What is your pick for overall best 2nd tier Georgia Metro area? (Atlanta: new construction, restaurants)

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by NewtownMacon

Well you should have gotten out of your seat and join the EMBISEAL show, because you would have fitted in just perfect... Prove that.....

I Know - I tried, but I can't clap and blow a horn at the same time.

They disqualified me for that, and the fact that I had to drive through Bibb County to reach Orlando. They were afraid something I may have "picked up" on my way could prove harmful to the little guys.

[NewtownMacon]

More projects proposed for the Macon Metro area to fuels growth......

New Plans to create an east to west connector linking I-75 to I-16 which would link Macon transportation connections (Interstates, Rail, Aviations Access- Middle Reg. Airport, RAFB & proposed G-RAMP) forming Macon into Middle Georgia Transportation and Logistics Hub. The plan involved the extension of Sardis Church Road from 75 in south BibbCounty to Interstate 16, but the project is in its preliminary stages.
Macon Mayor Robert Reichert and Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce President Chip Cherry also have supported the plan, which would build off of existing plans to construct a new Interstate 75 interchange at Sardis Church Road which has already been contracted out; Another project will be added to extend Sardis Church south of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, north of Robins Air Force Base and the proposed G-RAMP project until it hits I-16. It would tie into I-16 at the existing Sgoda Road interchange. This project would open up new land for development in south Bibb, north Houston and TwiggsCounty, route truck traffic away from downtown Macon and give Robins Air Force Base employees coming from the east a new route to work, project supporters said. It would also create a new OcmulgeeRiver crossing.

Sardis Church Road extension proposed - State Legislature - Macon
http://www.dot.state.ga.us/aboutGeor...ober/macon.pdf
Program of Work

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by champ0909

Yes, I know Bibb and Muscogee's growth has been minimal, I just mentioned that
to point out how weird it is how some people can act like people are pouring into Columbus
left and right and Macon is shrinking, when in actuality it's really at a stagnant level for both.
I know, Harris County is "growing" at a nice pace but I was specifically talking about
areas like Columbia County for Augusta or Houston County for Macon, which have huge population gains
If you're going to mention Harris County as "booming" then you'd also have to say the same
for Jones County and Monroe County in Macon metro. They, like Harris, are all in that 4,000-6,000
range of growth since 2000.
I didn't know Athens surrounding counties were growing like that though.

For the record, Augusta/Richmond County actually has lost population overall from 2000. The bleeding seems to have stopped in the last year or so... with it being at more or less at a stagnant stage now.. but no real growth. Most of the growth in the Augusta area has all been in Columbia County, but an article in last week's Augusta Chronicle said that growth has considerable slowed in Columbia County... with a less than 3% growth expected this year, considerably less than previous years.. so it have maxed out. I assume the same is true for the Macon and Columbus areas.

[NewtownMacon]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

For the record, Augusta/Richmond County actually has lost population overall from 2000. The bleeding seems to have stopped in the last year or so... with it being at more or less at a stagnant stage now.. but no real growth. Most of the growth in the Augusta area has all been in Columbia County, but an article in last week's Augusta Chronicle said that growth has considerable slowed in Columbia County... with a less than 3% growth expected this year, considerably less than previous years.. so it have maxed out. I assume the same is true for the Macon and Columbus areas.

Thats Not really the case for Houston County,it is still growing and remained among the 100 fastest growing in the nation for 2007-08 from a current article in the Macon telegraph.

Warner Robins metro area still among fastest growing - The Sun News - Macon
Georgia Trend

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by NewtownMacon

Thats Not really the case for Houston County,it is still growing and remained among the 100 fastest growing in the nation for 2007-08 from a current article in the Macon telegraph.

Warner Robins metro area still among fastest growing - The Sun News - Macon
Georgia Trend

That growth will come to a grinding halt when they close the Air Force base due to crime spilling over from Bibb County.

[lolo2]

Actually the city & Richmond county have gained people since 2006. As of 2009 Augusta city population and richmond county population. Are higher than they were in 2000. Where I live in Aiken county we are still growing at a good rate.

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by NewtownMacon

Thats Not really the case for Houston County,it is still growing and remained among the 100 fastest growing in the nation for 2007-08 from a current article in the Macon telegraph.

Warner Robins metro area still among fastest growing - The Sun News - Macon
Georgia Trend

Well the article was talking about within the last 6 months.... not 2007 and the first half of 08... then Columbia County still had double digit growth... but it appears that the dowturn in the economy has slowed growth in many places across the country.

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by lolo2

Actually the city & Richmond county have gained people since 2006. As of 2009 Augusta city population and richmond county population. Are higher than they were in 2000. Where I live in Aiken county we are still growing at a good rate.

You are correct, since 06 there has been a net increase, but we are talking a very small increase of a couple hundred residents.. for a county that has a population of around 200,000... we are talking about growth of a hundredth of one percent.. which is pretty much stagnant.. but it is not losing ppl like it was in the first half of the decade. However if you compare from 2000 and with now.. there are still fewer ppl than 8 years ago..but there is still another year till the next census, so we will see how the decade panned out overall all for Augusta population wise.

[WanderingImport]

With the economy in the dumps, any growth that has occurred will either slow or stop depending on how well each city can adapt.
Time will tell when and if each city's economy will pick back up. From what I'm hearing though, in the future, I wouldn't expect the boom of pre-recession days.

[RandyarmonG]

Originally Posted by champ0909

About the best 2nd Tier Metro, I dont see how anyone can compete with Savannah. It has a beach, history, culture, and architecture the other cities just do not have. If they consolidated like Richmond and Muscogee, they would be the 2nd largest city in GA as well.

personally i wouldn't say savannah is a 2nd tier. I would think its is on the same level as Atl remember a city doesnt have to have a large population not to be considered as a major city. It doesn't have to have a large metro. It just have to have the International recognition thats why i put Savannah on the same level of Atlanta. They both have the same amount of Intenational Recognition and both are as equilly important to the State of Georgia It's a 1st tier city in my books