Atlanta's Projected Growth to Bypass VaHi, Druid Hills

Residents may think the city of Atlanta is overcrowded now, but just wait 20 years.

The city of Atlanta office of planning projects more than 104,000 new residents will move to the city by 2030.

The population in the city grew almost 30 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the City of Atlanta Office of Planning estimates the population could increase by almost 20 percent in the next 20 years.

Roughly 538,000 people currently live in Atlanta.

The data, along with information about average household size, income, age and background, was released in a draft of the 2011 Comprehensive Development Plan, which is used to plan the growth and development of the city.

The plan, which is required by city law to be completed every three to five years, assesses the community, the population and land use, and includes input from the community ranging from a community vision to specific issues in neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Planning Unit F, which includes Virginia Highland, Morningside, Lenox Park, Atkins Park, Piedmont Heights and Lindridge/Martin Manor, will be one of the areas to see the least amount of growth in population around the city.

Roughly 1,650 more people will move into the area by 2020, according to the plan, and about 930 more by 2030. About 23,820 people live in these neighborhoods currently.

Neighborhood Planning Unit N, which includes Cabbagetown, Candler Park, Inman Park, Lake Clair, Poncey-Highland, Reynoldstown and portions of Druid Hills, will see roughly 1,200 new residents by 2020 and another 740 by 2030. About 20,430 people live in these areas currently.

The areas that will see the most growth in the city are Neighborhood Planning Units B and D, which includes Lenox, Buckhead, Brookhaven and Berkeley Park, among other neighborhoods.