It would be hard NOT to love Atlanta, the City in the Forest, wouldn’t it?  I know that not everyone does.  But there’s so much to love about Atlanta, and it gets better every year.  I currently spend most of my time in Dubai, UAE, with my architect/husband who is on assignment here.  Dubai is a city of crazy architecture; one writer describes it as the city designed by drunk architects, and so it seems.  Every building is crazier than the last.

So returning to Atlanta is refreshing.  Every day The Beltline is more developed and new projects are announced.  Not crazy architecture like Dubai, but Atlanta’s version of modern.  An old Sears building repurposed to office, shopping, and events (Ponce City Market).  Old railway tracks repurposed to an amazing hiking/biking/transit trail (The Beltline).  And there is a real property boom in Atlanta right now with more than 45 new projects in Midtown alone this year, according to Curbed.com.

But Atlanta’s growth is not unfettered; the city does its best to make sure growth occurs in an orderly and smart way.  So Atlanta has announced “Atlanta City Design” – a design for future growth and development so that future growth has direction.  The emphasis is on PEOPLE and NATURE, and “people IN nature”.  Thus, the City in the Forest will remain nature focused while progressing forward.

As I watch what is going on in my beloved home city of Atlanta, I am full of pride and hope, and as I dust desert sand off our balcony overlooking the tallest building in the world, I pledge to enjoy my time here, but I cannot wait to return to Atlanta and see what is in store!