Augusta, GA vs Columbia, SC (Thomson, Waynesboro: nightlife, suburbs, best)

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by AugustaREGroup

I would like to think I am semi-plugged into real estate in both cities, and I have never heard about personal investments in major Columbia projects like I do in Augusta. Who knows though.

How about Tom Prioreschi of Capitol Places? If any one person can be said to single-handedly help put people on the streets downtown via residential developments, it would be him. He's rehabbed several historic buildings downtown and has plans for at least one other. The development arm of his company just announced yesterday that they are going to convert a former downtown Class C, 8-story office building into senior apartments--and this was after the initial plans for that same building fell through. The city should erect a statue of the guy downtown.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

And I know that some of those aren't downtown projects.

One that's not downtown, though, that I'm glad to see happening is revitalization along Laney Walker. I remember having to ride through that area when I was younger to get to my aunt's and uncle's home in Hephzibah and how run down it was. It served as my first impression of the city, but I'm glad it's getting cleaned up.

All of the projects I named are downtown. DDA expaned the downtown borders last year. To help improve and get funds for key historic areas. Laney walker, Medical District, Paine College, Harrisburg, and Bethlehem are now part of downtown Augusta. But yeah Laney walker has spruce up alot. The raggedy side of Harrisburg has had over 30 parcels brought up. To make way for new homes, etc. To go along side of the kroc center coming to Harrisburg.

The red is downtown Augusta before expansion. The yellow are the new areas of downtown.

[Peachstate01]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Gang activity seems to be pretty ubiquitous these days, and Columbia has certainly had its fair share of it. For the most part, it has been localized to a few specific areas of the city which are already sketchy to begin with--no roving bands of thugs trying to take over the entire city. A major victory occurred a few years back when a national gang with an operation in Columbia was severely crippled by local and federal law enforcement authorities with several arrests being made as part of an ongoing investigation. So the gang problem in Columbia, while serious, isn't out of control to the point where law-abiding citizens who use common sense have to fear being a victim of gang activity.

It's good to know that law enforcement in Columbia is on "top of there game"with the gangs there.I know for a good while it's been pretty bad.did't know how things have been lately.Anyway,we do have some gang activity here too,but like the above poster said,there was a major bust a few years ago,and in that bust a lot of firearms that had been stolen from gun and pawn shops were recovered as well as drugs too.

I think the good thing about both Columbia and Augusta is,they both are less than 70 miles from each other(bout 1 hour's drive")and easy to commute back and forth and enjoy what both has to offer.Augusta,no doubt isn't all it could be to be the 2nd largest in Georgia,but where definitely on the move in progress.It's just one thing that really get's me as an Augusta native,and that is,I can remember when downtown,was really a "show off"place with businesses galore and the streets packed.Then came the Regency Mall(Augusta's first) and the smaller shops and department stores folded up,while the bigger ones,like Whites,J C Pennys,and Belk,went to the Mall.

If ever,we can bring back business to downtownthen we can say,we've made a huge "comeback".

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by Peachstate01

It's just one thing that really get's me as an Augusta native,and that is,I can remember when downtown,was really a "show off"place with businesses galore and the streets packed.Then came the Regency Mall(Augusta's first) and the smaller shops and department stores folded up,while the bigger ones,like Whites,J C Pennys,and Belk,went to the Mall.

If ever,we can bring back business to downtownthen we can say,we've made a huge "comeback".

Columbia has a similar problem. Actually, several cities have this problem, including my own. A strong retail base is key in having a strong downtown and it seems to be the last thing to fall in place when it comes to downtown revitalization. If you can first make downtown a place where people want to be, then make it place where more and more people want to live, then retail will just naturally follow.

[Ritzngrits]

Question..... please reply immediately, I may have a job opportunity in Augusta but my husband has a job in Columbia. We gotta go where the jobs are but WHERE SHOULD WE LIVE??? Can't really live in either city unless one of us would be stuck w/ a helluva commute! Options...viable cities in between??

[Akhenaton06]

I'd say the eastern edge of Aiken. Other than that, you've just got really small-town options like Wagener or Batesburg-Leesville.

[ever_learning33]

Originally Posted by Ritzngrits

Question..... please reply immediately, I may have a job opportunity in Augusta but my husband has a job in Columbia. We gotta go where the jobs are but WHERE SHOULD WE LIVE??? Can't really live in either city unless one of us would be stuck w/ a helluva commute! Options...viable cities in between??

Aiken wouldn't be a bad drive. Pretty nice town too.

[EastsideDave]

Originally Posted by Ritzngrits

Question..... please reply immediately, I may have a job opportunity in Augusta but my husband has a job in Columbia. We gotta go where the jobs are but WHERE SHOULD WE LIVE??? Can't really live in either city unless one of us would be stuck w/ a helluva commute! Options...viable cities in between??

Yeah, Aiken would probably be your best bet, about an hour to Columbia, about a half hour to most parts of Augusta.

[metroboy803]

why compare 2 citys n they both dwn da road frm each other columbia is 45 minutes away its a straight shot no turns or nuin bt columbia is da best bt girls wize n clubs they both are a tie like first friday's in augusta be every month on da 1st week bt in columbia they got 5 points something dat is really similar to first friday's bt its better because it be alot of people on 5points every weekend n columbia is super bigger then augusta bt aye i like dem both because they really remind me of each other they should call dem selfs da twin city's even though they both in different states n o yea

[EastsideDave]

Originally Posted by metroboy803

why compare 2 citys n they both dwn da road frm each other columbia is 45 minutes away its a straight shot no turns or nuin bt columbia is da best bt girls wize n clubs they both are a tie like first friday's in augusta be every month on da 1st week bt in columbia they got 5 points something dat is really similar to first friday's bt its better because it be alot of people on 5points every weekend n columbia is super bigger then augusta bt aye i like dem both because they really remind me of each other they should call dem selfs da twin city's even though they both in different states n o yea

huh?