Augusta has much to offer, but beware of its downs
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12/25/2006
I moved to Augusta one year ago after living my first 30 years in the Midwest. I love it here! For starters, the weather is exceptional. I was warned of the high heat, humidity, and pollen count in the summer. But I don't think it was that bad. Sure, it was over 90 everyday starting in June, but your body adapts. Most people move from their air-conditioned home to car to work and back without really being in the heat that long. The humidity usually drops below 50% in the afternoon. I would recommend a pool if you plan on moving here. The pollen didn't bother me and every few days a rain would knock it down. There seems to be a lack of wind here which keeps the pollen from blowing around. The price of real estate in Augusta is dirt cheap. We were lucky enough to find a 2bd/2ba, on over half an acre, with a pool for 53K. The same home would cost 350K+ in other markets. It needed some work, but nothing radical. It seems like this city is littered with such properties. Augusta-Richmond County consolidated about ten years ago and is actually shrinking in size at about 190,000 people right now. The suburban areas of Columbia County and Aiken County, SC are booming, but I'm not convinced that they are any better. Columbia County in particular is trying to gain retail dollars from Richmond County. In the process, the areas is becoming overrun with strip malls and traffic -- all in an effort to increase the tax base and lower rates for homeowners. The homes are obviously much larger in Columbia County (along with the taxes) and the schools there are supposedly better, although there seems to be as many corrupted officials and bomb threats at their schools as there are here in Augusta. Basically, the suburban areas don't add much to the area even though they would like to think they are so grand and special. If you visit Augusta, I would recommend drive or stop in the downtown area along Broad street. Parts of the street are paved with angled parking (no parking meters anywhere!) and there's a butt-ugly chamber of commerce building in the middle of the street. Other parts of Broad street are the envy of other cities with beautiful landscaped medians, fountains, and landmarks. The east end of downtown has lots of pawn shops, thift stores, and bars/strip clubs while the west end has mostly antique shops, restaurants, and more upscale bars/night clubs. Green Street parallels Broad Street and is similar, but mostly lined with government and res
Michael | Augusta, GA