Hey, Atlanta — Milwaukee is more exciting than you. That's according to real estate site Movoto, which has scientifically ranked the top 10 "most exciting cities" in the union. The ATL falls in at a not-too-shabby No. 8 on the list which, surprisingly, lists Oakland at No. 1, NYC at just No. 6 and Milwaukee at No. 7. Within a creative (controversial?) framework of criteria, Atlanta apparently earned good marks for its young population, bars and music scene — and took demerits for its fast food joints and park acreage.
The 10 survey points of this "study" were an interesting mix: park acreage per person; percent of population between 20 and 34 years old; fast food joints per square mile (less is more); bars per square mile; big box stores per square mile (less is more); population diversity; movie theaters per square mile; museums per square mile; theater companies per square mile; and music venues per square mile. While the site didn't release specific data, the list basically tells us that Walmarts and Big Macs are not fun, and that old folks are bad.
There's probably not much we can do about the negative points earned by Atlanta's many fast food places — defined here as Subway, McDonald's, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Burger King — but the greenspace issue is being addressed right now through a significant expansion of Piedmont Park. The Beltline probably factors in there somewhere, as would other pending projects like Ponce City Market and the 280 Elizabeth St. project.
So: Does the ATL make your excited little heart go pitter-pat? Or does it leave your soul screaming for more?
— By Curbed Atlanta contributor Tyler Estep
· Piedmont Expansion Revving Up; Done By June? [Curbed Atlanta]
· Ponce City Market: What You (Probably) Don't Know [Curbed Atlanta]