49 replies to this topic

[georgia478]

Hey, which non ATL metropolitan area city in Georgia do you think feels the most like a true urban area?
I have been to all of our large cities, but mostly in Macon and Columbus. I attend Columbus State, what's the deal with COLUMBUS?

.......I'm just wondering, how long do you think it will take for Columbus to actually "feel" like a city with a populaton of 180,000 plus? Columbus seems to have more opportunity than Macon, but it's weird. Columbus is the hub of its metro, but feels like one big suburb to me. I'm originally from Macon and it seems we have much more traffic in town. Macon feels faster and more urban , more of a night life. Columbus feels laid back.

I don't think you can name another city of this size in the country, with no skyline and only has one EXTENTION of an interstate running through it.

I havent been to the other cities in awhile, so i cant call it. I know Athens and Albany feel country tho.

Leaves it Between Augusta, Savannah, and Macon to me. They're too close to call in my opinion.

[ATLman1]

georgia478, on Feb 15 2007, 06:24 AM, said:

Hey, which non ATL metropolitan area city in Georgia do you think feels the most like a true urban area?
I have been to all of our large cities, but mostly in Macon and Columbus. I attend Columbus State, what's the deal with COLUMBUS?

.......I'm just wondering, how long do you think it will take for Columbus to actually "feel" like a city with a populaton of 180,000 plus? Columbus seems to have more opportunity than Macon, but it's weird. Columbus is the hub of its metro, but feels like one big suburb to me. I'm originally from Macon and it seems we have much more traffic in town. Macon feels faster and more urban , more of a night life. Columbus feels laid back.

I don't think you can name another city of this size in the country, with no skyline and only has one EXTENTION of an interstate running through it.

I havent been to the other cities in awhile, so i cant call it. I know Athens and Albany feel country tho.

Leaves it Between Augusta, Savannah, and Macon to me. They're too close to call in my opinion.

Macon might seem faster just due to the fact that it has 2 interstates running through it. Columbus has been experiencing tremendous growth over the last 10 years. The  city has around 190,000 people. With Aflac, Kia, and Fort Benning expanding, there are billions of dollars of new development coming this way. That's not to mention the 33,000-40,000 new residents that will be moving to the area in the next 3-4 years. As for skyline, Macon is lacking in that category as well. Columbus does have the tallest buildings outside of Atlanta. Also, I believe it has the best opportunity to have more high-rise construction due to the fact of the major corporations here. High-rise development all depends on the price of land and the availability of land. Columbus is running out of land so I believe that will push developments up rather than out. I just don't understand how you think that Columbus does not feel like a city? It has 40,000+ more people than Macon. We have the largest corporate base outside of Atlanta with Aflac, Synovus, TSYS, Carmike Cinemas, W.C. Bradley (Char-broil), etc. There are plans to extend I-185 south of Columbus all of the way to Florida. Also, if I-14 becomes a reality that would give the city a good east-west route. As for nightlife, come on man? There are way more bars and clubs in downtown Columbus than Macon. I go to UGA and I compare Athens nightlife to Columbus. The nightlife in Columbus is becoming more and more like Athens with bars, clubs, coffee houses, restaurants, etc. Columbus leaders are taking Columbus to another level compared to Georgia's other cities. The new national infantry museum, downtown condos and lofts, CSU's downtown campus, Broadway improvements, expansion of the Columbus Trade Center, etc. are just a few of the projects that are pushing Columbus ahead of the pack. Columbus probably has the most diverse population outside of Atlanta because of Fort Benning and people relocating to work for the large corporations here. Within the next ten years, Columbus will be a totally different city than what it is. As Atlanta pushes south, the city will reap great economic benefits. The next 10 years will take Columbus to a new level.

Edited by ATLman1, 15 February 2007 - 06:42 AM.

[shanthemanatl]

I have to disagree. Though I vote for Savannah here, I think Macon has a far more striking skyline than Columbus. I think Macon's downtown area is far more beautiful than Columbus's and holds a ton of potential. Just my completely subjective opinion!

[Metroinspect.]

I choose Macon, because from I-16 towards Savannah gives you a nice picture of a skyline which still being work on, and more highrise building or being proposed in Macon

[dougtha1]

I vote for Macon on this one for overall city feel. I honestly don't see where Columbus is running out of land. Entering the city from the east (from Macon) could be considered rurality. There are tracks and tracks of untouched land. Things are so spread out and it was just overall quiet when I was traveling there regularly. As for Augusta, i've seen their First Friday in person and it kicks Macon's a** hands down, so my night life vote has to go to them. Macon's downtown is making huge strides thanks to New Town Macon's revitalization efforts, so I expect it to  take off any time now with the help of a significant catalyst (retail center, mixed-use dev., corporate office such as Geico who is rapidly expanding Macon operations which is already the largest office in the country) Savannah's density and crowdedness, due to tourism, helps keep it in this discussion, but the droopy Sleepy Willows and old architecture give it more of a charming town feel. Macon's old architecture has this effect on its downtown as well to an extent. Overall though im sticking with Macon because of its interstates which are due to undergoe major widening (some projects have already begun), its visible and growing skyline, and its faster than the avg. Ga. city pace of life.

[socaguy]

Well of course Savannah would beat any of the other mid-sized cities IMO.  Apart from that I think Augusta is the only other metro that actually feels like a nice sized urban area....which it is.  Columbus may have the tallest single building outside of Atlanta (In Ga) but Augusta has FAR more tall (over 10 floor) buildings than either Columbus or Macon....check Emporis for that.  Its also got some really cool inner neighborhoods that have a truly urban feel, complete with street-front trendy/upscale retail, a midrise condo, hotel and retirement center, and a diverse stock of housing types, (Summerville).  Its also got all the repulsive Gwinnett county type suburban/exurban sprawl typical of any true metro area in the SE.

[shanthemanatl]

socaguy, on Feb 15 2007, 08:13 PM, said:

Well of course Savannah would beat any of the other mid-sized cities IMO.  Apart from that I think Augusta is the only other metro that actually feels like a nice sized urban area....which it is.  Columbus may have the tallest single building outside of Atlanta (In Ga) but Augusta has FAR more tall (over 10 floor) buildings than either Columbus or Macon....check Emporis for that.  Its also got some really cool inner neighborhoods that have a truly urban feel, complete with street-front trendy/upscale retail, a midrise condo, hotel and retirement center, and a diverse stock of housing types, (Summerville).  Its also got all the repulsive Gwinnett county type suburban/exurban sprawl typical of any true metro area in the SE.

Emporis says Augusta has far more tall buildings than Macon? I just checked, and it shows Macon has 8 10+ story buildings to Augusta's 7.

[socaguy]

Check again.  I can think of at least 10 buildings in Augusta with at least 10 floors....for a fact.  And those are the ones i just thought of off the top of my head.

[socaguy]

Emporis lists 15 buildings in Augusta over 10 floors, not 7.
Macon has 12 buildings over 10 floors,  not 8.

[yerocal]

For this post all i can say is MACON!!! Reguardless of which cities has the highest pop, most corp HQ, or more Interstates or etc. Macon is the only city outside of atlanta that feels like a true metro. For example you can get on the interstates and travel to most of all the counties and cities in the metro, Macon has high growth area just below it which is Warner robins and Robins AFB which is one of the largest employer in the state.  Macon has other large employers such as Gecio which is the largest of all the regional offices which has two large  4 story complexes, including other companies like YKK, Sara Lee, Ikon, Ga Farmer's Bureau, Allstate claims center, BB&T, Med center of cental ga, Bass pro, Amrstrong, Cox Communications, Coke Cola and that just a few to list.. there are huge proposals for downtown and it's skyline plus the interstate are expandings, a huge retal boom on every end of the city. macon feel like a tue city to me.... Columbus I can say good luck with all those people..... oh but for those who contuniously dewl on pop, that does not make a city. there are lots of large cities  who has less pop than smaller cities like Atl is larger than jacksonville and Charlotte but they have a much larger pop than atlanta....  the pop does not make a city larger it just that you have more people to deal with.

[yerocal]

yerocal, on Feb 15 2007, 11:13 PM, said:

For this post all i can say is MACON!!! Reguardless of which cities has the highest pop, most corp HQ, or more Interstates or etc. Macon is the only city outside of atlanta that feels like a true metro. For example you can get on the interstates and travel to most of all the counties and cities in the metro, Macon has high growth area just below it which is Warner robins and Robins AFB which is one of the largest employer in the state.  Macon has other large employers such as Gecio which is the largest of all the regional offices which has two large  4 story complexes, including other companies like YKK, Sara Lee, Ikon, Ga Farmer's Bureau, Allstate claims center, BB&T, Med center of cental ga, Bass pro, Amrstrong, Cox Communications, Coke Cola and that just a few to list.. there are huge proposals for downtown and it's skyline plus the interstate are expandings, a huge retal boom on every end of the city. macon feel like a tue city to me.... Columbus I can say good luck with all those people..... oh but for those who contuniously dewl on pop, that does not make a city. there are lots of large cities  who has less pop than smaller cities like Atl is larger than jacksonville and Charlotte but they have a much larger pop than atlanta....  the pop does not make a city larger it just that you have more people to deal with.

Oh yeah, And to add, Macon's has the a Huge Kohls DB Center.....I mean it huge including the Bass pro DB center as well... kelloge is also moving it California location to macon....

[convulso]

ATLman1, on Feb 15 2007, 07:40 AM, said:

There are plans to extend I-185 south of Columbus all of the way to Florida.

really? where can i read up on this? it would surely make my drive to certain points south from auburn much speedier.

[krazeeboi]

Why do you guys keep doing this?

[dougtha1]

socaguy, on Feb 15 2007, 10:41 PM, said:

Emporis lists 15 buildings in Augusta over 10 floors, not 7.
Macon has 12 buildings over 10 floors,  not 8.

Obviously 15 is more than  Macon's 12, but not "far" more.

krazeeboi, on Feb 16 2007, 06:44 AM, said:

Why do you guys keep doing this?

Edited by dougtha1, 16 February 2007 - 06:44 AM.

[poohsfolks]

krazeeboi, on Feb 16 2007, 06:44 AM, said:

Why do you guys keep doing this?

Agreed.  Haven't we beaten this dead horse enough?

[ATLman1]

convulso, on Feb 16 2007, 05:16 AM, said:

really? where can i read up on this? it would surely make my drive to certain points south from auburn much speedier.

It was talked about in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and the Albany Herald around Christmas.  Basically they are just doing feasibility studies right now. This is a quote from WTVM News in Columbus:

Quote

I-185 Extension Could Boost Economies

Quote

New Interstate idea gets mixed reviews

This is from WALB News in Albany:


December 14, 2006

Do not paste articles ATLman, and always include links. You should know this by now.-Spartan

Edited by Spartan, 17 February 2007 - 10:23 AM.

[dougtha1]

ATLman1, on Feb 16 2007, 09:27 AM, said:

It was talked about in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and the Albany Herald around Christmas.  Basically they are just doing feasibility studies right now. This is a quote from WTVM News in Columbus:

DOT is cash strappped so I wouldn't hold my breathe as far as this project is concerned.

[socaguy]

I think the constant bickering over whose city is better...whether it be Augusta, Macon or Columbus keeps things alive here in the Georgia forum.  Nothing wrong with it as long as things dont get out of hand.  If you dont want to read it then dont click on the thread!

[yerocal]

socaguy, on Feb 16 2007, 08:05 PM, said:

I think the constant bickering over whose city is better...whether it be Augusta, Macon or Columbus keeps things alive here in the Georgia forum.  Nothing wrong with it as long as things dont get out of hand.  If you dont want to read it then dont click on the thread!

I agree, keep the postings and comments coming.....

[krazeeboi]

socaguy, on Feb 16 2007, 08:05 PM, said:

I think the constant bickering over whose city is better...whether it be Augusta, Macon or Columbus keeps things alive here in the Georgia forum. Nothing wrong with it as long as things dont get out of hand. If you dont want to read it then dont click on the thread!

This is a forum for mature discussions, not bickering. There are plenty of other forums where these types of cripple fights might be appropriate, but not UP. As a moderator, it's my job to help those charged with overseeing the Georgia forum make sure that these juvenile discussions do not occur. And if this isn't understood, you may want to post in any one of those other forums instead.

Try genuine, mature discussion to "keep things alive" here instead of fighting over Atlanta's crumbs.