Can anyone tell me info on this city such as population, economy and any pics you can post? Also how does Pensacola compare to Tallahassee? Looking forward to your posts. :)

I spent five years in Tally going to college there. I'll fill you in and provide some pics, later on today.

Great! I'll be looking forward to it. :)

Tallahassee has about 155,000 residents in the city and about 250,000 in its metro. Its economy is mostly based on eduaction and the state government. There are a couple of towers proposed in downtown, which itself, is in within walking distance of two large colleges, FSU and FAMU.

http://www.tennysoncondo.com/images/southview.jpg

http://www.americatravelling.net/usa/florida/tallahassee/images/home-Tallahassee_Florida_USA.jpg

http://www.tallahasseedowntown.com/images/100-0046_img.jpg

http://www.tallahasseedowntown.com/images/100-0035_img.jpg

http://www.tallahasseedowntown.com/images/100-0034_img.jpg

The Tennyson condo tower, under construction
http://www.tennysoncondo.com/images/pic_render.jpg

How far is Tallahassee from the water. I know pensocala has a beach scene and is laid back. I have never been to the T so I wouldnt know but its downtown looks a little more tall and lively than Pensacolas.

Tallahassee is about 60 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico and its very hilly compared to the rest of Florida.

Personally, I like Pensacola better. Although Tally has a larger skyline, Pensacola has a much larger metro and urban area, as well as a larger historical core. Its also located on the waterfront and has a diversified economy.

Another benefit P-Cola has over Tally, is that is near other sizable interesting areas like Mobile, Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Tally is basically an isolated town surround by forests and rural farming communities.

Thanks for the info! Very informative. Tallahassee looks nice. I may want to visit Tallahassee and Pensacola.

I have 2 threads for Pensacola and Pensacola Beach on page 4 of 7. I am away from home but I was able to take these pics when I was home on leave. I hope you like them.

I lived in Tallahssee and have visited Pensacola quite a few times, and it's like Lakelander said, but I get a similar vibe from both of them. I prefer Tally, but the isolation is overbearing at times.

I would rather live in Tally than Gainesville. Not that G'ville's all that bad, I just like Tally better. I can't compare it to Pensacola because I'm not that familiar with P-town. I've only driven thru it a coupla times. But I think I would prefer Tally because I don't want to live near the ocean, I like Tally's hilly, landlocked local.

No offense but Tallahassee is vastly superior to Gainesville. Tallahassee is a small city. Gainesville is a college town.

No offense but Tallahassee is vastly superior to Gainesville. Tallahassee is a small city. Gainesville is a college town.

The towns or the schools? It is hard to differentiate because the schools' are so central to their respective cities. I've only been to Gainesville. UF has a beautiful campus.

Indeed, the difference is that Gainesville is really the school, while Tallahassee, first of all, has more than one school and has other things going on besides that. Even Gainesville's "downtown" which is kind of nice is all Gator related for the most part.

In sum, you can go to Tallahassee and do something not related to FSU. It is almost inconceivable to go to Hogtown and do something not related to UF.

As someone who went to school and lived in both Gainesville and Tallahassee I can add... well not much. Tallahassee is more "southern", Gainesville more of a hick town, but a good mix of hippies and weirdos thrown in. UF does dominate the city, but that's not all there is, likewise FSU does play a rather large part in Tallahassee's day to day life. I hated Tallahassee at first, but I quickly grew to love it. They're both laid back places where you can while away the hours under a big oak tree on a warm spring day.

Comparing the campuses: UF is large, sprawling, and beautiful; Tallahassee is small, crowded, squished into town. You can't really escape the city at FSU like you can at UF.

I went to FAMU, and I'm now in grad school at UF. I'd take Tallahassee over Gainesville. The UF campus is one of the most picturesque campuses I've ever been on, and there are several nice townhouse and loft apartment projects under construction in and near the core of town with several more to come, which is quite suprising to me. I think, although shorter, Gainesville's DT is better than Tallahassee's. It is the true center of nightlife, and there seems to be more residential developments in DT Gainesville than in Tallahassee. However, even though some tech companies are coming in, Gainesville is still very much a "one-industry" town (UF), and as a young "budding professional" African-American, the black middle-class culture has no presence in Gainesville. It doesn't get much better in that respect with Tallahassee, but with FAMU there, there are more cultural events and social settings that are attractive to people like me. Plus, there's more than one large industry in Tallahassee. There are two (whoop-de-doo!) -- government and education. It's not that much better, but at least there's an option. I guess that's what separates Tallahassee from Gainesville -- the options. There's usually one more option in Tallahassee than in Gainesville. (2 malls as opposed to one, 3 schools as opposed to two, 3 levels of government as opposed to two, etc.) And, I like Tallahassee's terrain better.

I'm sure once I'm no longer a student, neither one will be all that appealing. But, if I had to choose now, I'd take Tallahassee.

I've never been into the city of Pensacola. I've only stopped off on one of the exits on I-10. So, I can't really speak on that city.

Having visited both towns numerous times, Tallahassee would be my pick. The hilly terrain and the fact that the city itself seems like a forest in some places is very endearing. There are also many crystral clear sinkholes and springs outside of town and I think some pretty cool cave diving options.

Tallahassee looks very quaint from these pictures. Is the FSU campus as pretty as UF? I've seen pictures of FAMU, that looks very nice.

Having grown up in Gainesville, and spent lots of time in Tallahassee, I'd say that Gainesville actually has more of a cosmopolitan feel, for those who favor such a thing.

I miss Tally! go Noles!!!!!

FSU is one of the most charming and beautiful college campuses in the country. Most of the campus is built with red brick and tile, cut stone corners, and wide breezzeways. There are some contemporay buildings that leave a little to be desired, but the trees and cover them up fairly well.

It was 15 years ago next week that I went to look at FSU with the idea of transferring. I was hooked in 5 seconds and spent the next four years there.

GO NOLES

but Gainesville's location is VASTLY superior.

Gainesville is a 2-2 and a half hour drive from Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Three huge metropolitan areas. It's an hour from both the ocean and gulf of mexico.

Like others said, Tallahassee is in the middle of nowhere.

Wow !, :) Tallahassee Has Other Big Buildings Other than The Capital Building ? :)
I always thought , the Capital Building was the ONLY TALL Building There. NICE PICTURES !!! :cheers:

Wow !, :) Tallahassee Has Other Big Buildings Other than The Capital Building ? :)
I always thought , the Capital Building was the ONLY TALL Building There. NICE PICTURES !!! :cheers:

Yes, the Ralph D. Turlington bldg which is at the edge of downtown. Florida law states that no building in Tallahassee can be taller than the capitol, which is stupid because high-rises to me, make a city more attractive. In general, Tallahassee suffers from brain-drain, meaning the college grads end up not staying there due to the lack of good-paying jobs. Can't blame them because who would want to stay in Tally when you have a better shot at finding work in larger cities like Tampa, where I'm living now. I'm from Tallahassee, born and raised so I know it quite well.

FSU and tallahassee were once syn's. Now, constant land use clashing and urban developments downtown show the seperation of the two intities. FSU, Famu, and the city are working together to grow mutually.

So as the city of tallahassee begins squeezing into the scene as a regional player, many are looking into possibly expanding to toher industries. The region is exploding, and tallahassee dominates the Panhandle from its Hilltop, like a lighthouse.

Here is a MS paintbrush rendering of the three condo projects underconstruction. the picture is from the west, looking over FSU toward the DT.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/random/after.jpg

I drove thru Tally a few weeks ago (on Hwy 90/Tenn. St.) on my way back from a family reunion. It was rainy and I needed to get back home quickly, or else I would've kicked around town a little longer to check things out more. I saw one of those condo projects rising, but I forget how many floors up it was. I think it was the little one in the middle of the picture above. I believe it will be a luxury condo when finished. I can't remember the name, but it starts with a "T". Tally should have a nice little skyline when these condos are finished.

The Tennyson... that is the one to the left in this render. It has topped out his month at its 14th floor. The skin is being added between the Thudnerstorms you mention. The one in the middle is the "tallahassee center" an 11 story on Kleman plaza (up to 6th floor) ... next to the capital is the newest to start construction (ground breaking this month) the Plaza Tower, 20+ stories from duvall street. There are no affordable condos going in, only luxury. The trac on Tennessee (90) is one of the best though, i wish the weather was better for you.

That condo you saw is called the Tennyson, which is one Monroe Street.

The one I saw may have been Tallahassee Center, because it appeared to be a smaller building. But, it looked like a rendering I saw of Tennyson, so I really am not sure.

I don't know what it is about Tally and thunderstorms, but it seems to be raining there every time I'm there. Not that its a bad thing, I like rain.

Tallahassee center is not visable from Tennessee yet, so if you travelled down college ave, or Duval, you could not have missed it.

I am working on a rendering including other projects in the same scene... another forum is providing input, I'll post the final one here soon. New Rendering will include the Marriot to the right of the capital. The village, and Symphany, and college park condos sprouting out just past Campus near tennessee street and Bronough. The first will be the most significant at 13 stories. Here is a little collection of project renderings..... http://talchamber.com/2010_thumbs.php

I have finsihed the rendering of current projects in tallahassee. All residential, even the marriot (far right) has condos on the top 6 floors. our downtwon is on a ridge. The vantage is from the west looking over FSU's Campus.
Before
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/random/b4.jpg
2008-ish
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/random/finalrendering.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/GreatCP.jpg

Hey its a college town, its cool even without skyscrapers.

Thanx for all the pix and links, csmurphy. The new Marriot will look great and fill in the skyline more. Tally is really moving along, esp compared with G'ville. And, yes, that had to be the Tennyson that I saw on Tennessee. Also good to see Tally finally getting that new pac.

For some reason I thought Tally was a lot bigger...

Just found out there is a five story ground breaking on a very empty corner of Gaines and RR this week. The marriot will hug tight to the sidewalk with a ground floor street accesss for some capitalist ventures wiht a wing on each street. It will greatly effect that revitalization area! We are excited!

Here is the progress of our pioneer... the Tennyson.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/AUGUSTof2005.jpg

^^Nice pic. Yep, that's the one I saw UC. Great news about the other projects, too. It's good to see Tally getting more urban, and the new projects (like Marriot) incorporating urban ideals. Also, csmurphy, do you know what the deal is with the old Holiday Inn on Tennessee. When I saw it last, it looked abandoned. Also, is there a new chain running, or new plans for what had been the old Hilton/Sheraton downtown? Thanks for any info.

The Cylindrical Holiday in on Tennessee is still operating. It is just a gloomy hotel. Most weekends its at 50% selling out only for fsu games and graduations. The hilton folks just topped out a 5 stroy garden inn off blairstone rd and St. Augustine. I don't know of any plans from those companies downtown. There is an 18 story marriout convention center that has been on hte table for years that is supposed to be nearing final plans. If that helps...

There is an 8 story mixed use proposal as part of the french town revitilization.

Also, four lots in downtown have been acccepting proposals and the city plans on making a decision on the lots soon. There were more than 30 proposals for the lots illistrating the demand for land in dt tallahassee. They bought the lots in order to control the growth and image of the city, so it will be exciting to see what they deceide is worthy of a tallahasee adress.

Its nice to see the capital of Florida is finally getting something going with its skyline. :)

It was just brought to my attention that over 52% of tallahasseans rent. This sounds like an extreemly high percentage. Is that normal, a lie, or a truth for any major college town?

Here are a couple of update construciton shots thanks to TJ at UP

Tallahassee center- half way to the top
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/gameday8192.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/Gameday819.jpg

Tennyson- Topped out
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/tenny820.jpg

And this is the future site of the Marriot... as i mentioned, an empty lot on a boring corner getting a much needed development.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/gainesrr.jpg
will become.... this.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/csmurphy8885/downtown%20tallahassee/marriotrender.jpg
Fun times in the 100 degree sun of Fla

It was just brought to my attention that over 52% of tallahasseans rent. This sounds like an extreemly high percentage. Is that normal, a lie, or a truth for any major college town?

It has to be that its a college town. Over half the population is college kids and they have to rent. It doesn't say anything about the rest of Tallahassee's population though.

Long before Tallahassee was a college town it was a politics and goverment town. When political power changes so do the people who are associated with it or try to have influence on.

Long before Tallahassee was a college town it was a politics and goverment town. When political power changes so do the people who are associated with it or try to have influence on.

Are you saying that alot of Government officials and advisors and such rent because they leave when political party changes? That could account for about 5% of the rent population in my best opinion.

That number should be much larger.
Talllahassee is a very important state capital. Most politcal movers and shakers don't want to be tied down but many still need to maintain a certain image. Thus a good rental in a nice neighborhood is a smart investment.
Goverment and political could account for 25% of that rental.

possibly

With a population of about 230,000, Leon County hosts a student population of around 65,000. Nearly all rent when school is in session, and like Alachua County, Leon has a large number of multi-family dwellings. Legislators also rent when the Legislature is in session (Spring). I don't think it has as much to do with not wanting to be tied down as it is that they are only in town for a couple of months. The number of people directly involved in a political changeover (agency heads and top managers) is relatively small and does not have a significant impact on housing. The government-based workforce is the 900 pound gorilla that works, lives and owns in Tallahasee is a very stable employemnt base and serves to keep the housing market pretty stable here.

Well, Tallahassee is a great city but without FSU, just like Gainesville without UF I'm not sure how good it would still be.

That is a poor escuse for a comparison, i am sorry to say. You are wronge. Visit, and you will see. Yes, college students move moeny through town. But unlike gainsville, other things happen here. Gainsville is UF... tallahassee is the capital of the 5th largest state. really now, i have heard it before. But when the college is empty, traffic flows smoothly, but htere is still traffic. there is still alot of families and children and old people. Also, people visit tallahassee... gainsville? come on! Booh (this will conclude my meanest post yet... but warranted)

I am in no way dissing Tallahassee, i think its a great city( way better than Gainesville), but from what I see and what I have heard from other people, what else is there to do there other than FSU, and politics. (The reason I ask is that I just applied to FSU for next year, and am hoping it will be a great fit for me.) :)

Yes, its a fantastic place for a college experience, constantly voted one of the best in the country. I have been enjoying my years at fsu. But tallahassee really is all about small businessess. There may not be any major coorporate headquarters, but there is work.
From 2003
Largest percentage goes to state government at 28.6% considerable larger than the state's 3% of workforce. But tis the capital.
Trade, Transportation, and utility (generic, but its all i could find) comes in 2nd with 22.7%
Education and Health services are clumped together and still give only 16.3% for grade school through the universitie"s" and both hopspitals.

41.7% of leon county has a bach degree or higher. Impressive for a place with no major headquarters. something keeps these folks happy in town. I imagine it would be hard for any one not to find thier niche in tally. Though, important work is being done to bring jobs into the community. Too many amazing engineers leave tally for cali.

((source: http://www.edctallahasseeleon.com/chart.php3 )))

Gainsville, in comparison, has listed UF employs 12,212 individuals. A huge lead on the number two employer for the county Shands (ehere my fathers life was saved) with 7,508 employees. UF is Gainseville. Tally has more to give.

Sorry, i really hate numbers. BUt i did not want you to think i was just going to blurt out my opinion. Its easy to see a city living when you live in that city. hard to describe without this kinda data crap.

Source: http://www.gceo.com/about.asp?page_id=34&n=42

I'm sure if I go to FSU that Tallahassee will turn out to be a great city.

FSU 10 Miami 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Oh yeah!

I'm sure if I go to FSU that Tallahassee will turn out to be a great city.
HHA HAHA HA HAH AHA HA funny stuff, but i do hope so.

dAnd yes, your futurr college kicked serious miami butt this weekend. our D frustrated them into submisiion!

Go FSU!!

(My dad is a former FSU QB)

by the name of?......

James Eddy, he was a back-up in the early 70's

My mom used to get tickets for 50 cents and better back in the day... back when things were always affordable! record crowd agains miami... someone is making money.

Nice to see a Tallahassee crowd here at SSC. Any current FSU, FAMU, TCC students?

Hopefully FSU class of 2010 :)

FSU!!! tcc and rickards IB graduate!!!

Class of Spring 06

CLASS OF 1992

so what is going on in Tally these days?

In a nutshell, Tallahassee has 12, 15 and 24 story downtown condos under construction; several more on the drawing board; a 5 story Residence Inn on Gaines St U/C; FSU has a 5 story dorm rebuild and a multi-story parking garage U/C on Tennessee; contaminated downtown Cascades park being cleaned up; State-owned downtown office buildings being prepared to be sold in favor of moving state offices to a suburban office sprawl location (near Southwood); baseball doing well and football season approaches. Life is good in Tally!

FAMU - Spring 2001

In a nutshell, Tallahassee has 12, 15 and 24 story downtown condos under construction; several more on the drawing board; a 5 story Residence Inn on Gaines St U/C; FSU has a 5 story dorm rebuild and a multi-story parking garage U/C on Tennessee; contaminated downtown Cascades park being cleaned up; State-owned downtown office buildings being prepared to be sold in favor of moving state offices to a suburban office sprawl location (near Southwood); baseball doing well and football season approaches. Life is good in Tally!

Sweet! I look forward to this fall when I can get a good look at Tallahassee and its skyline.

FSU - Class of 1990

FAMU Spring 2002

So I've been up here at FSU for nearly three months now and heres what I think of Tallahassee: great town, but it needs alot of work. The skyline isn't very prominent unless you stand on top of the meteorology building (like i have :) ) or on top of the parking garages. Maybe its just the hills. The DT area is very small, mainly just the one tall State government office tower and a few smaller ones in between. I like here, but maybe I was just so used to Sarasota's skyline it doesn't seem as nice. And if anyone knows what building is about to go under construction on the SW corner of Monroe and Tennessee Streets and help would be appreciated. I'll try and get pictures of the city when I go home and get my camera at thanksgiving.

^ The project getting ready for construction at Monroe and Tennessee is a 14 story hotel called the Floridan, named after a building that used to exist on the site. The tall state office building would be the 22-story capital building (atop the tallest hill in Tallahassee) and the building under construction northwest of it in Kleman Plaza is the Plaza Tower, a 24 story condo. The state had tight controls on the city's skyline until a few years ago and would not allow anything tall, especially near the capital building. Now the Plaza is the third decent (relative to Tallahassee) building recently developed (Tennyson and Gameday Center condos first two). There are plans for a few other at various stages of proposal or development.

Tally is definitely not like any central/ south Florida cities in terms of size. Seems small, but it's all relative.

Excellent thanks Tallaman for the info. I find Tallahassee to be a great city and definitely not small in any way. I was just commenting on my view of the skyline, which is somewhat skewed since I came from a fairly large city before now.

I hated the city the first couple of months, but I eventually fell in love with it. I know the roof of the Love Building well. Used to do a lot of storm watching up there.

And if you haven't bee to the capital building yet, go. Great views.

I know I've found the views from the Love building during my Met 1010 Lab class on Monday mornings to be very good (if i'm awake :) ) Doak Campbell to your south, DT to your east and everything else at FSU below you. I'll definitely take a walk DT sometime in the future and check out what's going on there.

Can anything be built taller than the Capitol ?

^ I should know this...I believe the state controlled downtown building heights to preserve the dominance of the capital building on the entire city skyline (much like D.C. and the Washington Monument - no buildings taller than six stories), but now tower developers will be able to build taller than the capital as long as it provides visual clearance (my words, I'm not what the official wording is) from the capital. The Plaza is slated to be 24 stories, two taller than the capital building, but it is a few blocks away and it is also down hill a little. The capital also has that excellent view coming in on U.S. 27 (Appalachee Parkway) down the hill and up right to the steps of the old capital building in front of the new one.

I drove through Tallahassee 2 times its ok looks like an average small sized city but the hills up there were nice.