Macon or Columbus? (working in Americus) (Atlanta, Hinesville: loft, living in, military)

[afonega1]

I grew up in Warner Robins.My parents moved to BYron a year ago.After deciding that they have had enough of the Atlanta area and wanted what we used to have when we lived in the area before.I as a single man would never go back to Warner Robins.However it is a nice place to live,but mostly for families.That holds true for Columbus area as well.Macon is 15 minutes north of Warner Robins,but the two are very differnet when it comes to crime,history and developement.Macon is way too far from Americus, but I do believe as far as Urbanity goes Macon has Columbus hands down.I love the lofts that are popping up in the downtown area of MAcon.There are many of the State museums there that you can walk to and a downtown that actually has resturants and shops ,although nothing great,its there.Columbus is really spread out.The part of the city that is dense and urban feeling in downtown Columbus is really nice.However its not as cohesive or compact as Macon's.Macon has more buildings over 10 floors that are grouped together.(compared to Atlanta thats a crazy statement).Columbus is expected to be one of the fastest growing cities in the south because of the military base.Maybe that might change things drastically as there are some great chamges that are being pushed and planned.You will be closer to Atlanta,Savnnah,Augusta,Jacksonville if you chose somewhere close to Macon or in it with access to all the interstates.Columbus is only close to Auburn-Opelika.Trying to be as unbiased as possible, id with a little more ease would pick somewhere closer to Macon if not in it.

[ATLCOL1]

Originally Posted by afonega1

I grew up in Warner Robins.My parents moved to BYron a year ago.After deciding that they have had enough of the Atlanta area and wanted what we used to have when we lived in the area before.I as a single man would never go back to Warner Robins.However it is a nice place to live,but mostly for families.That holds true for Columbus area as well.Macon is 15 minutes north of Warner Robins,but the two are very differnet when it comes to crime,history and developement.Macon is way too far from Americus, but I do believe as far as Urbanity goes Macon has Columbus hands down.I love the lofts that are popping up in the downtown area of MAcon.There are many of the State museums there that you can walk to and a downtown that actually has resturants and shops ,although nothing great,its there.Columbus is really spread out.The part of the city that is dense and urban feeling in downtown Columbus is really nice.However its not as cohesive or compact as Macon's.Macon has more buildings over 10 floors that are grouped together.(compared to Atlanta thats a crazy statement).Columbus is expected to be one of the fastest growing cities in the south because of the military base.Maybe that might change things drastically as there are some great chamges that are being pushed and planned.You will be closer to Atlanta,Savnnah,Augusta,Jacksonville if you chose somewhere close to Macon or in it with access to all the interstates.Columbus is only close to Auburn-Opelika.Trying to be as unbiased as possible, id with a little more ease would pick somewhere closer to Macon if not in it.

Columbus is centrally located to Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Tallahassee. That is the reason a study is being done to bring 2 more interstate thru Columbus. Downtown Columbus feels very urban due to the many lofts, Columbus State University's downtown campus that has a 1,000 kids taking classes down there off of main campus everyday, museums, large headquarters such as TSYS, Synovus, Char-Broil, Carmike Cinemas, etc. The Columbus Riverwalk is also a centerpiece for downtown. A new 2-story YMCA is being built downtown as well.

[saharaga]

Originally Posted by ATLCOL1

Downtown Columbus feels very urban due to the many lofts.

I have to admire your blind loyalty to Columbus, but I disagree on downtown Columbus being "very urban due to the many lofts" Downtown is mostly made up of quaint, charming and beautiful historic homes. I'm not sure that anyone would consider 3 loft developments "many". There are two loft developments currently being built according to Uptown Columbus. And then there are the Johnston Mill Lofts a little further down the road. I took a tour of Columbus shortly after I arrived here and the guide-who is a native of Columbus- stressed how the city leaders are committed to ensuring that downtown retains it historic look and feel. Historic and urban typically do not co-exist together.

[KStumpFuller]

Ok, now few of you are addressing the question. Your bickering and infighting is silly. I appreciate those of you who thoughtfully answered the question I originally posed. If anyone wants to put aside their petty grievances for a while and maybe tell me what daily life is like in either city, that would be nice. The last few comments were helpful, thank you.

[ATLCOL1]

Originally Posted by saharaga

I have to admire your blind loyalty to Columbus, but I disagree on downtown Columbus being "very urban due to the many lofts" Downtown is mostly made up of quaint, charming and beautiful historic homes. I'm not sure that anyone would consider 3 loft developments "many". There are two loft developments currently being built according to Uptown Columbus. And then there are the Johnston Mill Lofts a little further down the road. I took a tour of Columbus shortly after I arrived here and the guide-who is a native of Columbus- stressed how the city leaders are committed to ensuring that downtown retains it historic look and feel. Historic and urban typically do not co-exist together.

Have you not seen or heard about W.C. Bradleys conversion of the Eagle & Phenix Mill into a mixed-use loft development???????? It's the big mill on the river with all of the construction going on around it.............








Eagle & Phenix Mills,*riverfront loft condominiums*located in Uptown Columbus, Georgia.


You need to check this out.

[saharaga]

Ok, so it's 4 loft developments. That does not change my opinion. 4 is not "many" and the practice of development in downtown Columbus so far has been to restore the facade of the building to what it looked like originally. Look at the Marriott. From what the tour guide told us, the Marriott was built to look on the outside exactly like the building that was there originally. This is the way that lofts are typically built anyway...rebuilding the inside and restoring the outside...so these developments are doing little to change the look of downtown. I absolutely agree that they are developing downtown Columbus and trying really hard to make it more "trendy" but I disagree that these projects make it more "urban" Urban has a certain feel and a certain energy that downtown Columbus still lacks.

[saharaga]

KStump,

If you would like to have a guided tour of Columbus when you visit, PM me and I will send you the lady's contact info. She offers her services free of charge and works with several employers in the area to offer tours to their prospective employees. The tour takes about two hours and she is a lifelong resident of Columbus so she is very knowledgeable. As far as what daily life is like here, you will probably get varied opinions on that too. You'll have to experience it for yourself.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by ATLCOL1

Have you not seen or heard about W.C. Bradleys conversion of the Eagle & Phenix Mill into a mixed-use loft development???????? It's the big mill on the river with all of the construction going on around it.............








Eagle & Phenix Mills,*riverfront loft condominiums*located in Uptown Columbus, Georgia.


You need to check this out.

All the stuff you mentioned is spread out.There are very few "cafe'",coffee shops,bookstores,other shops at street level next to each other that go for even a city block in Columbus.Columbus has more business of the forturne 1000 even for a city of its size is impressive,Aflac is the very tall building in town surrounded by nothing else of major note. Do me a favor,take a picture of each cities skyline , there is no way you can say`Columbus is bigger.A loft developement is nothing.They have been working in downtown Mcon and have really spruced up that area.You really are biased

[yerocal]

"KStumpFuller" here are some pics to give you an idea of what Macon is like....

Downtown Macon









































The Macon Mall










North Macon Mall/Shoppes at River Crossing





Colleges and Universities

* Central Georgia Technical College
* Fort Valley State University - main campus in Fort Valley, GA
* Georgia College and State University - main campus in Milledgeville
* Macon State College
* Mercer University
* Wesleyan College
* Troy University - main campus in Troy, Alabama

Public High Schools

Bibb County Public School District

* Central High School - Chargers
* Howard High School - Huskies
* Hutchings High School
* Northeast Magnet High School - Raiders
* Rutland High School - Hurricanes
* Southwest Magnet High School - Patriots
* Westside High School - Seminoles

Private High Schools

* Fellowship Christian Academy[17]
* First Presbyterian Day School
* Gilead Christian Academy
* Mount de Sales Academy
* Stratford Academy
* Tattnall Square Academy
* Twiggs Academy
* Windsor Academy

Major venues
* Al Sihah Shrine Park
* Henderson Stadium
* Central City Park

* Luther Williams Field




* Macon Coliseum





* Macon City Auditorium


* Cox Capitol Theatre
* Macon Little Theater
* Douglass Theater
* Grand Opera House


* Mercer's University Center
* The Edgar H. Wilson Convention Centre
* Theatre Macon
* Arrowhead Park

Map of the Area(Macon, Byron& Warner Robins)

[brentyoung12]

KStumpFuller....I will give you the real deal. These are two mid-sized cities. Small mid-sized cities I guess you can say. You can expect entertainment,shopping and dining to have less choices than where you are, but there are SOME things you can get into I guess, not much for me. You will feel safe in both cities of you are not roaming around ghetto areas. This can be said for anywhere I suppose. There are nice people in both cities. In Columbus you can expect a high military presence.

The interstates and Macon's compact makeup compared to Columbus' lack there of, makes Macon feel more vibrant driving through and around town. During the midday, traffic is worse in Macon.

I say this in all honesty and being unbiased because I think both cities are OK, but while in Columbus, I missed the "urban" feel you get in Macon that just isnt there yet anyway.

I think Columbus needs those interstates bad.

I think you'll be fine in either one,but you just have to remember that if you're in Columbus its going appear that you're in a smaller city than Macon. Thats just the truth.