Interesting Stories Archives

What Makes a Community Walkable?

December 11, 2011 by Thom Abbott

When I am contacted by potential Buyers or renters looking to live in Midtown Atlanta or other Intown Atlanta neighborhoods, I’m often asked, “Is it a walkable area?” Well, exactly What Makes a Community Walkable?

While various factors come into play, here are some key points about walkability and how it makes a neighborhood better, safer and improves the quality of life:

Lower Transportation costs —

In a walkable community, your car is parked more and driven less. Fewer car trips mean a lower monthly fuel cost.

Healthy Lifestyle —

By living in a neighborhood that is walkable, you tend to get more exercise and be in better health. The air can be cleaner too. So that trip to the pasta restaurant is no so bad, because you burn some of it off on the walk back home!

Less Traffic Congestion —

One-fourth of all car trips are less than one mile. (I’d say it’s probably MUCH higher in the Atlanta area) If you have sidewalks, safe street/road crossings and accessible services like shopping, markets and such, you can leave you car and wak to do these activities.

Reduced Crime —

A neighborhood that has more street/foot traffic means there are more eyes on the street. People watch out for each other and have more of a tendency to know their neighbors. Even if you live in a high-rise condominium building, by walking in and out of your building and up and down the streets, you start to see people that live in your building or neighboring buildings.

A great website to help you learn about the walkability of a neighborhood is WalkScore.com This site, gives Midtown Atlanta a score of 75 out of 100, making it a very walkable community.

While living in an Intown Atlanta neighborhood can reduce your driving, many of the older neighborhoods are walkable from the sense of walking your neighborhood, but needed services like shopping and markets require a car. Midtown Atlanta offers many of the services it residents need and as more retail opens in the coming years, it will be even more walkable that it already is.

For More Information on how we can best serve your InTown Atlanta Real Estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or call us at 770.713.1505.

We specialize in InTown Atlanta Real Estate single family homes and condomiums. If you are planning to Buy InTown Atlanta real estate, let us help you explore all the possibilities available to you and help you find just the right home you will LOVE!

Please use the following links to Search for Homes by Intown Atlanta Neighborhoods or Zip codes!

Brookhaven/Ashford Park 30319	Buckhead 30305
Buckhead 30327	Buckhead 30342
Chamblee 30341	Decatur 30307
Doraville 30340	Downtown Atlanta 30303
Druid Hills 30329	Dunwoody 30338
East Atlanta/Ormewood Park 30316	East Lake/Kirkwood 30317
Grant Park 30312	Midtown Atlanta 30308
Midtown Atlanta 30309	Midtown West/Collier Hills 30318
Morningside 30306	Morningside 30324

Are you looking for a specific Intown Atlanta neighborhood to focus on? Contact Thomas Ramon Realty and we can set up a search for any specific neighborhood you are looking for!

City National Bank to Open Atlanta Office

December 6, 2011 by Thom Abbott

City National Bank will open it’s second office in the Southern U.S., citing the South’s growing entertainment and music industry. City National Bank already has an office in Tennessee.

As reported in Variety, City’s David Innes will manage the branch. The bank has always focused on the entertainment industry and about 20% of their bottom line comes from entertainment, music and film clients according to Martha Henderson, VP of Entertainment for the bank.

Besides functioning as a full-service commercial bank, the new branch will continue to provide film production financing and services for the music and sports industries from its Atlanta office.

A Google search and a visit to the City National Bank’s website indicates the branch will be located at 3333 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 755, 30305. This looks to be the 200 Terminus building. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more information. But this news certainly adds to the credibility of Georgia and Atlanta as an entertainment industry mainstay.

Midtown Atlanta Community Recycling Center

November 30, 2011 by Thom Abbott

I think there are many an individual in this world that think our resources are endless. We will never run out of clean water, fresh food, trees for lumber, etc. Along the same lines, these same people probably do not believe in global warming or how wacky our weather seems to be in the last few years. And they probably figure that throwing a used ink cartridge or old remote control into the garbage will not hurt anything either.

Well, they probably aren’t, it quite possibly is, yes it does.

So the next time you clean out your closet, garage or storage unit, think twice before you just toss that stuff in the garbage. Take it to the Midtown Atlanta Community Recycling Center, sponsored by Keep Atlanta Beautiful. Held the second Saturday of each month, (the next being December 10th) it’s conveniently located in Old Fourth Ward at the former Walden Middle School at 320 Irwin Street, ATL 30312. So, just what will they take for recycling?

I’ll just bet you’ve thrown one of those items in a garbage can before? I know I have!

They also do paper shredding! Perfect place to get rid of those tax receipts (not your return…save that baby!)

Be sure to visit the Midtown Atlanta Recycling Center and do your small part to help the enviornment for the people that will follow us!

Thom Abbott Midtown Atlanta For More Information on how we can best serve your Midtown Atlanta Real Estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or call us at 770.713.1505.

We specialize in Condominium homes in Midtown Atlanta and other In Town areas of Atlanta. If you are planning to Buy or Sell real estate, let us help you explore all the possibilities available to you and help you find just the right home you will LOVE!

For a Quick Look at Midtown Atlanta Condominiums:

Midtown Atlanta High Rise Condominiums

Midtown Atlanta Mid Rise Condominiums

Perhaps you are interested in Historic Midtown? Take a look at Homes For Sale In Historic Midtown Atlanta

Cousins Buys Midtown Promenade II for $134.7M

November 29, 2011 by Thom Abbott

Well, some real estate transactions can move pretty quickly. Even the really big ones!

Cousins announced yesterday that they have purchased the Midtown Promenade II office building for $134.7m.

In CASH.

You might recall, back in September, I wrote about the Midtown Promenade II Office building going on the market. It certainly did not take long for that baby to find a new owner!

The 774,000 square-foot building is located in the Midtown area of the city and is 58 percent leased, Cousins said.

Where Do I Report A Burned Out Street Light in Atlanta?

November 27, 2011 by Thom Abbott

Now that the time has changed, it gets dark really early in Atlanta. Like by 6pm….IT’S DARK!

So you are out for a walk with Fido and there it is…..a burned out street light! Where Do I Report A Burned Out Street Light in Atlanta?

That early darkness makes it more apparent when a street light goes out. Seeing problems with the sidewalk and the lack of light can make you feel uncomfortable. Atlanta Police will always advise that you not walk alone after dark, and if you do see a street light that has been damaged or gone out report it immediately to Department of Public Works (DPW).

The Customer Service Center (CSC) is your first source to report concerns in the public right of way (i.e. potholes, trash pickup, street lights, traffic signals, metal plates, etc.) and or provide feedback on our services. You may contact the CSC directly at (404) 330-6333 or via email to: publicworks@atlantaga.gov. The CSC is available Monday – Friday, 8:15 am – 5:00 pm.

Be safe and report any concerns to DPW or the Atlanta Police Department.

Two Luxury Apartment Towers Planned for Midtown Atlanta

November 16, 2011 by Thom Abbott

Well it seems that construction cranes will soon be part of the Midtown Atlanta skyline once again! Yippie! Two Luxury Apartment Towers are planned for Midtown Atlanta. And oddly enough, on the same side street off of Peachtree Street — 12th Street!

Daniel Corp (Birmingham, AL) and Selig Enterprises, Inc are set to break ground next month on an $82 million glass tower which will feature 20 stories, 330 homes and condominium-like amenities. Located at 77 12th Street, it’s the next phase of the massive 12th & Midtown development started by the same group. Plans for the 17 acre development stalled after the construction of the Loews’ Hotel, 1075 Peachtree (office tower) and 1010 Midtown Condominiums. Daniel Corp has leased out some of the unsold condominums as Midtown Atlanta condo sales have skidded.

This new construction is a good thing for Midtown Atlanta an several fronts. “Atlanta got caught up in the condo boom, but there’s a shortage of market-rate apartments,” said Steve Baile, Senior VP for Daniel Corp in an article in The Wall Street Journal. “We thought it was time to test the market.” I’ll agree with that one.

Secondly, new construction in an area is a signal that things are improving. And there is a shortage of rental units in Midtown Atlanta. Most people looking to rent in the area must rely on private rentals in condominiums buildings. Most all of the Midtown buildings are at rental capacity (HOA’s restrict rentals to 20-25% of the homes in the building). There are but a few major apartment complexes in the Midtown area. And those buildings run a 7.2% vacancy rate.

A second apartment tower has also been planned by Novare Group, made most “famous” for their condominium projects of recent such as Viewpoint, Spire, Metropolis, The Atlantic and Twelve Atlantic Station….just to name a few! Novare’s Sky Tower will sit on 12th Street, between West Peachtree and Spring Streets. Those plans call for a 23-story building with 320 homes. Their plans also call for retail space along 12th Street. If you’ve walked through this area, you know it needs some serious sprucing up, and BOTH of these buildings may very well help spur other businesses to open in this somewhat desolate part of Midtown Atlanta. All of the previous developments have focused on Peachtree Street, or close proximity.

Daniel Corp is planning to rent apartments starting at $1500 for a one bedroom and $2200 for a 2-bedroom. I’ve found some challenges in getting potential tenants to pay those kinds of rates in current Midtown Atlanta condo buildings, so it will be interesting to see if the proposed rates are indeed “market rates.”

Construction cranes have already returned to Midtown. A crane towers over the site of the new Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites that is going up at 10th and Willams (Downtown Connector).

Two Luxury Apartment Buildings for Midtown Atlanta!

Lower Transportation costs —

Healthy Lifestyle —

Less Traffic Congestion —

Reduced Crime —

In CASH.

HomeSmart