ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[gttx]

Originally Posted by THE BIG APPLE

Well, the average graduation rate in the United States is around 50%, and 'every' nine seconds someone in the U.S becomes a dropout.

Not to feed the trolls, but if there is any one thing that "put Atlanta on the map" internationally it is the airport. A distant second may be the migration of Fortune 500 companies to the metro area - attracted by low taxes, low cost of living, and great weather. The Olympics were nice in some ways, but certainly didn't create the Atlanta we know today.

[coyotetrickster]

Originally Posted by THE BIG APPLE

The supertall you're refering to was built in 1992. The Olympics are announced 8 years in advanced. The Georgia Dome was also built in 1992. Don't forget Centennial Olymipc Park. The Olympics put Atown on the map.

The supertall, formerly C&S Plaza, was built as a massive F/U to Hugh (Bank of America/NCNB). It had nothing to do with the Olympics. The Dome was expanded as part of the Georgia World Congress Center and at the behest of the Falcons, not Billie Payne. Centennial Park. Absolutely.

[ATLaffinity]

Just to keep pissing people off.

I was an out of town visitor to the Olympics.

Worst major event I've ever attended right down to the mascot.

[ATLaffinity]

Dancing Goats Coffee Bar first tenant in Ponce City Market.

I like it though that autobay seems like a lonely location now.

Though maybe not so much with the park being extended to North Ave.

[Dale]

It's till fashionable to pile on the Atlanta Olympics. Indeed, it is so fashionable that it is not even necessary to articulate one's criticisms.

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

Just to keep pissing people off.

I was an out of town visitor to the Olympics.

Worst major event I've ever attended right down to the mascot.

In contrast to the above, I loved every minute of the Atlanta Olympics and cherish the memories of the events I attended. The only issue I had was the overly packed MARTA train, and that was expected. It doesn't piss me off, but it certainly raises some questions....like, are you by chance a member of the Greek media?

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

Just to keep pissing people off.

I was an out of town visitor to the Olympics.

Worst major event I've ever attended right down to the mascot.

Blame the scofflaw mayor, Bill Campbell, for that. He tackified the city beyond belief. Atlanta was sold commercially to get the Olympics so it is no wonder that the commercialism was out of control.

That being said, it was a fun time to live in the city. And the skyline was lit up nicely.

[Dale]

Wait, somebody made money off the Olympics ? Say it wasn't so!

[ATLaffinity]

Nevermind, it was awesome. All visitors were impressed and it wasn't derided at all.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

Nevermind, it was awesome. All visitors were impressed and it wasn't derided at all.

Well, it was derided. But primarily because someone heard someone else say, "It was crassly commercial! Worst Olympics ever!" And then that just led to mass-regurgitation.

[eddie21]

Just like the the 84 Olympics in Los Angeles, the Atlanta games were commercial. But I loved every second of it.

[testarossa50]

Vancouver has kind of taken the "worst Olympics ever" heat off of us imo.

[BunkyWay]

I thought it was the tasteless opening ceremony that made it suck so bad? I mean... "How ya'll doin'?". A ring of Ford trucks?? Seriously?? The reaction of the NBC newscasters (which you can see on youtube) was priceless.

Or was it the bombing that made it suck? Which of course was due to lack of security...

Or was it the tacky tent city? Or the inefficiency and lack of organization?

I think you get the point... It's just too easy to bash the '96 Olympics. Atlanta was an absolute boomtown in the 90s and it was a fun time to be living here. But I will say, as a native, the Olympics changed Atlanta more profoundly than anything else since Sherman. Whether that change is good or bad depends on who you ask.

[Tuckerman]

The Olympics are (almost always have been) crassly commercial and exploitative; some call it sport. Atlanta was just the perfect city to exploit those characteristics. If you enjoy such crass, commercial sports, it was a great time. It was a great time for those who simply understood what the whole point was and went with it. Atlanta is one town that took the Olympics for what they are worth and profited from it.

[simms3_redux]

Most cities who host Olympics don't necessarily benefit and it either becomes a wash or a great loss. I think Atlanta, despite the many mishaps and odd caricatures, profited greatly as a region and as a city from the Olympics.

What helped in Atlanta's case was its small size at the time...3.5-3.6 million people, which in Sunbelt America terms is very small compared to most world cities who win the Olympic bids.

I think the city overall has always been a big picture city filled with eccentric people who have big picture ideas. It's always about economic growth with Atlanta. The railroads (Atl took them in the 1800s when Decatur turned them down). The Civil Rights Movement (was always about economic growth rather than pure "love" of the opposite skin color). The Federal Air Mail Route (Atl happily took it when Birmingham turned it down). MARTA (we happily did what we could to beat out Seattle in federal funding to build mass transit). The Olympics (a small idea then accepted by everyone in Atlanta...for economic gain rather than glory). Finally, and hopefully the Beltline/Transportation Investment Act will be the next in a series of big picture ideas to come to fruition in Atlanta. It could do for the whole city what the High Line has done for Chelsea/Meatpacking District in Manhattan.

Other Sunbelt cities have a history of anti-growth policy. Louisville, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Richmond were all much larger than Atlanta from the 1800s to even as far in as 1960. They all had so many things going for those cities, but some let corruption and all let anti-growth policies get in the way. Atlanta then took literally all the growth in the south, and with warm and open arms. Now Charlotte and Nashville are back on track to being growth cities, so there is some competition for the first time in decades.

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by BunkyWay

I thought it was the tasteless opening ceremony that made it suck so bad? I mean... "How ya'll doin'?". A ring of Ford trucks?? Seriously?? The reaction of the NBC newscasters (which you can see on youtube) was priceless.

Or was it the bombing that made it suck? Which of course was due to lack of security...

Or was it the tacky tent city? Or the inefficiency and lack of organization?

I think you get the point... It's just too easy to bash the '96 Olympics. Atlanta was an absolute boomtown in the 90s and it was a fun time to be living here. But I will say, as a native, the Olympics changed Atlanta more profoundly than anything else since Sherman. Whether that change is good or bad depends on who you ask.

I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with "How y'all doin?"...it's a fairly commonly heard throughout the U.S. - yes, in every region - so I don't know why it would be an issue. Anywhere else in the world it would be considered culturally amusing or colorful, but I guess in the South we're supposed to be embarrassed. I'm not. I liked the Opening Ceremonies and thought that the inclusion of a little americana was very appropriate and expected.

Nice post by simms3 redux above...

[micropundit]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Most cities who host Olympics don't necessarily benefit and it either becomes a wash or a great loss. I think Atlanta, despite the many mishaps and odd caricatures, profited greatly as a region and as a city from the Olympics.

What helped in Atlanta's case was its small size at the time...3.5-3.6 million people, which in Sunbelt America terms is very small compared to most world cities who win the Olympic bids.

I think the city overall has always been a big picture city filled with eccentric people who have big picture ideas. It's always about economic growth with Atlanta. The railroads (Atl took them in the 1800s when Decatur turned them down). The Civil Rights Movement (was always about economic growth rather than pure "love" of the opposite skin color). The Federal Air Mail Route (Atl happily took it when Birmingham turned it down). MARTA (we happily did what we could to beat out Seattle in federal funding to build mass transit). The Olympics (a small idea then accepted by everyone in Atlanta...for economic gain rather than glory). Finally, and hopefully the Beltline/Transportation Investment Act will be the next in a series of big picture ideas to come to fruition in Atlanta. It could do for the whole city what the High Line has done for Chelsea/Meatpacking District in Manhattan.

Other Sunbelt cities have a history of anti-growth policy. Louisville, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Richmond were all much larger than Atlanta from the 1800s to even as far in as 1960. They all had so many things going for those cities, but some let corruption and all let anti-growth policies get in the way. Atlanta then took literally all the growth in the south, and with warm and open arms. Now Charlotte and Nashville are back on track to being growth cities, so there is some competition for the first time in decades.

Good historical analysis ,however the prospective view needs to widen a bit.
The most significant economic and demographic growth in North America over the next 20 years is going to occur in the 13 state region in the southern portion of the United States. In- migration from the industrial states has slowed but will continue; immagration from Mexico has slowed as well ,however the fecundity rate of the remaining population will be statistically significant; and the corporate relocations from California and other high tax jurisdictions will continue.
Atlanta's airport; colleges and universities and climate are all assets that argue well for the future. In short, Atlanta's competition for economic development now includes Miami,Houston and Dallas.
The key for Atlanta within this context is to have leadership that can effectively address its transit issues with more and better transit options and an emphasis on connectivity ; create more and better affordable housing options and develop a globally competitive center city.
.

[TarHeelJ]

That's what I was gonna say...

[Tuckerman]

A good discussion. When I moved to Atlanta two decades ago (from the frozen North), I immediately liked the upbeat spirit of the place. Having always lived in places where history trumped the present, it was refreshing to live in a dynamic growing environment where people who were still alive were respected and were the ones who were making the difference. That energy is what make Atlanta so interesting. Can't wait though till we get back to the thread having lots of construction to talk about.

[SwimAtl]

the Opening ceremonies also included jessie norman singing opera, gospel music, a tribute to greece & the original olympics, a glowing tribute to each continent, and Mr. Ali. They were very much atlantan, including the pick up trucks and cheer leaders. Say what you will about the altanta games - they were fun, & there were great sport moments - as well as some crassness and technology problems. But I had a ball and I think atlanta grew up lots both culturally & in terms of seeing where it needed to mature as a city. we're still a young city. and imo if we can get the SPLOST passed, the urban core will really take off.