Macon, Georgia, Ga's Next hot spot! (Atlanta, Columbus: real estate, showing, income)

[rdinga]

Originally Posted by MayorOfMacon2019

There are always two ways to look at something, good or bad, and when I came on this site, alot of members were saying Macon is going down, crime is high, test scores are low, yea thats absolutely true, but thats just one way to look at, never once did I see anyone before I came on this site say Macon has many great structures, things to do, and it plays a vital role, which is absolutely true as well, and its another way to look at it.

On the other hand when they spoke of Warner Robins, they made it seem like heaven on earth, yes it is a good enviroment, its a great place to raise a child, but its not all pretty, no one spoke the bad of Warner Robins just like no one spoke the good of Macon.

The first day I saw the site my intentions were to sign up and promote the good of Macon, not to point out the bad of Warner Robins, which no one was doing. But I didnt focus on Warner Robins, I focused solely on fixing the all bad reputation that was sent about Macon, while doing this I ran into people who would come on my threads and just trash out Macon.

I noticed that I was the only one who lived in Macon, from this site, and that the views were always seen from outsiders not from people who live in Macon, and cared about the city, as much as I do, no matter how much people on this site disrespect Macon. I tried not to point out the bad of Warner RObins, but would always have someone speak bad about Macon, and no one besides me speak the good, so I finally got sick of it, and when the bad of Warner Robins came out, people didnt believe me because Warner Robins was already built up to be this Mega POwer, that was just beautiful, and just all good, but deep down these people who build up Warner Robins know that the city has problems just like every other city. Throughout this whole message I didnt express how bad Warner RObins is, but in about 10 years when it all comes to the light well see. Now there are people from Macon on here who feel just as good about the city as I do, and they know that with all the bad going on, there is ten times as much good.

I am a new member who has lived in Macon for 8 years and recently bought a home here. Both my children were born here....one at the Coliseum, one at the Med Center. I am from Iowa originally, lived in DFW for 11 years, Nashville for 2 years, Atlanta for 6 years, Savannah for 1 year. I think Macon is all about location. When business officials come here from other parts of the country, they comment on Macon's great location. I just hope our city officials can take advantage of this great location. Macon has more good than bad to talk about. Oh yes, bad test scores, high crime, etc....not a pretty site. WR lacks the "rich" history that Macon offers and I am in no way implying WR does not have some "rich" history. I am thankful for the base and military in WR and it's contribution to this country, and yes WR has nice neighborhoods. Overall Macon is a good place to live.

[Peelo]

Crime is dropping???!!!! In Macon???!!! Wow! Somebody better call the newspapers because they are reporting murders and other crime in record numbers!!!!!

[DisgustaSucks]

Macon always has one thing on its side... it's not Disgusta.

[maconmaconmacon]

Originally Posted by DisgustaSucks

Macon always has one thing on its side... it's not Disgusta.

If Macon has one thing on its side, it's the only thing! LOL

I'm sorry guys, I've given this town a very fair chance, defended it repeatedly to family and friends and in my own mind, but it really does suck. I can't imagine the idiot mayor's absence is going to change things much, but I guess there is still hope for that.

Macon reminds me of a corrupt third world country. There is a lot wrong in its administration, and there is a lot wrong with the ways of its people. Considering this is the town with a "church on every corner" the people of Macon have not shown themselves to be particularly moral or honest. I have been lied to and screwed over far more by Maconites than in any other place I've lived (places do exist where you can give people the benefit of the doubt and be relatively trusting. This is not one of them.) The question is (as it refers to corrupt nations and a chance for reform), does this tendency stem from the manner in which the city is governed, or is the manner in which the city is governed a reflection of its citizenry?

I don't know anything about the school system, but I do know that the Macon/Warner Robins area has a high concentration of illiterate thinking-challenged people. Racism is rampant on all sides and there are some unbelievably haughty people around here (there are everywhere, of course, I can't say if they are more so in Macon. In my experience, they are more so in rural areas and smaller towns in general.)

Everybody is afraid. Personally, I haven't seen much to be afraid of, there are crazy people wandering certain streets and shouting at passing cars, as there are in most towns, homeless people and opportunists begging for money (certainly not exclusive to Macon). My husband has claimed unease in certain areas and there are certain roads and certain grocery stores and shopping centers many refuse to visit. But... I can't say either way if there is just cause for this.

The job market is a joke. Jobs genuinely run almost entirely along the service lines. You can work in fast food, you can be a waitress, you can work at Target... there are a couple of factories and Geico, which hires a decent number of folks, but not much else. Definitely not suitable for growth.

It is boring. I've always hated to say that, it's up to you to make your own entertainment, right? Well, genuinely, Macon is boring. There may be expanding shopping venues, but they are almost entirely duplicates or relocations. Only the major chains have offerings here. There is little in the way of entertainment unless you're a tourist in town for 2 days, an alcoholic, or a pervert (and there are MANY options for this group, strip clubs, "massage parlors", sex shops, and prostitutes abound. I actually know a girl who moved to Macon on account of all these "professional" opportunities... ).

Huge parts of the town are just dead, and the rest of town is dying. Dead strip malls and offices all over the place. It's depressing. It would seem that Macon was actually a much better (at least more interesting) place at one time, but I think the fear has caused many to abandon the town.

[MayorOfMacon2019]

You have your opinion but on the account of your last paragraph, people complained about Macon not having exotic shops, and these ammenties, and things to do on a friday night, with Macon being a center for shopping and working we have to have a cariety of stores just like any other city. Great cities like New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami all have many options for strip clubs, massage parlors, sex shops, but they are all great cities. As far as prostitution I dont know where you live in Macon where it is abound.

For you to say only major chains have offerings in Macon's stores, many many stores that are being built will be new to Macon, and the entire Middle Georgia area, one being major retailer and distrbutor Bass Pro Shops. Macon is the center of middle georgia economy, and you must understand with any city that has more people coming into it in one day than the people leaving out there are going to be problems, and thats not an excuse current adminstration can solve almost every one's of Macon's problems, but there to busy bickering, so as of December 11 it doesnt matter and you will see change begin in Macon, as a slate of new officials take office.

[DisgustaSucks]

Macon is only SLIGHTLY better than Disgusta.. but that's like saying Cleveland is SLIGHTLY better than Detroit. Seriously I cannot understand how someone could recommend Macon as a place to live. I know people have their hometown loyalties and all, but come on folks.. look at reality: High Crime, bad schools, bad job market, inadequade shopping,dining,entertainment options.. is this the type of place you want to live in? With so many nice towns in Georgia it is beyond me why someone would choose to live in a place like Macon or Disgusta.

[Dixie Dawg]

I have to agree with Disgusta. If I had to look at two towns in Georgia in which to live, I wouldn't choose Augusta or Macon.

Augusta does have great medical facilities and the Martinez-Evans area is rather nice and really growing. However, the other day I was in the Martinez-Evans area and people could not drive - they would practically run over you. It was terrible. All of the new home development seems to be going to Columbia County.

Macon is an old town which does have Mercer University and what seems to be nice medical facilities, but Macon doesn't offer as much as other parts of Georgia.

Someone here on the board asked about jobs in the medical field so I told them about Augusta due to the medical facilities, but for me personally, since I lived there for 35 years, I wouldn't want to go back.

[obanks]

My response to all the Macon Georgia comments is that the City has a long way to go. Growing up in Macon, Visiting other cities, and living in other cities i have grown to see that the City does not have the problem, its the people running it and its old way of thinking. The only way Macon Georgia will ever change is the old has to go. That city has a perfect location,the center of the state, better than any other second tier city in the state. It has 3 freeways, one of which actually runs in the heart of its downtown. No other city in Georgia besides Atlanta has that advantage and the city and county has managed to loose population. That make no sense at all. Its your people in office and there yesterday, don't know if we want to be a city or small town way of thinking. For example that I-75, I-16 interchange project should have been at least all most complete but due to the old way of thinking no progress.. Not done. The fall line freeway bridge crossing Eisenhower Pkwy...Should have been completed before the turn of the Century... Not done.. No progress... I can name countless projects but i will not go there. Macon has perfect infasturctue but its way of thinking is costing it citizens, me one of them. Im going to get to the point because i could go on and on. Macon Georgia has to make up its mind. Is it going to become a Nice healthy progressive Mid Size City or Small Town. Its on the verge becoming a delapated small town with neathon to show for. People from Macon have always been scared of becoming like Atlanta. They have to understand Macon will never be like Atlanta, if it does it would defently be to the Cities Advantage because right now Macon's Personality is far far worse. Macon's Infastructuse and location is way better than any other second tier city in the state (Augusta, Columbus, Savannah etc.) but its people way of thinking is way behind. Example bus shelters. It took Macon to the year 1998, several years behing Augusta , Columbus, Savannah and even little Albany Georgia to ever get bus shelters for built for its citizens all because of it policies and even to this day even though the cities Transit system gets federal funds it still has not made an effort to put any none ad shelters up in parts of the city that need it. A very very old defect. The same is true with Downtown Macon. I don't know about you but any time i go to any new city i always look at the downtown area to see how progressive the city is, high rise buildings etc. Macon has a height restiction. It needs to stop. Any city that wants to be progressive has to start to build up. They always use it being an historic area as the excuse. Macon has some nice old historic districts true enough but some of the areas downtown needs to go and let new devlopement come in and build up. Its the year 2008, the barriers need to be broken in the city where other second tier cities dare to go. Only the city of Atlanta and its Edge Cities dare to go there and Macon with its faling economy based off a mall which is half empty, run down homes, no real job base downtown, it is easy to see why its loosing population. (Hint:Macon is living off of Robins Air Force base for life support, cut if off and the city is dead.) ( Macon should be very scard of BRAC) It will continue if thinking does not change. To me that is sad for a place with so much potental but does not use it. The old way has been tried and the population is still just below 98,000 and dropping. Lets try a new way, Improve downtown by attracting big business and hold on to your citizens as well as bring in new ones. Areas of the inner city need revitilazing, empty shopping centers need to be revitilazed or change into loft living. Those eye sore are a no no. Evey time i come to Macon now im ready to leave when i get there because of all the empty eye sores. Im ashamed to even bring my current family there. Im more ashamed of the empty stores and a boring downtown area than the rough neighboorhoods. Thats somthing that every city has. Crime and rough neighborhoods are all a part of policing, not the economy. Crime rarely runs people from a place because people are going to move where they feel comfortable weather in the city or in the suburbs, its a personal choice, but the economy and education can make you pack your bags and leave a metro area quickly. Macon is a city not a suburb. Im speaking of the city limits only right now not all of bibb county. Its whole lay out needs to be revamped starting with downtown tearing down the old and delapated and allowing some new sleek office buildings to be built above the 300ft mark. Secondly rezoning needs to be done with empty shopping centers from the old one horsetown adminstration. If shopping centers are not going to be filled they need to be redeveloped for loft apartments and or mini live, work, play communties. People must understand that most people shop in the suburbs anyway. Macon has been on that one horse town mindframe for a long time now and its coming back to bite them with shoping centers becoming vacant and the macon mall emptying to flee to further out areas. Old bunglos homes in the city need revitilizing. Of course this is all my opinion but at this point i dont visit the city much and would not consider moving back there. Its a complete utter shame, one i choose not to live with.

[johndoeboy]

Originally Posted by Dixie Dawg

I have to agree with Disgusta. If I had to look at two towns in Georgia in which to live, I wouldn't choose Augusta or Macon.

Augusta does have great medical facilities and the Martinez-Evans area is rather nice and really growing. However, the other day I was in the Martinez-Evans area and people could not drive - they would practically run over you. It was terrible. All of the new home development seems to be going to Columbia County.

Macon is an old town which does have Mercer University and what seems to be nice medical facilities, but Macon doesn't offer as much as other parts of Georgia.

Someone here on the board asked about jobs in the medical field so I told them about Augusta due to the medical facilities, but for me personally, since I lived there for 35 years, I wouldn't want to go back.

Sorry but one area in west augusta is adding over 20,000 homes. The belair/jimmie dyess area. That's probably why a new neighborhood appears everyday in this area. And the new south augusta area goshen, hephzibah area to the burke county line is adding over 40,000 homes in the next few years. Evans and martinez are only adding 15,000 new homes.

But o'banks that has to be the longest post ever.

[Peelo]

O'Banks, you hit the nail on the head!!! Great and HONEST Post....also, its good to see this thread again...it reminded me that Mayor CONFESSED that Macon "is going down, crime is high, and test scores are low"....LOL Dadgumit, he actually admitted the truth.

How do I make that quote appear before every single one of my posts??!!!LOL