MorganA15

New Development News: Citizens Bank, a bank based out of Sandersville, GA, will be opening a 2 story building in Commerce Park. Construction should begin in May or June. article: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/1506/ Also, there was an interesting article about GSU's College of Public Health. It will support 146 jobs and by 2020, will add $17 million to the local economy. article: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/1511/

Ok, so here's some other mall info. I asked my mom if she had seen the Kay sign. She said yeah and she went on to say that the last time she went into Belks (about 2 or so weeks ago) one of the workers told her that they are planning on expanding. This doesn't surprise me, since they have so much stuff in the store, they have half of it in the aisles so you can't move in there. I remember the article in the paper earlier this summer that it was one of the top stores in the chain. Very interesting. Maybe the mall is starting to make its comeback. They have a long way to go.

Coming Soon to the Statesboro Mall: Kay Jewelers. Corner spot across from The Bourbon Grill.

Ah, thanks for the bypass info. I was confused, with all of these different road numbers for the same road. I know that they've been talking for over a decade about the 67 widening, but I didn't know that the 301 project has been talked about for the same length of time too. And about the subform, that'd be great. We'd be able to have different topics for each project (or group of projects) that's going on and updates would be easier. I plan on start taking pictures of the projects and all soon too (i've been planning, but just never got around to). Anyway, I noticed tonight that the facade is going up on the Comfort Inn & Suites addition. I expect a late January/early February opening.

So, I wanted to share some information, and to see if anybody could help figure some out. I came across this website today ( http://www.whatsthebigidea.us/ ), which explains that the DOT is having to delay some projects due to lack of funding (you can read about it there). Well, if you go to Find Project Funding Status, put Bulloch in the county box, and All Projects in the project status box, you can see all of the road projects that's going on. From the way I see it, I assume that the "phase II" of the bypass is still in order, and the contractors are just going slow. There are two other items for the bypass. I see the buying the right of way for the final leg will happen in 2011. One thing I don't understand. Does anybody know what this is?

I would much rather have a Target. But considering that Savannah just got their first one at the end of 2004 (even though they are getting a second one), it just makes me wonder if they would come to Statesboro in the near future.

I've seen these posted on a lot of the major forums, so I thought I would start one too. For 2007, what do you want to see happen in Statesboro? - More retail to enter the market. A few new big box retailers, such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Borders, etc. Even some clothing stores. - More restaurants to enter the market. We need some more restaurants, at least others than franchises. While the franchises are good, we need some national chains. - Announcement of second Wal-Mart Supercenter. Ours is way too crowded. All these rumors. Maybe one of them will be true. - Downtown ressurection to continue. Lots of great strides have been made over the past few years for this to happen (ex. Averitt Arts Center and Emma Kelly Theatre). Hopefully we can get Phase I and II of the Streetscape Plan in this year. I'd like to see some more condo projects being done, renovation of older buildings into lofts and retail, etc. - South Main Street keep striving with new developments. South Main Street, as some call the "unofficial gateway to downtown", was hot in 2006 with new developments. From the Tillman Park condo/townhome community, to Midtown shopping center, and to the soon-to-be-renovated Holiday Inn/Ramada Inn/Guest Inn (to be rebadged as Quality Inn and Suites). I'd like to see the demolition of the older motels and buildings and be replaced with more townhome/condo projects, a upscale hotel (or two), and some more commercial projects. It'd be nice to give this stretch of road an "upscale" look. - Construction to begin on Veterans Memorial Parkway. One of the most traveled and crowded roads. Plans are to widen it to 4 lanes (Was in original plans, but due to lack of money and low population at the time, only 2 lanes were constructed back in 1994. One section was 4 laned back in 2004. Completion date for the next section is March 31, 2008.). - Completion of Savannah Avenue/Northside Drive realignment. The intersection is being reconstructed and a traffic light is being added. While it's not something I'm not really too concerned about this project, I would like to see it be finished. This is my small list, I might add more later. What all would you like to see happen in 2007?

I agree Statesboro should leave agriculture behind. Not forgetting though that's what Statesboro used to be about. That's what gives it it's rich history. Seeing what it used to be, what it is now, and what it's headed to. The economy isn't like what it was 100 years ago. It doesn't have to depend on agriculture alone now. I do hope they can preserve some of the smaller towns, such as Nevils, Register, Stilson, etc. That's where a LOT of history lives. People like to move here because Bulloch County has the "country" feel to it. The last thing we want to do is to remove one of our "people getters".

Agricultural Arena Coming Soon Construction should begin next fall on the Bulloch County Agricultural Arena. Located on Langston Chapel road next to the Bulloch County Agricultural Center, the next three to four months will be for site engineering. By spring, there should be a good idea of what it will look like. Most of this should be paid by part of the funds collected by SPLOST. Hopefully this should be completed within two years. Read the more in-depth article: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/1289/

So, here's an interesting perspective on the "residential boom" going on. Through October 2006 compared to October 2005 - building permits obtained increased by 22 percent, totaling nearly 600. Exceeding the record set in 2004 with 565 obtained. - home sales up 22 percent - sales up 66 percent in the $200,000 through $300,000 price range - sales up 87.5 percent in the $300,000+ price range With the largely increased sales in the $300,000+ sales range (and the 200K - 300K), it makes me wonder what our per capita income, median income, etc. would be if we had the Centennial Park project up and running (such as what andremurra stated earlier). Obviously, these are some impressive numbers. It will be interesting to see what 2007 has in store for us. Here's the link to the complete article: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/1290/

So nothing about Charley's? I could have sworn that's what I read. I hate reading signs in the dark. How I got Charley's out of Brusters Ice Cream is beyond me. Well, sorry about that

I don't know. I just have a feeling. Strange, I know.

Brannen Street seemed like a better place for me to put it. It's slow now, but give it a few more years. Bringing Starbucks back there would probably speed it up some. Anyway, between these two projects, at least we know development isn't slowing down around there. I'm still waiting for some news about Brannen Crossing. I'm feeling any day now..

Has anybody noticed the coming soon sign by Sea Island Bank on Lovett Road? I saw it tonight, and from what I saw, it was Charley's. I've never heard of it, so I came home and googled it and came up with a fast food philly style steak and chicken subs. Anyway, so that's what I saw. I've noticed it earlier, but I really like how they've made a separate building for the new rooms at the Comfort Inn. I don't know why, but I like it.

The city is slow on updating the Council and planning agendas and minutes, and the county is slow on updating the BOC agendas and minutes. I feel behind on everything, lol.

LA Waters is currently in the process of renovating their downtown store. Renderings makes it look pretty nice.

So, I finally went to the Midtown Coffeeshop today, and I was quite impressed. The inside was very modern, and even what looked like a corner couch in front of the fireplace. I didn't make it upstairs though. I was very impressed. I will be back. It wasn't all college kids either - like I expected it to be. There were all ages of people in there. I found it a little random though, how there is only but 5 parking spaces. The rest is just asphalt. Downtown, poor downtown. I ate there today, and it was so dead. I hope this streetscape helps liven it up some. It would be a perfect night spot. All it needs is a few more restaurants, a few coffee houses, and some stores. Downtown has a lot of potential. I hope it improves some. And I noticed today, since they are remodeling most of the top floors of buildings on West Main Street to lofts/apartments, why they don't do the 2 floors above whatever that store is on the corner. Frills n Fancies or something? Those would make perfect lofts.

So, I was wondering what was going on at the old Holiday Inn/Ramada Inn/Guest Inn this morning, since everything was out in the parking lot. Well, as you know, the 129 room motel was sold this summer, and it is now going under renovations yet again . It's going under complete renovations, that will include state-of-the-art security cameras, internet access in every rooom, etc. It's going to be open in March, under the Quality Inn and Suites name. A deal is almost finished with a regional restaurant to move in. Bleh, i'm tired of this thing of being remodeled. Bulldoze the thing and put a 4 story hotel and a restaurant there . Just a random note, but the Statesboro Magazine was recently bought by Morris Multimedia, who also owns the Statesboro Herald.