Bloglanta

Lots of people are excited about the Beltline (myself include), but I think we need to be careful in the midst of all the excitement, too. I don’t want Atlantans to make the mistake of betting it all on the Beltline. Sure, the Beltline is a great project, and a very important one - but it’s a long-term project, spanning 25 years. We need viable transit solutions in the meantime.

This may seem like common sense, but sometimes common sense can get away from us in the face of new and exciting possibilities.

I often find myself wondering why, instead of looking for a bunch of new transit possibilities, we don’t just expand on what we already have - the MARTA heavy rail.

Subway and el systems have stood the test of time in other major U.S. cities (not to mention abroad); it’s time for Atlanta, as the nexus of the South, to catch up. When it comes to Atlanta and MARTA, sometimes I feel like a parent of an unruly child - you give them love and encouragement, and you watch as they stumble, knowing they could accomplish so much more, and hoping they finally realize their potential one day.

Recently I heard someone say that the problem with MARTA isn’t the coverage area, but the access. I still think MARTA should have more coverage other than just north-south and east-west, but I definitely agree that creating more access points to the existing lines should be a priority. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say I think it should take precedence over expanding the coverage area. I don’t know if building new stations along existing rail lines would be less expensive than laying new track, but I think it’s worthwhile.

Station density along the rail lines should resemble that of the small area of midtown and downtown where stations are actually within walking distance of one another (e.g., 5 blocks & change from Arts Center Station to Midtown Station). The distance from Arts Center Station to Lindbergh Station, however, is ridiculous - certainly not walkable.

In Manhattan the average distance between subway stations is 7-10 blocks. I know Atlanta isn’t New York, but is it really unreasonable to make the comparison? Atlanta is the metropolitan area of the South, and it’s an old and established city; why should we not expect the same things from it that we expect of major Northern cities?

A sepia-toned photo shows a solitary, stone and wooden structure-the Church of the Epiphany. No one is around because it is a snowy, winter afternoon. It’s not from nineteenth century New England but nineteenth century Atlanta. Today, the church is gone and on that very spot sits Findley Park, dedicated April 23, 1983. We know this area better as the heart of Little Five Points.

Yesterday, I was thumbing through a coffee table book compiled by Michael Rose called “Atlanta: Then and Now,” which offers past and present pictures of famous locations across Atlanta, including the one described above. I found a Web site called inmanpark.org, which gives detailed histories of Inman Park, including Little Five Points. In case you are not familiar with the area, the heart of Little Five Points is where Euclid, Moreland and McClendon Avenues meet. According to inmanpark.org, when the town of Edgewood was incorporated into Atlanta in 1908, what we know as Little Five Points was born.

While some may disagree, I consider Little Five Points to cover the following area: From Moreland Avenue at Freedom Park south just past Dekalb Avenue just before reaching Reynoldstown; around the elbow curve on Euclid Avenue just beyond the Variety Playhouse and the Bass Lofts (two friends of my family went there when it was called Bass High School) to the WRFG (89.3 FM) radio station stands; and down McClendon Avenue to the cluster of shops where, most notably, rests the Flying Biscuit Café and, until recently, where you could still see the old trolley tracks embedded in the pavement (the area map on l5p.com does not include this area as part of the neighborhood because it is actually more a part of Candler Park).

Inmanpark.org notes the area has gone on a roller coaster ride since the 1930s, from bustling commercial area complete with grocery stores and movie theaters in the 1950s, to seedy goings on due to the exodus of citizens from the city to the outer suburbs in the 1960s and ‘70s, to a rebirth in the 1980s and ‘90s thanks in part to an Atlanta Community Development Block Grant and local entrepreneurs putting money back into the community. Two vacant theaters were saved from the wrecking ball by the late Mayor Maynard Jackson and are the present-day Variety Playhouse and the home of the Seven Stages Theater. The former Bass High School became loft apartments. The former Citizens and Southern Bank branch on Moreland Avenue became the Star Bar (Although I’m not sure if this came before or during the big transformation, before and after pictures can be viewed at atlantatimemachine.com). A whole host of unique shops like A Capella Books, Junkman’s Daughter (with the giant liquor store next door), and Wax ‘n Facts add to the character.

On any given day at Little Five Points, a person might see writers, musicians, poets, punks, skaters, hippies, and a whole host of other people from all walks of life, many hanging around the above-mentioned locations. A Web site called l5p.com describes itself this way: “It’s a business community, a neighborhood, and inarguably the coolest spot on the map between Greenwich Village and the French Quarter. From a bohemian hangout with a cheap poolroom, our neighborhood has grown into a rich mix of art, theater, and commerce. It’s a tasty tossed salad embracing every lifestyle imaginable from Rasta to Gothic, and we welcome you.”

In recent years, townhouses and a huge shopping center, complete with a Kroger, Target, and Barnes & Noble, have appeared in close proximity. While some may worry that these new developments could endanger the independent shops and restaurants in the area, I believe the long memories and strong loyalties of the Little Five Points patrons and residents of Inman, Edgewood and Candler Parks will keep the area in tact and vibrant for many years to come.

Nestled in a wooded space, between Freedom Parkway, and paralleled by bike paths is a quiet island. In one direction is the downtown Atlanta skyline. In the other direction is Inman and Freedom Parks. The landscape is dotted with old Southern homes and the only sounds in the early morning are birds chirping and the occasional passing car. So it’s hard to believe that over 140 years ago, this was the site of a bloody Civil War battle. It was the place where the Union began to drive Old Dixie down.

About two weeks ago, I was riding my bike on a path that parallels Freedom Parkway, heading toward downtown from Little Five Points when I came upon a historical marker. Being the history geek that I am, I immediately pulled over to investigate. It read “Battle of Atlanta” on top and details what happened on July 22, 1864. From that very spot, Major General William Sherman directed Union troops against the Confederates, led by General John Hood a mile and a half southeast from where the sign stands today (As you read the sign, you are facing north. Freedom Parkway is up on the hill to your left and the battle took place over your right shoulder, down another hill).

The modern cityscape has erased much of the original battlefield and changed the shape of the land. “About North Georgia,” which I found through a Google search, uses modern landmarks to help readers understand where the battle took place: “the battle stretched from just south of the Carter Center to the intersection of Moreland Avenue and I-20. From here it formed an arc to Glenwood Avenue finally ending up in the vicinity of Memorial Drive and Clay Street, almost to the site of Jesse Clay’s house. Bald Hill is part of a ridge along which Moreland Avenue runs. The ‘hill’ portion of the ridge runs north of I-20 and a few feet east of the present-day road. As soon as the hill was taken Union soldiers renamed it Leggett’s Hill, after their commander.” Got it?

When the dust had settled, 3,641 Union and 8,499 Confederate troops lay dead. A year later, the war was over and the time for reconciliation and healing, not an easy task, had begun. A century and a half later, this same location is a peaceful place, a silent refuge from the maelstrom of everyday city life- an island in Atlanta.

A stone’s throw away stands the Jimmy Carter Museum and Library, a monument to a president who desperately wanted to cure the pains of Vietnam, erase the shame of Watergate and reconcile the differences of the Sixties. The Carter Center is dedicated to promoting human rights and peace around the world yet it rests so close to a former battlefield where another struggle for human rights took place. The close proximity serves as a reminder to all visitors that we should put the past behind us but we should not forget the lessons history can teach us.

If you live in Dekalb County and your neighborhood has ‘Oak’ in its name, your hood is likely on the rise.  Two different Oaks are seeing new businesses come in, land values increase, and are becoming more neighborhood oriented. 
Oakhurst is essentially the East Lake part of Decatur.  Once largely African American working class, middle young folks of all ages are moving into the area for affordable housing and businesses are following.  They’re even having their first wine crawl in 2006.   Hopefully this will strengthen Decatur by helping it develop more than one identity.  Oakhurst is where East Atlanta was 5 years ago. 
The other ‘Oak’ on the rise is  Oak Grove, a neighborhood around Lavista and Oak Grove road.  While a little more suburban, the neighborhood is developing a feel.  Restaurants such as Mezza, Oak Grove Market, and Terra Cotta pizza, the place has a quirky character.   The addition of a drug store, butcher, and a ‘coffee and flowers’ shop add to the flavor.  With Northlake to the east and Toco Hills to the west, becoming ‘neighborhoodish’ is the best chance for this little piece of Dekalb to really develop its own identity. 
The expanding nature of both these neighborhoods lies in some common characteristics.  First, land values are going up and so density is increasing.  With density comes the critical mass for businesses to locate near the population.  Second, both are benefiting from the awareness of the value of neighborhoods in general.   They are historic communities and want to keep their identity.  Lastly, as  older generations find detached housing too much work, younger generations who are looking for home ownership opportunities are coming in and really sprucing up the housing.  This both helps historic preservation and keeps a critical mass of starter housing alive for another generation. 

The news was confirmed just this past week, and it’s worth tooting our own horn. Atlanta Magazine recently published their December issue, and our humble website was selected as “Best Blog.” Here is what they had to say about us:

Best Blog bloglanta.comWe know, we know … everybody’s got a blog these days. But for smart, informed and often funny commentary on Atlanta happenings—from the lieutenant governor’s son’s DUI to post-BRAC plans for Fort Mac to updates on changing intown neighborhoods—online veteran bloglanta offers an expanded perspective on a wide range of topics from knowledgeable contributors.

Thanks go to the contributors, especially our principal author, Robert Drake, and our masthead designer, Garrett Vonk. Amber Rhea, in addition to her written contributions, has also made some behind-the-scenes contributions.

Enough horn tooting. Let’s drink.

All are invited to join the Bloglanta contributors for an evening at Manuel’s Tavern. We’ll get together Wednesday, Dec 7 at 6:30 and celebrate.

Update: Your humble host made a terrible scheduling error. The celebration will take place Wednesday, Dec 7.

In Addition: Your humble Bloglantans decided 6:30 would be a good time. More updates to come on the specific location we shall meet!

Did you know that the High closed a museum this year too? Yes, they opened their new facilities up by Art Center and used the contributions of thousands of Atlantans to do it, but no good deed goes unpunished.

The Folk Art and Photography galleries at the HMA @ Georgia Pacific are gone. That beautiful architecture by Scoggin Elam Bray? Gone. Now it’s day care center. (At least the space is doing something constructive)

What were they thinking? Thousands of people used those galleries every year. They provided an invaluable respite for folks downtown who wanted a little peaceful inspiration. They were free! And, perhaps therein lies the truth of the matter. As a noted producer in town is wont to say “Art Pays at the Door” and the Woodruff Arts Center folks want to make sure you keep paying.

Overall this is a bad decision. First, it isolates The High even more. Second, with no free access at all (they don’t even have free Tuesdays anymore) they condition people to think that art is not for everyone, just those who can afford it. Third they hurt students and teens. Yes. They have student programs, but tons of GSU students and High School students made their first visits to an Art museum without their parents at Georgia Pacific.

While the expanded High is a real asset to Atlanta, this is a very high price to pay, and they did not even ask the membership about it.

Dear Mr. French & other NASCAR leaders:
Now that you’ve delayed choosing which city will be home to the Hall of Fame, I hope you’ll do the smart thing and give Atlanta’s bid another look.  We want to be your host, and now we can put our money where our mouth is.
When you last visited our fair city, the expanded High Museum of  Art was not yet open nor was the Georgia Aquarium.  The aquarium is averaging over 15,000 people per day in attendance!  Nothing in any of the other cities draws that many people more than 10 times a year.  Here there are 5 other attractions that do. 
Moreover, we’re the only community with the infrastructure to handle the million visitors a year you say you want.  We have the hotel rooms, transportation infrastructure, media companies, and cultural attractions to draw people to the city.  We’re not just a regional metro area, we’re national city known all over the world, and isn’t that precisely the image NASCAR is trying to project?
Locating in Atlanta assures you the people, the coverage, and the long term sustainability to keep a successful Hall of Fame in operation.  Go ahead.  Give Daytona more time.  Visit Richmond, Kansas City, and Charlotte again.  Then come here.  See what we’ve already done.  Then you can harness the energy and successfully build your sport among the faithful and in new markets.

General Motors has announced it is closing the Doraville Plant. 
While this is good news for investors, it’s impact on Atlanta will be as big and bad as a Hummer.  There are a number of losers.  First are the workers, their families, and all the suppliers who helped the plant run.  Second is Dekalb County, which will see a loss of tax base.  There will also need to be negotiations over what to do with the property.  Finding another company that would like to manufacture products here would be ideal, but if that cannot happen, perhaps Georgia Perimeter College might relocate a campus so that it’s much nearer a MARTA station. 
The biggest loser, however, is likely to be Peachtree Dekalb Airport.  For years, airport supporters have pointed out that the airport is an important economic engine for the county and has been vital in getting parts and people to the GM facility.  With the facility gone, one of the most obvious and tangible examples of its importance vanishes.  The airport remains a vital county resource and has been around since World War II, yet many people want it removed completely.  Ironically, all of these folks bought their property long after the airport was there.  Still, the Doraville plant’s closing will add hearten those who want the airport to close. 
The Doraville plant closure also brings forth a major test for County CEO Vernon Jones.  If he can get out front on this issue and create a plan that will allow the county, business, the City of Doraville, and the populace that lives there to benefit from the conversion of the auto plant, he could lay the groundwork for a future run for larger office or as major business player.  If he does nothing, Jones will have failed and voters all over the state will remember. 

At around 10:30 last night, Nat Ford, MARTA’s General Manager, turned in his resignation to accept a similar position at SF Muni. What lies in store for MARTA’s future will be at the hands of the next GM.
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Atlanta still has a strong northside southside split.  Nothing symbolizes this more than the official line of Starbucks Demarcation.  It’s the gulch, right behind CNN Center.  South of there, there are no Starbucks in Atlanta.  Now, I know lots of people hate Starbucks , but that’s not the point.
Many people use the presence of a Starbucks to indicate the growing consumer maturity of a community, and that no Starbucks has made it south of MLK indicates that perhaps perception is running behind or that we Atlantans are buying our own hype, but which is it? 
One would think that the AUC and Castleberry Hill neighborhood could sustain a Starbucks.  Heck, Since Oz closed their coffee house, you’d think that East Point would have recruited them.  Grant Park and East Atlanta are also without the coffee monolith of Seattle.  Either these neighborhoods are not as successful as we think they are or Starbucks is missing an opportunity. 
My guess is the latter.  East Atlantans have shown a penchant for Coffee.  Even when Sacred Grounds when bust, Joe’s coffee house took over the same space and has been there ever since, demonstrating a Market for coffee, but a neighborhood that wants the stuff more than they care where they get it. 
East Point too seems ripe for a coffee house open beyond 7 at night.  With increasing housing and education values in the suburb, it’s amazing that such a place does not enter the market. 
Perhaps this is an opening for Caribou …