PiratePete

So I'm moving to Atlanta in a few weeks and need some advice on where to live. I'll be working right by the east side of the airport and obviously would like to keep the commute as short as possible. Riverdale, Forest Park, College Park? What if I lived inside the 285 perimeter, would the commute going away from the center be as bad? I'm considering getting a short term lease and moving when I become more familiar with the place. Any and all advice is welcome.

GTcommuter

Pete, welcome to Atlanta! Its a fun city to live in.

I don't know much about Riverdale but Forest Park and College Park both have some nice neighborhoods. The south side has some great deals, but there are still some rough areas. Also look at East Point, Capitol View, Sylvan Hills, and Hapeville. You shouldn't have a problem living ITP (inside the perimeter), if you're close enough you can stay off the Interstates.

Let us know when you get here. There's lots of riding around down, even an informal social riding club that I participate in.

scottatl

You did not mention your budget. Take a look at peachtree city, close to work. I live on the northside so do not know much about that area but people that live in peachtree city love it. It is one of those self contained communities.


https://www.peachtree-city.org/

georgiaboy

I would avoid Clayton County. The crime rate has escalated there. Riverdale was great in the day, but has went down over the last 7 years. Forest Park is a 70's community with some good and bad areas. College Park has some cool houses from the 40's and 50's and close to the airport. Some good and some bad. Do you have employment yet? If so, what area of town? Sounds like your occupation could be airport related based on the cities you mentioned. We could suggest some good close areas.

GTcommuter

Yea, but still a 45 minute Interstate drive into downtown with traffic.

RonH

Peachtree City is a great place to live and bike but not convenient to the east side of the airport.
Will you be working inside or outside of I-285? East or west of I-75? Getting over or under I-285 or I-75 could be tricky, depending on location. Same with I-675.

PiratePete

I'll be working just east of I75 and just north of I285, pretty close to where they intersect. Looking at income, crime, and population statistics and it looks like Fayetteville and Stockbridge are better options, but then again statistics are just numbers. Both of these places are about 15 miles away from where I'll be working. Anyone care to guess how long that'll take to drive? 30-45 min? more?

Have been hearing good things about Peachtree City but it's about 20 miles away, a little too far for the daily commute.

Budget for a one bedroom apartment is 600-800 but could go as high as 900 or maybe even a little more if I really like the place. Lower rent just means more money to spend on bikes and other toys. Oh, and I'm 22, fresh out of college, no kids.

Gomez308

I would vote for Fayetteville. Stockbridge and Henry Co in general is growing way too fast for the infrastructure to keep up.

Jake the Snake

Pete, since you are just out of school you might want to look in town. I live in Inman Park and travel for a living and my commute is about 15 minutes to the airport in the AM and about 25 min in the PM. Fayetteville, Stockbridge and Peachtree City are nice, but unless you are married with children you will be driving into ATL every weekend. Look at Inman Park, Candler Park and maybe Virgina Highlands for a place, I bet you could find a 1br in your budget.

RonH

Once you get settled in a place, go to www.cleanaircampaign.com and www.hatma.org and check out the commuter rewards info.

purplebike

I totally agree. I'm currently a student who commutes 7 miles to campus from downtown, and it's worth it. The Little Five Points/Inman Park/Edgewood/Castleberry (where I live) districts are awesome and you can find really good rent. Plus, if you don't want to bike to the airport, MARTA is really accessible from the city. If you live down by the airport you'll miss out on a lot of the younger bike culture here.

KinjaBoy

+1

Add East Atlanta Village and Oakhurst to that list; smaller than what Jake The Snake mentioned, but they are pretty decent.

GTcommuter

Hey Pete, I just sent you a PM.

gapowermike

Live close to work. I guess it's all what you're used to. The traffic up there would have me pulling my hair out.

Michael

GTcommuter

Bump.

Is Pete still looking for a place?

jdeane4

Hey Pete, I live in Macon and visit ATL quite often. The Highlands/Little 5 Points is a great area. Like someone else said, MARTA is a good source for transportation to and from the Airport area. I personally dont favor the southside. Just listen to a Ludacris song and he'll explain it. Southside does have some nice areas but if you want a cool sense of community and a more youthful culture, check out the eastside. Lotta fun over there. I will be moving to ATL in a few years and thats where my wife and I will locate ourselves. Good luck on house hunting.

branman1986

+1 billion

RonH

The MARTA line ends **inside** the airport terminal. It may be tough to get from inside, then around the airport to the east side so you can get to work.
Does anyone else here do something like this? Comments?

purplebike

Where exactly is work? College Park is in decent proximity to the airport and, conceivably, you could ride your bike from the station to work. I work ~3 miles out from the Doraville station which is the end of the Northeast line and I just take my bike on MARTA and then ride out the rest of the way.

Shiseiji

I lived in both Union City and Ellenwood and liked both. Union City is up and coming after being by-passed when things jumped down to Peachtree City. Though with where the roads are, you may or may not be able to use a surface street to go around the south side of the airport to get to where you will be working. Ellenwood has a fat rendering plant (dog food??) so at times the odor can be bad. But it is a small country community and I found it to be nice and quiet. I lived in a very small former military housing area just south of FT Gillem off of 675. cheap and quiet. In Union City I had my TV stolen, but I found a window I had missed checking to be sure it was locked. I have a friend who lived most of his life in Inman Park and loves it there. Was a bit pricy for me. The part of town you will be working in, Hapeville??, is, frankly, a bit rough with some streetwalkers etc. north of the airport so the bike may not be the way to go. The commute up I675 from Stockbridge can be tough, and same for I75 up from Peachtree City. From Union City it was only one exit to I275 and then heading east was easy. Heading south from Inman Park would be easy. You will love the Silver Comet trail (rail-to-trail graded for a steam engine) and I believe they approved the greenbelt though it will be years for it to be complete. I had one friend who lives in town and dosen't own a car.

Hope this helps some.

TLupo

The best option is to get off at the College Park MARTA station. It is just off Main Street in College Park. Main Street is Highway 29 and not too busy to ride through the area.

Tommy

PiratePete

Thanks for all the advice. I got a nice little apartment in Inman Park/L5P last weekend. Only 15 min drive to work. So far I'm loving Atlanta. Can't wait to start exploring the local mtb trails.

georgiaboy

Yeah, this is the best time of the year for the weather. Will be hot and sticky in July and August. You'll be riding your bike at 900pm.

gapowermike

....or 5am. If the heat doesn't kill you, the humidity will.

Michael

RonH

Ahhh. My favorite riding weather. Warm beats cold any day!!!