victory

Well, I had planned to stay two nights, but with all that's been mentioned, I probably could do three. Maymont Park is mentioned in all the Youtube videos I've watched on Richmond. It must be stunning! I'll be sure to check out the Japanese Garden. When I was a kid, my family visited Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. I really enjoy history, so I've thought about turning this into a little vacation, and hitting some of those places on my way home. Thank you for all the great suggestions!

More "OSR" news (other side of the river). https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article288186670.html

Hey, thanks so much! I'm really excited for her. She'd worked so hard, and Richmond was the school she really wanted. I am looking forward to getting to know the school, and your beautiful city! Many, many thanks! I can't wait to get up there, and explore.

Greetings from Columbia, SC! My daughter has been accepted to attend the University of Richmond. I'll be driving up there to move her into her dorm in August. I am looking at hotels in Richmond. I've never visited your city before, and would like a local's advice. I am not looking to stay as close to the campus as possible, but instead, I'd like to stay more around the Carytown area. It looks like there are few, if any hotels in Carytown (although there are Airbnbs), and most of my searches put me in Scotts Addition. The Courtyard Scotts Addition seems like a possible landing spot, as it is apparently walking distance to a slew of restaurants and breweries. Would that be a good location? Also, if you do know of a hotel in Carytown, please let me know. Since I've never visited, and plan to stay two nights checking out things, I'd like to be in a good area. Many thanks!

I didn't see a thread specific to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, although there might be one. So, I'll drop this here, as the trail runs to Unity Park. As some of you know, my daughter lives in Greenville. I was up visiting her from Cola today, and she asked to have lunch at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. I don't know if you all have been, but it was really cool. When we first arrived, the little parking lot was full, and there was a big crowd milling about. I almost said, ok where to next, until we realized the Baptist church next door allowed parking, which was plentiful. It was a really cool little spot, and if I had my bike, it would have made for a wonderful little detour. We had sandwiches, and I had a beer, and she, a coffee. Every time I visit, I am impressed with what I find. Keep up the good work! If I had any advice, it would be don't get too big. The charm of downtown is that it is fairly dense, and walkable, and in many parts bikeable (if that's a word). You guys have really got a good thing. Oh..and don't think I didn't notice these new green street signs all over town. Good looking, and easily readable. I wish we had those kind of signs in Cola.

These would certainly be affordable for that age demographic, however, this development is out on Percival Rd, and a good distance from downtown, I think Rosewood, Cottontown, and Shandon/Devine St corridor would be places offering them more of what they/we want in an urban environment (sidewalks, parks, close proximity to white collar work and restaurants/breweries, etc). I think this development will certainly stand to benefit from the heaps of employees that will be working at Scout Motors in the NE, though. The NE will explode with new housing, healthcare, retail, etc in the next few years because of that manufacturer.

The Scout Motors ripple effect has begun! https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/prisma-breaks-northeast-columbia-medical-park/101-b26916f4-b0a0-408e-a31a-2882ba8dce6a

https://columbiabusinessreport.com/city-of-columbia-rebrands-with-new-identity-logo/ New logo.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/west-columbia-wants-improve-welcome-093000372.html OSR (other side of the river) riverfront news.

Yeah, it would seem a feet of miraculous engineering. The State ran one or two articles on this, maybe ten to twelve years ago, and there was discussion here. The State even mentioned the aforementioned parking garage, as one such under consideration for that. I'm curious to know if it has been done in NYC or places where one would more logically expect such a thing to be possible.

Hey Greenville folks, tell me..is Methodical Coffee any good? Looks like we're getting a big one at Bull Street. https://columbiabusinessreport.com/greenville-coffee-chain-to-open-newest-location-in-downtown-columbia/

I saw this article today. It focuses on a small space being prepared for local artists to use as a working gallery. It jogged my memory, as a few years back there was talk on this forum about the selling of "air rights" to build towers on top of existing structures, such as this parking garage. I wonder what ever became of that notion? https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/arts/art-studios-main-street-columbia-sc-creative-community/article_71415bbe-fb3d-11ee-bf2d-cf8effcc9013.html

Renderings provided in this article.https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article287585915.html

That's a really good point. Bigger than Madison Square Garden..wow!

This was an interesting post. I enjoyed getting to know a little about the history behind this building. I went to Greensboro with my dad in the 80's to watch one of the NWA's Starcade wrestling events, and have been back only once since, a few years back, to catch a Rush concert with a friend from the area. I live in Columbia, and in the 70's and 80's the Greensboro Coliseum was a big deal, and still is apparently. I like your ideas about modernizing it, and maybe updating the name (although Greensboro Coliseum is very recognizable throughout the region). In Columbia, we have the Colonial Life Arena, which opened in 2002. It seats 18,000, so is not as large as the Greensboro Coliseum. People down here are always debating whether the seating capacity should be reduced, to create a louder homecourt advantage for USC's basketball teams. It will never go larger, but I don't think it needs to remove seating. Our ladies' team sells the place out many times each season, and now there is renewed interest in the men's program, as well. Plus, we have concerts, and all that. Keep posting. I enjoy reading about this stuff.

Construction set to commence. https://www.wistv.com/2024/04/02/major-improvements-way-busy-stretch-five-points/

Millennials like to eat..in fact, they may have coined the term "foodies". https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article287064525.html

I could not get behind the paywall to read The State's article, but it concerns Colite City. Seems like an interesting, though not entirely original concept. Here's their website: https://colitecity.com/. Actually, here it is. Aggravates me they spell Columbia "Colombia", not once, but twice, in this article.https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article286930545.html

https://www.wistv.com/video/2024/03/20/downtown-columbia-railroad-crossing-project-expected-begin-this-fall/ This story addresses noise, but I am hopeful this also serves to relocate the tracks either over or under the streets. I can deal with the white noise of trains at night, as its a sound natural to me as lifelong Columbian. Its the disruption to rush hour traffic I want fixed!

This is where we may have shot ourselves in the foot by not expanding the convention center and adding more hotels near the arena. I know there are one or two on the way, but I'd hate to miss out on the economic boon of having them in Cola this month, due to not having enough hotels. Fingers crossed. https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article286739585.html

https://www.wistv.com/2024/03/16/what-you-should-know-about-st-patricks-day-festival-five-points/ I used to serve on the St. Pat's Operations Committee, and for many years (in my younger years) this Saturday in March was the highlight of my social calendar. Crowds today are estimated to be around 45,000. Back in the day, before 5 Points was fenced off, and admission was charged, crowds of 60,000 were not unusual. This is still a really big event for Cola, and I've heard it's the third largest St. Patrick's Day celebration on the East Coast after New York and Savannah (Boston's got to be up there, too, right?). I hope everybody has a great time. Happy St. Pat's, everyone!

News about the proposed 6 acre park adjacent to the new mall. The most interesting part of the article, though, are the pictures of what the mall looked like in the 1960's and 80's. I am a child of the 70's and 80's, and very clearly remember the mall looking like it did in the photos shown from the early 60's. The outdoor part was best, and it appears the developers behind this project are wanting to recreate, to some degree, a more human scale, with connectivity to the outdoors. Also, there will be a brewery. I approve. https://www.wltx.com/article/money/consumer/forest-acres-is-creating-a-new-richland-mall-park-what-would-you-like-to-see-in-it-surbey-south-carolina/101-0bd49a8f-bff0-4571-9e94-93fd552d1886

New apartments for North Main. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/more-100-apartments-planned-growing-174757673.html

Another accolade for the Capital City. https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/columbia-ranked-city-on-the-rise/101-22facbce-11fd-4d92-ab47-5f56a862db3a

I am unsure a redeveloped Sumter St would result in an increase in biking through town, but here's a story about a possible reconfiguring of that street. https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/news/sumter-street-columbia-sc-pedestrian-cycling-improvements/article_47c88dce-cf47-11ee-a80a-27d96acdb634.html