Sidewalks/bike lanes finally coming to Washington road/West Augusta (Columbus: 2014, apartments)

[nortonguy]

''A road construction project to realign Berckmans Road with Alexander Drive will use portions of the existing Stanley Drive, including the road adjacent to the restaurant. Augusta Traffic Engineer Steve Cassell said the intersection of Stanley Drive at Washington Road will be widened from three lanes to four, and sidewalks and bike lanes will be added. The project will use about 20 to 25 feet of the former TGI Fridays property, eliminating a row of parking spaces.''

I really do feel sorry for the employees at TGIF, but the area desperately needs those sidewalks and bike lanes... Hopefully this will bring additional foot and bike traffic into the area.. People can walk from West Augusta(Washington road) down Alexander Drive into North Richmond and visit the Costco, Cabela's, and upcoming movie theater..

The next splost package must include the funds to build a large green space/park off Washington road. The Washington road area of West Augusta is easily one of the most desirable locations in the CSRA and the park/green space can offer something new...

Purchase the New Peking and Venus Adonis properties for $1.7 million and give Arbys $1 or $1.5 million... The park can be in the $4-$6 million range... A great place for the men in the CSRA to relax while the wife shops around...

The list below features some of the constructions projects on Washington road underway or beginning this year.. The new park would easily pay for itself over time based on the private sector growth..

1. $40 million Washington Crossing(Whole Foods, DSW, Home Goods, Jason's Deli, Half-Moon Outfitters)
2. MedNow
3. Kroger expansion
4. PDQ restaurant
5. Cookout
6. Jersey Mike's

[Pu239]

Incredible.. Folks sure are free with others money..

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Pu239

Incredible.. Folks sure are free with others money..

It is such a lovely road ...

http://i.usatoday.net/sports/graphic...ges/opener.jpg

[nortonguy]

The picture above is definitely a couple of years old(around 6-8 years)..

I explained in another thread how Augusta doesn't have a rivalry with any city in Georgia.. Somebody commented that Augusta has a rivalry with Macon and Columbus and then Savannah was just by itself. I explained to him that nobody in Augusta even mentions those cities and that Columbia is the most discussed other than maybe Greenville.. People are confusing the threads discussed on city data with reality.. The average citizen from Augusta can't tell you much about either Macon or Columbus, but almost everybody in Augusta is familiar with Columbia.

The posters from other cities posting random comments in the Augusta forum is only backing up my point.. Augusta being located so close to South Carolina puts the city in a weird position..

When do you see anybody from Augusta mention those cities in our forum or go into their forums?

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

The picture above is definitely a couple of years old(around 6-8 years)..

What does that matter? It still looks almost exactly like that, overrun by a lack of sign ordinances and concrete. Pretty sure Newsboy's point still stands, regardless of how tongue in cheek it may have been intended to be.

[CenHigh05]

In my opinion, the road needs a full makeover. I mean is the really what you would expect to see surrounding a absolutely stunning golf course, and a prestigious one at that. Businesses,retail,hotels and fine,but there needs to be some type of order, and if there are any motels on the street, they need to be bulldozed and replaced with something more high-end. Sidewalks & bike lanes need to be added to the entire Augusta stretch of the road,maybe even a little farther. There needs to be more greenery on the road. All I see is asphalt and concrete. They could line the street with attractive looking trees. Signs need to be more orderly. Some shopping centers need to be remodeled to look more pleasing. While the road is slowly making progress by attracting better retail,restaurants, and businesses, the road needs to look more aesthetically pleasing. I'm not trying to find fault. I'm just pointing out tings that would make the street look neat,orderly, and attractive the residents and visitors. Just my opinion,but Augusta should seriously look into lining the street with trees.

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

It is such a lovely road ...

http://i.usatoday.net/sports/graphic...ges/opener.jpg

Damn,I that thought was Macon Road.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

What does that matter? It still looks almost exactly like that, overrun by a lack of sign ordinances and concrete. Pretty sure Newsboy's point still stands, regardless of how tongue in cheek it may have been intended to be.

There has definitely been some changes since that picture was taken. This is a more up to date picture although there have even been more changes since this one.




There is still room for improvement however, and the improvements that are coming should improve the look of the area even more.

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by PJA

There has definitely been some changes since that picture was taken. This is a more up to date picture although there have even been more changes since this one.

Attachment 136996

Umm, the only real difference is the one you posted has less traffic when it was taken and it's out of focus. Still just as many issues with sign overcrowding and pavement. My point was that while the photo initially posted might've been 6-8 years old, it has no bearing on what Newsboy was getting at, which is pointing out the ugliness of the area. Nort likes to deflect the real issues by bringing up irrelevant comments about people not being from Augusta. Facts are facts, regardless of the hometown of the person who posts them. And his proposed greenspace/park or whatever in that area of Washington Rd is something ARC would never do. That is a hugely commercial area with very little foot traffic save for one week a year, so they wouldn't waste money on such a thing. Thinking men are going to go hang out at some park together while their wives shop at Whole Foods and DSW is ridiculous. If they hang out anywhere, they're going to a bar, Hooters, Wild Wings, Roadrunner Cafe, Somewhere in Augusta....not to sit on a bench with some other dudes in a park.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by GRU_Minion

What does that matter? It still looks almost exactly like that, overrun by a lack of sign ordinances and concrete. Pretty sure Newsboy's point still stands, regardless of how tongue in cheek it may have been intended to be.

Why does it matter that I informed him the picture is 6-8 years old? Anybody claiming one of the most desirable locations in Augusta still looks almost exactly the same as 6-8 years ago is being ridiculous...

The Washington Walk(Kroger), Washington Crossing(Whole Foods), and National Hills(Fresh Market) shopping centers have all been renovated..

Is the green space along Washington road or new parking areas completed by the Masters a figment of imagination? They demolished several buildings on Washington road and opened Magnolia Park in 2011..
"Out There...Somewhere": Augusta's New "National" Park - WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken

The Google street image was taken in 2012 and still includes both the Greens on Washington(complex) and I-Hop.. They're gone in the year 2014...
https://www.google.com/maps/place/24...d97f791e05b493

Please explain how Washington road looks almost exactly the same as 6-8 years ago?
AGNC parking spaces and green space
$5 million Mercedes Benz showroom
$20 million Sheraton
$40 million Washington Crossing
Kroger expansion
National Hills makeover(Fresh Market)
Texas Roadhouse
$11 million Alexander Drive
$3 million Electrolux
I-HOP demolished
Savannah West/Greens on Washington apartments demolished
PDQ
MedNow
Cookout
Jersey Mike's