xivinrah
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Posts posted by xivinrah
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Lots of interesting development in Columbus lately. As you might of heard, Jersey Mikes is going in the old Butlers Pantry. Kia has started moving land by Columbus Park Crossing IHOP has started construction on it's Gateway Rd. location and just announced, Goo Goo 3 Minute Express Wash will be opening a new location on Gateway Rd. right down from their HQ beside the Walmart. Last but not least, the most important is the evolution of the Koonce Place project at Williams Rd/Veterans Parkway. It seems that Woodruff has thrown the old idea out the window and decided and "Old Town" concept would be a better idea. I"m not sure if I agree or not, but that's not for me to decide
They are using a company called Historical Concepts, they well, you guessed it, use a historial-ish basis for design, which is very cool but again, I'm not sure if it's right for North Columbus. here is one of their other projects in GA, http://www.historicalconcepts.com/the_gin_property_project_profile.pdf Below is the map for the project. Word on the street is that they want to break ground by end of October (after it is approve), as with all Woodruff projects (e.g. Lakeside Village at Beaver Run), you never know if they're truly going to do something or not. We'll see.I APPROVE! 100% Even if it's way up North... it is a start! This can be a new trend that could spread across the city. This is the development of the future. Excellent vision! Now if we could just change that horrible name... "Koonce Place" sounds like an abandoned country saloon in the swamps of Southeast GA.
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Oh... then I guess my source was right.
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I thought that these unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) statistics might be of some interest to everyone:
Atlanta (city): 11.8%
Augusta-Richmond County (consolidated city): 11.3%
Columbus (consolidated city): 9.9%
Macon (city): 13%
Savannah (city): 11.4%
Georgia (state): 9.9%
Source: Google Data Explorer Labs
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Alright, now I'm dying to know what's going in the old Hobby Lobby. Dr. Agarwal has applied for a $400,000 building permit, so I doubt that it's any type of national chain but seems very big to be a Dr's office.
I was told that that is where Burlington Coat Factory is going... but I'm not entirely sure. I haven't seen any signage yet.
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A study envisions rail transit across top of Perimeter.
A transit study funded by the state (fancy that) and business organizations finds public support for transit. This is something I have known for years. I'm just glad that the state is finally waking up and participating in discussions regarding public transportation for the Atlanta region...a very vital part to the economy of Georgia. I look forward to this going beyond a study. With the formation of the new Atlanta Region Transportation District (or something like that), I am hopeful that many new state/private initiatives can take place to keep the metro area competitive.
What was of note from the article was the extension of the red line from the North Springs Station up to Holcomb Bridge Rd in Roswell. This is a much need extension. I wonder why it's cheaper to extend heavy rail (not that I'm complaining because HR has a much larger capacity than LR) up the corridor than adding LR. I was also interested in the LR extension from Cumberland over to Perimeter Center. More East/West connectivity is definitely need in the northern suburbs.
I'm super excited to read such articles. It's things like this that make Urbanplanet.org so important. We want to enhance the urban experience. With the 12 county region soon to vote on a region wide transit plan, if passed, could jumpstart something really special in the metro region.
To read the article for yourself, click here: Metro Transit
I wonder why they won't consider a heavy rail segment into Cobb Co. via I-75 corridor... at least up through Cumberland/Vinings with a terminus at Smyrna. Same goes for Gwinnett Co. an extension of existing heavy rail through Norcross. Light rail may be cheaper, but it is much less effective and efficient. I honestly don't see myself riding a light rail line over driving, because in some cases it would take me longer to drive up to a light rail station, the light rail has to travel in and along already congested vehicular traffic corridors, (so you still face the same delays), and top speed is probably no more than 45-50 mph. So what is the advantage of light rail over a heavy rail aside from cost?
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Does yogurt really turn into cheese?
LOL! XD Not that I know of... I was just being facetious. But at least you got my point, right? lol
after doing a little research...
Nope. Even milk doesn't. At least not on its own. There is a process that requires milk to be warmed with a bacteria culture and then whey and curds are separated from it... it's a lot more to it- this is just the beginning. But cheese-making is so ancient and dates back farther than written history- which goes to show that you don't need technology to make it.
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The following article ran on WTVM on March 25th. Towards the end of the article you will see where they say that it will be a 2 story publix store
I don't know how they will play it with 2 floors, but I have seen a 2 story Walmart store before not in this region of the country though.
But see that's just the thing. Walmart and Target sell a wide variety of things. 1 floor would be dedicated to non-grocery items, and the other would accommodate all grocery items. Which still make them single floor grocery stores. It's just not reasonable (or marketable) to facilitate a two or three story grocery store or a section that spans between two floors. It would be hell having to go up and down floors making sure I covered everything on my grocery list. All the while my milk is "sweating", frozen dinners are thawing, yogurt turning to cheese.
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I know they're building a Publix but I haven't seen anything indicating that it would be two stories?? http://www.glenwoodc...untry_front.pdf
Yeah... I'm going to just go on ahead and say that that is highly unlikely. Imagine having to go upstairs to look for milk and eggs and downstairs if you want bread, rice, and cereal? That isn't a very reasonable layout for a grocery store - no matter how large it is.
If indeed it is two stories... then that second floor would probably house operations offices for all five Publix in Columbus. That's the only reason I can see them having two floors. Other than that, at it's height in the diagrams, we can assume it has fairly high ceilings for lighting and signage just like every other modern grocery store.
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Two-story Publix? ... where did you see that?
That's been in the news and newspaper for quite some time... If you go to Cross Country Plaza you will see the on-going construction taking place and a sign with an illustration of the new Publix. It is beautiful.
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Phase 1 of Historic 4t Ward Park is now officially open. Phase II and the skate park are currently under construction.
Sweet!
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Does anyone know the status of the bike trail? It seems to have just stalled...
Rightfully so... because hardly anyone uses it. I'm probably one of the few, if not the only one, who still believes that it should have been the first light rail segment of a bi-city wide system. BUT that's too progressive... and perhaps it is better for CSG (Columbus) to explore other things, before making that kind of an investment. Who knows. But IMO it is never too early for a city this size to invest in its economic future.
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Well the description for this topic is "Shops, Eateries, Retail, Employers........", and I'm pretty sure the places you mentioned fall into those categories.
Yeah... I kind of overlooked that part...
Forgive me for my indiscretion.
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I didn't know Chick-Fil-A, Panera Bread, and Three Brothers Cheesecake were "projects" or "developments" for you all... hmm...
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I really wish SunTrust would renovate the plaza area/sidewalks around their building. The 90's have come and gone and it could use some freshening up... would also help Downtown look more attractive. Hopefully when the economy finally turns around (who knows when) Peachtree Center will also be renovated like originally planned.
I personally feel like downtown is so dated, rough-looking, and stigmatized with crime and loitering... it needs an overhaul that would require an economic boom. Some of those horribly dilapidated structures south of Alabama St SW, either need to be revitalized or razed, more green space would make the place more attractive. Five Points... where do I even begin... knowing the cost would be substantial- a newer structure needs to facilitate a waiting area for buses that terminate/begin at that station... that way it would help law enforcement to differentiate the transit riders from the undesirables whose loitering constitutes as one of many reasons why very few people see downtown as a good place to live.
Just throwing my own opinions out there... lol I'll admit the Five Points thing... highly unrealistic considering the state that MARTA is in.
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Beautiful... I can't wait to visit! I also can't wait until they set up that light rail segment in that area... it'd make it easier to get there from the Blue Line MARTA rail line.
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I don't think I'd want an observation wheel downtown. It may be better suited in a spot where one can get a glimpse of the entire skyline.
You have a point... might be better to situate it in Lindbergh (for that very reason alone). From there, you would be able to see Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown skylines... Cobb Galleria/Cumberland too, if your lucky.
But from an economic standpoint, downtown needs the attraction... placing it further north would only perpetuate the current patterns of growth - northward. I'm sure that in time, Downtown skyline will mature enough to suffice as a beautiful spectacle in itself.
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Yet more good news for downtown
Cox is donation the AJC building to the city. The building contains 475,000-square-foot of office space and sits on six acres. The city will consolidate some city employees into the building and the site has the potential to be a part of the multi-modal station plans down the road.
Merlin Entertainment is considering an "Atlanta Eye" for downtown, provided there is enough private interest ($$) and an appropriate site can be found. Bernie Marcus hosted a meeting on the proposal today.
Sightseeing Ferris wheel for Atlanta?
I just read both articles... Cool beans to the donation of the AJC building. I think it would be pretty romantic having that Sightseeing Ferris wheel downtown... and yet at the same time, I do have mixed feelings about it. I just hope that the cost of operation doesn't become something residents have to cover in the immediate future.
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O4W park will probably be my new favorite park...
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I believe that it's going to be some type of strip like the one by CVS on Macon Rd or something like that - not sure yet. Also, it seems like the Allen Development rezoning is for 16 acres and it's for some type of apartment community that they're going to build.
NO MORE STRIP MALLS!!!!
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Economic Experts say Columbus to Rebound Much faster from Recession
This quote is from Sundays Columbus Ledger Enquirer.
Veteran Economist Jeff Humphreys is quoted as saying the following:
"Start with 17,000 direct and indirect jobs created by Fort Bennings expansion. Add another 13,700 generated by Kia Motors and its Suppliers in nearby West Point, GA. Then mix in another 2,400 from NCR Corp, Prosperity America, Exide Technologies, and Nash Finch Co. Firms that have landed in the city or are expanding. It all adds up an economic slam dunk for Columbus and the surrounding area, said Humprphreys, director of the University of Georgia's Selig Center for Economic Growth. Thats 33,000 jobs coming into this area within the next 3 to 5 years. And you only lost 4,800 jobs in the great recession. So its really pretty simple math as to why I'm so bullish on the Columbus MSA. There's no other place in the state that has such a good econmic outlook. You got hit much less by the recession and you have so much in that economic pipeline"
I hope a good portion of those jobs moderate to high paying... they don't need anymore low income jobs here. Seriously.
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Has anyone noticed the road work going on at Veterans Parkway downtown? I truly hope that the streetscape project will stimulate some interest in creating a more urban or walkable retail/office/residential and hotel corridor.
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Three great articles about projects/development in Columbus from the LE today...
First just a general article quoting some agents about the thawing of the local retail/restaurant market.
http://www.ledger-en...new-stores.html
Secondly a good article on the added benefits/impact of having the Aflac games in downtown. Did anyone make it down there? Was there a good crowd?
http://www.ledger-en...s-up-games.html
Lastly, and most importantly in my mind, an article suggesting that an out of town developer is going to convert the Swift Denim Mill on 5th into lofts and office space, with later phases potentially including some retail too. In my short time here, I have thought that the mills between 5th and the railroad yard are really cool and could make for a street filled with great renovated old mills serving as residential, retail, office space, etc. Swifts Mill and the Golden factory further down are some of the most architecturally interesting buildings left downtown. Maybe this will be the start of somethign big. If they could get the railyards removed/moved that would help a great deal as well. Hoepfully this goes well. Can't complain about 50million dolars in investment however it comes.
http://www.ledger-en...r-50m-face.html
The first article: Great. More sprawling developments like Columbus Park Crossing and five more drugs stores to add on to the existing... 15, 16, 17, 18... oh I lost count.
The second article: I've always thought it was wonderful when AFLAC, Synovus, and TSYS host major events like that. Those are things you would typically see in the major cities... only on a much larger scale, but it's great for a city this size.
The third article: The comments on the last one are well... so much like my own personal opinions and feelings that it is deliberately ironic. I always thought that I was the only one who felt that way. But at least someone is finally planning to do something new that ISN'T confined to Broadway and Front Avenue. All of downtown should be revitalized not just two and a half thin strips of land closest to the river.
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Nice Pictures. <img src="http://www.saveaplanet.org/cdn/img/public/style_emoticons/default/good.gif" alt="
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<br>Same could be said for any city. What would Atlanta be without the airport? Columbus has a diverse economy. Home to big companies like Aflac. TSYS, Synovus, Carmike Cinemas, large medical base, Blue Cross Blue of Shied of Georgia, etc. Fort Benning does is a huge factor for Columbus, but the city does have other major businesses to keep it going. No other city in the state can say that.<br>
What would Columbus be without the airport? You also have to consider that because if it wasn't for the presence of Atlanta's airport, AFLAC, Synovus, Carmike, and TSYS would either be the local bank/insurance company down the street or not even present here. Hartsfield Jackson is an economic driver for the state. Not just Atlanta. Only Savannah can say that it can fully sustain itself without co-dependence.
Atlanta had always been growing even before that airport. And Atlanta would have grown more so than Columbus because of all of its railroad connections. This is prior to the interstate system established in the 60's. Not to mention when the interstate system was established Columbus decided NOT to have adequate interstate access. Atlanta Metro probably would have only been half its size - 2,500,000 or so, but compare that to what Columbus is and what it would be without Fort Benning.
I believe that Atlanta's economy is so much more diversified than what you are giving it credit for. Much more so than Columbus. Columbus is relying on Fort Benning to continue its growth. But other than that it has poor interstate access, very few major attractions, and only enough private corporate business to count on one hand. It has a very healthy mix of just about any job you can think about --- the best jobs in manufacturing, commerce, transportation, services, banking, etc in addition to having a military presence. Blue Cross Blue Shield has a much larger headquarters in Buckhead. Government jobs are PLENTIFUL - Sam Nunn Federal Center, MLK Federal Center, IRS Offices, GA Tax Office headquarters, Georgia Legislature, Fulton Co, City of Atlanta, GDOT... MARTA makes resident and business growth even more sustainable, lucrative, and attractive - and is also a major employer. In terms of medical base, Grady, Piedmont, Emory, Northside, Scottish Rite, St. Josephs, Atlanta Medical Center... It has ten times the banking/credit business presence just inside the inner city - Bank of America, Wachovia, BB&T, Bank of North Georgia... There is so much more outside of the airport. There is just no way that Columbus has a more diversified economy than Atlanta.
However... aside from "the Engine" of the state, I believe Columbus tops the rankings when compared to the other second and third tier cities of the state. People don't flock to Columbus because of it's diversified economy. They flock because of the jobs created by the military presence here. The soldiers come, we build and create retail, hotels, restaurants, and an expansion of government services (very few high paying positions) to entertain and accommodate them. Columbus does not provide an adequate transportation network to support the growth of industry. Hence the reason why I believe Kia chose West Point over Columbus to build its facility. Better interstate access.
They are using a company called Historical Concepts, they well, you guessed it, use a historial-ish basis for design, which is very cool but again, I'm not sure if it's right for North Columbus. here is one of their other projects in GA, 
OMG...
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Columbus Projects & Developments
in Columbus
Posted
Being a native of Columbus and currently living in Savannah, I can attest that Savannah has surprised me so much in terms of what it already has. About 90 percent of what you just listed is already here. But I believe the number one reason why Savannah has much more in terms of shopping and restaurant options is because unlike Columbus, Savannah is completely isolated on the coast. Charleston, Jacksonville, Macon, Augusta... are all over 2 and a half hours away. Even Hilton Head is an hour drive. Columbus, however, is within short distance of Atlanta and Montgomery. Which explains the size of its mall, airport, and the lack of entertainment, restaurant, and shopping options. If ever one were to desire entertainment, it could be readily accessible in Montgomery and Atlanta. Both are roughly an hour and a half away. Savannahians, however, must be responsible for providing everything that they lack access to, which explains the presence of two malls, strip malls that span almost the entire length of Abercorn Extension (south of DeRenne), and hundreds of stores and restaurants in the Landmark Historic District.
I can only speculate as to why Columbus has not landed these establishments yet... Augusta even has an Apple Store! So a lot of this progress is not entirely progress, its catch up.