Downtown and inner-city Augusta going to another level II (Commerce: salvaged, cost)

[Airforceguy]

The $1.1 million study started in November and will look at parking occupancy, how long people stay downtown, and then get input from the public on what they want downtown to be.

"What does everybody want to see for the downtown are? What will bring you down here? What makes it exciting?" Cassell said. "Overall, this will probably be the biggest change to the downtown area that's happened in several, maybe even a hundred years."

Cassell says it starts with about six projects including 5th St., 6th St., Broad St., James Brown Boulevard, Telfair St., Greene St., and 13th St.

All are part of the TIA program. Overall, Cassell says it will be an $84 million dollar investment in downtown, and the money to start is already there.

"It's got implementation dollars, which has always been the rare thing in a lot of other studies we've done," he said.

"You're going to see a lot of orange barrels, but I don't think you need to complain or be concerned about where we're at right now, but focus on where we're going," he said.

The study should be done by the end of 2016 with construction starting in 2019.

It's all part of a bigger pictures, and Cassell says it's quite a vision.

"I think once these projects are all done, people are going to be very proud of what they paid for," he said.

There are no drawings of what downtown would look like because they haven't gotten the public's input yet. That starts in January.

Cassell says they want to hear from everyone, including people in South Augusta and across the river in North Augusta about what would entice people downtown.

Master plan for downtown Augusta marks biggest change in years

[amlovingit]

About time

[RoryRezzelle]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I hate to see this beautiful building condemned. I hope it can be turned into lofts or a mixed-use project. Several churches in Atlanta have been turned into lofts in recent years...

Historic Baptist site condemned for occupancy | The Augusta Chronicle

My parents were actually working with Pastor Drawdy at one time to help fix this place up (think 10 years ago or so) but it is in such bad shape. It would really have to be gutted and completely remodeled to be up to code.

[Airforceguy]

Looks like a new residential development may be coming to the south end of Old Town. The project will be located at 412 & 413 Sibley Street.
Planning & Zoning - Project Search Details

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Looks like a new residential development may be coming to the south end of Old Town. The project will be located at 412 & 413 Sibley Street.
Planning & Zoning - Project Search Details

This represents the last area of revitalization/gentrification left in Olde Town mainly between 1st and East Boundary.

[Airforceguy]

Texas-based Austin In*dus*trial moved into the newly renovated office space in the historic Red Star Buil*ding at 531 James Brown Blvd. last month, the latest in a long line of tenants that included a hotel, cafe and movie theater.
Located across from the federal judicial complex and downtown post office – an area once occupied by the city passenger train station – the building is providing the contractor with much-needed space to accommodate its growing business.
The company, which provides welding, mechanical and other skilled craft services to manufacturing plants, has experienced sharp growth in recent years thanks to the addition of major clients such as Bridge*stone tire plants in Gran*ite*ville and Tren*ton, S.C.
“In the last three to five years, we’ve pretty much tripled our revenue in the area,” Operations Support Manager Rick Bubier said.
The additional volume necessitated the move from the 2,200-square-foot Sand Bar Ferry office to its new space, which is spread over 5,000 square feet on part of the first floor and all of the second. Bubier said the old office housed the employment and operations staffs under the same roof, which sometimes created a disruptive environment for office workers and prospective job applicants.

Historic Augusta building now office for Austin Industrial | The Augusta Chronicle

[Airforceguy]

Sand Bar Ferry is getting a makeover...

An East Augusta gateway is getting the make over treatment.

Commissioners approving a landscaping plan for Sand Bar Ferry Road From Bobby Jones Expressway to East Boundary.

Since this is a state road commissioners had to approve taking over the maintenance from the state.

The plan work with the Augusta beautification program for the landscaping, similar to other gateways like Doug Barnard, and Sebastian Way.

No exact cost yet for the project however no tax dollars are involved the work will be completed with private donations.

East Augusta Gateway To Get Makeover | WJBF-TV

[amlovingit]

Love it

[Airforceguy]

The delegation – which includes Augusta Super District Commission member Marion Williams, Downtown Development Authority Director Margaret Woodard, Convention and Visitors Bureau President Barry White, Deputy Administrator Ted Rhinehart, Planning and Development Director Melanie Wilson and two guests of Williams – will take a hard look at how Savannah manages downtown parking and mobility, Woodard said.
“Savannah has done a great job in looking overall not just at parking, but mobility, how to get people from decks to where they need to go,” she said.
The coastal city uses meters, enforcement, parking garages, shuttles, buses and other systems to manage the millions of residents and tourists passing through Savannah each year.
The Augusta Commission has resisted the DDA’s efforts to reinstall parking meters downtown, city parking limits are not enforced and large parking garages see little use.
The city hopes Cooper Carry, architects designing a multimillion-dollar Broad Street streetscape project, will incorporate better parking management into the Transportation Investment Act-funded project, Woodard said.
But “we’re not going down there just for that, now,” Williams said.
In the spirit of a May delegation to Albany, Ga., to examine the southwest Georgia city’s riverfront development, the group will look at a few of Savannah’s tourism products, primarily breweries.
Savannah “has been very successful in recruiting breweries to the downtown core,” Woodard said.
Augusta, which once had a couple of restaurant breweries, now has no locally brewed beer, although Riverwatch Brewery has a commercial facility soon to open at the state farmer’s market.

Augusta group to examine parking management, breweries in Savannah | The Augusta Chronicle

[nortonguy]

Savannah River Brewing company moving into a building located at 813 fifth street.

Planning & Zoning - Project Search Details