Georgia cities 50 years from now (Atlanta, Columbus: employment, to live in, move to)

[therealpattman]

Looking at the long term, how do you think our cities will be in the next 50 years, population, urban density, downtown's, medicine, and infrastructure. Let's think about the long term here.

[Ollie1946]

I recall as a kid watching Disney on TV and seeing the future via Tomorrowland. We are not even close to that and in fact seem to be in retrograde with clogged highways that are continuing to decline in quality. Mass transit has flopped as we are still in love with our insular automobile. My personal view, albeit I will be dead in another 10 or 15 years at best, is that the future is rather grim. We failed to prepare for the future when the money was available choosing rather to enrich arms merchants and the top 1% rather than invest in our country writ large. For my part, I am just as glad I won't see the future arrive in 50 years. I see no reason to suspect things will be better. I think things will be considerably worse.

My 2 cents.

[Saintmarks]

I would rather Atlanta's rapid growth of the last 50 years slow so the region can catch up and solidify and Macon, Columbus, Augusta and Savannah grow at that rate instead. I would like to see at least one of them move to another tier level... that of a Memphis, Jacksonville, Birmingham size.... a million metro area and the rest double. Savannah would be my first choice for this as long as the growth doesn't diminish its charm.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I would rather Atlanta's rapid growth of the last 50 years slow so the region can catch up and solidify and Macon, Columbus, Augusta and Savannah grow at that rate instead. I would like to see at least one of them move to another tier level... that of a Memphis, Jacksonville, Birmingham size.... a million metro area and the rest double. Savannah would be my first choice for this as long as the growth doesn't diminish its charm.

I agree. I think the best thing that could have happened to Atlanta is:
1. The recession / housing bust
2. The failure of TSPLOST

Don't get me wrong; Atlanta will continue to grow. But if it doesn't grow in the same way or at the same rates as in the past, is that really a bad thing?

On the other hand, Georgia's 2nd-tier cities are poised for tremendous growth -- and have the lessons of Atlanta to learn by example. Passage of the TSPLOST in Columbus and Augusta notwithstanding, I believe all of the states middle-market metros have elements in place to create the kind of growth seen in peer cities in North Carolina and Florida. It's going to take a lot of effort and good planning by leaders in these cities, as well as commitment from the state to "share the wealth" -- but I think we're much closer to finally seeing statewide growth than ever before.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I agree. I think the best thing that could have happened to Atlanta is:
1. The recession / housing bust
2. The failure of TSPLOST

Don't get me wrong; Atlanta will continue to grow. But if it doesn't grow in the same way or at the same rates as in the past, is that really a bad thing?

On the other hand, Georgia's 2nd-tier cities are poised for tremendous growth -- and have the lessons of Atlanta to learn by example. Passage of the TSPLOST in Columbus and Augusta notwithstanding, I believe all of the states middle-market metros have elements in place to create the kind of growth seen in peer cities in North Carolina and Florida. It's going to take a lot of effort and good planning by leaders in these cities, as well as commitment from the state to "share the wealth" -- but I think we're much closer to finally seeing statewide growth than ever before.

Great post and great to see you back!

[neil0311]

The thing is that 50 years in the future, we have no idea what the determining factors will be for economic growth or population shifts. If you asked someone in 1962 in Georgia about what the state would be like in 50 years, they would have answered with their context and perspective. Hell, they still had de facto segregation in 1962 to some extent, and the Voting Rights Act hadn't been passed yet.

People today have no idea about how technology will change the way people work and why the choose to live in certain places. Who would have predicted in 1962 that half of the Atlanta area moved here from somewhere outside the south? 50 years is a long time in the Internet age. You really cannot even think beyond 10 - 20 years.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I would rather Atlanta's rapid growth of the last 50 years slow so the region can catch up and solidify and Macon, Columbus, Augusta and Savannah grow at that rate instead. I would like to see at least one of them move to another tier level... that of a Memphis, Jacksonville, Birmingham size.... a million metro area and the rest double. Savannah would be my first choice for this as long as the growth doesn't diminish its charm.

Savannah will have to establish a district for highrises, maybe to the south of the historic district next to the freeway. It must boost it's surrounding counties for more suburban support. like Columbia County to Augusta, Lexington to Columbia and all of the counties surrounding Atlanta.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Savannah will have to establish a district for highrises, maybe to the south of the historic district next to the freeway. It must boost it's surrounding counties for more suburban support. like Columbia County to Augusta, Lexington to Columbia and all of the counties surrounding Atlanta.

The only area of Savannah where high rises are restricted is the Historic District. Several where planned on Hutchinson Island before the recession. If the market demands them, they'll be built.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by neil0311

The thing is that 50 years in the future, we have no idea what the determining factors will be for economic growth or population shifts. If you asked someone in 1962 in Georgia about what the state would be like in 50 years, they would have answered with their context and perspective. Hell, they still had de facto segregation in 1962 to some extent, and the Voting Rights Act hadn't been passed yet.

People today have no idea about how technology will change the way people work and why the choose to live in certain places. Who would have predicted in 1962 that half of the Atlanta area moved here from somewhere outside the south? 50 years is a long time in the Internet age. You really cannot even think beyond 10 - 20 years.

There is so much truth in this. Just as nobody 50 years ago could have predicted what Georgia looks like today, we have no idea what it will look like 50 years in the future. The top employment / career sectors of 2062 haven't even been invented yet! Put your head around that!

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

There is so much truth in this. Just as nobody 50 years ago could have predicted what Georgia looks like today, we have no idea what it will look like 50 years in the future. The top employment / career sectors of 2062 haven't even been invented yet! Put your head around that!

I will be 101.. the new 40 of 2062. I need to know these sectors so I can start my study and training.