photo courtesy of David Hunter ^[1]

so yes, the ajc ran a recent ad on the revitalization of dekalb avenue ^[2]. it was pretty standard stuff, increased tax base, changing demographics, but it did contain this interesting paragraph:

t’s a stark contrast to the graffiti-covered train trestle at DeKalb Avenue and Krog Street, just a few hundred feet away from 626. Such sights once were common along the mostly industrial thoroughfare, which runs parallel to two rail lines. But as condos and apartments go up, slowly the graffiti and other eyesores are disappearing.

eyesore? huh?

i’ll agree with daily loaf’s mara shaloup ^[3] who wrote:

Personally, I love the rust and the grit, the imperfections and pure urban-ness of DeKalb Avenue — and the Krog Street tunnel in particular. When I was a teenager exploring the city, such a welcome reprieve from the soulless burbs, it was my favorite stretch of road. I’d hate to see it morph into a replica of the East Cobb homogeny from which I tried to escape.

and i also agree with frequently commenter abby, who suggested this via suggest a story and wrote:

I think most of the people around think it’s amazing — and I, for one, am happy that it adds some character and interest in my (granted, already character-y and interesting) neighborhood. The tunnel they need to clean up is the next one over, Boulevard going underneath Lenny’s. Human feces, decaying garbage, and people smoking crack in the stairwell at 3pm = eyesore that needs to be “cleaned up.” A relatively well-lit tunnel with outstanding (sometimes for humor content, sometimes for artistic ability) and informative (i look to the bridge for the events metblogs may forget to tell me about) graffiti = landmark that should be continued.

obviously the ajc reporter is not from our ‘hood. seriously, things like the krog street bridge are the whole reason people are moving to the east i-20 corridor neighborhoods.

i remember the first time i drove under that bridge. i thought, this is the place for me. this is a place where bands play and people paint and an old 1913 bridge becomes a social icon. i like to go home on krog street, just because the bridge reminds me of everything i love about my hood.

and i am hoping the people buying glitzy new condos on dekalb avenue feel the same.

or are mara, abby and i all off base?