For this assignment, we were put into groups and told to go to a certain location in Atlanta, figure out why we were sent there, and create a presentation about our experience. The catch is the presentation is supposed to incorporate all 5 senses. The project is due in one week.
I was partnered with Sato and Mattheos and we were sent to the Castleberry Hill area of downtown Atlanta. We were given a neighborhood guide and map to give us a feel of the area before we went over there. We decided to immediately go to the area to feel it out and decide what to do next. Since it was dark already, we decided to get dinner, look at the map, and walk around a little.
We ate at the biggest, somewhat well-known Mexican restaurant called No Mas Cantina. We talked to our waiter about the area and he told us a little about the uniqueness of the neighborhood and that it has gone through changes throughout the last few years. We learned that the area used to be somewhat unsafe but that with the recent growth and expanse of apartments and businesses, Castleberry Hill is taking a turn toward the better.
The neighborhood sits right next to downtown Atlanta, but yet, many buildings are in shambles or empty. the whole feel is an eclectic mix of old and new, safe and unsafe. A homeless mission sits next to a huge loft apartment sits next to an open-air art gallery. Some corners felt abandoned and a likely haven for illegal activities, while other areas bustled with activity and chatting people. We decided to come back the following morning to explore the neighborhood in the daylight and hopefully talk to some residents and take some pictures.
Early Thursday morning we parked our car next to a local coffee shop and began the exploration. Our first stop was a coffee shop called the coffee loft. An older man was excited to chat with us about the shop which is owned by his son. He explained that since he is retired, he decided to help his son out and work in the coffee shop a few days a week. He eagerly encouraged us to explore the shop which is a 3 story converted house, where there is seating on all 3 floors.
Our next step was walking around more of the neighborhood. We casually strolled around the block, stopping occasionally to take pictures or talk to people. Surprisingly, many people were out and about and were all comfortable for stopping what they were doing and talking to us for a few minutes. We got a real sense of community and friendliness as we walked around; completely different from the warnings we had received from friends about the area. We met a woman doing renovations on a large loft space that she had lived and run a clinic through for many years. She was preparing to move out of the state but said that the Castleberry Hill neighborhood has gone through many stages but has never been completely occupied. We discovered that the area attracts people often looking for cheap studio or gallery space, often with a rustic, unfinished feel. We also learned that since the area was built during the mid to late 19th century, there are many rules and regulations that apply when people decide to open a business or a living space. This explained the historical looking signs and buildings that surrounded us.
http://www.castleberryhill.org/history.php
The area, which is located adjacent to the railroad tracks, was originally the seedy side of Atlanta and was nicknamed 'Snake Nation' because it was full of immoral activities and criminals. The buildings look mostly like brick warehouses and lofts, and the trend seems to be to keep the outside rundown, but to redo the interior.
Our next discovery became our gold mine. Walking along the street we came across a woman standing in front of her open garage. As we begin chatting with her we learned that she is a local artist that has been living between castelberry hill and an apartment in new york city since 1996. she invited us to walk with her as she got her morning coffee a few blocks away. Her name is Carolyn Carr and she is somewhat of a local celebrity
http://www.carolyncarr.com/default4.asp
Her and her husband bought the building they live in in 1996 and have since restored most of it, using part as their studio space, and renting out other space in the building as apartments or studio spaces. She told us they were soon renting part out to a woman who wanted to open a local grocery shop. Carolyn was kind enough to let us follow her around the neighborhood where she frequently stopped to chat with neighbors and occasionally ducked into local businesses or art galleries. This first-person account of the area gave us the inside information that we were searching for. By the end, we had received a thorough explanation of the area and we had gotten an in depth feel of the atmosphere and mentality of the area. We took many pictures and spent the day walking around and exploring some more. Carolyn introduced us to many locals and told us about her experiences living there. We met her husband, who is also a painter, and she even took us into her amazing loft apartment (which has been featured in several magazine spreads and articles).
Afterward, we discussed methods for the presentation and decided on a plan of action. We have since returned to the area several times to get more pictures and video footage. The rest will be shown in our presentation!!
