I can't believe I have to retype my message! The original didn't go through. Anyhow, any info on the Atlanta area would be appreciated. Where are the better/nicer areas to live outside downtown? (specific zip codes would be great!) (potential job opportunity for my husband downtown). I'm not much of a big city person,and I like communites with their own shopping, restaurants etc. Almost a city within a city. Also, commute would be a factor, since I hear the traffic can be really bad! We also have a 4 year old, so what areas have better schools? We like trees, family neighborhoods, low crime (who doesn't). We were just there for a conference, and ventured out to Midtown, Buckhead, and took 78 out to Stone Mountain. There seemed to be some really pretty areas that we drove through. Would that be Virginia-Higland/Druid Hills/Decatur? We didn't really get a chance to do much exploring,and wouldn't even know where to begin! I hear of a "perimeter"? Would the commute be horrendous outside of the perimeter? HELP! Thank you so much for any info!

I know the search engine on this site hasn't been working to well, but your question was covered in depth a couple of months ago. Try "Atlanta" under the Georgia Forum and see if you can get anything.

Briefly, Virginia Highlands and Druid Hills (30306) are good areas but are very expensive for houses ($400K and up). A tad farther out is the town of Decatur which sounds exactly like what you are looking for. It has a "town" feel to it with a town square, and that area is experiencing a tremendous growth of shops and restaurants - some of the best restaurants are there now. The housing is much more reasonable and the schools are supposedly good. If your husband drives in to work from Decatur, it's about a 20-30 minute drive, or he could take the train in from the town square. The areas between Virginia Highlands and Decatur get worse as you go south, but this area is rapidly gentrifying.

Outside the Perimeter (I-285) will significantly add to the commute and you'll be living in the world of SUVs and strip malls. Don't do it.

Unless you enjoy sweltering summers, strip malls, horrific commutes, and suburban crime, I'd say avoid it like the plague. However, billions of people continue to move here, so ther must be something alluring about the place.

It has some gracious communities, but it helps to be old money. Also, the pollution (because of the horrific traffic, partly) can be godawful -- hope none of you has asthma -- it could be a real problem.

It would help to know where you are coming from so we could offer some comparisons. It's urban, alright, but not as cosmopolitan as some other cities its size, and once you get out of the suburban choke, you can be in real rural Cracker country. But I know plenty of Atlantans that love it, so I'm hoping they'll chime in to give their reasons for loving the place.

We now live in Orlando, Fl (actually, outskirts AWAY from the attractions)so sweltering summers are not news to us. Definitely would love to hear from any locals! Thanks for any info/responses.

I've lived in Atlanta since college and still have not decided if it's a very good place to live.
The traffic is pretty bad and it is not a walking city at all. There are still quite a few trees, although the developers are making every effort to rid us of all of them soon. Culturally we have a very good symphony, good ballet and opera and mediocre theatre.
I agree that Decatur sounds like the area most suitable to what you say you are seeking. It has a small town feeling yet is close to downtown and has a very diverse community.
If you are seriously considering a move to this area you should probably hook up with a real estate agent and look in several different communities.

Cyndy - In addition to the notes I e-mailed you when Fodor's was down, I couldn't resist seconding the "other" Steve's comment about living here since college and still being undecided about liking the city. Spring and fall can be wonderful, but summer can be heck (as the Southern Baptists say). Especially if global warming is really happening and Atlanta's growth trend continues, both in terms of urban sprawl, cars, and pollution. We had far too many 'bad air' days last summer. Have to head home now and then grab a cold one at the Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur.

Small world. Went to the Brick Store Pub for the first time the same night Steve posted about it. Decatur is a great place. If I didn't like living so central (Midtown) I'd move there in a second.

Thanks everyone for the input! We'll need to make another trip up there soon to decide if we like it and whether to pursue any job opportunities. BTW, anyone have any idea how to move this under Georgia also? I originally had it posted under Georgia and United States, but now it doesn't show up under Georgia. Don't know what happened.

Anyone recommend any other cities I should check into, along with Decatur?

I live in the City of Decatur (not to be confused with the Postal Service designation of "Decatur"--a much larger area that encompasses some bad neighborhoods) and love it. It is true that we are experiencing a boom-town rebirth right now, but the city has very carefully maintained restrictions to keep the small-town, city-within-a-city appeal. Unlike suburban areas, traffic is rarely a problem. (During the Olympics, I was able to drive to the heart of things in less than 15 minutes.)

Housing prices are definitely on the rise, but there are still values to be found.

Besides, where else can you walk your dog on actual sidewalks, ride a bike through a virtual forest, walk to a gourmet restaurant, enjoy a spring concert at the bandstand on the courthouse square and still be minutes from the skyscrapers of downtown and midtown?

Um, Steve: "Culturally we have a very good symphony, good ballet and opera and mediocre theatre. "

I beg to differ on this one. Atlanta has a thriving theatre community that has won national accolades. In fact, we just lost one of our best directors to another city because people here don't support the REAL theatre scene as they should. If you feel that theatre in Atlanta is "mediocre," you must be one of those who only goes to the tired road shows that come through town at the Fox. Before you offer incorrect advice on culture, you need to check out productions at Actor's Express (which recently premiered a play by a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright), Theatre Gael, Horizon Theatre, Push-Push Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Theatrical Outfit, ARTStation and others. The Alliance Theatre also premiered the show that is now on Broadway (AIDA, with music by Elton John) and gave birth to the original stage production of "Driving Miss Daisy.") When you have seen shows at at least three of the theatres I mention, get back with me on that, will ya?

I live in the city of decatur as well and it is a wonderful community. Everyone for the most part is friendly and it is well kept. Plus, you are about 20 minutes from anythng and everything. I came from Orlando up here and it was a welcomed change

HELLO CYNDY,
HOPE ALL THE INPUT YOU'VE RECEIVED HAS HELPED YOU TO MAKE A DECISION.

ANOTHER GOOD POINT ABOUT THIS AREA IS THAT YOU CAN LIVE IN THE CITY AND DRIVE TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE COUNTRY IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, OR VICE VERSA.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT SERIOUS HELP BEFORE YOUR NEXT TRIP HERE. I'M A REALTOR AND CAN ASSIST YOU WITH FINDING DIFFERENT AREAS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH.

JUST WRITE BACK AND I CAN ARRANGE TO HELP YOU ON YOUR NEXT VISIT.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE OTHER RESPONSES. AT LEAST IT SHOWS HOW VERSATILE THIS AREA IS.

PLEASE INCLUDE A CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IN YOUR RESPONSE.

SINCERELY,

RANNELL HUDSON
COLDWELL BANKER BUCKHEAD BROKERS
770-424-8744 EXT. 226
770-434-2512

The best about Atlanta are:
1. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra -- at least it has been under Yoel Levi, but he is moving on.
2. The Atlanta Braves
3. Many excellent residential neighborhods

The worst things about Atlanta --
1. some sections are dangerous to be in -- but every city has those.
2. traffic jams traffic wrecks traffic
congestion traffic-caused pollution and less than adequate rapid transit system.
(It ain't the Paris Metro by any stretch of the imaginaton.)
3. an uneven school system -- quality depends on where you live.
4. The Atlanta Hawks, the Thrashees (hocky team?), the Falcons, and the absence of a really good museum.
(Sorry High boosters, but I've been elsewhere.)
As my grandson says, if you live it Atlanta you need lots of bread because you will eat lots of traffic jams. (Not bad for 7.)

Hi--
Thanks alot for all the great info/advice! It truly has been helpful. I've briefly looked at what some of the real estate in Decatur, and there primarily seems to be older, bungalow homes. Are there any newer homes in good school areas? WHat I've found in Orlando is that if you want a newer home in a good school district, you get zero lot lines with no trees unless you can afford the really expensive neighborhoods. Only the older neighborhoods have nice treed neighborhoods. Decatur sounds really nice.

Rannell, I'll definitely keep your number on "file" if and when we get to point where we are more than seriously considering this move.

Thanks again everyone! Any more input is definitely welcome!

It's the same here. You'll find very few (almost no) new homes in the intown neighborhoods or Decatur proper. Many of these have, though, been renovated recently so they have all the modern comforts. And those older bungalows with the big front porches and hardwood floors have infinite more class than those new houses on clear-cut property with 2 garage doors dominating the facade.

I completely agree! I wish I were into remodeling, so hopefully if it came to that, I'd find one that was already done.