Tomorrow kicks off a whole new year of COLAtoday headlines. In 2018, we’ve covered everything from the U.S. Conference of Mayors converging in our little city to a full guide of happy hours across downtown. So, what’s next for 2019?
We asked you to peer into your crystal ball and predict future local headlines you think you’ll read in COLAtoday in 2019 – and more than 35 of you gave us 50+ predictions.
Here are a few of our favorite predictions for Columbia in 2019, submitted by you:
🔮 “Cher comes to Cola to perform” –Lindsay B.
🔮 “Amtrak announces plans to revamp the train station in anticipation of an influx of rail passengers on the new passenger line that runs from Charleston to Asheville, via Columbia and Greenville.” –@zachpippin
🔮 “Columbia gets a climbing gym!! 🤞🤞” –@harleermiller
🔮 “My prediction is that we will see real estate take a major shift from a primarily profit-driven mentality to a community-forward initiative. Landowners in Columbia hold large amounts of power for pushing Columbia forward towards unique, local tastes in styles - away from chains & big box stores.” –Joshua R.
🔮 “Benjamin expresses interest in US House seat, new restaurant moves into former Zoe’s on Main Street…” –@therobcoffeyjr
More of your local headline predictions for 2019:
🔮 “Gosh. Excellent predictions. I think Stevie B may try for president, but I like the idea of the scooters being banned immediately hahaha. My prediction is that we will see real estate take a major shift from a primarily profit-driven mentality to a community-forward initiative. Landowners in Columbia hold large amounts of power for pushing Columbia forward towards unique, local tastes in styles - away from chains & big box stores. Also, legal weed.” –Joshua R.
🔮“I predict that Trader Joe’s and/or Fresh Market will stop ignoring the Irmo market and will open locations on the northwest side of town. (This is probably just wishful thinking.)” –Kay P.
🔮“I see Columbia furthering it’s riverside district, creating a fun and healthy atmosphere for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors that is ours to claim, restaurants that allow for festive outdoor eating and unique shopping that encourages the creative entrepreneurs in our midst.” –Allison A.
🔮“The hotel across from the USC School of Law will finish after five years (renovation started before Law School construction). What took so long????” –Nancy S.
🔮“My postulate is that the new transportation app pilot project for seniors and other vulnerable communities, being sponsored by AARP and feonixmobilityrising.org, will be a WILD SUCCESS !!!” –David & Carolyn H.
🔮“Columbia will take better care of its existing assets, and make the proposed plan renovations to Finlay Park...I hope, I hope, I hope.” –Darra C.
🔮“Hi Cola Today,
First off, I love these emails! I have moved back home to D.C. but still read these every morning and look forward to your Instagram posts.
Here are my predictions:
- Retweet to the Bird Scooters--they are city clutter and dangerous!
- Rooftop bars come to Main Street
- Cher comes to Cola to perform
- Sumter & Blossom street intersection gets a left turn signal light
- Darius Rucker goes to Jake’s and the Snapchat paparazzi ensues
- UofSC appoints a fantastic new President and the Pastides have the biggest Homecoming of all time
- Cola Today is as fabulous as ever!” –Lindsay B.
🔮“Needs to land another large employer in the STEM fields.” –@thirddogrock
🔮“I would love to see an outlet shopping center in Columbia.” –Debbie C.
🔮“Sidewalks everywhere, and proper covered benches for those waiting for public transit” –Lara D.
🔮“Delaney’s Irish Pub reopens with pint night every night and Mighty McFly every Friday night!” –Grant R.
🔮“Benjamin expresses interest in US House seat, new restaurant moves into former Zoes on Main Street, The Courier purchases the State…” –@therobcoffeyjr
🔮“@cottontownbrew will finally have a taproom with some amazing beers!” –@jyswitzer
🔮“Can’t wait to see what fills the 1700 block of Main Street.” –@thehangrygamecock
🔮“More Live PD episodes! Lol” –@realjoshywashy
🔮“Downtown housing boom has Columbia thriving” –@willschenk
🔮“We see lots of beautiful handmade tables. 😁” –@brickerandbeam
🔮“#stevebenjaminforpresident” –@_jacob_thompson
🔮“Columbia gets a climbing gym!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼” –@harleermiller
🔮“North Main road construction finally finished???” –@lovell_rouse
🔮“After successful expansions from @bluebikesc and newcomers @limebike and @bird the large influx of non-car travelers forces city and county leaders to step up the investment in complete streets with protected bike lanes and buried power lines. With @catchthecomet ridership at an all time high, plans for the first dedicated bus lanes are being made to ensure an even more efficient ride around town. Amtrak announces plans to revamp the train station in anticipation of an influx of rail passengers on the new passenger line that runs from Charleston to Asheville, via Columbia and Greenville.” –@zachpippin
🔮“Apple store!!! We need it!” –@magscars
🔮“@apple store plzzzzz😭” –@_megomyeggo
🔮“We predict more growth and expansion to continue in #sodacity ❤️” –@mascotsportsapparel
🔮“More people will see getting around on bike is the better way to explore Columbia! 🚴♂️🚲 #bluebike #bikeshare” –@bluebikesc
🔮“More advocates on diaper need in #Columbia 💕” –@powerinchanging
🔮“A compost pick up or drop off service. I’d love to be able to eliminate food waste and could easily start my own compost pile, but have little time & space to attempt to grow my own produce with it. I would love to be able swap my compost with or even pay for some local produce grown with our community compost. Let’s help Columbia be more sustainable!” –@moorefromkatie
🔮“More people will call Columbia their home and get home loans from @midlandmortgagecorp #shoplocal 😊” –@meb5
🔮“Also, can we PLEASE get recycling picked up weekly rather than bi-weekly?! Ours is always overflowing & everyone should be recycling more than they are throwing things away.” –@moorefromkatie
🔮“@moorefromkatie YES THIS!” –@jillybeann803
In an online poll (included in our initial #Asked newsletter), we asked you which of our team’s predictions you thought could actually be real, local headlines for 2019:
44% of you voted that “BullStreet gets an Apple Store” is the headline most-likely to be found in your inbox at 6 a.m. sometime in the coming year.
We really hope 44% of you have mind-reading capabilities.
Keep playing fortune teller and dropping in your headline predictions in a comment on our website post. You never know what could happen.
Happy New Year’s Eve, Cola. Be safe and have fun tonight. 🍾 Here’s to a whole new year of growth + change. I plan on embracing these things in 2019, and I know you will too. 💙
–Chloe + the COLAtoday team