davidk10

I've lived here 6 months and this is what I've experienced:
From someone who has lived in L.A. and Chicago, in the downtown and suburban parts, Midtown is not what people think it's cracked up to be.
Let's get right down to the heart of the matter: Atlanta is trying to make itself out to be "all that" but it has a loooong way to go. Number one issue is Crime. That's with a capital 'C'. My understanding is that Atlanta got this problem after a lot of less-fortunates ended up stranded here after hurricane Andrew wiped out New Orleans.

Did no one tell you that a man with an ASSAULT RIFLE shot up a MAJOR MIDTOWN STREET right near the FEDERAL frickin' RESERVE along with a number of other gunslinging thugs? Busy night, lots of people around. Hundreds of shots were fired, but no one was ever caught. Ever.

I pay a lot of money per month in rent, and I daily see reports and video on NextDoor of people within just 1 or 2 blocks of me breaking into homes, trying car doors, stealing, looking in people's windows, and firing guns (this happens with amazing frequency, you can hear them at night if you're up at the right hour). I personally had my car windows smashed. I found out later it was a handful of teenagers in a stolen car who had busted the windows on approximately 200(!) vehicles in the span of a few weeks. Right in this area. Were they caught? Even after 2 police chases with them? Nope. Basically, I don't feel safe living here, and I've lived in some pretty sketch places before. Money keeps flowing in, and they want you to think what a nice place this is, but I wouldn't move here if I were you; at least not if you value your personal safety or property.
Oh, and there are homeless people wandering everywhere. *everywhere*. Again, L.A. and Chicago. Lived in'em both. Neither had a problem as large as this... and the city is actually *shutting down* homeless shelters! This city needs to take care of ALL its citizens.

Cost of living is on par or more expensive than L.A., (where I just moved from) which is pretty crazy imo. An anemic salad can run you $15-20 . Utilities are crazy-expensive (we have the most expensive water in the country, the water department is corrupt here).

Traffic is worse than L.A. or Chicago. I'm not exaggerating. The drivers here seem really angry, aggressive, thoughtless, and just downright dangerous. I've actually gotten rid of my car it is so bad. Also, the traffic gridlock is the worst I've experienced anywhere, yet Atlanta isn't investing more money in public transit... there's the Beltline, which rocks, but it's already overcrowded and the city doesn't plan to widen it. They're adding huge condo complexes all over the place too, which is accelerating this place from full to bursting.

Atlanta has some *amazing* food, it's just not here in Midtown. The food here? Don't believe the reviews. I'm a bit of a foodie, and I have friends whose job it is to entertain clients, and there isn't anything particularly good here in Midtown, despite the reviews; There's Oceanaire, but unless you can drop superbucks on seafood for every meal... go somewhere else or just settle for something cheap, like Cookout. At least it doesn't cost $25-$40 per person for a meal that underwhelms...

Ignorance to advancement and solutions is incredible here. Google Fiber? They're having a tough time getting traction here because people are *actually afraid of this whole "fiber" thing*. Electric Bikes (it's really hilly here)? What are those?

Finally, stuff to do: They're knocking down all the fun, interesting stuff and replacing it with condos and chain stores. If that kind of consumerist, thoughtless, beige lifestyle is for you then you'll love it here! Until someone steals the shit out of your hands that you just bought at West Elm or Williams Sonoma or Anthropology.

One final thought (I know it's a lot of negatives, but I've been super let down by this place that is apparently one of the hottest neighborhoods in the country) is that Atlantans don't seem to understand *how* to make this a better city. I ask bikeshops why, if crime is some of the worst in the nation and traffic is so bad, they don't sell folding (prevent theft) electric (deal with all the hills here) bikes. Atlanta seems to be about 2-10 years behind trends and technology, in general.

Good parts? It's green (nice wildlife, criminals notwithstanding), people act friendlier than other places I've lived (though there seems to be an angry/viciouspolitical/ignorant undercurrent to some of that as well), and area is pretty walkable/bikeable.