If I were to leave the U.S., I'd live in England. But I'd never leave the U.S. I own a 400-acre farm in Macon, Georgia. I raise cattle and hogs. I own horses, too. I love horses as much as singing. I like to hunt on horseback.
-Otis Redding
Macon is so known for its architecture that it has been called “a textbook of historic architecture”. It has 15 historic districts and over 6,000 historic buildings all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are so many architectural styles in Macon including: Gothic, Romanesque, Victorian, Neoclassical Revival, Beau Arts, Queen Anne, Italianate, Craftsmen, Tudor Revival, Art Deco, Moderne and another half dozen more. What’s amazing about Macon is that you don’t just visit the historic district, the entire city is basically a historic district. Here, you live amongst the history and that gives the city a feeling of substance and strength other cities this small don’t typically bring. http://www.historicmacon.org/macons-historic-districts
Note from a local about the architecture:
Macon also has beautiful historic neighborhoods—due largely to the fact that the Union Army stopped just shy of Macon in its infamous March through Georgia. It also has a strong historic preservation culture.
Macon has suffered through some extremely tough years when it wasn’t clear the city would make it back to being a place of growth and positive energy. That comeback isn’t complete and so the city still holds a negative reputation that hurts housing prices and can cause those who review the city from afar or who lived here in the past to knock it around. If you move here you have to have some thick skin to take the hits.
Notes from a local about the pros/cons of Macon:
We have our problems, but we are a city that is trying to turn itself around and improve for the community. I've lived here my entire life and have a brewery in downtown. Macon has parts that are bad, but we also have areas that are good, like any other city in the country. We have poor public transportation for sure. However, we have a rich history.
Macon is heavily music-oriented. R&B and Southern Rock have a rich history here with the Allman Brothers among the world class artists who came from and recorded here. That music-centricity remains with plenty of festivals and live music venues offering entertainment year round. It also has an annual Cherry Blossom festival that celebrates what is reputed to be more cherry blossom trees than even Washington D.C. The Downtown area is the source of the music and festival and event culture but just as much the area is known for an active outdoor lifestyle as well. Amerson River Park has 180 acres of upland forest and 7 miles of trails that overlook the beautiful Ocmulgee River. You can hike canoe, kayak and explore the wetlands through this and other parks all within the city limits.
Macon calendar of events: https://www.maconga.org/events/
In poker, “betting on the come” means betting on cards that may come in the future. Macon is making a comeback and while the city isn’t all the way “back”, it is possible to see where it’s headed and if you want to bet on a city whose cards are likely to come in then take a look at Macon.
Downtown Macon is where a lot of the investment and infrastructure building is happening. Restaurants, bars, music joints, cafes and plenty of lofts, condo and apartment options, all within walking distance make this the ideal location for you zoomers and younger millennials. College Hill is another cool option for young professionals and students. Sandwiched between downtown and Mercer University. While there are classic southern homes lining many of the blocks there are also homes broken up into apartments as well as some less expensive apartment building options. You are still a walk to downtown and to the University so you get the energy of the school but a bit more genteel an experience than downtown.
Wesleyan Woods is just a few miles west of downtown but offers bigger homes on big plots of land and beautiful tree-lined streets. It’s more expensive than other neighborhoods but far less expensive than nearby Atlanta and way less expensive than cities in the Northeast. This is a family paradise with parks and its own local businesses to get a burger or ice cream or groceries.
Families who want to be more amidst the action should check out College Hill. While the name makes it seem like a place filled with boisterous undergrads, that isn’t the vibe. It’s filled with stunning historic southern homes and a true community feel that makes riding bikes on the sidewalks and taking strolls to the local restaurants and cafes a true daily experience.
