Quote:
Originally Posted by ATL_J
He didn't say it, but I'll respond to your question. I think you're being a little too literal with your definition of "hellhole". Obviously the area isn't a ghetto, but considering this is a forum where most people prize urbanity and don't view sprawl development kindly, you can imagine why people don't hold this area in high regard. Simply view the area around the proposed stadium - fast food restaurants, strip malls, 12 lane surface streets, suburban malls, and office parks all surrounded by seas of parking. Even the most urban portions of the area aren't realistically accessible to pedestrians nor are they connected to any sort of logical street grid (and I use grid loosely here). Basically, the issues many here have with Dunwoody and to an extent Buckhead, magnified by 10, and minus MARTA or the possibility of.
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Seems to me that the area selected is perfect for what it looks like the Braves are trying to achieve: their own hermetically sealed universe in which they are in control of virtually every aspect of the fan's experience while on the property - from entry to parking to souvenir shopping. There is plenty of space for some type of year-round experiential park/museum/shop/dine complex on the 41 frontage that could be set apart from the stadium proper. There's even room for them to develop their own themed hotel on the site.
Look at the geographical setup. It's a large piece of land that can be master planned and developed from the get go. It's surrounded by highways, office parks and large apartment complexes that can be fenced off and access denied to the facility. No existing street grid or single family homes - or churches - to deal with.
This may not be what most of us consider to be a great urban sporting event experience but clearly the Braves organization has decided that this is just the type of set up they can form into an environment that their fan-base wants.
After 40+ years of dealing with shady gypsy lots, tacky vendors that decrease their retail sales, a decaying neighborhood that the city seems unwilling or unable to help clean up, decreasing satisfaction with the fan experience outside of the park and finally, the bad publicity of having a fan get shot a block away from the stadium while leaving the game, the Braves got fed up. I can't say I blame them for wanting to get away from all that drama.
It looks to me like Atlanta city government just took it for granted all these years that the Braves would just shut up and live with their bad surroundings for the privilege of being in the city. I wonder how much the recent dust-up between Mayor Reed and the street vendors weighed on this decision?
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