Columbus, GA Proposed/In-Progress/Completed Projects (Manchester, White: stadium, entertainment, desirable)

[JayHey]

It's included when you look at the CSA and the vast majority of LeeCo pop is living much closer to Aub/Ope than to the Hooch.

Any market analysis knows where the people living in the easternmost part of the county are working/shopping and the fact is only 16% of all LeeCo residents work in Columbus. Target and every other company knows that for the most part LeeCo residents are happy to make the short trip west to do their shopping near their work, or rather on their way home from work.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by JayHey

It's included when you look at the CSA and the vast majority of LeeCo pop is living much closer to Aub/Ope than to the Hooch.

Any market analysis knows where the people living in the easternmost part of the county are working/shopping and the fact is only 16% of all LeeCo residents work in Columbus. Target and every other company knows that for the most part LeeCo residents are happy to make the short trip west to do their shopping near their work, or rather on their way home from work.

I guarantee you the vast majority of the nearly 30,000 residents who live in Smiths Station go east to Columbus. It’s much more convenient and faster.

[JayHey]

30,000 is simply not enough for a Target to blink at when thinking about a new store location.

The population just isn't there.

[Columbus1999]

AL.com ran an article earlier this summer. Lee County and Phenix City are among the fastest growing areas in Alabama. The larger cities of Alabama are shrinking with the exception of Huntsville. Columbus needs to start marketing as a region not just a city. I work in Chambers County and nearly all those residents come to Columbus for shopping mainly because of more options and lower sales tax rates. The only complaints I hear are fears about crime in Columbus.

[amyers3]

Originally Posted by JayHey

I wouldn't look for the Columbus store to lose its electronics department, or to lose any department. The new Starbucks is going to have a far smaller footprint than the old concessions area which was pretty big and always mostly empty.

Correct. Most likely the customer service area will be the Starbucks, and the old Cafe will be the new customer service area. This is what they did in Newnan remodel

[WASwift]

Target would do well in Midtown. Proximity to some nice neighborhoods, downtown, and Ft. Benning.

I don't think that's going to happen, though.

[TheYoungProfessional]

Originally Posted by Columbus1999

AL.com ran an article earlier this summer. Lee County and Phenix City are among the fastest growing areas in Alabama. Columbus needs to start marketing as a region not just a city. I work in Chambers County and nearly all those residents come to Columbus for shopping mainly because of more options and lower sales tax rates..

Regional marketing along with our Alabama neighbors needs to be happening sooner than later. I saw an article a while back about the Phenix City Chamber of Commerce and Auburn/Opelika’s Chamber joining forces to become the East Alabama Chamber. I think Columbus partnering with this organization would only further bring more cohesiveness to the area and have benefits across the board. Thinking regionally is the way to go. Also, I would love to one day see limited access upgrades made to US-431/280 to I-85 in Opelika improving westward connectivity. A new interstate may be unlikely, but improvements along this roadway are feasible and reasonable IMO.

[DWColumbus]

Originally Posted by TheYoungProfessional

Regional marketing along with our Alabama neighbors needs to be happening sooner than later. I saw an article a while back about the Phenix City Chamber of Commerce and Auburn/Opelika’s Chamber joining forces to become the East Alabama Chamber. I think Columbus partnering with this organization would only further bring more cohesiveness to the area and have benefits across the board. Thinking regionally is the way to go. Also, I would love to one day see limited access upgrades made to US-431/280 to I-85 in Opelika improving westward connectivity. A new interstate may be unlikely, but improvements along this roadway are feasible and reasonable IMO.

I think making a limited access route directly to the Auburn/Opelika area would be a good step to take in growing our area. I hope this does get done one day. Best of all it would already fit in with the I-14 plans as I think that was the planned route for it. Our leadership should still keeping pushing the I-14 idea in hopes of continually gaining support for the initiate.

[TheYoungProfessional]

Originally Posted by DWColumbus

I think making a limited access route directly to the Auburn/Opelika area would be a good step to take in growing our area. I hope this does get done one day. Best of all it would already fit in with the I-14 plans as I think that was the planned route for it. Our leadership should still keeping pushing the I-14 idea in hopes of continually gaining support for the initiate.

I try to be optimistic about I-14 as it abosoluetley needed IMO, but I still don’t think it’s a major push for it from city leadership. I have great admiration and respect for the student at UGA who initiated the proposal but beyond sigining a resolution I don’t know if the city has done much more although I could be wrong. To your point, it would be great to already have another segment of the larger project already in place with the limited access upgrades. Hopefully one day!

[smoke eater 612]

Originally Posted by amyers3

Miles To Go is going in old Woodstone location
Still hearing some info on Cook Out going in mall parking lot
Circle K is planning to tear down a re-build their Manchester/2nd Avenue location to be ~double the size

Cookout is still on. There is a delay on permits for some reason.