Atlanta Community Discussion Thread

[smArTaLlone]

If I remember correctly, Emory was planning a big expansion before the recession including a new hospital tower at the Midtown campus.


https://atlanta.curbed.com/2017/8/7/...ife-of-georgia

A classical office building at West Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, constructed long ago to house the Life of Georgia insurance company, could soon be demolished by Emory University Hospital.

According to a Special Administration Permit application for the structure at 573 West Peachtree St., Emory hopes to “facilitate timely construction once comprehensive construction documents are completed” on an unspecified new facility to occupy the site.

[smArTaLlone]

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2017/08/...or-of-atlanta/

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2017/08/...or-of-atlanta/

"It does not matter if the next Mayor is White, what matters is that the next mayor responsive to more than just the needs of the corporate interest who control the city. If the next mayor is not committed to housing equality, improved transportation options, criminal justice reform and rehabilitation and some damn jobs that you don’t need a Doctorate to get then the conditions of our communities will not improve for the foreseeable future. Let us not make race the deciding factor in this election but rather vote for the candidates that hold our best interests in mind."

I would replace housing equality with income inequalities and diversification of our housing stock. IMO, this city would flourish even more with a progressive mayor and city council who can relate with the constituents and champion a vision of the leading city of the southeast. I do not get that feeling when interacting with the candidates. Make no small plans... and yet their plans often seem limited in comparison.

[smArTaLlone]

True

[smArTaLlone]

I thought a couple of things were interesting in the ARC population estimates.

One is that despite the intown boom over the last few years, total housing permits for the 10-county region was still below the 30-year average.




And the city permitted 8,000 housing units last year the vast majority of them multi-family.



Regional Snapshot: 2017 Population Estimates

[RATBOYKEV]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

True

Eh, easy enough to demo these for their desirable land where needed in 30 years.

[atlwarrior]

The creator of the Beltline Ryan Gravel podcast interview. This guy is super smart. I love his optimism for Atlanta. A must listen for a lover of Atlanta.

https://theatlantapodcast.com/2017/07/17/ryan-gravel/

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by atlwarrior

The creator of the Beltline Ryan Gravel podcast interview. This guy is super smart. I love his optimism for Atlanta. A must listen for a lover of Atlanta.

https://theatlantapodcast.com/2017/07/17/ryan-gravel/

I listened to this yesterday and I am super excited that he and Tim Keane are involved in the planning of what Atlanta will be going forward. I think this is truly a historical time for future of our city.

[smArTaLlone]

but fundamentals remain strong According to Haddow & Company









https://atlanta.curbed.com/2017/8/18...oom-has-peaked

[Street Advocate]

Anyone else wish we had more libraries and communal gathering spaces in town? Please correct me if I am wrong, but the closest libraries from ACL downtown heading north and east are on 16th street and ponce near north highland. I'd enjoy the ACL substantially more if it had more windows... something like GT's CULC/Clough Commons and library would be incredible.

Any chance floors of CODA will be open to the public? I know NCR is encouraging a presence on their first floor and am certainly appreciative of it. Seems like Atlanta is starting to increase its shared spaces

[Libertarian]

I hope Ryan Gravel reads this.
Atlantas future?
These guys are like "pandas in the zoo."

[STrek777]

NEWS 21 August 2017

Georgia Republicans to block any casino bills

By Robert Simmons

0200

The Georgia branch of the US Republican party have voted unanimously to oppose any new casino or horseracing bills which are put to senate vote this year, citing concerns over alleged links between gambling and crime.

Georgia’s ‘grand old party’ or GAGOP as it is known in the US stated that its opposition is based on a link between gambling and increasing crime and divorce rates, although they did not mention any particular study or statistics to back up this assertion.

The resolution voted on by members of the Republican Party states that “the members of the Georgia Legislature to cease and desist with any efforts to open the State of Georgia to casino and horse racing.”

Party officials also suggested that they felt the legalisation of casino gambling might allow Native American tribes to force reservation casinos on local communities saying that they did not want to allow “for any Indian tribe to venue shop for property to open casinos”.

The GAGOP said their resolution was aimed at protecting Georgia’s residents from the more general threat of gambling. The resolution stated, “The state should not have a vested interest in predatory activities such as gambling for the sake of filling state coffers at the expense of ruined lives and broken families.”

Georgia gambling laws are relatively strict, as they prohibit wagering on horse or dog races, or casinos of any kind. In fact, the only kind of gambling explicitly allowed in Georgia are raffles for charitable organizations. The state's gambling statute also specifically bans dog fighting, chain letters, and pyramid clubs.

Although it is a form of gambling, Georgia does have its own state lottery, however most of the funds are used in the HOPE Scholarship, a scholarship program established in 1993 to help Georgia students pay for in-state colleges and universities as well as fund the public pre-K programs around the state.

In recent years, this commitment has become harder and harder to maintain, given the sheer number of students applying for funding and in 2015, new ‘academic vigor’ standards were implemented, essentially making it harder for students to qualify.

https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news...y-casino-bills

[Libertarian]

The Bills Atlanta has Accumulated ($ as of 2015):
State Bonds 7,698,000,000
Other Liabilities 1,080,000,000
Less: Debt Related to Capital Assets (7,304,000,000)
Unfunded Pension Benefits 1,158,000,000
Unfunded Retirees' Health Care Benefits 1,120,000,000
Net debt 3,752,000,000
This appears to be a bit scary considering the city population is less than 500,000 - it's over 7,500 for each adult and child. I guess it's not too bad considering each person's share of the national debt is 316,000.
source: http://www.statedatalab.org/state_da...s/city/atlanta

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

The Bills Atlanta has Accumulated ($ as of 2015):
State Bonds 7,698,000,000
Other Liabilities 1,080,000,000
Less: Debt Related to Capital Assets (7,304,000,000)
Unfunded Pension Benefits 1,158,000,000
Unfunded Retirees' Health Care Benefits 1,120,000,000
Net debt 3,752,000,000
This appears to be a bit scary considering the city population is less than 500,000 - it's over 7,500 for each adult and child. I guess it's not too bad considering each person's share of the national debt is 316,000.
source: http://www.statedatalab.org/state_da...s/city/atlanta

It depends on the maturity of the bonds. I would be curious to see (and by see, I mean I am probably not going to research it) how Atlanta stacks up to other cities. The good news is: Atlanta has a growing population. So the situation will only improve over time (all things being equal).

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

It depends on the maturity of the bonds. I would be curious to see (and by see, I mean I am probably not going to research it) how Atlanta stacks up to other cities. The good news is: Atlanta has a growing population. So the situation will only improve over time (all things being equal).

It's right there in the link Libertarian provided. Atlanta ranks 23rd of 50 largest cities. The median tax burden for the 50 largest cities is $5,900 per resident and according to the link, Atlanta's tax payer burden is $4,800, not 7,500. Incidentally, the state tax payer burden is $3600, ranking 18th.

[Street Advocate]

Atlanta City Design studio released some stuff. Wish I could embed this .pdf! Nice high capacity transit on North Ave to Emory and up Piedmont, along Northside Drive, and up to West Paces. Curious if that's existing or proposed corridors... I'm ready to read through the book.

http://atlcitydesign.com/poster/ATLC...32_reduced.pdf

http://atlcitydesign.com/acd_book.html

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

Atlanta City Design studio released some stuff. Wish I could embed this .pdf! Nice high capacity transit on North Ave to Emory and up Piedmont, along Northside Drive, and up to West Paces. Curious if that's existing or proposed corridors... I'm ready to read through the book.

http://atlcitydesign.com/poster/ATLC...32_reduced.pdf

http://atlcitydesign.com/acd_book.html

I'm so excited for this. At some point Atlanta will no longer have the reputation as a poorly planned. Can't wait for the next steps.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

Atlanta City Design studio released some stuff. Wish I could embed this .pdf! Nice high capacity transit on North Ave to Emory and up Piedmont, along Northside Drive, and up to West Paces. Curious if that's existing or proposed corridors... I'm ready to read through the book.

http://atlcitydesign.com/poster/ATLC...32_reduced.pdf

http://atlcitydesign.com/acd_book.html

[smArTaLlone]

[Libertarian]

If Vine City/The Bluffs is ever to escape their dire situation they need get a grip on crime
man killed at convenience store for no reason
Also too many neighborhoods are regressing and not getting better
August 2011:

April 2015: