Coliseum Authority plans to move forward with new entertainment facility (Atlanta: sales, sales tax)

[Airforceguy]

I'm not so sure a SPLOST would have been a good way to fund an arena anyway...
Commissioners leery about including proposed arena in SPLOST | The Augusta Chronicle

[Airforceguy]

The DDA has thrown their support behind the new arena....

The DDA board approved a letter that “fully supports” the Augusta Coliseum Authority “vision” that would replace the James Brown Arena on the corner of Seventh and Fenwick streets with a new 10,000-seat facility, which would remain in the “downtown footprint.”
“The James Brown Arena has played a pivotal role in the ongoing revitalization of downtown,” said the letter, drafted by DDA Chairman Cameron Nixon. “In the past six years with Global Spectrum at the helm, sold-out shows have promoted our urban center and have strengthened downtown commerce.”
Last month, the Coliseum Authority presented to the DDA results of a feasibility study conducted by Los Angeles-based architecture firm Aecom that recommended an entertainment facility with 10,000 seats, including luxury suites and club seats, to be used for a mixture of concerts, indoor sports, family shows and other events. An additional 20,000 square feet would be used for meeting/exhibition space and tenant offices.
The 250,000-square-foot arena would cost between $90 million and $110 million, though the funding source remains uncertain.

DDA gives support for new downtown Augusta arena | The Augusta Chronicle

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

The DDA has thrown their support behind the new arena....

DDA gives support for new downtown Augusta arena | The Augusta Chronicle

Please tell me they are joking about keeping the old arena? They need to knock it down and build a true urban park from the medical district to May Park in a set up similar to the National Mall in DC with government building on the grounds.

[Airforceguy]

I saw nothing about keeping the old arena in the article. I would hope the coliseum authority is able to team up with GRU and put the arena on the old GGHOF site. I agree with you though about turning the site of the current arena into a park. I think something along the lines of Birmingham's Railroad Park would be perfect for downtown.

[Pu239]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Please tell me they are joking about keeping the old arena? They need to knock it down and build a true urban park from the medical district to May Park in a set up similar to the National Mall in DC with government building on the grounds.

Really?

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Pu239

Really?

What do you mean by really? What's wrong with that idea?

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I saw nothing about keeping the old arena in the article. I would hope the coliseum authority is able to team up with GRU and put the arena on the old GGHOF site. I agree with you though about turning the site of the current arena into a park. I think something along the lines of Birmingham's Railroad Park would be perfect for downtown.

The DDA board approved a letter that “fully supports” the Augusta Coliseum Authority “vision” that would replace the James Brown Arena on the corner of Seventh and Fenwick streets with a new 10,000-seat facility, which would remain in the “downtown footprint.”

I must have misread the article when it said downtown footprint.

[Pu239]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

What do you mean by really? What's wrong with that idea?

The county will not properly maintain Riverwalk or Broad Street.... what do you think will become of this "Urban park?"

Not to mention that much of the land you speak of is/was part of the Gas Company Cleanup. Just wait until demo starts on JBA...

Hello EPA... Diesel Fuel? I don't smell any diesel fuel...

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Pu239

The county will not properly maintain Riverwalk or Broad Street.... what do you think will become of this "Urban park?"

Not to mention that much of the land you speak of is/was part of the Gas Company Cleanup. Just wait until demo starts on JBA...

Hello EPA... Diesel Fuel? I don't smell any diesel fuel...

I understand your concern. I was just suggesting something that has been talked about for years now. The Augusta Commons is nice but I wouldn't consider it a true park. The stretch of Walton Way between the medical district and May Park is full of mostly old abandoned buildings with a few government buildings, plus the canal runs through the area. Build that and put James Brown's statue in the center.

[Pu239]

I also understand wanting to grow... but have a hard time supporting that growth when it always seems we don't have the funding or desire to maintain that what we do have.