Elements of Urbanism: Atlanta

[simms3]

And might I add that Miami and Atlanta can compete with each other in design.  Both cities have some of the country's most reputable architectural firms, both cities have some of the country's most famous interior designers, and both cities have major design components.

Miami has all of those design districts, major fashion shows, and is a hub of major fashion, interior design, and even architecture.

Atlanta has ADAC, SCAD, major design firms, decently major fashion shows, and the huge downtown Merchandise Mart/Gift Mart/Apparel Mart.

You'll find trendsetters in either city.  So basically, had to repute and agree with some points here, but I think there are far more similarities between each than dissimilarities.  And I agree that each one can be considered the Sixth Borough (Miami cerca 1920s and Atlanta cerca 1980s).  Emory, Tech, and UM are all full of yankees 

[simms3]

Actually back to business, at my firm, we do a lot of business with South Florida investors.  Almost all of our business comes from a few select places: New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, or Boston.  Not much from the west coast, but a ton from either Miami or New York.  Miami is definitely definitely a major business hub in this country.  F500 hub it may not be, but it has tons of holding companies, and US headquarters for tons of Latin American and European banks/Life firms/businesses.  It also has a lot of private equity groups.  A lot.  Lots of big developers, too.  And I think I mentioned law firms earlier.  Miami is a legal hub.  Large law firms and high profile law firms that employ thousands and pay their most junion attorneys at least a quarter million bucks are typically in big business centers.  They follow the money, i.e. big clients, i.e. super high wealth individuals and major firms. 

In fact, if Jacksonville could attract more firms here, we could then attract more law firms and more high profile law firms (we have no high profile law firms in town), and these are the best office space tenants and could provide demand to fill our downtown office space and then some.  Big law firms like brand new buildings that are very eco-friendly.  For every major new trophy tower built in any major city is either a major financial institution anchor or a major law firm anchor.  Hardly anything else unless for spec space.

[cityimrov]

I know I'm going to get this wrong but I'll give it a try but I think I heard this argument before.   

Atlanta also has one major advantage that Jacksonville doesn't have.  The full support of the State of Georgia.  In Florida, all our state revenue is pretty much divided up between Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and the rest of this rather large state.  Georgia really only has to divert money into two major cities - Atlanta & Savannah plus a few midsized cities.   

If things keep declining here, I get this feeling our clout with the state budget is going to get smaller and smaller compared to areas like Miami & Orlando. 

[thelakelander]

^That's a true argument. 

[Coolyfett]

^That's a true argument. 

OH NO THE HELL ITS NOT!!!! NOT AT ALL!

[Coolyfett]

Atlanta is always fighting with Georgia....To be honest it seems Georgia would rather due without Atlanta.

[spuwho]

Atlanta is always fighting with Georgia....To be honest it seems Georgia would rather due without Atlanta.

Water rights is a large issue between metro Atlanta and the Georgia. It's definitely not warm and fuzzy there.

[thelakelander]

Fighting or not, they still get a larger chunk of state funding than Jax gets from Florida.

[tufsu1]

I know I'm going to get this wrong but I'll give it a try but I think I heard this argument before.  

Atlanta also has one major advantage that Jacksonville doesn't have.  The full support of the State of Georgia.  In Florida, all our state revenue is pretty much divided up between Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and the rest of this rather large state.  Georgia really only has to divert money into two major cities - Atlanta & Savannah plus a few midsized cities.    

If things keep declining here, I get this feeling our clout with the state budget is going to get smaller and smaller compared to areas like Miami & Orlando.  

actually this is somewhat true...the way things are set up in Georgia, roughly 50% of the money (and political power) goes to metro Atlanta...the other 50% goes to the rest of the state....which is part of the reason you can find unnecessary 4-lane highways throughout rural Georgia.

[mtraininjax]

actually this is somewhat true...the way things are set up in Georgia, roughly 50% of the money (and political power) goes to metro Atlanta...the other 50% goes to the rest of the state....which is part of the reason you can find unnecessary 4-lane highways throughout rural Georgia.

Atlanta actually is a 40+ county area, which is almost 25% of the Georgia counties. It used to get the same amount of resources for only 3-5 counties, then the 80s, 90s, and 00s happened with explosive growth, which is still going on further and further out from the center. In a few years, who knows, Atlanta may annex Macon and get closer to that 50% of the counties in GA.

As for the unnecessary 4-lane highways, which ones are you referring to? There are many reasons for many of those, some political, some commercial.

[tufsu1]

As for the unnecessary 4-lane highways, which ones are you referring to? There are many reasons for many of those, some political, some commercial.

mostly political...for example, try US 82 between Tifton and Waycross (I was on it yesterday)...while clearly this may be a decent truck route from the port of Brunswick, it is virtually empty....two lanes with an occasional passing lane would be plenty sufficient.

as to the power break between Atlanta and the rest of the state, metro area has about 5 million people...and the state as a whole has just over 10 million.

[AaroniusLives]

And I just have to say it, but high rise architecture in Atlanta blows Miami's architecture out of the water, fair and square.

Well, that's subjective. From wikipedia:

Miami's skyline is ranked third most impressive in the U.S., behind New York City and Chicago, and 19th in the world according to the Almanac of Architecture and Design.

But, I personally liked Atlanta's better as well, so to each their own.

As for my rent, entirely true. I nearly fell down over the price and wondered what was 'wrong.'

Atlanta also has one major advantage that Jacksonville doesn't have.  The full support of the State of Georgia.  In Florida, all our state revenue is pretty much divided up between Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and the rest of this rather large state.  Georgia really only has to divert money into two major cities - Atlanta & Savannah plus a few midsized cities.

This is where the state/city relationship follows New York/NYC. And actually, in Florida, it's controversial how much state revenue flows out of South Florida without going back into South Florida. Tallahassee really wants Orlando to 'pop' and most of the $$$ goes there.

[Coolyfett]

Fighting or not, they still get a larger chunk of state funding than Jax gets from Florida.

Well yea, they are the ONLY really metro in the state. Florida has 4.

[Coolyfett]

Atlanta is always fighting with Georgia....To be honest it seems Georgia would rather due without Atlanta.

Water rights is a large issue between metro Atlanta and the Georgia. It's definitely not warm and fuzzy there.

Marta/Transportation founding, State Troopers vs Local LE, Governor vs Mayor Reed...man the things I read in Atlanta.

[thelakelander]

Fighting or not, they still get a larger chunk of state funding than Jax gets from Florida.

Well yea, they are the ONLY really metro in the state. Florida has 4.

Exactly.  Florida has one (Miami/FTL/WPB) metropolitan area larger than Atlanta's and six more (Tampa, Orlando, Jax, Sarasota, Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, Lakeland) larger than Georgia's second largest MSA (Augusta).