Before You Relocate to Columbia (Charleston, Mount Pleasant: home, tech jobs, universities)

[LazyT]

Originally Posted by usc_gal98

I am only going to touch on two subjects in your bost.

I do not care if they win or loose.

Was that a Freudian Slip?

[usc_gal98]

Y'all!!!!!

I was just using Greenville as an example!! LOL!

There is not a place in SC that I do not love. (except for Broad River Rd in Columbia - Yikes!)

[usc_gal98]

Originally Posted by LazyT

Was that a Freudian Slip?

Yes!

If Garcia would get his butt in line, we just might do something spectacular this season.

[mettler]

Don't forget that on Aug 29 Clemson and USC play soccer at the Graveyard at 7:00pm..That is a Friday night. If you want to feel an atmosphere similar to the club games in Europe come to that game. Get there early because it gets packed. I will post again when it is closer.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by HopDude

The city, architecturally speaking, is kind of a mess. There is a pervasive non-descript quality to the streets, buildings, houses, etc. Not too much that really makes you stop and go, "wow". I actually think that part of the culture discourages showing off. It's just not a really pretty city to look at, aside from what people do to their own yards and neighborhoods.

Are you referring to downtown or the suburbs? Suburbia in Columbia is suburbia anywhere (the epitome of "non-descript"). If you're referring to downtown, things are in a transitory state with a lot of improvements having taken place since 2000. You've also got to understand something about the history of the layout of downtown to understand why some things are the way they are (i.e., the wide streets). With that said, some streets--particularly the major downtown thoroughfares--need to be completely overhauled and streetscaped, while some have recently undergone streetscapings that make them a lot more aesthetically pleasing (e.g., Main, Lincoln, Lady, Harden, lower Two Notch, etc.). As far as buildings go, it's true that Columbia's style is more conservative/"play it safe" and it would be good if more modern/contemporary buildings were going up, but there are existing historic structures that are worth recognizing. The city does a pretty good job of adaptively reusing such structures.

Anybody ever hear of sidewalks here? How about that whacky middle lane thing? I love playing chicken with other cars when I'm trying to make a left turn. Did anyone in the city planning department ever consider landscaping or medians?

Some roads are under the jurisdiction of the state and not the city. But again, are you referring to downtown or suburbia? That makes a difference. There are several downtown thoroughfares with landscaped medians and sidewalks (e.g., Gervais, Lincoln, Assembly, Bull, Harden, etc.).

Beyond all of this, it sounds like you were expecting a metropolitan area of 2 million. There are certain things that Columbia isn't going to have simply due to its size. But generally, in just about all of the areas you mentioned, Columbia compares pretty favorably with its regional peer cities/metro areas.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by usc_gal98

Like I said, what is gold to some may be bronze to others. There are many cities and small towns in SC that could use some improvement. But I think the big issue here is when you come from a bigger city like Philly or the Chi, you are used to specific things, which is why Columbia or Greenville can be a huge let down.

You do have a point. Not too long ago, I was talking to a customer who had moved to Greenville and said she wasn't happy with her decision. When I asked her what was it she didn't like about the city, she really didn't have any legitimate gripes (at least in my opinion), and when I brought up downtown and all the things to do, she said it still wasn't enough for her. I came to the conclusion that it wasn't really the city itself that she had a problem with, but she was just used to more amenities and options since she had come to SC from Ft. Lauderdale, a much larger city and metro area. When I mentioned that, she said "Yeah, I think you're right." People can be let down when their expectations aren't realistic. I deal with that same phenomenon here in Charlotte all the time.

[HopDude]

Beyond all of this, it sounds like you were expecting a metropolitan area of 2 million. There are certain things that Columbia isn't going to have simply due to its size. But generally, in just about all of the areas you mentioned, Columbia compares pretty favorably with its regional peer cities/metro areas.

I understand why you might think that, but again, it seems like my point is being misunderstood.

It's not that MY expectations of Columbia are too high. It's that COLUMBIA'S expectations of Columbia are too LOW.

That is what I find so frustrating. Given time, maybe 5 to 10 years, things will start to turn the corner. I don't know if I'm willing to wait that long. Until people who live here start raising their own expectations, things are going to remain very status quo.

Another example: I remember talking to a co-worker of mine who has lived here his whole life and he actually bragged about how the city had resisted the opportunity to compete for an NFL team because it would have overshadowed the Gamecocks. Of course, the Panthers ended up in Charlotte but Columbia was apparently one of the cities in consideration for that expansion.

Even though that team was meant to represent "the Carolinas" I have yet to actually meet a Panthers fan.

Maybe I'm being super snickety. I'm not saying that it's a bad place to live. I'm just saying that it doesn't nearly live up to it's potential. IMHO.

[mettler]

I have to agree with the above that it does not live up to its potential. I also think that USC flexes its muscle too much..tho, I will agree that it is also a major contributor to the overall economic status. Still, I think when it comes to a lot of choices for the city in general it is USC that has the final say, and I think that is wrong. I still point you all to that great article in the free-times about the confederate flag and its impact on the economy of SC/Columbia. I have no feelings towards the flag, but at the same time I think they should have an African Nations flag there for all the heritage in the state from that part of the world. I'd like to see an Irish and Italian flag flying, since that is my heritage. Still, that article really spelled it out well. Columbia is extremely well located, has a decent hwy system with access to major ports and the up-state. I still find it hard to believe that it hasn't taken off like Charlotte.

[HopDude]

Wow, finally a little agreement! Thanks. I was starting wonder if this site was made up solely of members of the "Defenders of Columbia" club. After all, the post was supposed to be for people who are LOOKING to move here like we did a couple of years ago.

I still point you all to that great article in the free-times about the confederate flag and its impact on the economy of SC/Columbia. I have no feelings towards the flag, but at the same time I think they should have an African Nations flag there for all the heritage in the state from that part of the world. I'd like to see an Irish and Italian flag flying, since that is my heritage.

Funny you mention the flag thing. I didn't understand any of it until after I bothered to educate myself on the history of this region.

But the Confederate flag controversy took me a while to figure out. Like a lot of Americans my opinion was formed out of ignorance. I thought it was a symbol of stubbornness and intolerance.

I don't believe that any more. In fact, I think in some ways The South really had it right vs. The Union - with the obvious exception of slavery. The whole "Don't Tread on Me" thing was really important here. There was also a strong belief in the Constitution and states rights - which I wholeheartedly agree with. And, there was a fight against acquiescing too much power to the Federal government - which is a position that's been completely vindicated, IMO.

That, I think, is why you still see a lot of the Confederate battle flags around the South. That is one of the areas of pride and I think there's a great deal of justification for being proud. Are their racists who use that flag? Sure, but there are racists who use the American flag too. At the end of the day, I don't think the majority are using it to proclaim their racial superiority. That's just how I see it.

I agree that it doesn't belong on the state Capitol, though, because it does create a unfairly negative impression of this state. That controversy is part of what keeps more progress from coming here.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by HopDude

It's not that MY expectations of Columbia are too high. It's that COLUMBIA'S expectations of Columbia are too LOW.

Another example: I remember talking to a co-worker of mine who has lived here his whole life and he actually bragged about how the city had resisted the opportunity to compete for an NFL team because it would have overshadowed the Gamecocks. Of course, the Panthers ended up in Charlotte but Columbia was apparently one of the cities in consideration for that expansion.

Even though that team was meant to represent "the Carolinas" I have yet to actually meet a Panthers fan.

As an NFL fan (go Browns!), it would make sense for me to side w/you on saying Columbia was dumb to not pursue the Panthers franchise. However, do you honestly believe that an NFL owner in today's world would be willing to 'share' a stadium w/a college team for now 13 years?? Of course not, so guess who would be paying for their new stadium?? The people of Richland Co., probably w/another 1 or 2 cent sales tax. Charlotte can better bear that burden having twice as many people. Now, I have heard that they were going to have training camp here, and USC shut that down, that's just plain dumb, how would it have hurt to have all those players and coaches in town for a month spending some of those millions they make??