Edited by ATLman1, 12 August 2005 - 09:58 AM.
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Auburn-Opelika Developments
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ATLman1
, Aug 12 2005 09:54 AM
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#1
ATLman1
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Posted 12 August 2005 - 09:54 AM
Just wondering if anyone thinks that Auburn/Opelika and Columbus/Phenix City metro areas will merge. Both metros are growing at healthy rate. Columbus and Auburn have been taking off with new developments everywhere. Only 26 miles seperate the 2 cities. Lee County (Auburn/Opelika) and Muscogee County (Columbus) touch each other. Auburn/Opelika gets its news from Columbus tv stations. Both metros have impacts on each other, but Auburn/Opelika is still not considered part of the Columbus metro area. Anyone think they will combine in the near future?
#2
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Posted 12 August 2005 - 11:04 AM
That situation is kind of like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa is less than an hour away from BHM and Jefferson Co. and Tuscaloosa Co. border each other. Tuscaloosa does have its own news, but many of its residents rely on BHM media for their news. Tuscaloosa Co. and Jefferson Co. are still independent enough to be considered separate, but frankly, I consider Tuscaloosa Co. alot more a part of metro BHM than Chilton Co. If ever added to the BHM Metro, Tuscaloosa Co. would add about 170,000 to our total.
What are the populations of Auburn/Opelika and Columbus separately and then together?
What are the populations of Auburn/Opelika and Columbus separately and then together?
#3
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Posted 12 August 2005 - 01:04 PM
Blazer85, on Aug 12 2005, 12:04 PM, said:
That situation is kind of like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa is less than an hour away from BHM and Jefferson Co. and Tuscaloosa Co. border each other. Tuscaloosa does have its own news, but many of its residents rely on BHM media for their news. Tuscaloosa Co. and Jefferson Co. are still independent enough to be considered separate, but frankly, I consider Tuscaloosa Co. alot more a part of metro BHM than Chilton Co. If ever added to the BHM Metro, Tuscaloosa Co. would add about 170,000 to our total.
What are the populations of Auburn/Opelika and Columbus separately and then together?
What are the populations of Auburn/Opelika and Columbus separately and then together?
Columbus is around 190,000. Columbus consolidated with its county. Metro population from 2000 was 280,000. People around Columbus look at the regional population more than metro. Regional population of Columbus (Auburn/Opelika included) is 550,000. The Columbus region includes Auburn/Opelika, LaGrange, Ft. Benning, etc.
Auburn/Opelika is around 128,000 (this is the Lee County population). Opelika city from 2000 was 23,498 and Auburn was 42,987.
Just looking at combining Auburn/Opelika (Lee County) and Columbus (Muscogee County), the population is around 318,000. This is excluding Columbus's metro population and Auburn/Opelika's metro population. Auburn/Opelika is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Columbus is about to undergo a population explosion with the expansion of Ft. Benning. The expansion is said to bring an additional 25,000 new residents to Columbus over the next few years. The whole region is on fire with new development.
Edited by ATLman1, 12 August 2005 - 09:27 PM.
#4
jmanhsv
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Posted 12 August 2005 - 06:51 PM
Is Columbus/Auburn a CMSA yet? Auburn's infuence on Columbus seems a lot like Decatur's influence on Huntsville. The only difference is that Decatur does not have a university. But, who needs a major university when you've got Meow Mix! 
#5
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Posted 12 August 2005 - 09:26 PM
jmanhsv, on Aug 12 2005, 07:51 PM, said:
Is Columbus/Auburn a CMSA yet? Auburn's infuence on Columbus seems a lot like Decatur's influence on Huntsville. The only difference is that Decatur does not have a university. But, who needs a major university when you've got Meow Mix!
Yes, I am almost positive they are a CMSA. Both metros feed off of each other. There has been a population boom in southern Lee County in the Smiths Station area. Most people that live in that area commute to Columbus for work. Soon, I believe, both metros will combine to make one large metro.
#6
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Posted 11 October 2005 - 04:01 PM
Anyone know of any big projects going on in Auburn/Opelika? Commercial development is exploding right now.
#7
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Posted 19 October 2005 - 07:06 PM
Here is some information on Auburn/Opelika's rapid growth. This is from Columbus's WRBL News.
There is new evidence of economic growth in Lee County today. Already, the county's unemployment rate is below four percent. Now, Opelika is seeing green in the form of new construction.
“Frankly, as most folks in Opelika would acknowledge, we've been somewhat behind on the prosperity curve,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. He says his city is making up for lost time.
During the last fiscal year, there was $187,845,814 in new construction. That's the most growth in the city's history. “We are going to continue to grow. You're either moving forward, or you're going the other way. There's not much staying in the middle,” Fuller said.
The previous best year for growth in Opelika was back in 1999. That year, the city drew in more than $94 million in construction. This year's total more than doubles that.
While much of downtown Opelika maintains its small town charm, the growth is commercial. Much of it centers on Tigertown and Opelika's Industrial Park. “We've got some challenges facing us in areas of planning for traffic, roads, infrastructure that we've got to be smart about how we do this,” Fuller said.
The new buildings are also bringing in as many as 700 new jobs. The growth is an issue Opelika's building inspector is dealing with everyday. “The jobs bring new people. To my understanding, we have over 1,200 residential lots under construction,” said Opelika Building Inspector Jeff Kappelman.
Residential lots that last fiscal year meant $25,321,272 in construction.
Opelika is also getting some growth help from the state of Alabama. Governor Bob Riley has announced that the state will construct a 2,000 foot industrial access road. The road will serve the new Joann Stores distribution center.
There is new evidence of economic growth in Lee County today. Already, the county's unemployment rate is below four percent. Now, Opelika is seeing green in the form of new construction.
“Frankly, as most folks in Opelika would acknowledge, we've been somewhat behind on the prosperity curve,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. He says his city is making up for lost time.
During the last fiscal year, there was $187,845,814 in new construction. That's the most growth in the city's history. “We are going to continue to grow. You're either moving forward, or you're going the other way. There's not much staying in the middle,” Fuller said.
The previous best year for growth in Opelika was back in 1999. That year, the city drew in more than $94 million in construction. This year's total more than doubles that.
While much of downtown Opelika maintains its small town charm, the growth is commercial. Much of it centers on Tigertown and Opelika's Industrial Park. “We've got some challenges facing us in areas of planning for traffic, roads, infrastructure that we've got to be smart about how we do this,” Fuller said.
The new buildings are also bringing in as many as 700 new jobs. The growth is an issue Opelika's building inspector is dealing with everyday. “The jobs bring new people. To my understanding, we have over 1,200 residential lots under construction,” said Opelika Building Inspector Jeff Kappelman.
Residential lots that last fiscal year meant $25,321,272 in construction.
Opelika is also getting some growth help from the state of Alabama. Governor Bob Riley has announced that the state will construct a 2,000 foot industrial access road. The road will serve the new Joann Stores distribution center.
Edited by ATLman1, 19 October 2005 - 07:07 PM.
#8
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Posted 04 February 2006 - 10:23 PM
ATLman1, on Aug 12 2005, 10:26 PM, said:
Yes, I am almost positive they are a CMSA. Both metros feed off of each other. There has been a population boom in southern Lee County in the Smiths Station area. Most people that live in that area commute to Columbus for work. Soon, I believe, both metros will combine to make one large metro.
Sorry to bring up a rather old topic again, but...
I have trouble understanding people who differentiate a CSA and a MSA. The methods for them are slightly different, but they are still considered one region. That's what a CSA is, a COMBINED Statistical Area... Most of the major metros of the USA are CSA's. LA is combined with Ventura, Orange, and Riverside/San Bernadino. New York is combined with Long Island, Newark, Stamford, and Trenton. DC is with Baltimore. The list goes on. A CSA is considered ONE area.
Edited by Unifour, 04 February 2006 - 10:26 PM.
#9
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Posted 13 April 2006 - 12:12 AM
there's a lot more to say about a question like this than can be said in one post.
auburn-opelika and columbus-phenix city have very much the same sort of problem (although it's more profound with auburn-opelika) - there is still a LOT of discontinuity between each pair of cities. auburn and opelika do not feel like a continuous city; nor do columbus and phenix city (though the presence of the chattahoochee as a natural divider plays a role). for all the development going on in auburn, VERY little of it is taking place along the existing corridor of disgusting, blighted, forsaken commercial space that connects the two towns. most of it (even that which lies between auburn and opelika) is happening on previously undeveloped land. the density of the auburn-opelika metro would have to reach a critical mass before growth in any direction outside the two cities would make sense (not to say that sense will be the guiding factor in these cities' growth).
too, the 25 or so miles which separate phenix city from opelika is a pretty long, rural, and sometimes topographically challenging 25 miles. it would take a freakish surge of sustained development to urbanize (or even suburbanize) that corridor within the next decade or so. if these areas are to eventually merge, i hope it's slow growth all the way. the two areas are distinct enough one from another that they need a long history of shared needs and trends before they can see a meaningful and productive merger.
as trivia, columbus is virtually tied with augusta as the second largest city in georgia in terms of population. augusta (last time i checked the back of my trusty atlas) has approximately 5,000 more people than columbus. it will be interesting to see how columbus cotinues to handle its growth across the river and into alabama.
auburn-opelika and columbus-phenix city have very much the same sort of problem (although it's more profound with auburn-opelika) - there is still a LOT of discontinuity between each pair of cities. auburn and opelika do not feel like a continuous city; nor do columbus and phenix city (though the presence of the chattahoochee as a natural divider plays a role). for all the development going on in auburn, VERY little of it is taking place along the existing corridor of disgusting, blighted, forsaken commercial space that connects the two towns. most of it (even that which lies between auburn and opelika) is happening on previously undeveloped land. the density of the auburn-opelika metro would have to reach a critical mass before growth in any direction outside the two cities would make sense (not to say that sense will be the guiding factor in these cities' growth).
too, the 25 or so miles which separate phenix city from opelika is a pretty long, rural, and sometimes topographically challenging 25 miles. it would take a freakish surge of sustained development to urbanize (or even suburbanize) that corridor within the next decade or so. if these areas are to eventually merge, i hope it's slow growth all the way. the two areas are distinct enough one from another that they need a long history of shared needs and trends before they can see a meaningful and productive merger.
as trivia, columbus is virtually tied with augusta as the second largest city in georgia in terms of population. augusta (last time i checked the back of my trusty atlas) has approximately 5,000 more people than columbus. it will be interesting to see how columbus cotinues to handle its growth across the river and into alabama.
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Posted 13 April 2006 - 08:18 PM
convulso, on Apr 13 2006, 01:12 AM, said:
there's a lot more to say about a question like this than can be said in one post.
auburn-opelika and columbus-phenix city have very much the same sort of problem (although it's more profound with auburn-opelika) - there is still a LOT of discontinuity between each pair of cities. auburn and opelika do not feel like a continuous city; nor do columbus and phenix city (though the presence of the chattahoochee as a natural divider plays a role). for all the development going on in auburn, VERY little of it is taking place along the existing corridor of disgusting, blighted, forsaken commercial space that connects the two towns. most of it (even that which lies between auburn and opelika) is happening on previously undeveloped land. the density of the auburn-opelika metro would have to reach a critical mass before growth in any direction outside the two cities would make sense (not to say that sense will be the guiding factor in these cities' growth).
too, the 25 or so miles which separate phenix city from opelika is a pretty long, rural, and sometimes topographically challenging 25 miles. it would take a freakish surge of sustained development to urbanize (or even suburbanize) that corridor within the next decade or so. if these areas are to eventually merge, i hope it's slow growth all the way. the two areas are distinct enough one from another that they need a long history of shared needs and trends before they can see a meaningful and productive merger.
as trivia, columbus is virtually tied with augusta as the second largest city in georgia in terms of population. augusta (last time i checked the back of my trusty atlas) has approximately 5,000 more people than columbus. it will be interesting to see how columbus cotinues to handle its growth across the river and into alabama.
auburn-opelika and columbus-phenix city have very much the same sort of problem (although it's more profound with auburn-opelika) - there is still a LOT of discontinuity between each pair of cities. auburn and opelika do not feel like a continuous city; nor do columbus and phenix city (though the presence of the chattahoochee as a natural divider plays a role). for all the development going on in auburn, VERY little of it is taking place along the existing corridor of disgusting, blighted, forsaken commercial space that connects the two towns. most of it (even that which lies between auburn and opelika) is happening on previously undeveloped land. the density of the auburn-opelika metro would have to reach a critical mass before growth in any direction outside the two cities would make sense (not to say that sense will be the guiding factor in these cities' growth).
too, the 25 or so miles which separate phenix city from opelika is a pretty long, rural, and sometimes topographically challenging 25 miles. it would take a freakish surge of sustained development to urbanize (or even suburbanize) that corridor within the next decade or so. if these areas are to eventually merge, i hope it's slow growth all the way. the two areas are distinct enough one from another that they need a long history of shared needs and trends before they can see a meaningful and productive merger.
as trivia, columbus is virtually tied with augusta as the second largest city in georgia in terms of population. augusta (last time i checked the back of my trusty atlas) has approximately 5,000 more people than columbus. it will be interesting to see how columbus cotinues to handle its growth across the river and into alabama.
#11
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Posted 13 April 2006 - 11:39 PM
convulso, on Apr 13 2006, 02:12 AM, said:
as trivia, columbus is virtually tied with augusta as the second largest city in georgia in terms of population. augusta (last time i checked the back of my trusty atlas) has approximately 5,000 more people than columbus. it will be interesting to see how columbus cotinues to handle its growth across the river and into alabama.
The 2005 county estimates (and both cities are consolidated with their counties) has Augusta up by 10,000 in population: 195,769 in Richmond County and 185,271 in Muscogee County. Also both counties have lost population since 2000, with Richmond experiencing a 2% loss (~4,000) and Muscogee having lost 0.5% (~1,000). Augusta's suburban counties picked up some steam since 2000 though, especially Columbia (16.3% increase) and Aiken County, SC (5.4% increase). Harris County in metro Columbus experienced a 17.2% increase, but it is a relatively small county with less than 30K residents. It will be interesting to see how the next few years play out for both metro areas, with Columbus getting some economic investment and Augusta seeing more growth in its suburban counties (the real estate market is pretty hot in Aiken County right now).
As far as CSA vs. MSA, in some cases I can see where a difference is needed. I don't think DC and Baltimore should necessarily be included as one "metro area" since both cities, while having interaction, still have their own spheres of influence. In some cases, there are sizable distances between satellite cities and the primary urban core, such as between Salisbury, NC and Charlotte. Even the distance from Orange County to LA isn't a hop, skip, and a jump, not at least to me when I rode from the latter to the former; yet there is still significant interchange between the two areas. So I see the distinctions as somewhat useful, but who knows; by the time of the next census, the definitions will probably change again.
#12
Southron
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 09:33 PM
[Threads merged]
News, projects and construction in the Auburn-Opelika area...
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Additional info/discussion in the UP Columbus, Georgia forum: Auburn/Opelika developments
News, projects and construction in the Auburn-Opelika area...
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Additional info/discussion in the UP Columbus, Georgia forum: Auburn/Opelika developments
#13
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Posted 16 May 2007 - 05:48 PM
Opelika OKs new retail center
It looks like TigerTown and The Shoppes at Capps Farm will soon be retail rivals near heavily traveled I-85.
A public hearing was held on the proposed retail commercial shopping center during Tuesday's Opelika City Council meeting. The center, located on the southeast corner of Exit 58 off I-85, is slated to stretch 370,000-square-feet. The 62-acre property would include retail, restaurants and its own movie theatre and would also boast a children's playground and open-air amphitheater.
It looks like TigerTown and The Shoppes at Capps Farm will soon be retail rivals near heavily traveled I-85.
A public hearing was held on the proposed retail commercial shopping center during Tuesday's Opelika City Council meeting. The center, located on the southeast corner of Exit 58 off I-85, is slated to stretch 370,000-square-feet. The 62-acre property would include retail, restaurants and its own movie theatre and would also boast a children's playground and open-air amphitheater.
#14
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Posted 17 May 2007 - 01:25 AM
^ i'd thank you for the update, but then i'd have to thank you for every one of the other MCMLVXXI updates you manage to post!
nah, serious thanks for the update. keep that info coming!
when i get my hands on a digicam again, i'll go through town and start snapping photos of as much of the construction as i can before i collapse (there's a lot of building going on, especially all the separate residential multistory projects downtown.) i more or less live on top of toomer's corner, and the building spree in the campus section of auburn is a little dizzying.
nah, serious thanks for the update. keep that info coming!
when i get my hands on a digicam again, i'll go through town and start snapping photos of as much of the construction as i can before i collapse (there's a lot of building going on, especially all the separate residential multistory projects downtown.) i more or less live on top of toomer's corner, and the building spree in the campus section of auburn is a little dizzying.
Edited by convulso, 17 May 2007 - 01:27 AM.
#15
ATLman1
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Posted 17 May 2007 - 07:51 PM
convulso, on May 17 2007, 03:25 AM, said:
^ i'd thank you for the update, but then i'd have to thank you for every one of the other MCMLVXXI updates you manage to post!
nah, serious thanks for the update. keep that info coming!
when i get my hands on a digicam again, i'll go through town and start snapping photos of as much of the construction as i can before i collapse (there's a lot of building going on, especially all the separate residential multistory projects downtown.) i more or less live on top of toomer's corner, and the building spree in the campus section of auburn is a little dizzying.
nah, serious thanks for the update. keep that info coming!
when i get my hands on a digicam again, i'll go through town and start snapping photos of as much of the construction as i can before i collapse (there's a lot of building going on, especially all the separate residential multistory projects downtown.) i more or less live on top of toomer's corner, and the building spree in the campus section of auburn is a little dizzying.
#16
nitek_of_mobile
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Posted 20 June 2007 - 05:17 PM
More than likely, if the Capps Farm shopping development focuses more on traditional mall-type stores and department store anchors, it will complement the big box offerings of TigerTown. Unfortunately, The Shoppes at Capps Farm will probably signal the end of Colonial University Village enclosed mall. 
#17
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Posted 21 June 2007 - 07:49 PM
nitek_of_mobile, on Jun 20 2007, 07:17 PM, said:
More than likely, if the Capps Farm shopping development focuses more on traditional mall-type stores and department store anchors, it will complement the big box offerings of TigerTown. Unfortunately, The Shoppes at Capps Farm will probably signal the end of Colonial University Village enclosed mall.
#18
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Posted 25 July 2007 - 03:11 PM
The city of Auburn hired KPS Group to help develop a plan for the future development of the city. The resulting plan is on the city's website, linked below. It looks good, and I hope the city follows through with it.
Auburn Village Centers Strategic Redevelopment Concept
Quote
Rather than continuing single-use retail sprawl along major automobile corridors, Auburn will focus development upon a compact pattern of Village and Neighborhood Centers supported by adjacent residential neighborhoods. The City of Villages concept encourages the development of compact centers that focus and complement surrounding neighborhoods - centers that are supported by existing and planned road networks constructed in response to traffic demands of both auto and pedestrian.
....The neighborhood is an essential element of this new vision for development in Auburn. It is the basic tool for development, redevelopment and enhancement of the City.
....The neighborhood is an essential element of this new vision for development in Auburn. It is the basic tool for development, redevelopment and enhancement of the City.
Auburn Village Centers Strategic Redevelopment Concept
#19
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Posted 07 February 2008 - 01:43 PM
Opelika-Auburn is becoming increasingly linked economically with Columbus, GA metro area. Two things will continue to strengthen the ties -
- The growth of Smiths Station, Alabama. Owe's its very existence to the Allen Bypass in Columbus-Phenix City, but this fast-growing town in Lee County is growing out 280 toward Opelika. New subdivisions are also going up in the Salem zip code. These are all marketed as Columbus suburbs, but many are closer to Opelika than Columbus. The 'Backwaters' (Lake Harding) has long been a Columbus getaway, but now has many new subdivisions there with 'bi-city' families. Families with one spouse/significant other that works in OA and the other in Columbus/PC.
- Kia in West Point, GA - right on the Alabama border. Some of the Hyundai suppliers will expand to also supply Kia. Kia has also opened a recruiting office in Opelika. Althought it's just outside Harris County, many in Columbus hope for economic impact. Obviously, some will commute from Columbus to Kia. Sometime earlier in this post, I'd mentioned I'd heard some in Columbus calling this triangle 'COAL'. (Columbus-Opelika-Auburn-Lagrange). Someone twisted it to COLA, either way, folks are recognizing the potential of this expanded and combined metro area.
Are there any discussions in Opelika Auburn regarding the potential of an I-22 extension? This would seem to be something economic developers and others would obviously support.
- The growth of Smiths Station, Alabama. Owe's its very existence to the Allen Bypass in Columbus-Phenix City, but this fast-growing town in Lee County is growing out 280 toward Opelika. New subdivisions are also going up in the Salem zip code. These are all marketed as Columbus suburbs, but many are closer to Opelika than Columbus. The 'Backwaters' (Lake Harding) has long been a Columbus getaway, but now has many new subdivisions there with 'bi-city' families. Families with one spouse/significant other that works in OA and the other in Columbus/PC.
- Kia in West Point, GA - right on the Alabama border. Some of the Hyundai suppliers will expand to also supply Kia. Kia has also opened a recruiting office in Opelika. Althought it's just outside Harris County, many in Columbus hope for economic impact. Obviously, some will commute from Columbus to Kia. Sometime earlier in this post, I'd mentioned I'd heard some in Columbus calling this triangle 'COAL'. (Columbus-Opelika-Auburn-Lagrange). Someone twisted it to COLA, either way, folks are recognizing the potential of this expanded and combined metro area.
Are there any discussions in Opelika Auburn regarding the potential of an I-22 extension? This would seem to be something economic developers and others would obviously support.
#20
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Posted 02 April 2008 - 01:28 PM
The Georgia DOT is holding regional meetings in Southwest Georgia to determine necessity, feasibility and desire for 'access' to Interstates. This area along with Southeast Alabama was like the land that the Interstates forgot. I would think that, since the very definition of an Interstate involves more than one state, Alabama and Florida would be brought into the discussion... Anyway, here's a link to the dedicated website. There will be a stakeholders meeting (presentation link) in Columbus, GA on April 15th. Other area meetings have already occured. Southwest Georgia Interstate Study website.
The study area map:
The study area map:
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