As we tiptoe into a new decade, the team here at Johnson City Living (which is currently me and my golden retriever) thought it would be fun to make a few predictions about what's likely to unfold in Johnson City over the next decade.
Sounds kinda fun, right?
Here are Johnson City Living's four bold predictions for our town in the next ten years:
#1 ETSU Men's Basketball Will Continue to Grow Into a Premier Program
The ETSU men's basketball program has a long and storied history, including ten appearances in the NCAA tournament.
The Steve Forbes era has brought tons of energy and excitement to town. Fan support is better than ever, and the Bucs are playing home games in a freshly updated home venue at Freedom Hall.
We predict ETSU will be a highly desired destination for recruits and coaches for many years to come.
#2 Downtown Johnson City Will Get Even Better
The transformation of downtown Johnson City over the last decade has been nothing short of stunning.
The sweet combination of our city's commitment to top-notch green spaces and the investment by our friends and neighbors into creating valuable downtown businesses is paying off.
We predict downtown Johnson City's momentum will continue to accelerate, with this caveat: national brands aren't the magic pill.
Sure, we'd love to see national restaurant or retail chains put down roots in downtown Johnson City. But we believe the continued success of downtown will be driven by local entrepreneurs investing their time, money, and ideas into our fair city.
#3 Johnson City Will Grow in Stature As a Hot Spot for Outdoor Recreation
Those of us who call Johnson City home already know there are plenty of ways to get outside and enjoy this beautiful corner of the world.
We predict increasing numbers of people add Johnson City to their day trip or vacation plans as word continues to spread about places like the Tweetsie Trail, Tannery Knobs Mountain Bike Park, Buffalo Mountain Park, Winged Deer Park, and others.
Bikes will likely spark many of the visits, but others will come to take advantage of the area's hiking, rafting, kayaking, and fly fishing.
#4 Johnson City Will Become a More Popular Retirement and Mid-Career Transplant Destination
People outside the area are already discovering the qualities that make Johnson City a lovely place to live, including low cost of living, availability of quality healthcare, and easy access to most of the southeastern United States.
As the population grows and people tire of the pitfalls of big city life, we believe more people will seek out places like Johnson City for retirement and mid-career relocations.
That's our list of four bold predictions for Johnson City for the next ten years.
We'll mark our calendars for early 2030 and see if these came true :)
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