What city could become Georgia's second major metro? (Atlanta, Columbus: moving, beaches)

[bigstick]

SAVANNAH is on fire, seems much much bigger when you are there. Has a big city vibe to it, love it there.

[-StarBright-]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

None of Georgia's 2nd-tier cities will reach 1 million by 2030 -- that's a pipe dream, typical Georgia pie-in-the-sky/Chamber of Commerce boosterism. The good news is that all of 2nd-tier metros except Macon are finally growing as fast as Carolina metros. (NC and SC cities have been far more dynamic than GA cities since I was a little kid, and I'm not young. From 1960 through the early 1990s, only Atlanta was booming at Carolina rates.) It's about time, but Georgia's 2nd-tier metros are still small (well under 1 million), and midsize southern metros like New Orleans, Charlotte, Nashville are on a much higher level. Let's not get carried away.

@Newsboy. Fantastic pics that prove Savannah is in a totally different league compared to the other 2nd-tiers. Infrastructure, a European-like downtown, and one of the most beautiful in the country. It's a real city and not a series of exurban McMansions, strip malls, and cloverleaf exchanges surrounding a ghostly city center (ghostly except during special festivals). Savannah is light-years ahead of Augusta, Columbus, and Macon as a place you'd go out of your way to visit; you've never heard of the last three unless you follow golf, are career military, or love the Allman Bros. Band.

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

Savannah is light years ahead of Augusta? Are you talking about the whole city or just downtown?

I believe that he is talking about in culture....because that and tourism are the only categories where it is light year ahead in. Its probably ahead of Columbus and Macon in several categories.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

@Newsboy. Fantastic pics that prove Savannah is in a totally different league compared to the other 2nd-tiers. Infrastructure, a European-like downtown, and one of the most beautiful in the country. It's a real city and not a series of exurban McMansions, strip malls, and cloverleaf exchanges surrounding a ghostly city center (ghostly except during special festivals). Savannah is light-years ahead of Augusta, Columbus, and Macon as a place you'd go out of your way to visit; you've never heard of the last three unless you follow golf, are career military, or love the Allman Bros. Band.

Savannah does have the streetcar on Riverstreet, but let's not get carried away with 'plans'....

The city of Augusta already developed 'plans' to build a streetcar in the future... GHSU is now GRU...

''The proposed trolley would travel on a light rail track, running through mixed traffic and going on streets running on Broad Street, along part of the Augusta Canal and up 15th Street to the Georgia Health Sciences University complex''

[River_Dawg]

To be the next major metro in GA its going to take more then tourism. All Augusta need is a fraction of that tourism Savannah gets and the city would be hands down the second major metro. But any place with a beach is considered a tourist destination so I don't expect Augusta to complete with Savannah-Hilton Head in that category.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

To be the next major metro in GA its going to take more then tourism. All Augusta need is a fraction of that tourism Savannah gets and the city would be hands down the second major metro. But any place with a beach is considered a tourist destination so I don't expect Augusta to complete with Savannah-Hilton Head in that category.

The beach is not the reason why millions of tourists visit Savannah.

[-StarBright-]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

The beach is not the reason why millions of tourists visit Savannah.

Even if its not...it does make a significant difference in tourism.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by -StarBright-

Even if its not...it does make a significant difference in tourism.

Not really.

Savannah had a record 12.4 million visitors last year. Tybee Island officials estimate they got about 1 million. The vast majority of tourists to Savannah come for the city, not the beach. Many don't even know there is a beach (which is actually 18 miles from downtown).

[River_Dawg]

Hilton Head...

[River_Dawg]

... I-95 is a major corridor. That may cause those visitor numbers to swell. No one denies Savannah has geographical superiority over the rest of the 2nd tier cities.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

... I-95 is a major corridor. That may cause those visitor numbers to swell. No one denies Savannah has geographical superiority over the rest of the 2nd tier cities.

Really? Some would argue that Macon is in a better location especially with it's proximity to Atlanta and being centralized in the state.

Savannah has 12 million visitors a year because it's a great city...The interstate or beaches has nothing to do with it...It's an unique city with tons of history.