2020 downtown battle Augusta vs Columbus vs Macon (live, cities)

[Southern Soul Bro]

Originally Posted by JayHey

Answering the three original questions and keeping in mind that it's about the downtown areas, so golf courses and military bases don't at all enter the equation,

1. Infrastructure - Macon's downtown interstate access is much better than the other two cities. I'll leave the buildings out here because the next category is

2. Bones - Macon has kept more of its pre-midcentury buildings than the other two. Walking around its downtown blocks, there are few breaks from the street level facades. Augusta has the best skyline and high-rises of the three hands down. One of my favorite buildings is the Marion Tower.

3. Urban feel - Macon's good bones plays a big advantage here, as does it's shape. Augusta's and Columbus' downtowns are both sort of oriented on only one axis. Broad Street and Broadway respectively are long and narrow. Go two, even one, blocks away from those streets and you'll quickly leave the urban feeling which comes with shops, restaurants, and offices. Macon's downtown has more of a two axis layout, for four or five blocks there are Cherry, Poplar and Mulberry Streets, each with a healthy urban feeling for a pedestrian. 3rd St is a big reason for that, a cross-axis boulevard is something Augusta and Columbus each lack. Macon lacks the attractive investment along the riverside, which Augusta and Columbus have both been leaning in to for years with very good results.

It looks like Macon is my answer, though I don't believe the other two are far behind. Augusta and Columbus each lost a fair amount of buildings in the late 20th century, when compared to Macon. What that means today for those downtowns is that there are more surface parking and physical spaces between buildings in those two cities than in Macon.

All three cities have more shops, restaurants, and residences than they did 30, 20, and 10 years ago, and that trend doesn't look like it will stop any time soon. Let's do this again in 2030.

Great post

[NewtownMacon]

MACON, Hands down

[NewtownMacon]

Originally Posted by JayHey

Answering the three original questions and keeping in mind that it's about the downtown areas, so golf courses and military bases don't at all enter the equation,

1. Infrastructure - Macon's downtown interstate access is much better than the other two cities. I'll leave the buildings out here because the next category is

2. Bones - Macon has kept more of its pre-midcentury buildings than the other two. Walking around its downtown blocks, there are few breaks from the street level facades. Augusta has the best skyline and high-rises of the three hands down. One of my favorite buildings is the Marion Tower.

3. Urban feel - Macon's good bones plays a big advantage here, as does it's shape. Augusta's and Columbus' downtowns are both sort of oriented on only one axis. Broad Street and Broadway respectively are long and narrow. Go two, even one, blocks away from those streets and you'll quickly leave the urban feeling which comes with shops, restaurants, and offices. Macon's downtown has more of a two axis layout, for four or five blocks there are Cherry, Poplar and Mulberry Streets, each with a healthy urban feeling for a pedestrian. 3rd St is a big reason for that, a cross-axis boulevard is something Augusta and Columbus each lack. Macon lacks the attractive investment along the riverside, which Augusta and Columbus have both been leaning in to for years with very good results.

It looks like Macon is my answer, though I don't believe the other two are far behind. Augusta and Columbus each lost a fair amount of buildings in the late 20th century, when compared to Macon. What that means today for those downtowns is that there are more surface parking and physical spaces between buildings in those two cities than in Macon.

All three cities have more shops, restaurants, and residences than they did 30, 20, and 10 years ago, and that trend doesn't look like it will stop any time soon. Let's do this again in 2030.

Great post, however Macon has the best skyline.....

[DSMRE]

I was in Augusta last weekend after not being there in some time. Here are my thoughts on it. Haven't spent time in the other cities. I have ties to Augusta and live in the Greenville, SC area.

It's slowly making some progress. The area near the baseball stadium in North Augusta looks pretty nice. Good job by the developers. Downtown Augusta seems to be improving in slow increments. We stopped in and ate at Nacho Mama, I think that's right. Downtown could use some sprucing up and holy street parking lol. Where are the parking garages? We parked in the middle and it is a weird setup.

Village at Riverwatch is nice, but smaller than I was expecting. The new Topgolf is different. Much smaller and seems to have much less bar and restaurant area. Definitely prefer the traditional 3 story model.

There are other areas I went into that I didn't mention here. Like I said. Seems to be improving in small increments, but still has a ways to go to reach what I think is the next level. As I've mentioned earlier. Not really familiar with the other cities, so I can't really say where it's better or not better than those. My thoughts are in comparison to the area in which I live. It has a ways to go to be that.

I do like the views they are able to get of their downtown from certain highways etc. Hard to get that up here with the topography we have. Would love to be able to see our downtown now from a distance with all of the added construction.

[Atlanta-Kid]

Originally Posted by DSMRE

But.... They aren't on the list.

LOL!
At least you didn't say no
Back on Topic
I'd have to go with Macon, mainly due to its location and grid like urban blocks
Columbus and Augusta only have one major urban road.
Columbus is great but I wish they could connect the downtown with the 185 districts.
I wish Augustas Gordon and Calhoun Expressways connected with 20/520.

[Fountain-of-youth]

one way street

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Kid

LOL!
At least you didn't say no
Back on Topic
I'd have to go with Macon, mainly due to its location and grid like urban blocks
Columbus and Augusta only have one major urban road.
Columbus is great but I wish they could connect the downtown with the 185 districts.
I wish Augustas Gordon and Calhoun Expressways connected with 20/520.

To be honest, the Calhoun Expressway should be decommissioned and lowered to an at grade landscaped boulevard with a community park and shops and stores on both sides of it.

[Atlanta-Kid]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

To be honest, the Calhoun Expressway should be decommissioned and lowered to an at grade landscaped boulevard with a community park and shops and stores on both sides of it.

I feel the same
If it doesn’t connect to 20- which would have been ideal- then it would be taken down
Gordon being upgraded to full limited access express would be great!

[Atlanta-Kid]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Kid

I feel the same
If it doesn’t connect to 20- which would have been ideal- then it would be taken down
Gordon being upgraded to full limited access express would be great!

Then it might as well be taken down*

[Fountain-of-youth]

So much going on.