Is Columbia making progress? (Oakland, North: car rental, rental, violent crime) - Columbia - Lexington - Irmo - City-Data Forum

DrDipNStein · 05-04-2012, 11:35 PM

As mentioned in other threads I am considering a move with my wife to Columbia SC. We live in the Bay Area. I would say our neighboring city Oakland, CA is NOT progressing. More violence, weak civic leaders and a brazen and disrespectful populace who has no sense of pride in their city or for others. When I first moved here ten years ago. Everyone felt Oakland was dangerous but hip. Oakland kept it real and there were indeed great restaurants and theaters and you simply avoided the bad parts of town. Now crime is widespread and many of the best spots have gone bankrupt. I never go to Oakland anymore.

I know some will disagree with my opinion of Oakland but this thread is not about Oakland. I just introduced with that as an example of what I would NOT call progress and a community gone wrong. I've read the crime statistics and know Columbia has some problems, slums, gangs and dangerous places. That said it seems the Main St area has gone through a revival. The Whole Foods opening up seems like a good sign too. So for long term residents who have some perspective... In spite of the lingering recession do you see signs of economic improvement in Columbia? Lower Crime? Is there a sense of increasing pride in the community and strong leadership making smart decisions?

Thank you

Mutiny77 · 05-05-2012, 12:15 AM

I'm not a resident, but as a native South Carolinian well wisher I keep up with what's going on in the city. This is actually a pretty good time for Columbia. The city is at a turning point on a few different levels and is finally beginning to realize more and more of its potential. It's mainly a result of a combination of taking notes from peer cities and fresh new leadership. As noted, Main Street is really beginning to come into its own and investment continues in other parts of the urban core. Economically, the area has scored some notable big wins as of late. With manufacturing making something of a comeback (at least for now), Columbia has ridden that wave a little which is good for further diversification of the local economy which is more white-collar in nature (state government, USC, FIRE industries, etc.). Progress is being made on quality of life issues like the continuing development of the greenway along the river on both sides. As you also mentioned, retail is also getting a bump. Challenges do remain, like funding the bus system and finding a long-term funding mechanism for it, but at least they have been identified and courses are being charted. The changes happening in Columbia aren't dramatic and broad and sweeping, but they are happening piecemeal in a more organic fashion and it's starting to add up in a very noticeable way.

waccamatt · 05-05-2012, 12:22 AM

I would say it is clearly progressing - Main Street is certainly coming back in a big way, though it isn't the only part of downtown Columbia. For years, much of the emphasis had been put on the Vista area and Five Points and now Main Street is being given its due. USC has expanded greatly and grown it's number of students and Benedict College has also taken a lead in revitalizing the Read Street neighborhood, which used to be one of the worst in town. Crime is a concern as it is everywhere, but I think problem areas are being addressed. Columbia's MSA has seen its greatest population growth in the last dozen years and much of that growth has been in the core of the metro - in Richland County and in the city itself. I'd like to see more work on walkability and public transportation.

Columbiadata · 05-05-2012, 09:10 AM

The Vista, Five Points and Main Street all have a different vibe and make for a diverse downtown experience. I would like to see some intense effort to improve aesthetics at the intersection of the two commercial corridors that connect the central business district to Five Points, and I am sure that when Canal Front, a city dock/plaza/boardwalk/park now under construction at the foot of the Vista's main commercial corridor (Gervais Street) is complete, it will open everything up for a much larger urban scene.

Statistics just released show that since the city installed security cameras and police made their presence known, Five Points, the nighttime entertainment district patronized heavily by college students, has seen more than a 50% decrease in late night violent crime and more than a 30% decrease in property crime. Security cameras have since been installed on Main Street, both downtown and in North Columbia.

A tree-planting initiative begun a few years back is really paying off in terms of aesthetics, and there are thousands more trees to come. The arts and nature-based recreation are very strong here.

To me it seems almost as though overnight Columbians got tired of hearing each other talk about what other cities have and woke up and smelled the coffee right under their noses. Pedestrian traffic just gets more and more lively every week. There is always something going on. In my 28 years here I have never seen stronger pride among city residents.

People are quick to show up to have their say on things that still need work, but in a grassroots manner, the city is most definitely making progress toward becoming second to none among its peer cities. Its a great time to be here.

accufitgolf · 05-09-2012, 07:00 AM

Columbia is finally waking up and cleaning up. It never was bad, but also is was a bit shop worn and in need of some cleaning and polishing.

As far as downtown, they got to get rid of the Assembly St Speedway. Make more it more pedestrian friendly. Get a better connection between downtown and the Vista.

The fastest and more upmarket growth is along I77 as far north as Blythewood.

Columbia has a ways to go but the growth/potential is here. I say one thing it needs is a strong mayor form of government, not its present form of a Business Manager running the place. A bean counter no one knows or gets to vote for. Columbia needs a leader/hero that is responsible to the people 24/7.

I say Columbia is much safer then many cities it size. Most of the crime is poor on poor who know each other.

DrDipNStein · 05-09-2012, 10:55 AM

Thank you for the replies in this thread it's been very helpful and tilted me towards actually being excited about the prospect of moving to Columbia. Initially I was very concerned about crime being pervasive in the city and not just contained to limited areas. While crime is there I now think if one sticks to populated areas and doesn't stay out after hours the risk of being a victim goes down to acceptable levels. No worse than where I am now.

One thing that I've really enjoyed is the genuine Southern Hospitality I've experienced from afar. I've spoken with hotel staff, car rental agencies and various members of the organization I'll potentially be working for. Each has treated me with courtesy and respect that you just don't get in California. Yes people are friendly here but they don't go out of their way to be accommodating. It's hard to explain but I do get a sense people are proud of Columbia and like living there. I hope the upward trend continues.

waccamatt · 05-09-2012, 08:50 PM

Let us know when you're here for a visit or have moved and we'll start recommending restaurants, bars, etc.

oldhousejunkie · 05-21-2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accufitgolf

I say Columbia is much safer then many cities it size. Most of the crime is poor on poor who know each other.

I totally disagree with that statement. Move into one of the transitional neighborhoods that law abiding folks are TRYING to turn around and you'll see a vastly different picture. And they get little help from the police, that's for sure. I've lived in Atlanta for pete's sake but never had the issues I did while living in my old neighborhood.

I know there are many who love Columbia, but I spent two and half years of my life there and I wish I could erase it all from memory. I finally got the heck out of there 9 months ago. But I'm still stuck with a house that is "underwater" to some extent because the neighborhood went from being on the up swing to turning down again. It's a real shame.

Columbiadata · 05-21-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldhousejunkie

I totally disagree with that statement. Move into one of the transitional neighborhoods that law abiding folks are TRYING to turn around and you'll see a vastly different picture. And they get little help from the police, that's for sure. I've lived in Atlanta for pete's sake but never had the issues I did while living in my old neighborhood.

I know there are many who love Columbia, but I spent two and half years of my life there and I wish I could erase it all from memory. I finally got the heck out of there 9 months ago. But I'm still stuck with a house that is "underwater" to some extent because the neighborhood went from being on the up swing to turning down again. It's a real shame.

Yes, always be careful where you buy.

Columbiadata · 05-21-2012, 10:58 AM

Columbia is obviously making progress. Area residents have come to realize there's always so much going on here that they're afraid they'll miss something if they go out of town and are therefore not buying as much gas as they used to. Based on the rule of supply and demand, area gas prices have thus come down and are now the lowest in the nation.

Columbia Leads Nation With Lowest Gas Prices in U.S. | wltx.com