Atlanta - Looking South Down the Connector

briantech · #1 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 5:48 PM**

Took these a couple weeks ago. Most are looking south down the connector, with a few of downtown while I was walking around.

This one was VERY strange. One night about a month ago, we started hearing these LOUD explosions. At first I thought someone over off of bankhead was blowing something up. So we go outside on our patio... and for some reason there was a full on fireworks show being shot up over the connector, inbetween the Twelve Centennial construction site and the BOA Plaza. No idea why -- never heard in the news anything about it. But it was a good 15 minutes of professional fireworks going off. Really the weirdest thing to see the exploding balls compared to the size of the buildings.

Now some from just walking around downtown...

Then these are a little older, figured i'd throw em in anyway.

gttx · #2 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 6:10 PM**

Those last few shots of Midtown are pretty old....1180 is still under construction!

And I saw those fireworks too....it was kind of strange. We thought maybe they were coming from the Renaissance Hotel for some reason.

Jeeper · #3 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 6:15 PM**

Is it a law in Atlanta that all skyscrapers must have a pyramid shaped top?

Very nice pics.

SteveD · #4 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 6:19 PM**

Nice pics!

gttx · #5 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeeper

Is it a law in Atlanta that all skyscrapers must have a pyramid shaped top?

Kind of actually, yeah. There was a law passed in the 1980s that mandates that every building that is sufficiently high (don't know how high) can't have a flat rectangular top. The Bellsouth building was the last skyscraper built before this law - you see all the interesting tops on buildings because most development in Midtown is post-1980.

It certainly makes for a dramatic skyline, but sometimes I wish we could have a few more boxes...they aren't all bad if done right (see: the Equitable building downtown).

m@! · #6 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 9:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gttx

Kind of actually, yeah. There was a law passed in the 1980s that mandates that every building that is sufficiently high (don't know how high) can't have a flat rectangular top. The Bellsouth building was the last skyscraper built before this law - you see all the interesting tops on buildings because most development in Midtown is post-1980.

It certainly makes for a dramatic skyline, but sometimes I wish we could have a few more boxes...they aren't all bad if done right (see: the Equitable building downtown).

i had no idea about this... i really wanna know the logic behind it. maybe that's why 1180 has the giant curves at the top?

shanthemanatl · #7 Posted: **Mar 21, 2007, 11:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gttx

Kind of actually, yeah. There was a law passed in the 1980s that mandates that every building that is sufficiently high (don't know how high) can't have a flat rectangular top. The Bellsouth building was the last skyscraper built before this law - you see all the interesting tops on buildings because most development in Midtown is post-1980.

It certainly makes for a dramatic skyline, but sometimes I wish we could have a few more boxes...they aren't all bad if done right (see: the Equitable building downtown).

Is this really true?

I've heard this so many times I'm beginning to think it's an Atlanta urban myth.

I've never been able to uncover any law or ordinance in Atlanta that states that buildings over a certain height are prohibited from having a flat top.

If anybody out there can point me to this law/ordinance, I'd appreciate it.

Nevertheless, I love our luminous crowns and spires!

Oh, and about the fireworks....

We live in the area you're referring to and have been caught by surprise a couple of times recently by fireworks shows in our neighborhood. Our balcony faces Central Park in SoNo/Midtown, which is the site of alot of rugby and soccer league play. One of the fireworks shows appeared to follow the championship game of one of the soccer leagues that plays there. It was quite an impressive show---it's entirely possible that's what you were seeing.

peacefu603 · #8 Posted: **Mar 22, 2007, 1:28 AM**

beautiful

mexibone · #9 Posted: **Mar 22, 2007, 2:30 AM**

great pictures!

holladay · #10 Posted: **Mar 22, 2007, 6:58 AM**

fantastic view of a fantastic curve that is even more fantastic to drive through

WSUSOM · #11 Posted: **Mar 22, 2007, 10:24 PM**

What a great job of catching the true character of the ATl's linear skyline.

Wheelingman04 · #12 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 4:03 AM**

Spectacular work!!

Labtec · #13 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 3:42 PM**

Great Pics

Derek · #14 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 4:58 PM**

very nice

city dweller · #15 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 6:30 PM**

You want to know a city that impressed the hell out of me - Atlanta. I was surprised, first off, by its downtown - it reminds me of Dubai, because instead of being fixed it a sort of box, it drags along a main transverse roadway. And the city in general was more ecelectic than I imagined.
What's weird about that whole roof ordinance is that Atlanta is a pretty warm area most of the year...usually such a law would only be found in the North, where rain and especially snowfall is common and the threat of a roof collapse looms. Thanks for the pics!

Terminus · #16 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by city dweller

What's weird about that whole roof ordinance is that Atlanta is a pretty warm area most of the year...usually such a law would only be found in the North, where rain and especially snowfall is common and the threat of a roof collapse looms. Thanks for the pics!

What roof ordinance? I used to work for the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning and there is no ordinance about roof form, and there never was.

Stratosphere 2020 · #17 Posted: **Mar 24, 2007, 11:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terminus

What roof ordinance? I used to work for the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning and there is no ordinance about roof form, and there never was.

I guess he was influenced by a thread on this board, where mention is made that Atlanta has imposed mandatory spires for buildings exceeding a particular height. I believe it was in city discussions.

WSUSOM · #18 Posted: **Mar 27, 2007, 11:21 PM**

Every time I look at this thread I enjoy it more than the previous time.

mo1217 · #19 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 11:25 AM**

I must say this thread has some of the most impressive views that I have ever seen of the ATL skyline...These photos are absolutely stunning

Terminus · #20 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 5:20 PM**

[QUOTE=gttx;2707644]Kind of actually, yeah. There was a law passed in the 1980s that mandates that every building that is sufficiently high (don't know how high) can't have a flat rectangular top. The Bellsouth building was the last skyscraper built before this law - you see all the interesting tops on buildings because most development in Midtown is post-1980.[QUOTE]

This is a false statement. There is no such law.