Please vote on the skyline of Columbia, S.C., a city of 117,000 (city proper) and 708,000 (metro) located in the Southeastern part of the united States.

Edit - this was originally posted in 2004. In 2012, the metro population is almost 800,000.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/skyline/pano%20from%20I%2077.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/skyline/downtown%20close%20up%20from%20greystone.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/neighborhoods/usc%205%20points%20downtown/main%20st%20from%20the%20state%20house%202.jpg

I love Columbia. The Skyline is large for a city of it's size and its just an all-around attractive skyline.

8.5

Oh,the poll is right this time.
5.5/10.

It took me long enough! Now that the site is back up I'll try to fix that first missing picture.

Skyline is very good for a city of 100 000 people :okay: 7/10

great photos.............7.5

Clean and utilitarian. 7/10

Snow in South Carolina?

Yep...snow in South Carolina..usually once or twice a winter.

very nice

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/main%20from%20the%20capitol.jpg

Skyline is small .. and most of those buildings are too boxy !! 6.5/10

some panos and skyline shots:

from the site of the old maximum security prison, being redeveloped:

http://www.pbase.com/image/31415657/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/30470741/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/30460876/original.jpg

360 from the deck of Meridian

http://www.pbase.com/image/30340443/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/28611086/original.jpg

approaching shot from I-126

http://www.pbase.com/image/27688321.jpg

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Thanks for the new pics, LSYD. I'll hafta get my camera out this weekend to take some more.

sorry, pic links changed, I posted more later.]

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/pano%20from%20I%2077.jpg

awesome. the city should use that. can you get back there at night with your camera?

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not bad 7/10
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Time for me to go out and take some more pictures.....maybe this weekend.

Looks dense enough and pleasantly green. Is there a chance the gaps in the skyline will fill in, or is Columbia's focus on sprawl, as it is in Greenville?

As it stands I give it a 7 for placement of buildings, greenery, and aesthetics, but I'd like to know more about the city itself. What kind of place is it? Tolerant? Liberal? Progressive? I've often heard that Columbia is an island of that kind of thing in a state not especially known for it. To what degree is that true?

I would love to live there. Beautiful skyline, especially for a city of its size. This score might be a bit much, but who cares. 10/10

For a city its size it has an impressive Sky line, I wish we had one here wher I live like that ! 8.5

Boring as hell. You blink and it is over. Why is this place even up for vote?

not bad 7/10

I like it and I think i drove through this city when I was little and I was napping and I woke up and I thought I was back in Anchorage so i got very upset seeing as how we were on vacation. I'm pretty sure it was this city anyway...I remeber the building with the thingie majiger on it that confirmed me we weren't back home.

Not a bad little skyline, much better than Manchester, NH, which is a very comparible-size city. Was just down there a month ago, I must say the State Museum itself was enough to occupy an entire day! 7.5/10

Nice city = Nice skyline = 6.5/10 :D

5/10 - I'm impressed. The buildings all go very well together. I never even knew this city existed. It's nice.

Very nice photos of an attractive city. I've never been there, but, it's nice to see the photos. Looks like a well run place.

Not bad for 100,000! 7/10.

It reminds me a bit of Syracuse NY..but without the hills obviously.It's an Impressive skyline for a city of it's size. Makes me wish i drove through on my trip down south last year.I like it! 8/10!

Looks dense enough and pleasantly green. Is there a chance the gaps in the skyline will fill in, or is Columbia's focus on sprawl, as it is in Greenville?

As it stands I give it a 7 for placement of buildings, greenery, and aesthetics, but I'd like to know more about the city itself. What kind of place is it? Tolerant? Liberal? Progressive? I've often heard that Columbia is an island of that kind of thing in a state not especially known for it. To what degree is that true?

Haunted, Columbia is most definitely an island of progressiveness in South Carolina. Columbia has a well educated populace, good public schools and, as a gay man, is the only place I would live in South Carolina.

Boring as hell. You blink and it is over. Why is this place even up for vote?

Typical Atlanta arrogance...and look, a UGA fan, too. Go 'Cocks!

Typical Atlanta arrogance...and look, a UGA fan, too. Go 'Cocks!

hahahahaha...ignore the jawr-jihn troll.

Columbia's a great city; someone said "like a major city at 1/4 the size and cost." it acts/feels bigger than it is. i lived there about 4 1/2 years.

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Beautiful :) 7/10

is the blue and the white tower scotia bank?

is the blue and the white tower scotia bank?

No, we don't have any Scotia Bank locations here. The sign on the top is for Southtrust Bank, but they just got bought out by Wachovia Bank, so that sign should be changing soon. I think I have a close up picture of the building. (looks into his tophat for a rabbit...er...picture)

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/downtown%20from%20finlay%20park.JPG

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/state%20house%20and%20southtrust.bmp

Sorry, those were the best I had that hadn't been posted already.

As one who thinks that "everything is relative", I had to give Columbia a 10. Considering its size, its skyline is incredible. I‘ve always loved the wide distance shots of the skyline. I’d have to say Columbia easily has the second largest (not tallest) skyline in the Carolinas. Its also an overall great city (again considering its size).

8/10 for its size and i love the big white building

7/10

Very attractive looking city. I've always heard good things about Columbia. Unfortunately, most people in the South living west of Atlanta (La., Ms, Ala, Ark, Tenn...these folks tend to go to the Ala and NW Fla beaches) rarely have reason to go past Atlanta unless they are traveling to the Mid Atlantic or Northeast and miss some real gems in the Carolinas. I've been through Greenville/Spartanburg and Charlotte but I've never made it to Columbia. Columbia is actually one of only a few cities I've recently considered moving to. The others being Nashville, Atlanta, and Charlotte. I hope to be visiting for the first time when Bama plays the Cocks in football next season.


P.S. The pano shot from the long distance reminds me a lot of a pano shot of dowtown Montgomery from miles away in Prattville except for Columbia being wider and even more dense and having prettier and larger buildings. Very nice. 8/10

Very attractive looking city. I've always heard good things about Columbia. Unfortunately, most people in the South living west of Atlanta (La., Ms, Ala, Ark, Tenn...these folks tend to go to the Ala and NW Fla beaches) rarely have reason to go past Atlanta unless they are traveling to the Mid Atlantic or Northeast and miss some real gems in the Carolinas. I've been through Greenville/Spartanburg and Charlotte but I've never made it to Columbia. Columbia is actually one of only a few cities I've recently considered moving to. The others being Nashville, Atlanta, and Charlotte. I hope to be visiting for the first time when Bama plays the Cocks in football next season.


P.S. The pano shot from the long distance reminds me a lot of a pano shot of dowtown Montgomery from miles away in Prattville except for Columbia being wider and even more dense and having prettier and larger buildings. Very nice. 8/10

I'm really looking forward to the Bama game this season. If you're staying in Columbia that weekend, try to get a hotel in the Vista or Five Points for the best flavor of the city. Welcome!

6/10

7/10


interesting for its size

6/10. Okay.

This impressed the hell out of me:

http://www.pbase.com/image/30460876/original.jpg

8/10 For such an attractive skyline in a not so big city.

On par with 100,000 population status. 5.

7/10

here's a distance shot i took in early january

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/55513832.jpg

sadly, the 14-story with the funky satelliate dishes is no more...but it's being replaced with better mid-rises (at least functionally, and architecturally.)

a new skyline is set to go up in the area around the stadium (formerly an industrial area) with a lot of luxury condos.

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8/10- nice skyline an greeness.

Columbia skyline 6.5/10

Here are a few pictures showing some recent developments:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/downtown%20from%20wms%20brice.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/1st%20citz%202%2026%2006.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/1st%20citz%20night%202.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/carolina%20walk%20from%20stadium.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/the%20spur%20constr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/carolina%20walk%20constr%20and%20stadium.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/caolina%20walk%20constr%20at%20sunset.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/skyline%20w%201st%20citz.jpg

6/10.

I thought I had cast my vote, but it's never too late: 8/10. I think Columbia has a very nice skyline, especially when taking the city population in consideration. If all the taller buildings were clustered together a bit more, I would have probably given Columbia's skyline a 10. With at least 17 buildings between 15 and 25 stories, the skyline would have looked even more powerful. Columbia has been a very pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to visiting some day in the nearest future ;)

9, Columbia looks very nice for its size.

I thought I had cast my vote, but it's never too late: 8/10. I think Columbia has a very nice skyline, especially when taking the city population in consideration. If all the taller buildings were clustered together a bit more, I would have probably given Columbia's skyline a 10. With at least 17 buildings between 15 and 25 stories, the skyline would have looked even more powerful. Columbia has been a very pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to visiting some day in the nearest future ;)

Come on down!

7/10

waccamatt, thanks for pics of the new "2nd skyline." of course, the old 2nd skyline was the cluster around 5 points...christopher towers and such, or so it always seemed to me.

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Fairly decent!
6.0

great skyline! would be better with more skyscrapers.

8/10

great skyline! would be better with more skyscrapers.

8/10

yup. there's 3 or 4 highrises, 12-18 stories that would help if they weren't at a lower elevation than the rest of the skyline. :(

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i can't believe i didn't post this one earlier...

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/27688323/original.jpg

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Good pano, LSyd. Here are a few from a downtown scraper.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/main%20st%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/se%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/state%20house%20and%20usc%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/looking%20east%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/looking%20north%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/Brandons%20pics%20from%20cap%20ctr/hilton%20constr%20from%20cap%20ctr.jpg

Great pics, waccamatt :okay: Loved the views!!!

whoa, great pics waccamatt. i saw some flashes going off in the summit club the other night out my window and thought, "i need to get up there w/my camera."

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7/10

it's clustered but I can't say it really impresses me. 5.5/10

7.5/10-not bad pretty goo

6/10

Here are a few more:

A pano from Williams-Brice Stadium; I need to work on smoothing out colors.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/cola%20pano/newer%20pano2.bmp

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/urban%20access%20tour/se%20from%20the%20barringer%20bldg%202.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/state%20house%20peeking%20through.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20development%202%2026%2006/downtown%20from%20wms%20brice.jpg

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/waccamatt/skyline/ColaSky.gif

7/10
actually i was going to give a 6
but this is a 117,000 city..
nice :D

I gave it an 8 because I like the layout of the city and the skyline looks nice for a city of this size! The University of South Carolina, Columbia campus is beautiful (I know I'm talking street level but you really have to see it you will be amazed) but also the greenery and the structures contribute nicely to the overall look of the skyline which is impressive for its size!

Although the above photos are awesome, they do no justice to the city. The taller buildings are a bit spread out, creating depth - it's a good thing - but the overall skyline loses points because of that. If all the towers were closer together, the skyline would have looked phenomenal, IMHO. I consider Columbia's skyline one of the most impressive ones, considering the size of the city.

waccamatt, what are those two cranes used for, in the panoramic shot? Is that a tower project?

6/10

Although the above photos are awesome, they do no justice to the city. The taller buildings are a bit spread out, creating depth - it's a good thing - but the overall skyline loses points because of that. If all the towers were closer together, the skyline would have looked phenomenal, IMHO. I consider Columbia's skyline one of the most impressive ones, considering the size of the city.

waccamatt, what are those two cranes used for, in the panoramic shot? Is that a tower project?

Raleigh, the 2 cranes in that pano were from the Convention Center Hilton and parking garage that will be opening soon. I took that pano about 9 months ago.

Thanks, waccamatt.

Not bad for a city of its size. 7.5/10

Looks nice - I rate it 8/10 !

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/87519716/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/87519715/original.jpg

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not bad
6.5

This will be the latest addition to the skyline. Construction is to begin in Spring 2008. I will post better renderings when they become available.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Florencebballer/tower.jpg

5/10 neh...

its ok

6/10

damn good 10/10

6/10

9/10

8/10

Here are a few recent photos that I've taken, including a few panoramas.

This is the Tower at Main and Gervais under construction surrounded by the rest of the Main Street highrises. The photo was taken from the top of the State House steps.

http://www.freewebs.com/waccamatt/new%20developments%203%207%2009/tmg%201%203%207%2009.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/waccamatt/cola%20panos/newerpano2.JPG

http://www.freewebs.com/waccamatt/cola%20panos/pano%20from%20greystone%203%207%2009.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/waccamatt/cola%20panos/wc%20pano%201_edited-1.jpg

7.5 from me

8.5/10 :)

6.5/10

7/10

7.5/10

7/10

This is my latest pano.

http://www.freewebs.com/waccamatt/cola%20panos/skyline%20pano%20from%20prov.jpg

8/10

5/10

For a city its size Columbia's skyline is very impressive. Although it is a bit boxy it has a nice character to it. 8/10

7






:horse:

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/117187902/original.jpg

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7/10

7. Regards.

6.5/10

7/10

7.5/10

http://s005.radikal.ru/i211/1001/3b/2f24aac43d27.jpg

^thanks for the new pic dude, it's awesome.

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pics by me

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/122136012/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/122136013/original.jpg

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Nice pictures. Been to the city,reminds me of Florida alot. Nice place to live!! L.G.N.M

http://s005.radikal.ru/i211/1001/3b/2f24aac43d27.jpg

I haven't seen that one before.

5/10

5/10

Here are a few new photos taken from the area around Williams-Brice Stadium. The cleared land is the former location of the South Carolina State Farmer's Market and is being turned into a parklike setting for football tailgating and festivities.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/407061_10150566502857351_842392350_9035160_2084117689_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408791_10150566503152351_842392350_9035165_792307358_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/402214_10150566503677351_842392350_9035178_233116079_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417887_10150566503612351_842392350_9035177_1212434779_n.jpg

5/10

5/10

5.5/10