Comments on: Defining Atlanta

By: atlpaddy

atlpaddy — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:18:56 +0000

Just to clear a couple things up about the Pratt-Pullman (former Pratt Engineering Chemical Company and later Pullman Car reconditioning factory) site along Dekalb Ave in Kirkwood (for more info on the site see here: http://www.preserveatlanta.com/pratt.htm)

The property is owned by the State of Georgia and was for sale prior to the real estate collapse, but has been temporarily taken off the market until conditions improve. As part of the sale, I believe preservation covenants have been placed on the original two main barns and the later Pullman-era sawtooth roof buildings (I believe, but don’t quote me on this).

GA Power claimed the northeast corner of the site for the construction of a transfer station. As part of the development, an original building that had been severely damaged by fire, was demolished. The neighborhood is working to install a bike path at the rear of the site that will connect the “Trolley Trail” extension of the Atlanta-Stone Mountain bike path to the Dekalb Ave/North Kirkwood area.

By: sittingpugs

sittingpugs — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:21:23 +0000

That’s hilarious.

I guess the question of a city “identity” is more substantial than playing “word association” or “spot the reference,” but as a native Atlanta (born and raised–with the first 11 years of my life in Marietta and the second 17 years in Dunwoody), I’d say that Atlanta is good food, good music, and if the Falcons can make it through the play-offs, the Braves whip up their game-play, and the Hawks (how are they doing?), then we could be a city of good sports (again) too.

We know all about the branding: Tyler Perry, Coke, Olympics, Turner Broadcasting, the Varsity, a city where you need a car, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the Civil War…etc

Does Atlanta need an identity…the way that Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and NYC do? Miami.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:35:12 +0000

To be clear, the Clairemont Trolley is only an OPTION in the Transportation Plan. Its not something the city would pursue no questions asked. And personally I think it only makes sense if there are strong indications that the entire city is leaning toward building a streetcar network.

By: Sandi

Sandi — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:31:51 +0000

I should also point out that the #18 South Decatur bus still pretty much follows the original Decatur trolley line going from downtown Atlanta to Decatur and currently goes through Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, Edgewood, Candler Park, Kirkwood and Oakhurst. Runs about every 40 minutes on weekdays.

http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/18.htm#maps

By: Sandi

Sandi — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:25:54 +0000

Joe is right. There are already a ton of people who ride the Emory provided bus from the Decatur Marta station to the Emory campus (forgot what they call it). Emory has a huge daytime population of students and people going to the medical center there and it is a traffic nightmare.

There really should be a MARTA line connection between Decatur and Lindbergh with a couple of stops going through Emory. As it currently exists, you have to go all the way downtown and transfer lines and then take a bus to get from point A to point B. If there were any funds for expansion, it would seem like this would be the first priority, but I rarely hear anyone even talking about it.

As far as the broader context of reviving the streetcar network on the east side neighborhoods of Atlanta, the obvious problem again would be lack of funds. Who is going to pay for it? Maybe someone though could get a grant to start a circulator bus going through these neighborhoods (they could even look like trolleys if you want), but you would have to justify the expense with actual ridership and for some reason the same people who say they would ride a streetcar also for some reason say they wouldn’t take a bus. What is it with people’s problem riding a bus?