165 replies to this topic

[socaguy]

Spartan, I was in Grovetown about 3-4 months ago.  I was looking for a new car and my father has a friend who runs a auto dealership there.  I didnt get a chance to look around town or to even see if it had a historic downtown area, but I was really suprised at what i saw.  More of a midwestern looking sprawl with the very cookie cutter homes packed up close together.  Other than that and the suburban style businesses that lined the street we were on it looked still semi rural.

[DaGABoyStinger]

From reading the chronicle today, if Columbia county consolidated now it would automatically be the 7th largest city in the state (right under Macon).  By 2010, they are predicting that it will be at #5 largest, since Savannah, Macon, Columbus, and Augusta, are all slowly losing their populations, while Coulmbia County is rapidly growing , and Atlanta and Athens are growing.

Population estimates of largest cities in Georgia based on Census figures:

Atlanta: 2000 - 416,474;    2004 estimate - 419,122
Augusta: 2000 - 195,182;    2004 estimate - 191,326
Columbus: 2000 - 185,781;    2004 estimate - 182,850
Savannah: 2000 - 131,510;    2004 estimate - 129,808
Athens: 2000 - 100,266;    2004 estimate - 102,744
Macon: 2000 - 97,255;    2004 estimate - 94,990
Columbia County Inc.:    2000 - 81,386 (unincorporated area, excluding Harlem and Grovetown);    2004 estimate - 92,500 (unincorporated area)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

[DaGABoyStinger]

Updates on New retail developments in Evans.

Marshall Square
Location: North Belair Road in Evans
Profile: 57-acre mixed-use project, including luxury condominiums, is expected to be completed by 2007.

Evans Town Park
Location: North Belair Road near Hereford Farm Road intersection
Profile: 60-acre mixed-use development will feature a 60,000-square-foot office building; bulk of construction to begin this summer.

Evans Town Square
Location: Corner of North Belair and Washington roads
Profile: The 23-acre site, currently occupied by Evans Middle School, could be redeveloped as a retail center as soon as late 2006 or early 2007.

Mullins Crossing II:
Location: Just west of the Mullins Crossing shopping center at the intersection of Washington and Owens roads.
Profile: The second phase of the Target- and Kohl's-anchored Mullins Crossing shopping center is expected to be built in the spring.


From the Tuesday, January 17, 2006 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle http://chronicle.aug...s_6261571.shtml

[socaguy]

Great!  This is the first Ive heard of the Evans Town Square and Evans Town Park projects.
60,000 sq. ft. office building (at ETP) means..what, like 3-4 floors?  It would be nice if they went higher!  Im figuring this will be a very upscale project so I wonder what restaurants will go in there??

[PJA]

New Lowe's is coming to Evans.

Full Story

[socaguy]

Interesting.  I liked this quote...
"Surely it's a plus for Columbia County and commercial growth,'' he said Tuesday afternoon.

"But all my question was, 'Is that the direction that we anticipated the Evans Town Center to develop into?' I guess we've got to leave it up to the public to decide.''

NO!!  Is he kidding?  The area already is ridden with strip malls and big-boxes, albeit with a little more ornamentation than in your average suburban markets.  Looks like Evans will be nothing more than a huge sprawling big-box suburb with littlle, hidden pockets of new urbanist type developments, just like any other big city suburb.

[PJA]

socaguy, on Feb 8 2006, 08:17 PM, said:

Interesting.  I liked this quote...
"Surely it's a plus for Columbia County and commercial growth,'' he said Tuesday afternoon.

"But all my question was, 'Is that the direction that we anticipated the Evans Town Center to develop into?' I guess we've got to leave it up to the public to decide.''

NO!!  Is he kidding?  The area already is ridden with strip malls and big-boxes, albeit with a little more ornamentation than in your average suburban markets.  Looks like Evans will be nothing more than a huge sprawling big-box suburb with littlle, hidden pockets of new urbanist type developments, just like any other big city suburb.

You're right.  They should have built Lowe's closer to the Target shopping center or at least built it somewhere where other stores could build next to it.  It's going to create unnecessary trafic and all for just one store that will probably be a stand alone store.  At least it's very close to the Publix center though.

DaGABoyStinger, on Dec 16 2005, 05:47 PM, said:

From reading the chronicle today, if Columbia county consolidated now it would automatically be the 7th largest city in the state (right under Macon).  By 2010, they are predicting that it will be at #5 largest, since Savannah, Macon, Columbus, and Augusta, are all slowly losing their populations, while Coulmbia County is rapidly growing , and Atlanta and Athens are growing.

Population estimates of largest cities in Georgia based on Census figures:

Atlanta: 2000 - 416,474;    2004 estimate - 419,122
Augusta: 2000 - 195,182;    2004 estimate - 191,326
Columbus: 2000 - 185,781;    2004 estimate - 182,850
Savannah: 2000 - 131,510;    2004 estimate - 129,808
Athens: 2000 - 100,266;    2004 estimate - 102,744
Macon: 2000 - 97,255;    2004 estimate - 94,990
Columbia County Inc.:    2000 - 81,386 (unincorporated area, excluding Harlem and Grovetown);    2004 estimate - 92,500 (unincorporated area)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

I'm not sure that the consolidation is going to go through.  Many citizens don't understand the benifits and I really don't see the point personally.  I mean you're still going to have parts of the county that won't consolidate and I feel that if the county is going to consolidate, it will only be beneficial if the whole county is involved. Anyway here is an update on the situation.

Full Story

Edited by PJA, 10 February 2006 - 09:45 PM.

[socaguy]

Im hoping it wont!

[PJA]

socaguy, on Feb 8 2006, 08:17 PM, said:

Interesting.  I liked this quote...
"Surely it's a plus for Columbia County and commercial growth,'' he said Tuesday afternoon.

"But all my question was, 'Is that the direction that we anticipated the Evans Town Center to develop into?' I guess we've got to leave it up to the public to decide.''

NO!!  Is he kidding?  The area already is ridden with strip malls and big-boxes, albeit with a little more ornamentation than in your average suburban markets.  Looks like Evans will be nothing more than a huge sprawling big-box suburb with littlle, hidden pockets of new urbanist type developments, just like any other big city suburb.

I think Columbia County will become an even bigger traffic nightmare in the next couple of years.  That's why they should try to cluster businesses together as much as possible.

[PJA]

Groundbreaking for a new housing development will be today.  The new subdivision is called Steeple Chase and will be behind the Walgreen's on Furys Ferry Rd. and will be constructed by Keystone Homes.

[PJA]

The Warren C. Gibbs library in Evans will close down on Saturday as they get ready to move to the new Evans Library behind the Evans Judicial Center.  The new library is scheduled to open by the end of March with a grand opening the last week in April.  Here are the details.

The Story

[PJA]

Those who did not want the consolidation to go through can breathe a little easier...at least for now.  The vote for the Columbia Co. consolidation will not be on the ballots in November as planned.  However, officials are hoping to get it on the ballot next year.  Here's more info.

Full Story

[DaGABoyStinger]

Is Columbia County at its saturation point when it comes to retial?  Apparently it might be coming to that point.  From Augusta Chronicle Sunday March, 5, 2006.

the Story (AUG chronicle Members)

Article Exert: "It's a question of supply and demand.  In Columbia County, where announcements of new stores are frequent, some say the demand for retail still seems to be greater than the available supply."

IMO, I do think that they are close to a point, especially with so much going on at one time.  the population is growing fast, but not as fast as people think, or as fast as other counties in GA like Henry, Forsyth, or Cherokee counties.   And it's mainly in Evans and not in other parts of the county.  The infrastructure is really going to be an issue if this continues.  

But the article is very instresting, and alot of information as far as the economic infrastructure of the WHOLE CSRA.  I would post some of it here, but it really is alot of information, I would suggest just reading the article.  if you're not a member, sign up it's free.

Also they talked about Col. Co. being a more "conveinant" place to live.

Read more here: Conveinance Article

Article exert: "Judging by recently compiled job-forecast figures, Columbia County residents soon might have a shorter drive to work, the grocery store or the doctor's office.
Such a possibility is likely, officials say, as more retail, health care, manufacturing and wholesaling options become available in the county"

[socaguy]

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing the other day!  Does anyone know what the Evans Town Park will look like?

[DaGABoyStinger]

Here's another article, that everyone can read.  More about the necessity for retail to remain inside county lines, and less dependance on Richmond County.

Col. Co. on Georgia Trend.com

[PJA]

Columbia County Public Works commissioners are pushing for another I-20 interchange in Columbia County.  They are siting increased usage at the Bel-Air Rd , Lewiston Rd , and Appling-Harlem Rd. interchanges.  The new interchange would be at Louisville Rd.

[PJA]

Business owners on Furys Ferry Rd. have created a petition to try to force the completion of the construction on that road.  This will be the fourth Masters tournament since construction began and many businesses haven't gotten the extra business that they normally would get because of all of the construction.  Here's more info.

Full Story

[socaguy]

I might be able to understand utility delays...but weather?  Bullcrap!  I come into Augusta this way and I dont recall EVER seeing anyone working on this road....rain or shine...and its mostly shine since the SE is in a mini-drought right now.

[Pillsbury]

What's really bad is that I believe the same company responsible for the Furys Ferry widening has also been awarded the I-20 project.  Also, I believe they are the same company responsible for the Bobby Jones Exp/Mike Padgett Highway interchange project.    So I guess the I-20 project should be completed in about 20 years.

[socaguy]

LOL...agreed!
Have they even started on the I-20 widening project yet?