Columbia Off-Topic

[krazeeboi]

It seems like the author is making excuses as to why Columbia didn't land certain economic developments when other regions did.

I'm not sure how you got that out of the article, as the subject isn't economic development per se, but the power of the governor's mansion shifting to the Midlands after 35 years, which is longer than a lot of us here have even been alive. What cannot be denied is that when governors were from the Upstate or Lowcountry, or even Pee Dee, their regions benefited economically during their tenure. Beyond that, some of the top power brokers in the Legislature have been from the Lowcountry or Upstate. I know the Upstate likes to complain a lot about how they think they are getting shafted by the state, but to be home of the state capital, the Midlands as a region has very little political capital.

If Hydrogen companies choose Columbia for an R&D location, it's not going to be because of where Sheheen or Haley are from, it's going to be because of the City of Columbia and USC.

I think the article is coming more from a large manufacturing perspective that several cities often compete for, not something as specialized as hydrogen (which is still in its infancy as an industry). Frankly, BMW, the Honda ATV plant in the Pee Dee, or, to a lesser extent, Boeing, could have gone just about anywhere in the state and would have done/will do just fine.

[CorgiMatt]

What I got from the article is that often companies first settle on a state and then get direction from within the state as to which community has an available and trainable workforce. In big business recruitment it sometimes works to a community's advantage to have a lot of out-of-work manufacturing workers to train. Columbia doesn't have many of those, but the next wave of big businesses might be more research-and-development-oriented ones that want to cluster next to an urban university. I guess you can look at it from many angles.

[krazeeboi]

The historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is undergoing restoration currently; looks like it's lost its trademark orange exterior, at least temporarily:

[CorgiMatt]

As good as it's looking, I hope permanently.

[BrasilnSC]

I believe they are bringing it back to it's original look, which is what you see in that picture. I like it much better than the bright orange .

[krazeeboi]

Interesting tidbit: The father-in-law of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who just resigned as head honcho of the war in Afghanistan over controversial comments made in a Rolling Stone article, lives in Columbia. He's a a former chief of staff at Fort Jackson.

[Spartan]

I believe they are bringing it back to it's original look, which is what you see in that picture. I like it much better than the bright orange .

That's good. This is one of the few times where I'll agree that making something beige is an improvement.

[krazeeboi]

Columbia got some coverage in Fox News Travel where they picked the top five things to do/places to vist in the city, which included 5) the Vista; 4) USC football; 3) Governor's mansion; 2) Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; and 1) the Statehouse. I would have replaced the governor's mansion with either Congaree National Forest, the Congaree River Blue Trail, or the historic homes tour. For the Statehouse, they should have given a little coverage to the beautiful grounds with its monuments and memorials which can be just as much of an attraction as the building itself. Otherwise, it was some good exposure for the city.

[growingup15]

I Don't know where to put this in so i placed it here but, I'm going to interning with the city of Columbia soon for Urban development and Planning. Steve staff is going to help me get my GED in Urban planning and Development.

What do yall think. i actually might be able to get some of yalls ideas and mines also. This is a start of a Great future for me and The city of Columbia

[CorgiMatt]

I Don't know where to put this in so i placed it here but, I'm going to interning with the city of Columbia soon for Urban development and Planning. Steve staff is going to help me get my GED in Urban planning and Development.

What do yall think. i actually might be able to get some of yalls ideas and mines also. This is a start of a Great future for me and The city of Columbia

Tell them Corgimatt said do not make Assembly Street something just to get across, over or around, but to give it its own due according to the city's history. Make it enticing to pedestrians in its own right and stores will follow.

[mr. chips]

I Don't know where to put this in so i placed it here but, I'm going to interning with the city of Columbia soon for Urban development and Planning. Steve staff is going to help me get my GED in Urban planning and Development.

What do yall think. i actually might be able to get some of yalls ideas and mines also. This is a start of a Great future for me and The city of Columbia

I don't intend to be "mean", but I hope that they teach you to spell better and write more grammatically. Your ideas will go nowhere if you can't communicate well in standard English.

[krazeeboi]

I suppose lots of tempers don't flare in Columbia. The city ranks as the 11th least angriest city among 100 evaluated in a recent Men's Health survey.

Methodology: We calculated the number of aggravated assaults per capita (FBI), the number of people with high blood pressure (CDC), the amount of time spent in traffic during rush hour (Texas Transportation Institute), and the number of anger-management specialists per capita (American Psychological Association).

Kind of a silly list of sorts, but take it for what it's worth.

[growingup15]

I suppose lots of tempers don't flare in Columbia. The city ranks as the 11th least angriest city among 100 evaluated in a recent Men's Health survey.

Methodology: We calculated the number of aggravated assaults per capita (FBI), the number of people with high blood pressure (CDC), the amount of time spent in traffic during rush hour (Texas Transportation Institute), and the number of anger-management specialists per capita (American Psychological Association).

Kind of a silly list of sorts, but take it for what it's worth.

i believe it. im super angry on the road alot. specially now i do deliveries for 256 im traveling through downtown columbia.alot during the morning miiday and then getting off work during the 5pm rush hour. yes im very furious on the road i road rage alot because of idiots driving like idiots. so i think its true.

[krazeeboi]

You should re-read what I posted.

[CorgiMatt]

It might mean that according to their survey (however silly it might be), Columbia is #90 on their list of the nation's 100 angriest cities. Oh well, some would say that lots of the supposed angrier cities on the list have less to be angry about than Columbians. Like you said in as many words, krazeeboi: silly.

Edited October 21, 2011 by CorgiMatt

[Spartan]

Columbia ranks 15th on Amazon.com's list of most well-read cities. They base it on book purchases, and you can see a pattern of cities (of all sizes) that are home to major colleges.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1695968&highlight=

[krazeeboi]

Looks like word is getting out about Main Street's renaissance: https://wpde.com/news/local/seeking-ideas-myrtle-beach-leaders-look-to-columbias-downtown-transformation

[krazeeboi]

The city has finally adopted a new flag. I don't think it was the best design of all the options, but it's distinctive enough and better than the current one.

[Spartan]

Gotta say that I like this. I like any effort to get away from the standard white flags with city/county seals on them. This has potential, but I think it's going to take a while before people know what it is.

[Spartan]

For reference: https://www.flagofcolumbia.com/

[gman430]

No posts in almost a month? I guess Columbia got wiped off the face of the planet due to the earthquakes.  

[victory]

49 minutes ago, gman430 said:

No posts in almost a month? I guess Columbia got wiped off the face of the planet due to the earthquakes.  

We are still here. Thanks for thinking of us. The earthquake thing has been strange, but we're ok.  No new posts for a while. Waiting on our new 17 story apartment tower downtown to make a bit more progress, then I'll post some photos. 

[victory]

I regret that I must post some tough love for my city, Columbia. It's been home all my life, and I love it, and would not want to live anywhere else. I must say, though, Columbia has a safety perception issue which is not entirely untrue. I have worked downtown for the last 31 years, and have watched its renaissance. There are more people on the streets now than since its heyday in the 1950's. However, I've also come to see most of the people out and about are not office workers, college students or out of town visitors (like Charleston or Greenville) but the homeless, with nothing to do but exist the best they can until Oliver Gospel Mission or Transitions allow them back in for the evening. Perhaps most of these folks are peaceful and law abiding, and just want to be left alone to do their thing, however, there is a sizeable population of the mentally ill. Budget cuts have left the mentally ill without treatment, fending for themselves. Some of them are hostile and scare folks out on their lunch breaks. I have had numerous transients scream profanities at the top of their lungs at me, for no apparent reason at all. I don't claim to know what the solution to all this is, but I can tell you a failure to act is only going to cause the situation to worsen. I hate to have to make such a post, but if we are truthful with ourselves, all cities (and cities are the focus of this forum) are going to have some social problems. These problems impact the greater enjoyment of what we have collectively as Columbians, and must be addressed. People deserve care, and we all deserve to be and feel safe in our surroundings.    

Edited June 29, 2022 by victory

[rancenc]

New Lowes Foods coming to Lexington County.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/red-bank-to-get-lexington-countys-fourth-lowes-foods-location,81265

[victory]

Anyone else heard the rumor Man U and Liverpool will play a friendly at Williams Brice on August 3? The official announcement is expected in March. Definitely buying tix. What a party that will be!