you don't have land for cottages.
It's really
but you surely don't.
People better then me run math for non-riverside non-financial cottages and they are horrible improvement for too long time (f.e. running coast is better first 10T, then the same for another 15T, then finally non-riverside non-financial cottage takes over and first 10T takes catching up, that means for 35T you're catching up with the cottage compared to working coast tile!)
If you bring GPP scientist into equation, well the cottages are horrible, forget them.
The only place where you COULD place cottages is 3 tiles in capital, where 1 is plain, ask yourself if this really is worthwhile to take such big distraction.
Granaries are of course good. But right now you should think commerce.
You need trade routes (preferably foreign since they are 2c base value, so roading towards mao makes sense btw)
and you need scientists.
The question of SH is interesting one. Even if you don't land the wonder, fail gold economy surely isn't something to sneeze at and when you actually land the wonder...then that's just even better.
Regarding city 2 builds... depends how serious attempt you would make on SH. You surely shouldn't delay the border pop into gold too much.