January 2009 - Posts
Sara Cheshire
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My cousin has only been to Atlanta once. It is sad that the only thing she remembers is, "It was scary! People were coming out at us everywhere." I suppose it is rather true. I've gotten a bit jaded. I'm frankly tired of people asking me for money, and it seems most of them are not even legit. Tonight I was approached again by the supposedly deaf man who likes to frequent the trains, holding up a piece of paper asking for 50 cents. I get peeved with him now. He has literally been asking me for money for at least five years. So I have no qualms chewing him out because this is how he makes his living. And besides, soliciting is illegal on MARTA. Ironically he was on the train tonight, and shortly followed by another man who was asking for money to buy food. He seemed too smooth to be honest. And it is usually a better policy to buy people food rather than give them cash, as many are indeed making their living from begging, while others use the money for bad habits. However, I was completely struck when the woman sitting next me turned to me after we had been solicited and said, "I just became homeless." Here boy wonder with his two dollar speech is making his rounds while the person sitting next to me, probably more in need, wasn't asking for anything. Because of this, I was much more inclined to want to help and got her phone number. She is looking for a job and has cashiering experience. Please post a comment if know of resources or job opportunities for her. Also, feel free to share ideas and resources for those looking for work. I'm sure there are many people like her, especially with the state of the economy right now. The bigger issue includes education and how people can survive hard economic times. I am lucky to have many options and skills...easy to take for granted until you meet someone who did not have the encouragement or opportunity to get more education. And what can we all do to help? What resources are available to those who don't have a home or a job?
I actually was talking to my dad about this tonight. They used to provide farms where the homeless could live and work for their housing. Even in small towns today I am not sure this exists anymore, and it seems that in general, we don't take care of each other as well as we once did. Part of that has to do with cities and the sheer size of populations there. I'm not sure what the solution is today. There is always donating time and money to local shelters, maybe volunteering your time to help train or support those looking for a new future. Here are a few resources to get started.
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 There is a rally on Saturday, January 31, 2pm to support the Beltline. The rally is on the heels of the AJC article about AMTRAK wanting to use Beltline tracks for heavy rail. Really, do we want a freight line clamoring alongside Piedmont Park? The proposed Beltline, however, is a light-rail project that would create an inner city loop connecting many intown neighborhoods and spurring redevelopment and park space. The project has been in the works for a few years, and I was just wondering what was going on with the project. It has been a little too quiet. And it appears that this rally is showing why and hopes to educate more people that this useful transportation option might be in danger.
The rally will be held on the tracks at the corner of 10th and Monroe, near Park Tavern and Piedmont Park. Please come out this Saturday, 2pm. Below is more information copied from a talking-point e-mail I received regarding the rally and the Beltline. There is no better time to get involved with the city...especially as this part of the city has a history of successful activism. Most Atlanta residents don't even know that if not for community involvement, a highway would have been built through Virginia Highlands, Inman Park and Candler Park back in the 1970s. Freedom Parkway and John Howell Park along Virginia Avenue only exist because homes were torn down to make way for road. Luckily that project was halted and we have greenspace instead of traffic. So keep on keeping on for some good things in the city: parks, increased transportation options, community redevelopment and safer neighborhoods.
The
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Amtrak have created a
trainwreck in Washington that is preventing the Beltline from
moving forward.
Exciting
proposals for High Speed Rail and commuter rail have been
cynically distorted into a proposal that would kill the Beltline.
GDOT and Amtrak have
dusted off outdated plans that have not been part of any regional
transportation plan in years and are using them to prevent construction
of Beltline transit and trails.
These actions threaten the
viability of the Atlanta BeltLine while ignoring years of planning
by Atlanta residents. They disregard the public regional
transportation process that specifically included representatives
of GDOT.
They ignore a unanimous vote by the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission to approve Beltline transit and trails.
America needs high
speed rail. Georgia needs commuter rail. Atlanta needs Beltline
transit and trails. We can have all three, but all three will not fit
on the northeast segment of the Beltline.
The metro Atlanta regional transportation plan would allow all of
these projects to occur without killing each other. That is the plan
Amtrak and GDOT should follow.
Atlantans have
worked too hard on the Beltline to allow it to be stopped now. Come
out and show your support for light rail transit, trails, trees and
more.
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Contact Governor and Georgia Dept of Transporation
Please join us in calling on the Governor and GDOT to respect the
regional transportation plan. Ask them to withdraw GDOT's objection to
the intercity rail abandonment process at the Surface Transportation
Board.
*****The organizers stressed that writing letters and sending through the mail is a much more effective means of getting your opinions heard. |
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 I've seen an absurd amount of apartments in this city and feel I have met half the landlords in the metro area. This scenario was not intended, but there is some sense of relief if my observations can help someone else. So if you wondering about how to go about finding an Atlanta apartment and what you can get for your dollar in the city, then read on.
Prices
First of all, price is usually the first constraint. I've found that on average, you can find a decent, non-shoddy one bedroom in a non-shady area for around $800/$850. Now, some of these apartments might be few and far between, but they are there. If someone is charging $800 and the space is small, the bathroom not large enough to fit Napoleon or is in some disrepair, then it is overpriced. The $600 and up range is typical for studios. However, if you head to more transitional areas south of downtown and in parts of Kirkwood, East Atlanta and Ormewood, you can find a 2-3 bedroom house for $800/$900 per month. There have been more home invasions and crime in those areas, so that is something to be considered. If you plan to have a roommate, it is not unreasonable to pay on average $500/month/person.
Location and Safety
As just mentioned, cheaper housing is found in more transitional areas. I have ruled out East Atlanta due to violent crime as well as Grant Park, where one of my co-workers got his car stolen. The areas around Emory University, downtown Decatur and Oakhurst seem to be the safest from data I have looked at. The Lindbergh area has had some history of Hispanic gangs, downtown isn't the worst...though has no grocery, Midtown is fun... but has had increased muggings and a proximity to Old 4th Ward that has made me remove it from my list as well. Inman Park has some car break-ins and burglaries on occasion, but it seems Little 5 and Candler Park fare worse. Cabbagetown has been home to kidnappers, so that is a big red flag for me. I would also not live in Old 4th Ward unless you have a tough disposition and have a gated/secured building. North Druid Hills seems to have its share of petty crime and break-ins as well. Brookhaven, Lenox, Morningside aren't too bad and the Cumberland Mall area seems to work ok for several people I know, but it is more a suburban and less neighborhoody. Virginia Highlands also has some buffer zone, especially the further north you are from Ponce and further east of the city.
In general, apartment complexes tend to have more car break-ins, even in gated communities. Older apartment buildings that have front doors that do not face the street tend to all be bigger targets for crime as well.
Lingo and Search Resources
Craigslist.org is a good place to look for apartments. Apartments listed in the AJC or Creative Loafing tend to not be as high of quality. Braden Fellman also offers several apartment options in more historic buildings. MLC Properties has not always been the most user-friendly, but also offers some historic housing. Living Intown generally has more apartments in houses, but you'll have to call or email for their openings. (I actually did their neighborhood maps and descriptions if you need a better idea of Atlanta areas.) Searching for condos for rent is another good way to find listings through local real estate companies, or just googling "atlanta condos for rent."
Watch out for ads that can be misleading. I've seen numerous listings with incorrect neighborhood labels...often an apartment is in a less desirable area gets stretched to include a neighboring, nicer location. I've seen this most often with apartments in Old 4th Ward (often claimed to be Midtown or Inman Park) and in Edgewood (claimed to be Little 5...but let me tell you there is a big difference once you cross the railroad tracks that run along the East-West MARTA line and Dekalb Avenue). Also, be aware of places that toot a horn about being close to the Edgewood Shopping Center...it is still sketchy around there and I would not feel comfortable walking southbound from the Candler Park MARTA station. So use your online maps and get familiar with the neighborhood boundaries. Generally speaking things get less ideal the further south you are. There is a bit more stability the further north of certain roads you are. The first big division is being north of Ponce de Leon Avenue. The next tier is between Ponce and Dekalb Avenue/the MARTA rail line. Then Memorial Drive and lastly south of I-20. On the other end, being north of Midtown/the 75/85 connector split presents some change in demographics then once you are north of the Buckhead business district. But, it can be spotty all over and this isn't an exact science.
Also, FYI, the word "cozy" in apartment listings usually means small and in most cases, "character" can mean a bit run down. "Retro" is code for 1950s/1960s block architecture. If you need some second opinions, apartmentratings.com is a great tool, along with reviews on yelp.com.
Neighborhoods and Personalities
Here is my quick take on the vibes in different areas:
Midtown: party/gay-friendly
Downtown: urban pioneering
Virginia Highlands: polo shirt night life/jogger strollers/walkable
Morningside: somewhat yuppie
Candler Park: somewhat hippie
Inman Park: somewhat hip
East Atlanta: very hip, diverse, edgy
Ormewood Park: diverse, slightly less edgy
Grant Park: historic, hit or miss
Kirkwood: up and coming
Oakhurst: down to earth, family-friendly
Downtown Decatur: small town, gay-friendly
Emory: Smart, stately
Buckhead: shopping culture
Brookhaven: quiet, edge of the city
Landlord Awards
My two favorite landlords are John Morrison and Shelley. Both have several apartment buildings from Midtown to Oakhurst. Shelley uses Craigslist, but John's historic buildings usually just have a sign out front. Both landlords are good people and offer good services and fair prices.
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  I actually have MLK Day off this year. That brings up a question...why doesn't all of the city get the day off, being King's birth and burial city? And why have we let the King Memorial crumble into such disrepair? At least mayor Shirley Franklin got a $32 million loan from SunTrust, still under the process of being paid back, in order to keep a collection of the King papers intact and in the city as opposed to them being auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Besides some of the inside information about trying to maintain the King Memorial, there is plenty to do this weekend to celebrate MLK Day. The big highlights include a number of volunteer opportunities. Hands On Atlanta has a full schedule of events and service projects that begin today and go through Monday. Also, one of the more interesting projects going is a tree planting from 9am-12 on Monday in Southview Cemetery, King's original burial location before being moved downtown. The planting is one of many organized by Trees Atlanta, and you can contact susan@treesatlanta.org or call 404-522-4097 to sign up. For year-round opportunities to get involved, I've been happy with AJC's Do Good Channel. It lists volunteer events all over the city and you can search by cause or way you'd like to participate.
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 Last week a bartender at the Standard in Grant Park was murdered by armed robbers. It is very sad and certainly is topping the list of the string of crime and problems all over the city. At this point, most of my friends have either been mugged, had a car broken into, something stolen or have known someone who was the unfortunate victim of a home invasion. It is scary and should be a wake up call for everyone that we can't afford to lose funding for our police, and in fact, have needed more funding. I would write to your senator now and your representatives (see links below). Be more supportive and vocal about stricter gun laws as well.
Tomorrow, January 11, there is an open community meeting at Aurora Coffee in Little 5 points from 3-6pm for people to come together and try to figure out solutions to the crime problem. There are many more of us than them and we have to take a cowboy, old west approach to this, then so be it. But it is just ridiculous to have crazy people barge into buildings with guns and killing people, hurting people. I know the economy is bad and that might be playing a part. But geez. It is stupidly out of hand. And I'm still wondering about the competence of our police. I'm just thankful I have a patrol in my neighborhood, but then it goes back with the people who have money and those who do not and who can afford more safety. It shouldn't be about money...everyone deserves a safe place to live. And don't think that if you live outside the perimeter that you are safe. Several violent invasions have happened in Roswell and Duluth in the past couple months. So please be careful and do what you can to make the city safer.
Here are links that take you directly to a web-email form to contact our senators: Contact the Obama Administration here: To find your U.S. representative and state legislators, follow the bellow link and enter your address: To get involved with the newly formed Atlantans Together Against Crime and Cutbacks, you can join their Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42994467899 or visit their website: http://atlantanstogether.org/
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 I had a surprisingly good time downtown last night. Holiday decorations and ice skating continue to draw crowds and the older brick buildings in the Fairlie-Popular District makes Atlanta seem like a "real city". What is a real city though? For me, it is the sense of culture, people on the streets, variety of arts and recreational opportunities and walkability.
Now I was like most of Atlantans, scared to even step foot or drive through downtown several years ago. There is the soliciting factor and it surely isn't like going through pristine Buckhead. But the thing I find interesting is that once you set out on foot in a place, it takes out the fear factor. I'm usually more comfortable on foot vs. driving in a car. Maybe it is because you are really interacting with the place and that familiarity on the ground adds a sense of comfort. Of course, having more people out on the streets makes the environment that much safer and the late night ice skating at Centennial Olympic Park, for instance, keeps people out later and in downtown. And there are the sporting events, Tabernacle concerts, Georgia Aquarium, rooftop bars. Screen on the Green, which was moved to Centennial last summer, turned out to be a surprisingly fitting venue. There is something about being able to see the city skyline, while being right in the middle of the city and enjoying events. So, don't be too scared of downtown. I wouldn't spend too much time walking alone, but according to some reports, crime in downtown is less than other areas of the city. Plus, the Georgia State University police adds to the security. Walk Score has an interesting Web site that ranks Atlanta's most walkable neighborhoods if you want to see how your area stacks up or practice in your neighborhood before an adventure downtown.
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Finally, something concrete that you can get out of your senator. Until just recently, I didn't realize that you could contact your senator for free presidential inauguration tickets, a savings of $750. Georgia's senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson have links on their websites to request tickets for Barack Obama's inauguration, January 20 in Washington D.C. I'm not sure if they have any still available, but worth a shot if you want catch a flight or take a 10-hour road trip for the historic event. The AJC also has a nice Inauguration Event Guide for more detailed information of what to expect and what there is to do, including the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, which is free.
It probably wouldn't hurt to investigate more of our senator's Web sites so see what is going on and how you can get involved. It is always important to know how your senator is representing you, what your senator is saying on the floor and what they are voting on. It is easy to let elections roll around and to not have details to go along with a name. With the recent senator run-off in December, it becomes that much more important to know the candidates and what they value in close elections. Here's to getting more involved and getting free stuff in 2009.
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