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I'm glad there should be some visibity... I get the tree buffers and realize Harbison isn't unique but it is the only area travelers go through and actually see a clean, somewhat modern, shopping, eating, and entertainment area... Areas like Broad River Rd at I20 and even Garners Ferry on 77 are very dated even though there are nicer areas in the general vicinity its not what is seen. (Maybe I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.) I love this town and just wish it showcased a little better for people passing through. Maybe Killian Crossing will do that
I totally agree with you. I wish that Columbia would develop more along the interstates. Driving through Columbia is like driving through the country. I heard a guy in Mcdonalds who was passing through Columbia tell this other guy that he didnt know he was in Columbia until he saw a sign. Thats not a good reputation for this city. If Columbia would develop more along the interstates, those businesses will not only attract local customers , but attract traveling customers as well. When people are traveling through a city; they don't want to get off the interstate and drive miles into town for nice restaurants. They'd rather find restaurants near their route. If you take a ride to Greenville; you will know that you're entering Greenville because you'll see, hotels, restaurants, shops etc line the interstate from the beginning of the city to downtown. There are 3 interstates that run through Columbia and hardly any of them have development near them. Columbia is a backward city still stuck in the 60's.
I totally agree with you. I wish that Columbia would develop more along the interstates. Driving through Columbia is like driving through the country. I heard a guy in Mcdonalds who was passing through Columbia tell this other guy that he didnt know he was in Columbia until he saw a sign. Thats not a good reputation for this city. If Columbia would develop more along the interstates, those businesses will not only attract local customers , but attract traveling customers as well. When people are traveling through a city; they don't want to get off the interstate and drive miles into town for nice restaurants. They'd rather find restaurants near their route. If you take a ride to Greenville; you will know that you're entering Greenville because you'll see, hotels, restaurants, shops etc line the interstate from the beginning of the city to downtown. There are 3 interstates that run through Columbia and hardly any of them have development near them. Columbia is a backward city still stuck in the 60's.
"Hyperbolize" much? Columbia is, by far, the most progressive city in South Carolina.
I totally agree with you. I wish that Columbia would develop more along the interstates. Driving through Columbia is like driving through the country. I heard a guy in Mcdonalds who was passing through Columbia tell this other guy that he didnt know he was in Columbia until he saw a sign. Thats not a good reputation for this city. If Columbia would develop more along the interstates, those businesses will not only attract local customers , but attract traveling customers as well. When people are traveling through a city; they don't want to get off the interstate and drive miles into town for nice restaurants. They'd rather find restaurants near their route. If you take a ride to Greenville; you will know that you're entering Greenville because you'll see, hotels, restaurants, shops etc line the interstate from the beginning of the city to downtown. There are 3 interstates that run through Columbia and hardly any of them have development near them. Columbia is a backward city still stuck in the 60's.
To the extent that what you say is true, I'd rather they keep looking until they find Columbia and not settle for some chain out off the interstate where it looks like anywheresville USA. However, I don't see it as looking that undeveloped when traveling into the Columbia area on I-26 from Newberry or on I-20 from Camden.
When I first moved here I thought it was so bizarre that you can't see any part of Columbia from I-20 and wondered how the city had not managed to develop along such an obvious corridor leaving it mostly trees and junky-looking industrial plots. I still wonder that, but after seven years of commuting up and down 20, I'm grateful for all the trees because it keeps the number of cars getting on and off at a given exit a lot lower, making my drive easier.
At any rate though, if I'm a retailer or a restaurant owner, I'd like to make darn sure that passing traffic knows I'm there if I'm just off interstate. Visibility is going to be a major selling point to potential tenants. I just hope the developer knows enough to straddle the line between being visible and not looking gaudy, and given the number of trees that have been planted here already, I'd say that looks promising.
"Hyperbolize" much? Columbia is, by far, the most progressive city in South Carolina.
I dont see how that could be. Yes Columbia maybe larger, but Greenville should be more progressive. Columbia is now getting stores that Greenville already had. Columbia does'nt have a Cheddars Restaurant. Downtown Columbia on a saturday is dead. Downtown Greenville on a saturday is exiting, bumper to bumper traffic. People are out walking the streets, eating at restaurants etc. Let's not forget that Greenville is a well kept better looking city.
I dont see how that could be. Yes Columbia maybe larger, but Greenville should be more progressive. Columbia is now getting stores that Greenville already had. Columbia does'nt have a Cheddars Restaurant. Downtown Columbia on a saturday is dead. Downtown Greenville on a saturday is exiting, bumper to bumper traffic. People are out walking the streets, eating at restaurants etc. Let's not forget that Greenville is a well kept better looking city.
Greenville's getting some stores Columbia already had, too. Main Street in Columbia is coming to life fast. There is a lot more territory to cover in Columbia to check out its "downtown" vibe. Like every city, Columbia has its spots that need aesthetic improvements, but Main Street, Five Points, Devine Street, the Vista and USC don't fit that bill in general. And socially it's certainly progressive for a southern and more specifically a South Carolina city.
I dont see how that could be. Yes Columbia maybe larger, but Greenville should be more progressive. Columbia is now getting stores that Greenville already had. Columbia does'nt have a Cheddars Restaurant. Downtown Columbia on a saturday is dead. Downtown Greenville on a saturday is exiting, bumper to bumper traffic. People are out walking the streets, eating at restaurants etc. Let's not forget that Greenville is a well kept better looking city.
There is no denying Greenville's downtown is great. Its reminds me of Asheville, Gaitlinburg, TN, or something like that. Its by far one of the best if not the best small city downtowns.
When I first moved here I thought it was so bizarre that you can't see any part of Columbia from I-20 and wondered how the city had not managed to develop along such an obvious corridor leaving it mostly trees and junky-looking industrial plots. I still wonder that, but after seven years of commuting up and down 20, I'm grateful for all the trees because it keeps the number of cars getting on and off at a given exit a lot lower, making my drive easier.
At any rate though, if I'm a retailer or a restaurant owner, I'd like to make darn sure that passing traffic knows I'm there if I'm just off interstate. Visibility is going to be a major selling point to potential tenants. I just hope the developer knows enough to straddle the line between being visible and not looking gaudy, and given the number of trees that have been planted here already, I'd say that looks promising.
Historically.. I-20 on the Richland/City of Columbia side, with the exception of Two Notch Road and Alpine .. has been the City/County's "industrial and institutional" corridor. You have everything from mini storage, Pepsi Plant, Mental Hospital, Prison, warehouses, and light manufacturings service stations, quarries along this route..that is there because of the Highway.. The City also had their old Landfill just south of I-20 before it crosses the Broad River.This was before I-77 and the Columbia "beltway". All of these uses made the area less desirable for large residential development and thus retail/commercial needed to support it. Additionally, the majority of the subdivision development over along Monticello Road, North Main, Fairfield, Farrow Road were small, scatttered, and predominately African American or became African American along with a few communities that were historically African American in this area...
So, either it developed this way because the area was sparcely populated and thus it allowed these types of uses to poliferate since they were generally well buffered..from the existing neighborhoods that were built. Or the subdivision came after these industries were well established and these subdivision were thus 'affordable' because of these neighboring land uses which then attracted a select group of homebuyers...which eventually let to the neighborhood eventually becoming predominately African American as part of cycle of neighborhood change at the time.
........ I am not sure which situation came first of if they happened in tandem....but all of these factors influenced the area's evolution which still persists until today. NE Richland/Blythewood, St Andrews/Harbison, Downtown/Forest Acres, SE Columbia are firmly established as the primary retail/commerical nodes and thus there is little demand to develop anything beyond 'highway uses' along these interchanges......
Last edited by Woodlands; 01-22-2014 at 03:10 PM..
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