[Terminus]

I attended a meeting at ARC today, where released a very telling figure.

Last year, for the first time in recent history, the City of Atlanta led the 20 county metro region in both percentage increase in new building permits (up 35% in one year) AND total number of permits (10,779).

Literally every other jurisdiction, save Clayton Co (6%), Forsyth Co. (14%) and Spalding Co (26%), experienced a decrease in new construction last year.

The second greatest figure in terms of absolute numbers was Gwinnett Co, at 8,956 permits (down 10%). Following Gwinnett was Fulton (excluding the City of Atlanta) at 7,853, and DeKalb at 4,770.

Mighty interesting, IMO.

[micropundit]

Perhaps this is a portend of things to come ? Thanks for the info.

[Fiorenza]

Any info on how many permits were multifamily?

[Stratosphere 2020]

Good news for the city of Atlanta. I don't know if it is good news for Atlanta metro! Growth has slowed in much of the metro area, may imply that the general economy of Atlanta is cooling off despite booming construction in the city.

[Toxostoma Rufum]

Good news for the city of Atlanta. I don't know if it is good news for Atlanta metro! Growth has slowed in much of the metro area, may imply that the general economy of Atlanta is cooling off despite booming construction in the city.

In the long run, if growth slows in the 'burbs and booms in the city this is an excellent development for everybody in all regions.

[galaca]

Good news for the city of Atlanta. I don't know if it is good news for Atlanta metro! Growth has slowed in much of the metro area, may imply that the general economy of Atlanta is cooling off despite booming construction in the city.

I don't think population growth has really slowed in the metro. If anything I think it's actually picked up since 2000.

[Chris Creech]

In the long run, if growth slows in the 'burbs and booms in the city this is an excellent development for everybody in all regions.

Absolutely, the suburbs can't really handle, don't have the infrastructure, and the citizens have no desire for more density, traffic, etc.

The city of Atlanta, is really the only area in the metro with the roads and other infrastructure, and even the will to expand capacity (public transit, new sewers, etc.)

I'd love to see a graph of this info over the past years. This sounds like dramatic turn, not just the culmination of a long trend. Hopefully it will continue to trend tht way in the future.

[shanthemanatl]

Good news, indeed.

It's an exciting time to be an intowner!

[Trae]

This also goes with the City of Atlanta's healthy population growth. More people are finding the city, not the suburbs, more desirable.

[Teshadoh]

Great news Caleb - it will be very interesting to see ARC's projections / estimates this summer when considering this significant change as well as staff changes at ARC. I would expect we will be seeing far higher population estimates & projections in the future, rather than the traditional conservative figure.

But even Henry County had a decrease in building permits? That is extremely surprising -

Now... hopefully the next time my house goes up for sale it will sale this time.

[ThrashATL]

Living in Forsyth County, I'm waiting for the crunch of 35,000 approved homes in the next 5 years. Just glad I bought here when houses and land were cheap!

[whoDean]

The city's growth is great but if growth in the Suburbs falters the region's economy as a whole will suffer.

[Atlriser]

Atlanta metro has led the nation since I believe 1982 in housing permits issued yearly. It did so last year as well. I don't think anyone said the economy was cooling down however. Please look at the housing market for the entire US to compare and not take this fact as a sign that the metro economy has slowed because the % in the burbs declined. The growth over the past few years in housing was unsustainable nationwide and needed to slow.

The metro area declined but nothing like the entire US percentage wise. Atlanta hasn't slown down it's growth engine in the least for the moment guys. It's great news for Atlanta to boom and I'm so excited to be one of the intowners partaking in this new urban revival here. May it continue for my entire lifetime I hope which seems to be what the projections indicate.

Go Atlanta! The gem is finally being polished to glisten again like never before! Watch out other southern cities thinking you are catching up! This is how we roll in Atlanta now......ROFLMAO!

[SteveD]

I hope the U.S. Census Bureau is paying attention! They historically significantly underestimate most city limit populations, including the City of Atlanta.

[sabino86]

I hope the U.S. Census Bureau is paying attention! They historically significantly underestimate most city limit populations, including the City of Atlanta.

...and some numbers:

1970: 496,000
1980: 425,000
1990: 394,000
2000: 416,000
2005: 470,000
2010: ?

My guess for 2010 is 530,000 :tup:

[Great_Hizzy]

25% growth over ten years for a major American municipality would be impressive, especially if it happened without any significant annexation of surrounding communities.

[Atlriser]

Well actually Atlanta is attempting to annex or whatever they are calling it a large portion southeast of the current 285 borders as part of the creation of 2 new cities in South Fulton. Nonetheless, the growth is quiet amazing even without this additional base

[Fiorenza]

Does anybody else get the sense that the mayor is trying to play the race card on annexation? In other words, using annexation to try and keep Atlanta majority-black?

[micropundit]

Does anybody else get the sense that the mayor is trying to play the race card on annexation? In other words, using annexation to try and keep Atlanta majority-black?


No, and would you ,now that you have expressed your opion on the subject , drop it !!!

[Atlriser]

I think Maynard and the CROOK played that card and finally with Shirley we have someone who is concerned about all of Atlanta and not just 1 portion/group of Atlantans. Just my feelings. I don't think she is at all Fiorenza.

Regardless, the area is what around 3000 residents. It is growing rapidly though but it's a upscale enclave section that i'd welcome to the city myself as a bright spot on the southside for others to look upon to improve the rest of parts of that side of Atlanta.

The majority/minority issue is going to be a battle for those who've lived here longterm and seen the horrible race card played many a time over here like myself because the demographics of the city are rapidly changing and will continue over the next 15 years if the growth patterns of today remain intact. However, the new citizens of Atlanta I feel don't care to see that card played and are quite frankly appalled by it which I'm hoping will keep it in check more so than in the past. I'm truly hoping that era of Atlanta politics is over but I feel the next mayoral election could be brutally ugly because of the race issue and changing face of the city.

[Atlriser]

Also, Fiorenza, I appreciate your comment and think it's valid given Atlanta's past history with race issues and for anyone involved politically in this city. Your comment is a very valid and constant theme here that those uninvolved fail to grasp or realize. This is a forum for people to discuss opinions and thoughts which many seem to feel is wrong if it's not their opinion or thought or contrarian to their mindset.

It's better to discuss rationally then to sugar coat and pretend things aren't there which clearly are.

[whoDean]

...and some numbers:

1970: 496,000
1980: 425,000
1990: 394,000
2000: 416,000
2005: 470,000
2010: ?

My guess for 2010 is 530,000 :tup:

Does anyone have ethnicity percentages to match with these numbers?

[jcathens]

I personally don't feel the mayor would try and annex to keep the city one way or the other, but the rest of city council..who knows.

[netdragon]

Absolutely, the suburbs can't really handle, don't have the infrastructure, and the citizens have no desire for more density, traffic, etc.

Not always true. I live in a high density area of Smyrna (Smyrnings), and nothing would be better for the value of my condo than for the area of Smyrna/Vinings to become more dense and developed with mixed retail/townhomes. It probably depends on what suburb. Sandy Springs and Smyrna are a little different than Woodstock and Kenessaw in terms of what people are willing to tolerate or even welcome in their areas.

[Chris Creech]

Not always true. I live in a high density area of Smyrna (Smyrnings), and nothing would be better for the value of my condo than for the area of Smyrna/Vinings to become more dense and developed with mixed retail/townhomes. It probably depends on what suburb. Sandy Springs and Smyrna are a little different than Woodstock and Kenessaw in terms of what people are willing to tolerate or even welcome in their areas.


I'd love to see some suburban area (and some have done it on a limited scale), require development to be on master planned street grids, with node retail zoning, and "urban" planning areas with higher density.

Maybe the cities or counties could built a master grid with the larger streets and designate the retail/shopping nodes, and high density areas, then just require developers to "fill-in" the grid on a master plan with the feeder streets, sewer lines, electrical, etc.

Just with the cobbling together of most surburban areas, one isolated subdivision at a time, and endless strip malls, it's hard.