What city could become Georgia's second major metro? (Atlanta, Columbus: hotel, Home Depot)

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by -StarBright-

Richmond County's population was 200,549 as of the 2010 census. The 2012 population is estimated at 202,587.

That's nothing to brag about; in just the past two years Chatham County has added more than 11,000 people -- more than Richmond County added in the past two decades COMBINED!

In fact, the entire 6-county Augusta MSA has only added an estimated 11,025 since 2010 -- a growth rate of 1.9%

During the same period, the 3-county Savannah MSA has added an estimated 14,330 -- a growth rate of 4.12%. Further, the 6-county Savannah CSA (an area roughly the size of Augusta's MSA) added an estimated 20,414 people between 2010-2012. By all accounts, the Savannah region is booming.

Originally Posted by PJA

More people may choose to visit Savannah...but more people choose to live in Augusta.

Now, what was that about "more people choosing to live in Augusta" again? The numbers prove differently, and they don't lie.

[Mutiny77]

The funny thing here is that Augusta, Savannah, and Columbus each have something that's important when it comes to growth and development, but none have all three. Augusta now has a full-fledged research university; Savannah has the history, culture, and a very urban downtown; and Columbus has a very respectable cluster of corporate headquarters with the highest GDP per capita of the three.

I can already see signs of Augusta leveraging its advantage with GRU when it comes to research initiatives and urban development. If the powers-that-be can develop existing economic clusters into a true force for growth, then Augusta may be able to put some distance between it and the other second-tier metros in the state. However, this remains to be seen.

Savannah has an obvious advantage when it comes to being a city with an enormous sense of place that's attractive to potential residents, but the deepening of the port--already one of the busiest on the East Coast--is what could be a potential game-changer. If it can manage to join its Southern historic coastal peers of Charleston and Mobile in landing a mega aerospace/aviation development like Boeing or Airbus, or even a collection of sizable manufacturing outfits, that could do wonders for the city.

The corporate base of Columbus is impressive for a city its size; however, there seems to be very little momentum from business leaders to push Columbus to a higher level economically. This, along with the disadvantage of not being located along a primary interstate, works against it.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Now, what was that about "more people choosing to live in Augusta" again? The numbers prove differently, and they don't lie.

I guess you could say that more people choose to live in Augusta, but more people choose to move to Savannah.

[Newsboy]

Mutiny77 is right: Had the Daimler-Chrysler plant not pulled out of Savannah 10 years ago, we wouldn't be having this discussion thread. The Sprinter van factory would have been a HUGE game-changer for the coastal region, bringing tens of thousands of jobs and people. I'm still bummed about it. But something else will come along. The port has too much momentum for it not to happen.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Now, what was that about "more people choosing to live in Augusta" again? The numbers prove differently, and they don't lie.

2000-2010 raw numbers

57,193 = metro Augusta

54,611 = metro Savannah

[nortonguy]

Here are the 2025 predictions..... Source: Georgia Department of Labor (based on U.S. Census Bureau and Governor's Office of Planning and Budget)

Augusta
2010: 553,407
2015: 594,246
2025: 681,374 = 127,967
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Augusta Population

Savannah
2010: 347,611
2015: 380,232
2025: 456,136 = 108,525
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Savannah Population

Sticking to the topic of vibrant downtown's and urban cores playing an important role.. What do the other 2nd tier cities have underway/planned that will compete against the city of Augusta over the next decade? The $76 million medical commons is under construction, $50 million will help renovate of the old dental school(not sure the exact status), the $1 million pedestrian park on Laney Walker begins soon, and the Cancer Center is suppose to begin this year all in the Medical District. The MCG Foundation is buying the bus depot from the city and they have already purchased several other properties in/around the Harrisburg neighborhood(building new grocery store, hotel, restaurants). The MCG foundation already owns the existing Kroger shopping center(will be demolished/redeveloped) located next to the bus depot. Georgia Regents owns the 17 acre former GGHF site on the riverfront downtown, and the plans include the $225 million student housing/retail development & the $75 million biotech park. The city wants GRU to redevelop the King and Sibley Mills(chancellor allowed the Mills Campus into the new master planning process), and then create another cultural campus downtown(renovated chamber of commerce building already underway)...

We do have other projects underway/planned, but the one's associated with GRU are bringing a lot high paying jobs and new residents to the urban core at the same time..

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

Here are the 2025 predictions..... Source: Georgia Department of Labor (based on U.S. Census Bureau and Governor's Office of Planning and Budget)

Augusta
2010: 553,407
2015: 594,246
2025: 681,374 = 127,967
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Augusta Population

Savannah
2010: 347,611
2015: 380,232
2025: 456,136 = 108,525
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Savannah Population

These projections are quite unreliable because they rest on two shaky assumptions: 1) these metro areas will sustain their current growth rates over time and 2) current metro delineations will remain static.

Sticking to the topic of vibrant downtown's and urban cores playing an important role.. What do the other 2nd tier cities have underway/planned that will compete against the city of Augusta over the next decade? The $76 million medical commons is under construction, $50 million will help renovate of the old dental school(not sure the exact status), the $1 million pedestrian park on Laney Walker begins soon, and the Cancer Center is suppose to begin this year all in the Medical District. The MCG Foundation is buying the bus depot from the city and they have already purchased several other properties in/around the Harrisburg neighborhood(building new grocery store, hotel, restaurants). The MCG foundation already own the current Kroger shopping center(will be demolished/redeveloped). Georgia Regents owns the 17 acre former GGHF site on the riverfront downtown(residential & biotech park). The city wants GRU to redevelop the King and Sibley Mill, and help them create another cultural campus downtown(renovated chamber of commerce building already underway)...

We do have other projects underway/planned, but the one's associated with GRU are bringing high paying jobs to the urban core..

In terms of new downtown development, I wouldn't doubt that Augusta is leading the way, but Savannah's downtown is already much more fully fleshed out. Several large development projects can't be done within downtown proper without doing some damage to the existing urban fabric which would be quite undesirable.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

2000-2010 raw numbers

57,193 = metro Augusta

54,611 = metro Savannah

Nort, I think Newsboy was referring to the 2010-2012 numbers....

[-StarBright-]

Some statistics for Augusta
Tourism / Airlines / Conventions | Buzz On Biz

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by PJA

More people may choose to visit Savannah...but more people choose to live in Augusta.

With that being said...IMO both cities are great cities...never have I once said Augusta was better than Savannah or vice versa. It seems that some posters have a complex because Augusta is the bigger metro...and because of its size has the potential to become the next major metro in Georgia (which was the title of the thread....not which is better). However all cities in Georgia outside of Atlanta have a long way to go before becoming a major metro.

Originally Posted by nortonguy

Here are the 2025 predictions..... Source: Georgia Department of Labor (based on U.S. Census Bureau and Governor's Office of Planning and Budget)

Augusta
2010: 553,407
2015: 594,246
2025: 681,374 = 127,967
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Augusta Population

Savannah
2010: 347,611
2015: 380,232
2025: 456,136 = 108,525
TAG :: State of the Industry :: Savannah Population

Sticking to the topic of vibrant downtown's and urban cores playing an important role.. What do the other 2nd tier cities have underway/planned that will compete against the city of Augusta over the next decade? The $76 million medical commons is under construction, $50 million will help renovate of the old dental school(not sure the exact status), the $1 million pedestrian park on Laney Walker begins soon, and the Cancer Center is suppose to begin this year all in the Medical District. The MCG Foundation is buying the bus depot from the city and they have already purchased several other properties in/around the Harrisburg neighborhood(building new grocery store, hotel, restaurants). The MCG foundation already owns the existing Kroger shopping center(will be demolished/redeveloped) located next to the bus depot. Georgia Regents owns the 17 acre former GGHF site on the riverfront downtown, and the plans include the $225 million student housing/retail development & the $75 million biotech park. The city wants GRU to redevelop the King and Sibley Mills(chancellor allowed the Mills Campus into the new master planning process), and then create another cultural campus downtown(renovated chamber of commerce building already underway)...

We do have other projects underway/planned, but the one's associated with GRU are bringing a lot high paying jobs and new residents to the urban core at the same time..

With all due respect to Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Athens, etc --- the expansion of the Savannah port will trump all other economic development in the state COMBINED for the next decade. Last week, the US House approved deepening of the harbor and awarded $400 million to the project. Work could begin as early as spring. What this is going to mean to the Savannah economy and the state as a whole -- especially Atlanta -- is enormous! What's happening with GHSU/GRU in Augusta and BRAC in Columbus pales incomparison to the size and impact of the port project. I'm not just speaking empty hyperbole here. It's true!

Every step in the long process to expand the port has been front page news in Atlanta. Both Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. Nathan Deal have called it the most important economic project in a generation of Georgians. It will have far-reaching implications not just in Savannah, but Metro Atlanta and the entire state. It is a game-changer that cannot be ignored.

And this is in addition to other projects specific to Savannah itself: The Outlet Mall of Georgia (opening 2015), expanded student housing for SCAD downtown, multiple new hotels and attractions in the Historic District (including 4 on River Street) and a new city sports arena.

TO QUOTE THE AJC:
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick support 100,000 metro Atlanta jobs and, according to a University of Georgia study, contribute $39 billion to the state economy.

Savannah port expansion takes key step forward as House passes... | www.ajc.com

http://m.savannahnow.com/exchange/20...port-connector

http://m.savannahnow.com/exchange/20...anal-expansion

http://m.bizjournals.com/jacksonvill...rd.html?r=full