Single mom relocating to GA, need some advice on Columbus! (Atlanta: apartment complexes, to rent)

[Grantj727]

Hello everyone -
I just wanted to stop by and read through some comments on the Columbus, GA area, because I too am considering it as a home for myself and my three year old daughter. We currently live in Seattle, WA and I am taking a promotion at my company's facility in Newnan. I have been there once but it was work\hotel\Applebess and that's pretty much IT. Didn't see much else. And so far everything that I have read about Atlanta and the surrounding areas including Newnan just scares me to death to even consider moving. During the same trip, I went to see my boyfriend in Columbus, as he was stationed there, but I confess that I didn't see much except the corner store, the Olive Garden, and my boyfriend's apartment. (I was there visiting him in June of '06 and it was too hot for his liking so we didn't get out to do anything remotely tourist-y. I grew up in Southern Illinois, so heat and humidity is not a problem for me, but he was one of those complainers. LOL)

Anyhow, I was hoping I might be able to beg for some more specific feedback from you nice folks about a couple more things? Thank you, in advance.

- Is it unreasonable to consider doing a commute to Newnan everyday or should I look between the two cities for somewhere to live? I have already decided to put my daughter in the Newnan Academy daycare there, so that I will be close to her while at work. As for the distance, I currently drive about 40 minutes to work each day and so its not really the drive that bothers me, I just seem to remember it being about an hour's drive or so from my hotel to the ex's place, and wonder if I estimated correctly? I need to be somwhat near the army base for certain things, as my daughter is a military dependent.

- I've read conflicting opinions of the racial tension in Columbus being a problem. My daughter is mixed caucasian (myself) and african american (her father) and I am curious about the way that she will blend in with her new friends and how I myself will find the attitudes of folks around town. Here in the pacific northwest, we don't really care who dates who, but GA is still the "south" and I don't have a problem telling a racist individual to go you-know-what themselves should I encounter a problem, but I am, of course, concerned for how my daughter will adapt. When my ex and I went to eat at the Olive Garden there in Columbus, I didn't notice any overly obvious stares at us, but the waiter and manager were not the nicest folks in the world. (Ex had an issue with his non-cooked meat and stuck-together noodles, heaven help him.)

- Crime factor? Bad, good, or indifferent? Again, conflicting reports.

- Best apartments to rent? Ex stayed in The Lakes apartments, which was a really nice apartment (loved thesq footage and the garden tub!) and was WAY bigger than what we get out here for the same price. I noticed alot of new apartment complexes online, and as I am thinking about the north Columbus area, does anyone have any recommendations? My price range is about 900-950 a month but would like something a bit less than that if I can find comparable quality.

Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH for any help you can give!!

[JLA]

Hello Grantj727, Columbus is by no means a tourist town. This is the Southeast, hot and humid in the summer and cool and humid in the winter. You are right, depending on where you live in Columbus it should take you about 1 hour to get to Newnan. Columbus is by no means a racist town. Does that mean that no racist live in the city? No, just like Seattle we have our share of nuts, and I consider more than zero to many. Never the less, you will find a large number of mixed couples who call this area home. Some are my friends are mixed couples. One couple moved from Savannah to Columbus, because of the problems they encountered there. They are happy now. Having this large military base close by helps a lot. There will be a lot more cultural things to do in Columbus. Please do yourself a favor, try not compare Columbus and Seattle. Seattle is Seattle and Columbus is Columbus, they will never be the same. If you have any specific questions please contact me by "Direct Message". Also, please try to purge your brain of all the old stereo typed movies, music and old news about the South, it does not apply anymore, unless you are in the backwoods somewhere. One other thing, a large portion of the population of Columbus is not originally from here. In the price range that you gave you should not have any problems finding a very nice apartment complex. Some new ones are opening up off exit 12 of I-185. From that location it should take you less than 50 minutes to get to Newnan. Check to see if your company has a locater assistant. Welcome!!