Squared Growth

County works to get growth squared away   While not long ago Columbia County was touting its outlet mall survey as pretty much a baited hook aimed at reeling developers into the county, a high-ranking county official maintains it was little more than an expression of the survey taker’s personal preferences. Would you like to see an outlet mall in Columbia County? It’s kind of like asking someone in Augusta if he’d like to see the Masters stick around. Outlet malls are popular and lucrative and great to have located within your borders, but the problem developers are having is getting retailers to commit. Sure, the economy is showing movement in the right direction, but that’s apparently not enough to get a mall full of retailers to commit to Columbia County no matter how burly those census numbers are. Not that officials are giving up, they’re just showing a little patience. Marshall Square, though. That’s really hopping these days, what with the Tax Slayer Tower and the new fitness center popping up to keep the stalwart Chilis company. What will be interesting to watch, though, is what the county decides to do with its portion of the property. Given the importance it’s putting on the amphitheater, you can expect some parking, but how much and what kind has yet to be determined. Building up is expensive and building out takes away valuable space that could got be set aside for a Red Lobster or maybe yet another Cracker Barrel, which just a couple of years ago (in yet another survey) Columbia County voters picked as their favorite restaurant. And while those concerts in the park won’t resume until spring, the county still isn’t quite sure how it wants to handle the management of the amphitheater. It could start an authority, make some room in Community and Leisure Services for an entertainment and tourism department or just find the right outsider to run the whole thing. Remembering how much fun Ron Cross had being point man for the inaugural concerts, it’s hard to believe the county would take a totally hands-off approach, however.You Might Also Like: