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Not as of last weekend. I suspect that -- considering the recent TAD debacle -- this project may well be postponed and/or scaled back. Apparent outrage at the school board over this project (and the fiasco over the library) is being cited as the contributing factor in the TAD defeat. I know that there is no connection between the school board and TAD. But apparently there are enough misinfomed voters in town to tip the balance into the "reaction over reason" column.

A troubling trend lately of losing manufacturing jobs (Charbroil, etc). Its one thing to lose jobs in a low-paying, troubled industry (textiles). Quite another to be losing higher end jobs requiring some technical skills. Replacing jobs with employment opportunities at chicken processing plants like the one in PC or the retail/hospitality jobs that will be created by BRAC wont cut it in today's economy. We need some more announcements of increased jobs like those at with AFLAC or TSYS. Still hoping for a big announcement for a Kia supplier @ Muscogee Tech Park -- which is seriously underutilized.

Cessna - which already has 2 plants in Columbus employing 600 - will build a new $25 plant in Muscogee Tech Park to employ 150. Expansion is due to success of the Citation Mustang private jet.

Presumably this is the "big and important" announcement to which he referred in his speech. Guess it qualifies -- but not as "big" or "important" as I had hoped!

HMMMM -- suppose he could have been referring to that -- but, as you say -- the possible spin-off has been in the works (and news) for a long while. Maybe he means that a final decision in that regard will be announced soon -- but why would that be "big and important"? Certainly so as to shareholders, but why to community at large? Also think that as a large shareholder he would be very careful not to send a red flag to the SEC by making insider comments on final spinoff decision. But then the remark is so ambiguous, he has plausible deniablity as a defense to any SEC inquiry. Have not thought thru the possible upside/downside of a TSYS spinoff for the general community. Is it possible that a spinoff would permit TSYS to grow larger and quicker -- having more control over its own stock to use as leverage to buy/expand? Any ideas as to how the spinoff -- if it happens -- might shakeout for the local economy? I will try to check the boards for SNV and TSYS stockholders for a clue.

Today's L-E has a report of a speech that Jim Blanchard (ex CEO of Synovus) made to local leaders in hich he told them to expect "something big and important to happen." Does anyone know what was meant by thta. Was he just speaking generally and hypothetically -- ie, dream big. Or was he alluding to some specific as yet unannounced development? Noone I know seems to know -- or,if they do, they aint telling me. Anyone have any ideas? Any rumors floating around? I would love to hear that Synovus is building a 25-30 story building DT or that KIA is going to have its US hq's DT or that Jaguar is building a plant in Lee County. Not predicting any of those things -- but, hey -- why not dream big? :-) if any one has heard any whispers (and there are always whispers before big news breaks) please clue the rest of us in on the poop!

Dont have the details yet -- but apparently plans have been finalized for a Sculpture Walk along Broadway in DT. A dozen or so national artists will be loaning their sculptures for long-term display. I assume that if any generates enough support that it will be purchased with local funds/donations. Otherwise different sculptures will be cycled in and out. That will be a great addition to the artsy motif that is being generated in the DT area. With the Rivercenter, Springer Opera new Corn Center (theater/art gallery), Bradley it is becoming a nice mini-Soho -- Southern style!

Suspect most mid- and upper- level will be new folks moving in. The actual blue collar line workers, etc will be mostly former textile workers or those presently working in mills who want to earn a much better wage. KIA will be the final nail in the coffin of textiles in the Valley. The slow death of textile (and manufacturing in general) has been the reason that population growth has been stagnant. New jobs merely replace those that are lost, so no net gain. Guess that we have fared better than some in Rust Belt. At least we have mostly held steady rather than nosedive. Hopefully we have bounced off the bottom and the trajectory will be upwards rather than sideways.

Certainly older (next to historic District DT). Not sure whether hipper. Comparable to Virginia/Highlands in Atlanta insofar as residential is concerned. Houses mostly from 20-30's with a few very modern in the mix as well as huge ante-bellum mansions (St Elmo, Dinglewood, etc). Some commercial (AFLAC). Struggling retail. Parks (Weracoba/Lakebottom) and new public library. Columbus High. Columbus Museum (set for possible expansion). Regentrifying as older residents pass on and younger folks move in to rehab. Case-in-point, 3-story art deco building immediately behind my house -- vacant for 10 years -- now being renovated into upscale apartments/condos. For those who like living in a mature (in several senses of the word) quaint southern neighborhood, a wonderful place. A bit of the roll of the dice due to transitional nature, but hopefully on way back to the position of "suburb" of choice that it occupied more than 50 years ago.

This is certainly great news. Also interesting that the official press release notes that PCI owns 100 acres which it envisions as a "cluster location" capable of housing at least 12 OTHER defense-related companies. Hopefully this is the first of many new facilities (and jobs) at the PCI site. While 100 new jobs is great news, I am still waiting for the mega-announcement. The 500-1000 new job deal, preferably in hi tech with high-pay -- like the companies that have been flocking to Huntsville and Research Triangle. We really need that to start the economic ball rolling.

As a (weekend) resident of Midtown (my house is 2 blocks from Lewis Jones) I welcome the developments -- tho I am PO'd that they cut the trees on 13th in from of LJ! Glad to see that they plan greenspace -- but why cut down trees and replace with "greenspace"? At any rate, walking to Loco's and other shops in the neighborhood is a WHOLE lot better than driving to CPXing! I am really looking forward to getting down permanently and being a part of the (hopefully) Midtown Revival.

News to me as well. But very welcome. Aesthetically, the mill is not as impressive as Eagle & Phenix or Bibb or Johnston. And its location -- blocks from river -- is not as dramatic. But that is probably why the plans are for commercial -- rather than residential -- development. Being in the railyard area, it may help jumpstart the development of a new business zone. I believe that the TAD vote will be this fall and that that area is one that on the short list should TAD's be approved by the voters. Personally I think that that railyard area would be a perfect location for a "new" downtown with more modern buildings and maybe even some highrises -- preserving the more historic buildings in "traditional" downtown from demolition. Speaking of mills, does anyone know what is going on with the old Jordan Mill on 12th Ave.? It was set to be converted to apartments/condos before it burned about a year ago. I was by there recently and it seems that it is being leveled. Sad, as was a really nice old building. Wonder whether leveling is for imminent development or simply clearing for possible future construction.

the distiction -- again -- is MSA vs. CSA. G'ville and S'burg are considered separate MSA's but together (with Anderson and some other cenus tracts) they form a CSA. Since they are so connected, it is hard to believe that they should not form a single CSA notwithstanding their separate MSA status. Likewise with Augusta/Aiken. If -- HYPOTHETICALLY -- Aiken formed its own MSA, then everybody KNOWS that they would certainly form a single CSA -- like G'ville and S'burg. If -- HYPOTHETICALLY -- Aiken ever did satisfy the criteria for a new SMA, I am not sure whether SC would block it (assuming that it could). I thik that SMA status confers certain financial consideration on an area. It is, after all, a statistic of the OMB (Office of Manangement and Budget). If Aiken met the criteria but declined the "honor," I suspect that that would have adverse financial/budget consequences. Does not matter financially whether G'ville MSA and S'burg MSA form a single CSA. It is their separate MSA status that is important budget-wise.

For about the 100th (and hopefully last time) I do Not have an opinion and never have All I know is that there IS a difference between the definitions of SMA and CSAMA Simply asked (not stated) whether the growth in Aiken County might result in a change in designation I was simply soliciting opinions, not expressing one Dont believe (and dont care) one way or the other I can except that it is highly unlikely -- which I assume is still greater than a .000001% chance everyone "knows" that it wont.

Maybe or maybe not. What if SC had a requirement that employees at the hypothetical plant be SC residents? That was -- I believe -- a condition Alabama imposed on the Honda plant in Montgomery. At least I heard that -- but sure whether it is true. And what if the plant were in Lexington County drawing more Aiken County residents from the commute to Richmond County? The point is that all of this is mere speculation and hypothesis and never presented as anything else. We can argue what can or will happen under an infinite set of circumstances. It can and did happen to Macon/WR. Augusta/Aiken is a different place and different circumstances. But to suggest that it will never happen is -- personal opinion here -- not being realistic.

Dont believe I ever said was likely or not farfetched -- just that was a hypothetical. True, there is no basis for my argument -- because is not an argument. Just a hypothetical observation No mention of Aiken breaking off or standing on its own -- just wondering about possibility of redesignation from SMA to CSMA No speculation -- just an observation and reaction to suggestion by another poster that growth was accelerating in Aiken County and asking what was the implication of that Certainly not getting mad -- merely frustrated when people misuse words and or misrepresent mine Dont mind contrary opinion -- if it is indeed an opinion and not an opinion/perspective masquerading as facts. Not trying to be contentious -- simply trying to correct what I perceive to a distortion of my point and establish the point that I was in fact trying to make. You may well know what is going on in the Augusta area -- but I am still unconvinced that you understand the difference between SMA and CSMA. If you did you would probably let this drop. It does not involve cultural or traditional ties or propinquity. It is simple economics/math. Nothing to be emotionally overwrought about. Nothing I have said implies that the Columbus SMA will outpace Augusta. As a matter of fact I conceded that Augusta will outpace Columbus (population wise) for the forseeable future regardless of whether the OMB continues to designate it an SMA or (based on hypotheticals that may or may not occur) changes the designation to the Augusta/Aiken CSMA. Frankly I am getting bored with the whole topic . Dont intend to respond again until you can tell me why -- if commuting patterns SHOULD change for some HYPOTHETICAL reason (such as a KIA-type plant in N Aiken County or Lexington County or some other remote but entirely feasible reason) so that Aiken no longer satisifies the OMB criteria for inclusion in Augusta SMA it still wont become the Augusta/Aiken CSMA. Until you do that. you have not responsed to my point (my point, not my opinion). Are you suggesting that there is not ANY possibility that Aiken County would EVER under ANY circumstance become its own SMA and become a part of an Augusta/Aiken CSMA? If so, why is it an exception to the OMB criteria? I understand why it wont happen soon. What I dont understand is why it wont ever happen under any circumstances. We can argue whether one Kia plant in N Aiken County is enough to tip the balance. What I cannot understand is the position that adding "any plant" that would siphon off a large enough number of workers who would otherwise commute to Richmond County is not going to "help" Aiken County's desgination as a SMA.

I dont know what you have been reading -- but you totally miss my point. I have NEVER siad that Columbus would pass Augusta in population and I likewise dont give a rap whether or not that ever happens. My SOLE point is and always has been the HYPOTHETICAL whereby the Columbus SMA MIGHT become larger than the Augusta SMA IN THE EVENT that Aiken became a separate SMA. However, NOONE argues that the resulting Augusta/Aiken CMSA would be larger than the resulting Columbus SMA. I suspect you "problem" understanding what I am trying to say is with the deifintition of SMA and CMSA. Look it up and then reread the posts and maybe it will then become clear to you No one suggests that Aiken would leave the metro -- that is ludicrous. However, it is entirely possible that -- under the right circumstances -- Aiken could be counted as part of a CMSA rather than part of a SMA. And if a KIA or comparable development was built in N. Aiken it cold have EVERYTHING to do with its designation. The work force would expand and -- if enough of the expanded work force stayed there in Aiken rather than commuted into Richmond -- so that the percentage of Aiken communter fell below the magic number set by the Census Bureau -- then Aiken would automatically become -- in the eyes of the census Bureau -- a separate SMA in a Augusta/Aiken CSMA. I dont know why te possibility of an Augusta/Aiken CSMA is so horrifying. Think Dalls/Ft. Worth or Minneapolis/St. Paul or NYC/Newark. Not a bad class to be in. MSA and CSMA are just words . No one is thinking of "stealing" Aiken from you!

In my opinion, how has it not? -- No need to explain that in detail, but the usual subjective things which lead me personally to prefer to live in Columbus rather than Augusta (or any other place that I might choose to live in Georgia). My point being that "what everybody knows" -- whether Aiken will remain a part of tthe Augusta SMA or whether Columbus has a better quality of life -- is actually a matter of personal opinion/perspective and not a "fact." It is a fact that Augusta population is larger. It is not a fact that it will always remain so and it is not impossible to conceive of realistic hypotheticals in which ithat could change. Likewise, it is not a fact that Columbus has a better quality of life. However, it is my opinion that that is so and it is impossible (or nearly so) to concieve of any realistic hypotheicals which could change my opinion. I presume that anyone who voluntarily lives in Augusta, rather than Columbus, fells the opposite.

facts are facts . What is realistic is a matter of subjective opinion. you put it at .000001 % based on what "anyone who's been to Aiken County knows" I say the percentage is greater -- maybe much greater that it could happen "if" certain events take place. The changes of "it" happening may be remote. But what if the KIA plant had landed in N. Aiken County or Lexington County? Suddenly folks are staying north of the river to live and work and commuting trends change and the center of gravity shifts. Trust me, stranger things have happened. That's all I am saying. No need to be touchy about whether Columbus can "pass Augusta's MSA" My point is that MSA or CSA are just words. Augusta's population is larger. But otherwise I think Columbus has already passed Augusta's MSA -- in quality of life. Based on what "anyone who's been to Columbus knows." But then that is not a fact" but just my opinion! :-)

I think you mean the Columbus/A-O CSA. The Columbus SMA does not include Lee County -- yet.

Thanx for info -- as you point out (unlike WR/Macon) it is more probable than not that Aiken County will remain an element of the Augusta SMA -- at least for the immediate future.

No more "silly" than WR separating from the Macon MSA. Less probable perhaps, which is debatable. But certainly not any more silly. Also depending on demographics, I would think it might be possible that Aiken might someday become part of the Columbia MSA. If the northern part of the county develops as a bedroom community for an expanding Columbia MSA, then that would happen. All it would take is the right number of folks commutting from Aiken COUNTY into one of the core counties of the Columbia SMA. The populations of the cities of N. Augusta and Aiken (as well as their proximity to Richmond County) are irrelevant to whether Aiken County remains in the Augusta SMA. The determinative factor is commuting patterns for the entire COUNTY I think you completely missed the point. IF Columbus added 125,000 to its MSA, then the population would indeed be 415,00. That is a total wash -- because Columbus and Lee County ALREADY form a CMSA. Only the designation would change -- from CMSA to SMA. If Augusta lost 150,000 from its MSA, then the population would be 375,000. However, if, as I presume, Aiken and Augusta would then become a CMSA, the population would be 525,000. Again a total wash with the designation from MSA to CMSA being the only change. In that event, the Columbus SMA would be larger by 50,000, but the Augusta=Aiken CMSA would be larger by 110,000. Exactly the population statiistics that now are in place -- except that Columbus would be a SMA (rather than a CSMA) and Augusta/Aiken would be a CMSA (rather than a SMA) . Then, as I said, the debate would rage over which is the "better" gauge -- MSA or CMSA. No one is suggesting that the population of GREATER Columbus (whether defined by SMA or CMSA) is or soon will be larger than that of GREATER Augusta (whether defined by SMA or CMSA). That difference is 110,000. It may (or may not) shrink post-BRAC and post-KIA but it is not likely to disappear anytime soon.

very interesting -- leads me to wonder whether Augusta is the mirror image of Columbus. If Aiken County is where the growth is going to be concentrated, then will Aiken County become it own MSA so that the Augusta MSA will then shrink by 150,000 (ie, like Macon when Houston became its own MSA). Speculation is that Lee County AL (Auburn-Opelika) may become part of Columbus MSA post-BRAC (communting into Ft Benning from Smith Station), in which case Columbus MSA would grow by 125.000. So that would make Columbus the 2d largest MSA -- but of course then I suppose that Augusta and Aiken would become a CMSA and the debate would become whether "my CMSA is bigger than your MSA!" :-) BTW, there was a small enclave in Columbus (Bibb City, where the Biib Mill is located) that was not included in consolidation. It was surrounded by the city (like the Vatican) and eventually capitulated and was absorbed. That may happen with Hepzibah