Cityscape
In 1973, voters in Fulton and DeKalb counties and the city of Atlanta took a leap of faith and signed on to build a public transit system that would eventually link to three other counties.
It took more than 40 years for one of those counties, Clayton County, to join. Last year, residents of the county said they wanted another way to get around their car-oriented county and to the airport, as well as to be connected with the rest of MARTA’s rail network.
It took changes in demographics for metro Atlanta to start overcoming the racial and socioeconomic bogeymen that kept other counties from participating in a transit system that developers and business leaders now consider a key amenity — and in some cases, a requirement — when picking where to start moving dirt or relocating employees. It took changes in development patterns and a generational realization that sitting in traffic sucks.
Most of all, it took time. It took years of burning gasoline and reading reports noting the damage we’re doing to our bodies and environment by not being on our feet or on the bus. It took the ends of elected officials’ terms and the exits of policymakers who were too myopic to see an asset in their grasp and the changing desires of a younger generation.
When it comes to Atlanta’s cityscape, time is something we have on our side and are constantly working against. Some developers want to get whatever they can build finished and occupied before the current development boom passes out from exhaustion. Residents sometimes want a few more weeks to pore over or improve those buildings that will affect their daily lives. Politicians want to get out of the way when it comes to building skyscrapers but often take their time on improving the public realm we share.
Atlanta is still a young city compared to its peers, and it’s come a fairly long way despite being burned to the ground during the Civil War. And for all the knocks against it being a place where people come and go, there are those who stick around. They start businesses, blogs, and advocate for historic preservation. They begin gathering food and build a powerhouse nonprofit that helps feed the hungry. They band together to contribute to the parks and festivals we all enjoy. They leave their mark on the city and offer enough opportunity for others to do the same. And when they go, others will follow.
It’s what helps make Atlanta a great place and worth celebrating.
— Thomas Wheatley, News Editor
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Creflo Dollar
Best local public official BOA Award Winner
Keith Parker
Best new place to let the dogs out BOA Award Winner
Freedom Barkway
The fourth estate: Best local journalists working for an out-of-state publication BOA Award Winner
Alan Blinder and Richard Fausset
The fourth estate: Best radio resurgence BOA Award Winner
WABE-FM
The well-built environment: Best reuse of a tornado-ravaged building BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Daily World
Best nonprofit leader BOA Award Winner
Bill Bolling
Best vote of confidence in MARTA BOA Award Winner
MARTA bus service in Clayton County
The well-built environment: Best architect BOA Award Winner
BLDGS
Best citizen activists BOA Award Winner
Black Lives Matter
Best grassroots guardian of old Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Kyle Kessler
The fourth estate: Best blogger BOA Award Winner
ATL Urbanist
The fourth estate: Best takedown of a bad idea BOA Award Winner
Maria Saporta
The well-built environment: Best planning vision BOA Award Winner
Memorial Drive Corridor Study
Best advocate for the devil weed BOA Award Winner
Paul Cornwell
The fourth estate: Best TV cameraman BOA Award Winner
Mike Daly
Best free thing to do BOA Award Winner
King of Pops Yoga in the Park
Best job turning around a sports team BOA Award Winner
Steve Koonin
Best neighborhood for jogging BOA Award Winner
Inman Park
Best neighborhood strip to receive a Hollywood makeover BOA Award Winner
Westview
Best rollout of a long overdue right to marry the person you love BOA Award Winner
Fulton County
Best use of billboards BOA Award Winner
MailChimp
Best city view BOA Award Winner
Jackson Street BridgeBest local weather guy/gal BOA Award Winner
Chesley McNeilBest overall neighborhood BOA Award Winner
Inman Park
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Baton Bob settlementBest co-working space BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Tech Village AND Foster
Best new bike lane BOA Award Winner
10th streetBest rec league BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Rollergirls AND Atlanta Sport and Social ClubAtlanta Rollergirls
Atlanta Sport and Social Club
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Creflo DollarBest city view BOA Award Winner
Jackson Street Bridge
Best local public official BOA Award Winner
Keith ParkerBest local weather guy/gal BOA Award Winner
Chesley McNeil
Best new place to let the dogs out BOA Award Winner
Freedom BarkwayBest overall neighborhood BOA Award Winner
Inman Park
The fourth estate: Best local journalists working for an out-of-state publication BOA Award Winner
Alan Blinder and Richard Fausset
The fourth estate: Best radio resurgence BOA Award Winner
WABE-FM
The well-built environment: Best reuse of a tornado-ravaged building BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Daily WorldBest bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Baton Bob settlementBest co-working space BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Tech Village AND Foster
Best new bike lane BOA Award Winner
10th street
Best nonprofit leader BOA Award Winner
Bill BollingBest rec league BOA Award Winner
Atlanta Rollergirls AND Atlanta Sport and Social ClubAtlanta Rollergirls
Atlanta Sport and Social Club
Best vote of confidence in MARTA BOA Award Winner
MARTA bus service in Clayton County
The well-built environment: Best architect BOA Award Winner
BLDGS
Best citizen activists BOA Award Winner
Black Lives Matter
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