Al points to this AJC article about a recent northside transit study, which suggests a Kennesaw-to-Dunwoody rail line and a northern extension of the MARTA red line, and states “Powerful forces are aligned to pull MARTA’s center of gravity to the north.”

Which raises an interesting question: While the current center of MARTA is obviously in downtown Atlanta, where is the true “center” of Atlanta in 2011?  As any good student of urbanism knows, the centers of cities often drift over time.  New York City’s core was once downtown around Wall Street.  Now it’s up in the Midtown.

Atlanta may rank poorly in travel magazines of late, but it is perhaps one of the best U.S. examples of a mobile city core.  Think about it . Originally, Atlanta’s center was “downtown”.  Then it began a slow trip up Peachtree, eventually stopping in Midtown to enjoy lush greenery of Piedmont Park.  Today, some might even argue it’s traveled further north to Buckhead evidenced by its glassy towers and high-end shops.

More interconnected rail on the northside of the city could potentially solidify the northside as Atlanta’s new core.  That may not be so great for Decaturites faced with an ever extended commute to the city’s job center, but is it in the best interest of the metro?

Decatur Square, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Caitie)

From the AJC…

The couple had just eaten at the Brick Store Pub and were walking to their vehicle about 12:30 a.m. when they were confronted by a man with a gun — depicted in the sketch — who demanded the woman’s keys, Channel 2 reported.

The man tried to defend his companion, but a second man tackled him, and the woman was shot once in the lower abdomen. The attackers then drove off in the couple’s pick-up truck, a red 2004 Toyota Tacoma with Georgia tag BJQ 6805.

Channel 2 reports the woman has been released from the hospital and is doing well at home, though she still has a bullet in her hip.