Cityscape
But as many rushed to get out during the mid-20th century, others stayed and focused on making Atlanta, the heart of the sprawling region, better. They pushed for transit to create MARTA, supported affordable housing to make sure people of all incomes could live here, and pushed for justice. They invested in their communities and fought off projects that could have destroyed their homes. They knew that Atlanta had value and it could be better. So they worked toward that goal.
Today, the visionaries in our ranks include a City Hall official who is trying to retrofit the mess previous generations made to cater to commuters. There is a neighborhood activist in West End who is reaching out to young people to give guidance and structure. There is a group of historic preservationists who refuse to allow another beautiful building — in this case, a library — to be forgotten. And there is an annual gathering of people who flock to a truly visionary project to look at lanterns and be around other people.
Atlanta has too often focused on short-term fixes to solve problems. It’s been blind to the long-term problems those fixes can create. But pushing back, and sometimes leading us, are people who can see past the next year or election. To the people who are committed to making the city a better place, we say thanks.
— THOMAS WHEATLEY
Best (and most unlikely) comeback BOA Award Winner
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Best free thing to do BOA Award Winner
Best light show BOA Award Winner
Best secret stash of Victorian architecture BOA Award Winner
Best corner store success story BOA Award Winner
Best critique on the urban bourgeois BOA Award Winner
Best neighborhood for the arts BOA Award Winner
Best next big development opportunity BOA Award Winner
Best workaround to injustice BOA Award Winner
Best youth mentor BOA Award Winner
Best eco advocate to take a bow BOA Award Winner
Best housing hero BOA Award Winner
Best new publicly accessible rooftop BOA Award Winner
Best place to rent BOA Award Winner
Best show of bipartisanship BOA Award Winner
Best thorn in the mayor's side BOA Award Winner
Best warrior in fight against HIV/AIDS BOA Award Winner
Best 30-ish-mile bike ride for novice pedalers in metro Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Best biblio-building boosters BOA Award Winner
Best place to buy a starter home and contribute to a community BOA Award Winner
Best sloppy wet kiss from the state BOA Award Winner
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Best decision by a sports team that hasn't played single game BOA Award Winner
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Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Best college BOA Award Winner
Best elementary school BOA Award Winner
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Best street BOA Award Winner
Best child care center BOA Award Winner
Best city view BOA Award Winner
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Best high school BOA Award Winner
Best new addition to the cityscape BOA Award Winner
Best new local startup BOA Award Winner
Vesta Movement, 744 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E. 404-281-1121. www.vastaatl.com.
Urban Tree Cidery, 1465 Howell Mill Road N.W. 404-855-5546. www.urbantreecidery.com.
Best overrated thing about Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Best picnic spot BOA Award Winner
Best public basketball court BOA Award Winner
Best public skate park BOA Award Winner
Best community garden BOA Award Winner
Best middle school BOA Award Winner
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Best volunteer program BOA Award Winner
Best bike lane BOA Award Winner
Best (and most unlikely) comeback BOA Award Winner
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Best college BOA Award Winner
Best elementary school BOA Award Winner
Best free thing to do BOA Award Winner
Best light show BOA Award Winner
Best local sports radio show BOA Award Winner
Best OTP park BOA Award Winner
Best public tennis court BOA Award Winner
Best secret stash of Victorian architecture BOA Award Winner
Best street BOA Award Winner
Best child care center BOA Award Winner
Best city view BOA Award Winner
Best corner store success story BOA Award Winner
Best critique on the urban bourgeois BOA Award Winner
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Best high school BOA Award Winner
Best neighborhood for the arts BOA Award Winner
Best new addition to the cityscape BOA Award Winner
Best new local startup BOA Award Winner
Vesta Movement, 744 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E. 404-281-1121. www.vastaatl.com.
Urban Tree Cidery, 1465 Howell Mill Road N.W. 404-855-5546. www.urbantreecidery.com.
Best next big development opportunity BOA Award Winner
Best overrated thing about Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Best picnic spot BOA Award Winner
Best public basketball court BOA Award Winner
Best public skate park BOA Award Winner
Best workaround to injustice BOA Award Winner
Best youth mentor BOA Award Winner
Best community garden BOA Award Winner
Best eco advocate to take a bow BOA Award Winner
Best housing hero BOA Award Winner
Trophy Case BOA Award Winner