midtown area and really enjoy it. I drive to 50 miles round trip to Duluth and back for work everyday. I'll say this- Going the opposite direction of traffic is IDEAL for my commute. I leave the city while everyone is going towards it, and visa-versa.
:

We're practically neighbors and work in the same area. Carpool?

[VW1.8Tsunami]

I love how people say they live in Atlanta when they really live in the Anywhere, USA uncontrolled suburban sprawl outside the city. Atlanta is just a huge, sprawling edge city. Lots of people work in the city center. It's mostly abandoned at 5pm when everybody hops in their car and flees to the suburbs. If you define quality of life by proximity to a suburban shopping mall and the density of chain restaurants like Olive Garden, Chili's, Chipotle Grill, and Starbucks, I guess it's a wonderful place.

What?

The city is far from abandoned by 5 p.m. I've been in traffic jams at 3am Furthermore, it's not really that easy to find a OG, Chilis, Ruby Tuesday etc. restraunt in the city. OTP, they are plentiful but ITP, not so much. Atlanta has some of the best local restraunts.

[Swallow Doretti]

Thank you so much for this. I live in NW DC and it ain't cheap. I am paying 1200$ for a small studio in a walk up. It ain't bad, but I can't believe how much it costs.

Before I bought, I lived in an apartment complex called The Heights at Cheshire Bridge, which was nothing exciting, but perfectly serviceable. As you can see, $1,200/mo gets you a larger-sized two-bedroom/two-bath:

http://www.bellcheshirebridge.com/fl...ns-pricing.asp

You'll have no trouble finding a good-sized one-bedroom in town for under $1,000/mo that's also in-town. Folks in Atlanta talk about how "expensive" living ITP is, but that's completely irrelevant when you're coming from the DC market.

Two other words on neighborhoods--a lot of folks talk about Buckhead, but I'd avoid it. First, traffic is constantly a problem up there, even in off-peak times like weekends and evenings. Plus, you'll be dealing with 400 to and from work, and that's just a PITA.

Second, while nothing in Atlanta is anywhere close to be walkable in the sense DC is, Buckhead really has no neighborhood feel whatsoever--certainly nothing you'll be used to coming from Columbia Heights.

Second:

I just bought a place off briarcliff in morningside near emory. I love it. It's actually dirt cheap to buy here if you can swing it. You can get a condo in buckhead with a cheaper mortgage than renting the equivalent.

Morningside is a terrific neighborhood. I'd add that to my list of places as well to look. There aren't a ton of apartments there, but it's near to Piedmont Park, and the commute in would be fairly straightforward.

Generally speaking, if you're living in and liking Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights now, you will be much happier living somewhere like Kirkwood, Grant Park, East Atlanta, Little Five Points or Cabbagetown than you will in Roswell or Buckhead. Buckhead would be the equivalent of living in Tyson's Corner, and Roswell would be like living in Reston.

[Scurvy Bandit]

Wish I could move there.

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