The_sandlapper

I think a mall should be built DT kinda like the Gallarie in Philly, although not sure where would be a good place to locate it? maybe somewhere between the Vista and Olympia. Main St. would be ideal but alot of buildings would have to be removed. Oh well here's hoping!

Yeah, uniquely enough usually "the state" and forum member vicupstate seem to be right on it when it comes to nailing Columbia's short comings, I wonder if he was a journalist there hmmm?

DT will be so different in 5-10 years. Maybe by then everyone will stop giving it a hard time about main st. Nope probablly not!

I understand, I simply ment the fact that Portland's LRT reached out to many areas of the city that looked and felt very similar to mid-larger sized SE cities such as Columbia, Jacksonville, Charlotte, etc...I was really impressed with Portland's intown LRT though, although the city was compact enough to see most attractions on foot. Awesome town! I was just thinking that as I was reading the article.

Just out of curiousity how do you guys determine howmany people from one area ie Aiken, or Anderson travel to another ie Columbia, or Greenville. What stats are available?

This was discussed in the Columbia area developments thread but thought it would be appropriate here as well. The area is studying the possibility of bringing commuter rail in 15-20 years, using existing lines from Cola to Newberry, Batesburg-Leesville, and Camden. I think it should be extended to Florence, Sumter, Orangeburg (SC State), and Aiken as well. My pop's works with quite a few guys who commute from Florence to Cola. Commuter Rail Study

Yeah I didn't know this was a consideration either. Glad to see it has been something considered for awhile now though. I used to think that rail wouldn't work in Columbia, but after my trip to Portland and seeing how there LRT worked in settings similar to suburban SE cities I changed my mind. I think it could fly in Cola as long as more living quarters keeo poping up in the core area.

Lady's and Gentlemen Columbia has got on board. What section of the paper was the article in?

Michelin expansion too create 100 more jobs. article

I agree but its not just Columbia, some people push Greenville, and Charleston as well to that extent. I have preferences for cities throughout the region no doubt but aside from Atlanta, and Charlotte most areas a more or less parallel to each other in population, economies, growth, & amenities. Most of the arguing is usually done to prove points about different color hairs to split.

I was thinking the same thing!

I tend to look on other cities in the region like this, Charlotte is like that over achieveing big brother that studied really hard in school, and its what you can achieve if you apply yourself as well. Raleigh is like that too but its that's brother's best friend. Charleston is like a close friend that you grew up with and can identify with but they went to a more popular school. Greenville is like that promising little brother that's always on your heels, and Atlanta is that one rich uncle or aunt that you have, and no matter what you do right now you will never quite catch up with them, but hey there southern so it's still okay. That's been my take on the region. Oh and Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are those younger cousins that you know once the grow up they will totally kick your ass and go beyond you.

That's one thing that I like about Columbia is it's resilient (that's not how to spell it but oh well). It is in a region to itself so it has always thought of itself as the bigdog! So that is the mentality of most Columbians. "We take second seat to no one", well except maybe Atlanta . But the area has relied on itself to grow and porosper much like Austin (the overgrown throwaway mid-sized college town in central texas, that was roughly the same size 20 years ago that Columbia is today, that took semi-conducter research to the next level when the time was right much like C-lum is plannig to do with feul cells today). We don't have the luxury of being located between two major fast growing meto areas, and we are not a tourist region. No matter what the odds are Columbia seems to find a way! I'm sure many people out there want to compare us with cities like Columbus, GA, Jackson, MS, and Montgomery, AL. When we are more compareable with cities like Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Knoxville, & Little Rock, mid-sized towns that are literally one step away from the Nashville's, Charlotte's, and Louisville's a decade or two from now! But these are usually my rants when I post. Also Columbia has the 3rd largest "census certified" MSA in the Carolinas, as well as the 4th largest urbanized area, but somehow these facts always get overlooked for the more popular crowd assumptions.

No surprises there. Columbia's is stronger than people give it credit for. I know that the Columbia MSA has the highest median income of the big three.

Bold moves but I think they are thinking more long term with the construction of Innovista. I guess they figure it will start drawing intrest from everyone in the field of hydrogen research to the city, and while they're here hey why not check out The Vista. Which poses another question. How big do you guys think the vista will get? I see it taking shape pretty much like Y'bor in Tampa. One of the good things is that Y'bor is very pedestrian friendly. The Vista area heading over towards the library, and Finely I think is heading up that way. That would look real nice with some mid to low rise development.

Well I don't think DT development in Columbia will slow down anytime soon. The Innovista will definately catalyze more growth for the immediate DT area, that along with the popular trend now to build in the city core. The city is going in the right direction. I can't wait to see the rest of the future developments unveiled as the year goes on!

Yeah, I was also impressed by the number of insurance employers. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of S.C. Humana/TriCare (Insurance) Colonial Life & Accident Insurance I guess that's why there hasn't been a push to really diversify the areas economy since state govt. isn't going anywhere.

Some interesting facts about the Region. Here is a list of the leading employers. Top Employers Palmetto Health Alliance: 7,700 employees Blue Cross & Blue Shield of S.C.: 7,200 Wal-Mart: 4,500 University of South Carolina: 4,500 Lexington Medical Center: 3,700 Department of Mental Health: 3,179 SCANA & SCE&G: 3,098 Department of Corrections: 2,819 Gold Kist Inc. (Poultry, Sumter): 2,338 Department of Health and Environmental Control: 2,228 Humana/TriCare (Insurance): 2,100 Electrolux (Riding lawn tractors, Orangeburg): 1,999 Department of Transportation: 1,962 Providence Hospital: 1,650 Michelin Tire Corp.: 1,525 Bose Corp. 1,149 Westinghouse Electric 1,028 Colonial Life & Accident Insurance 1,000

Has anyone else seen this rendition of 1556 Main St. I am truley impressed with this building!

Here is another article discussing 3 new feul cell companies at innovista. The companies names are Palmetto Feul Cell Analysis & Design, Palmetto Feul Cell Technologies, & DEnergy, and will be researching the feul cell areas of Stationary power, portable power, and automotive power. "Stationary power" provides electricity to homes and buildings, ""portable power" emergency generators, & laptops, & automotive to replace the internal combustion engine. Dispelling the popular notion that fuel cells can only be used for cars. Article

I saw that in the paper the other day, I was gonna start a thread on it today. By the way mainstr. that was a cool website. Lots of interesting points and links to developments throughout the city.

Yeah a locally owned book store would be best. They just need to have a wide selection of books!

Someone should take a pic of traffic backed from 26 to Harbison Blvd.

Indeed!

I just thought of something! Someone may have already mentioned it but I'd like to see a book store on main, like a books-a-million or something.