Posts Tagged ‘Relaxation in Atlanta’

Atlanta’s Gated Getaways: Open to All; Closed to Some

Atlanta’s Gated Getaways: Open to All; Closed to Some!

Atlanta has some of the most beautiful and relaxing places to ever witness, yet not everyone will be able to experience them all. I have only been in Atlanta for less than a year, and in this one year I have not been able to do everything there is to do even if I wanted to, but I have been able to go places that I would have never imagined even existed, but even my close encounters, I realize that not every place is for everyone!

 

Well, here is my take, many people have moved to Atlanta for various reasons, including fashion careers, acting jobs, the music industry, the history of Atlanta, the urban environment and of course the hot topic, “Gentrification” which is “the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.” (Webster) But for whatever reason, Atlanta has become the place to be for people of all races. Even though there are diversified groups of people in Atlanta. One thing that many people don’t know is t1422897742-atlanta_gentrification_1990_2000hat, Atlanta is segregated in certain parts with certain people.

 

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Here is a map that shows Atlanta’s division of people. While it may not be accurate with terms, it sure tells a story. Though we don’t always intentionally draw these lines, we help distinguish them by where we shop, where we eat, the places we go, and most importantly the places we don’t go. But of course, there is also a thing as “built environments”.

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Architectures have a job and their job is to create and design functional buildings and places that serve whatever purpose is needed. Now, the question is: are some of the designs meant to keep people out: exclusion? That is the million dollar question. I would say yes. Through design, policies and requirements, this is what creates inclusion as well as exclusion. During my down time, when I can get away from my responsibilities and enjoy just a little bit of relaxation, I like to explore out into Atlanta’s attractions. Yes, I am a person who loves my relaxation. There is so much to do in Atlanta, I could go on new adventures every week, while I have ventured out, I have managed to see two brilliant locations, the Aquarium, the High Museum of Arts.  These were beyond amazing and for myself quite refreshing.  But one of my favorites by far has been the Chattahoochee Coffee Company. Such a serene and beautiful place off of the river, in a gated community, but still accessible to the public.

There is also one that I can only wish to enjoy due to my love for mini golf, The East Lake Golf Club. Why would that be? Well, But remember when I said, not every place is for everyone. This partially what I am referring to. You see, while many places welcome the public, or all people. Some places, like the Eastlake Golf Club, does not. Even though the East Lake Golf Club rests in the East Lake Neighborhood that in recent years, went through gentrification. During these times, Tom Cousins and a few of his supporters went through the East Lake Neighborhood and did a complete makeover. They tore down the apartment housings and replaced them with beautiful homes, brought more jobs, better education and child care to the area.charter-top

Many people can attest to the difference that this transformation had on their lives and living conditions. While some people were allowed to remain within their neighborhood, many were not. You see, this was a neighborhood of crime, usually referred to as “Little Vietnam”. Even police officers were afraid to take calls here. Between the drug infested streets and low poverty living. I recall reading the “The Big Discussion With Gentrification in Atlanta” article and I remember the interview that took place with Tom Cousins, and other investors who helped clean up the neighborhood. The mission was to bring about a change, completely transform the neighborhoods. This is exactly what they did and while they may have very well did everything that they did with GREAT intentions for us all, not everyone benefitted from this transformation. Many testimonies were given in regards to East Lake Neighborhood before and after the changes. One person in particular was Travon. He discussed his views on how gentrification erased the historical and sentimental meaning of the black culture in those neighborhoods, by mixing them or completely taking them over making them unrecognizable to what some used to call home. In regards to erasing the history built, the thing that was even more less fortunate was that lots of people weren’t able to return back to their homes after the neighborhood transformation. These new homes now had really strict guidelines as to who can stay in these homes, the kind of income they must have, drug tests of course, which I actually approve of, but overall this left many people homeless with no place to return. Imagine that.

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East Lake Neighborhood is also home to the newly renovated and thriving Golf Club. The East lake Golf Club sits in the middle of the neighborhood now. When I first signed up to observe and do a built environment description the Golf Club I was very excited due to my love for golf. (I am no Tiger Woods, but I enjoy it like no other). Well, to my dismay, upon arrival to the golf course, I was met by a closed off gated community with a very strict gate attendant who not allow me to enter due to membership purposes and of course, I a person, who looks nothing like a golfer or anyone who would a membership through any major corporation was denied access. This took me by complete surprise, I was really liking forward to getting on the other side of that gate. But unfortunately, even though it sits in the heart of East Lake neighborhood, where right across the street is a spiraling down-hill playground full of people of color, this golf course was not for people like us. My first thought was, well why have it here? Here where we all can see it from the backyards of our homes, our children can witness from this trash filled, paint peeling playground and see the nicer things such as a PGA tour stop golf course and will probably never get the chance to enjoy it, as a child and possibly as an adult.

 

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As I sat around, I teased myself by walking back and forth as I watched two upper class white men through the holes in the gate. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves on this particular Sunday morning, until I was caught staring. I felt embarrassed and further more as if I did not belong. I slowly backed away and sat in my car alongside the road to record everything that I had witnessed, the emotions I felt and everything that I could remember seeing through the gates before I made the golfers feel uncomfortable as well as I. all I can remember saying is “wow, this is beautiful and the grass is soo nurtured”. I knew that that place was a place for the elites and upper class people who could afford their membership through the positions they held. And I remember looking directly behind me, and seeing a park filled with African American children running and playing in a park that in comparison to the Golf Club was not fair, but it was all that they had.

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Being in the midst of the Golf Course was an experience all by itself. But I was so refreshed when it was time to choose another environment, the Chattahoochee Coffee Company. Now, I cannot say that I was not disappointed when I did my research and found out that I had yet selected another gated community. (Big sigh) but the fact that I, and people of all races, and social classes would be allowed regardless of anything demo-graphical about me was a great relief.

During my built environment observation time, I had the pleasure of observing the Chattahoochee Coffee Company, as I mentioned before. This was by far one of the greater and relaxing times I have had since living here in Atlanta. Chattahoochee Coffee Company is located off of Akers Mill Road in the Walton Community Apartments. The apartments themselves are beautiful and freshly renovated. It is a gated community that you must dial in to before you can access the Coffee House on the river. It was the most serene place to be. I have now made this my little relaxation spot that I like to revisit through the week. Due to it being closed to the public on the weekends, which I personally did not mind at all, their public hours through the week are sufficient enough: meaning they are open five days out of seven which is pretty impressive and for that I am grateful. I sat here for hours taking in the breeze in the morning and the sun in the later afternoon.

IMG_2620 As I sipped my peach mango smoothie, I observed my surroundings which was filled with a diversified group of people alongside the river. This made me feel very welcome. There was a family walking along the river with their newly walking baby, a couple of college students huddled together studying, an African American guy listening to music as he read a book, and etc. The coffee shop attendees were very pleasant and made sure that everyone was comfortable and received the best service you could have asked for. I was very pleased with the environment. I just would have never imagined something so serene, I would have access to.IMG_20160309_135506

As you see, the Golf Club and the Chattahoochee Coffee Company were like night and day for me. While they are both great attractions, as well as many others in Atlanta, some of us aren’t lucky or privileged enough to experience them both or all.

Sources:

Max Blau. “Creative Loafing.” Can Anyone Stop Atlanta’s Gentrification. 13 Feb 2015. Web. 04 Feb 2016. http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2015/02/03/can-anyone-stop-atlantas-rapid-gentrification.

“PBS Newshour.” Chasing the Dream: Poverty and Opportunity in America. PBS, 09 May 2015. Web. 22 Feb 2016. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/can-u-s-break-clusters-poverty-roiling-south/.

Garland, Sarah . “The Atlantic .” Rich Kid, Poor Kid: How Mixed Neighborhoods Could Save America’s Schools. The Atlantic, 25 Jul 2012. Web. 28 Mar 2016. <http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/07/rich-kid-poor-kid-how-mixed-neighborhoods-could-save-americas-schools/260308/&gt;

“An Atlanta Neighborhood Tries To Redefine Gentrification.”Frontiers of Race, Culture and Ethnicity. Code Switch, 23 Sep 2015. Web. 04 Feb 2016. <http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/09/23/435293852/an-atlanta-neighborhood-tries-to-redefine-gentrification&gt;.

Built Environment Description

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Chattahoochee Coffee Company

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Here is a sign that is posted at every entrance of the Coffee Shop. It sets the tone of who and what is allowed on the premises. Although you may sit shirtless or in a bikini on the river, you can not enter into the shop without following the proper dress code. It is open to public, as long as you abide by their standards.

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Although there are two locations to the Chattahoochee Coffee Company, this one lies inside an apartment community, so because it us open to the public, it would only make sense to make the environment advertising to bring in more residents. Pictured here is the order counter, menu and an apartment guide board advertising the area and providing historic information on the Coffee Company. As you can see the coffee shop leads to the leasing office.

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The environment was very welcoming here. There was even music that gave off a getaway vibe. I heard one lady describe it as a “coffee retreat” lol  As you can see, I decided to take a sit in, after being welcomed in by the smell of sweet mocha 🙂 I decided to enjoy a peach apricot pear smoothie. By the way, it was incredibly smooth and delicious. I know, I know, its a coffee company, why not enjoy some coffee, but this day in particular was sort of warm, and the smoothie menu was quite irresistible.

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Pictured here are the three restrooms accessible to the public. I particularly wanted to see what kind of restrooms that they would have available. This is something that I very rarely pay attention to at all. I did notice that they had a men’s and women’s restroom and also a unisex bathroom (family restroom as we would call it) Given today’s society, Im sure this would make everyone feel comfortable being able to have access to whichever restroom the desire

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As I sat here, I observed a different variety of people enter, order, mingle and leave. The environment was very welcoming and the baristas were very pleasant. In this picture you can see a few people who decided to come in on this beautiful day.I witnessed everyone chatting amongst themselves. I honestly have to say that with all of the media attention on racial issues, it was quite refreshing to see people of different backgrounds mixing and mingling, sitting having coffee and enjoying each other’s company. Sorry I didn’t zoom in, I didnt want to look too creepy lol.

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As you look around in these picture you can see the modern touch that the place has. It was designed to provide comfort for all people, whether you came to sit alone and enjoy some quite alone time with a cup of coffee, or whether you came in for a group meeting or even social hour. There was just enough spacing between the seats for privacy. There is an open glass view around the entire coffee shop, I am assuming, its purpose was to allow you be able to see the calming river view, and to provide sunlight so that you can still feel like you are outside somewhat, and hey I am reaching far by saying this, but possibly allowing the sunlight to enter so that you wont fall asleep in the coffee shop (those who came to do homework, studying and such like the guy pictured here) By the way, the vaulted ceilings were beautiful, it created a dimensional and open effect, reminded me of a cabin.

Although this was a interior project, I could not just show you the Coffee Shop, but what was most appealing to me and all of my senses was the River view. From the outside, you can smell the roasting of the coffee beans that the wind wafted through your nose. On the outside you can see how close you can actually get to the river. the sound of the water was serene. This place really provided me a place of peace and comfort. Pictured here are a few different people, who came out to enjoy our first few days of warmth by reading books, listening to music, bringing their newly walking babies out for a walk and so much more. I even saw ducks, how cool huh.

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Chattahoochee Coffee Company has two locations in Atlanta and one is located off of Akers Mill Road in the Walton Community Apartments which are beautiful, freshly renovated apartments. It is a gated community that you must dial into to gain access, which I personally did not mind at all. Although this place is open to the public Monday through Friday, it is closed and privately caters to residents on the weekends. When I say this place made me want to give up my house and get a lease on an apartment, I mean it. It is kind of tucked away, I have lived in this area for over a year now and without this project I would have never found this little serene place.

It is in the midst of the freshly apartments, so you just kind of blend in with the residents once you are out of your car. Before I got there, I did a little research while trying to find the address, many people who left reviews did say that it was a little difficult to access due to GPS not being able to find it easily, which I agree. But once I got there I didn’t mind having to search for it.

The coffee shop was surrounded by green pasture, the calming Chattahoochee River, bare trees and friendly faces who seem to be at peace, and I can guarantee the environment and coffee had a lot to do with it. By the way, the coffee smell from the outside was superb. I sat outside before entering, and there I found ducks quacking, people reading alongside the river sipping coffee and families taking walks. There was a mix of people in the environment, mostly middle class, that made me feel very welcome. Many people I saw were dressed in business like clothes, obviously on the go, just making a stop to their favorite coffee shop.

On the inside, there were exciting colors, like orange chairs, tiled floor, and even open river view glass walls that brought a modern look which is different from a boring quiet coffee house that you’re prone to falling asleep in. As I mentioned earlier, this coffee house was very well built with relaxation and peace in mind. Also they had the best smoothies ever, and I’m sure their coffee is even more delightful.