Doug L

Thank you, Spartan, for the link. I have been so blinded by my dislike for the traffic pattern promoted in that report that I had actually forgotten about all of the truly great stuff that was presented. I withdraw fully my hope for the demise of Doxiadis' company.

I remember seeing that report. I believe it was called the Doxiodus (sic) Report, named after the Greek city planning company that drew up that despicable document. I pray that they have since gone out of business.

Attempting to join 277 and 126 is a bad idea no matter from which angle you look. All you have to do is read up on the Portland, Oregon, experience. The short version is that downtown Portland was dieing even though there was an overhead expressway carrying a multitude of traffic. They tore down the freeway and converted it to a wide landscaped boulevard and, voila, downtown Portland revived and is now quite vibrant. The HOV lanes are another kettle of fish altogether. They seem to work very well in northern Virginia entering Washington, DC, and a few other spots I have seen, however, I really don't think that Columbia will benefit from them. I have viewed the traffic on the surrounding interstates during rush hour and seem to observe that only .1% of the cars would qualify to use the HOVs. First, they would go empty and all of the traffic would be squeezed into the remaining lanes, then, discouraged by seeing the empty lane, the non-qualifying drivers would just ignore the rules and use them anyway. Thus, IMO HOVs would end up being a grand waste of money here. IMO, if we are to continue to be automobile intensive and shun high speed rail and other forms of public transport, all of the surrounding interstates for at least 30 miles out from the city should be 5 lanes each way with the fifth lane ALWAYS being exit only. The real moral and long term solution, of course, is public transportation.

I agree that that is one of the worst jobs of re-surfacing I have ever seen! It's like speed bumps whenever you attempt to cross Bull Street. Another job that is only half done or one lousy jog, Main Street between Hampton and Blanding. Come on city hall, WAKE UP! Come the next election I will vote against every incumbent.

I agree about the tunnels, Cap'n, however, I do think that the Wales Garden residents, city hall (Daniel Rickemann and Belinda Gergel in particular) are small minded and have a death wish for Columbia in general and Five Points in particular. Please forgive me if I sound mean; but, frankly, I'm mad as hell! And, I live in the immediate vicinity of what is going to now look more like it belongs over in Lexington County and not in the center of Columbia.

c'on Matt! Flying is GREAT! Especially in a small plane. I had my pilots license until I could no longer pass the annual physical. If someone volunteers to take me up, I'd love to go and take lots of aerials of Columbia. I'd be glad to share them with you, Matt.

I agree! I wish I could get more aerial shots for my web site.

Have you seen how tiny the parking lot is? Sunday I went to the park entrance next to the water works and it was full. I think the city is being very short sighted. The park itself is going to be a jewel. I will be taking pics this week and posting them on my web site.

Yes! Really good shots. I can hardly wait for three more fountains to photograph.

One in the same, waccamatt.

I Will have current pics in the next few days on my web site (which I cannot mention). PS.....The fountain IS dyed green!

I am so grateful that our city council has had the fortitude to put the parking in FPS! This building IMO will add a new and dynamic dimension to the Five Points Village. We NEED to boost the density of population living in Five Points as well as increase the available parking. IMO a 5 or 6 story building will in no way distract from village feel of Five Points; but it will add a punctuation that, right now, is sorely missing. Almost anything is better than open, surface level, suburban style parking lots like that if front of the Food Lion. It is a shame that so many people are opposed to change just because it is change. There is no reason that our heritage can't be preserved along with looking forward.

Thanks Dobboard..... Excellent web site!

The map accompanying the article in the State showed FPS as specifically being exempted.

I think it is a great thing that we are getting a new Darla Moore school and essentially have the feds pay for it.

Again, small town thinking. We are not loosing anything. We will be gaining! We are gaining more character, more volume, more value, more to enjoy and certainly not less!

One of the things I like about Toronto, Canada, is the mixture of high rises in with many of the neighborhoods. There is the usual cluster of high rises in the center of the city; but out in the neighborhoods you will have a mix of single homes, town houses, then right smack in the middle of all the squatty buildings there will be a 20/25 story condo or apartment house. What character, what class, what an excellent exclamation point to accent an area. My only suggestion to Columbia is, to quote Phyllis Diller, "GROW UP!" and stop thinking so small townish.

I think the people of Wale's Garden are misinformed and hysterical over a non-issue. There is an eighteen story apartment building only a block away from the subject development and Wale's Garden didn't self destruct. The high rise is even on the Wale's Garden side of Blossom Street. I don't understand their concern.

Spartan, you are right on the money on this one! If this project does not go forward, garage and all, it will make other developers think twice before investing in Five Points. Five Points and ultimately Columbia in general will be shooting themselves in the foot.

DITTO! I'd personally like to see all of midtown Columbia with a much higher density; but then I am accustomed to living in a much larger city. I have no problem with taller buildings......much taller.

If we ever want to compete with the 'burbs we MUST dump the parking meters!

I really like the idea of urbanizing Rocky Branch Creek attractively and incorporating it in the walking/biking trail system that is started here in Columbia.

Let's be reasonable! We don't have the same quantity of water to be moved that LA has, therefore, we don't need the concrete gashes in our landscape that LA has. My point is that band aid approaches to the problem is futile. Let's do it right the first time. There is no reason we can't put almost if not all of the culverts underground here with landscaping on top. Items that are utilitarian in nature do NOT have to be ugly and disgusting.

I live in a position where I can watch Lake Maxcy Gregg rise almost every time we have a thunder storm of any duration. It is amusing to watch the drivers along Blossom Street pause, stop, gawk, then turn around and flee. Columbia needs to take a page out of Los Angeles' book and urbanize Rocky Branch Creek. Any parts of that creed not in the city should be condemned, annexed, and then the whole thing urbanized to carry off the amounts of water that are expected in a 500 year flood. With the continuing pace of development in Columbia the problems with Rocky Branch Creek will only increasingly get worse, much worse.

OK! I sit corrected. Only 99.9999% of the image is in Columbia.