Columbus area population grows. (Atlanta, Savannah: hotel, home, restaurants)

[JayHey]

Brandon, I was simply nipping the bud so to speak before a multipage tangent of Columbia's growth rate started (something any longtime CD user can see coming a mile away) and it was said tongue in cheek. My apologies for coming off as rude, I certainly have always appreciated your comments all the way from the Soda City.

[BrandonCoombes]

Originally Posted by JayHey

Brandon, I was simply nipping the bud so to speak before a multipage tangent of Columbia's growth rate started (something any longtime CD user can see coming a mile away) and it was said tongue in cheek. My apologies for coming off as rude, I certainly have always appreciated your comments all the way from the Soda City.

No offense taken. I understand. Or it will turn to a conversation about Greenville. That’s the one consistency on every forum in Georgia and South Carolina.

[columbusboy8]

Not to rub salt in the wound, but Columbus would have a much larger population had the powers to be not stonewalled DIRECT interstate (I-85) between Atlanta and Montgomery back almost 70 years ago!! Nevertheless, Columbus has done pretty well as is. The problem today is that city leaders seem to be content with the status quo---ESPECIALLY our airport folks who seem to be asleep at the wheel! It's time to quit using our city's nearness to ATL as an excuse for doing nothing to promote our fine airport! In case folks haven't noticed, Delta's prices have come down as Groome's have gone up! WAKE UP airport people!! A recent reading of your January meeting minutes was uninspiring to say the least.

[JayHey]

It really can't be emphasized enough how none headed and short sighted Columbus' civic leaders at the time were when they fought tooth and nail for the interstate to be located away from the city.

I had an upper level class at UGA that highlighted the saga.

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by JayHey

It really can't be emphasized enough how none headed and short sighted Columbus' civic leaders at the time were when they fought tooth and nail for the interstate to be located away from the city.

I had an upper level class at UGA that highlighted the saga.

Oh what could have been!!

[Hedgehog23]

Originally Posted by JayHey

It really can't be emphasized enough how none headed and short sighted Columbus' civic leaders at the time were when they fought tooth and nail for the interstate to be located away from the city.

I had an upper level class at UGA that highlighted the saga.

@JayHey, just curious, what's some of the backstory on the scenario that your professors discussed? This is a topic I've grown especially interested in during recent years.

Thanks

[JayHey]

From what I remember it was an urban planning class which was going over the development of the US highway and interstate system and its effects on urbanization. In the early 40s there was a nationwide fringe group which held to the belief that multilaned expressways would end up hurting city growth. The theory held that if rural area residents could quickly and easily reach cities, they would stop moving to them, ultimately slowing city growth.

Early on in the planning stages, Georgia's Highway Board was deciding on a LaGrange or more southerly Columbus route for 85. Apparently a group of civic leaders in Columbus, concerned about the possibility of stunted growth and losses associated with ~160 ft Right of Way loss to the state, urged the state to plan for the LaGrange route. They believed the state's own relatively new highway system, which had just been largely finished in the mid-30s, would be enough for the city.

[Columbus1984]

I will say as an investor, properties are moving very quickly. Sometimes getting into a bidding war. I just rented 2 properties from out of town people moving to the area. Good to see the demand increasing. Columbus seems to be doing really good. So many projects under construction or in the works. We just need more job recruitment and this place would explode.

[WASwift]

Originally Posted by JayHey

From what I remember it was an urban planning class which was going over the development of the US highway and interstate system and its effects on urbanization. In the early 40s there was a nationwide fringe group which held to the belief that multilaned expressways would end up hurting city growth. The theory held that if rural area residents could quickly and easily reach cities, they would stop moving to them, ultimately slowing city growth.

Early on in the planning stages, Georgia's Highway Board was deciding on a LaGrange or more southerly Columbus route for 85. Apparently a group of civic leaders in Columbus, concerned about the possibility of stunted growth and losses associated with ~160 ft Right of Way loss to the state, urged the state to plan for the LaGrange route. They believed the state's own relatively new highway system, which had just been largely finished in the mid-30s, would be enough for the city.

A far more cynical take is that the "leaders" of Columbus during that era were very afraid that the interstate would bring in more African Americans from rural areas.

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I wish Alabama would extend US 80/JR Allen to connect to I-85 and link the Columbus metro via interstate to Montgomery and Auburn. Add to that a regional airport serving the Columbus and Auburn areas. That would have a lot more potential for more destinations, plus attract a lot more industry.

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by WASwift

A far more cynical take is that the "leaders" of Columbus during that era were very afraid that the interstate would bring in more African Americans from rural areas.

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I wish Alabama would extend US 80/JR Allen to connect to I-85 and link the Columbus metro via interstate to Montgomery and Auburn. Add to that a regional airport serving the Columbus and Auburn areas. That would have a lot more potential for more destinations, plus attract a lot more industry.

All great points!! Another possibility might be to expand Lawson Field and add commercial traffic!
Unfortunately, our current airport management, including all the folks on the airport board, seem very satisfied with the status quo, rather than aggressively seeking more carriers here! Just go to www.flycolumbusga.com and read their airport minutes (which are sporadic, at best) and you'll see what I mean! They care more about profit and loss in their canteen, and about praising all their employees than they do about expanding airport traffic! STOP using our ""close" proximity to Atlanta, and START advertising the convenience of using CSG! With some 3,000 metro-area flyers DAILY, mostly driving or vanning to ATL, the market is right HERE!! If you haven't used CSG lately, Delta's fares have gotten cheaper, and Groome keeps raising its prices!