On an overcast Friday morning I traveled to visit a small section of the Inman park community in east Atlanta. This neighborhood has much historical value to the city of Atlanta and is the home to a number of local residents that enjoy the small and quiet kept suburban community just on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta. I visited the corner of hardee street and walthall street to observe the environment and how it communicates. The intersection of these two streets are riddled with wild vegetation at different stages in their life which caused for a variance of colors between bright greens and yellows and dull browns. Birds can be heard chirping in the trees as well as the occasional rustle of leaves from an active squirrel. In the distance the sound of the local freight yard can be heard as train cars mount and dismount tracks. Along with that the low hum of the kneeling Marta bus can be heard as it waits for commuters to board. The sporadic chirp of crickets and cicadas can be heard from deep within the brush surrounding the four way intersection. The smells of the area are slightly industrious as they mostly entail vehicle exhaust but a steady breeze occasionally brings the smell of oven cooked pizza. The road is paved with a weathered grey concrete that is occasionally stained with oil or tire marks from the cars that commute the neighborhood. The intersection is a three way stop and under the street signs “hardee st ne” and “walthall st ne”are stop signs as well as “no parking” signs. On the back of these signs and along the beams supporting them are graffiti tags with abstract and unorthodox writing. The messages are unclear and illegible. On one of the corners of the intersection where the sidewalk meets the curb there is a ramp made to allow persons with disabilities to cross the street. These ramps are painted yellow and have been weathered over time by commuters. On any given corner of the four way intersection is a one story home with an enclosed front porch. A small flight of stairs allows direct access from the Inman park train station to Wathall street. The trail from the station to the neighborhood is defined in combination by the concrete sidewalk paved along the left side of walthall street and the cast iron fences establishing the beginning of people’s homes along the road. All of the homes in the immediate vicinity of the train station exit are fenced in and gated. The closest home to the entrance of the train station has signs that warn trespassers to beware of dog. As soon as Walthall street begins in the direction away from the train station cars can be found parked along the right side of the road. Young trees line either side of the road in the area between the street and the sidewalk and power lines leading from all directions entangle themselves with the branches of these trees just above natural eye level. Occasionally someone will come from hardee or walthall street to the train station by foot and they can be heard walking and talking on their phone or listening to music. The neighborhood is home to a combination of hustle and bustle commuters as well as quiet kept introverts.

Photos by me.