Looks like 2017 will be a big year for Downtown Augusta (Calhoun: real estate, apartments)

[Airforceguy]

In Damon Cline's latest column he discusses several major projects that are planned for Downtown. What I'm most excited about is the redevelopment of the old sky city department site, the train Depot announcement that could come as early as February, the 15 apartments planned for 901 Broad St and the mixed use project planned for the Lamar and Marion buildings. I think Augusta may finally begin to see critical mass build in the urban core. The future is certainly bright for Downtown Augusta.

Consider this partial list of recently announced investments that should bear fruit in the central business district next year:

A 125-room hotel at Reynolds Street and James Brown Boulevard: Augusta Riverfront LLC is developing the limited-service hotel on a half-acre parcel diagonally across from the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, which it owns, and the city’s convention center, which it operates under contract.


A 117-room Hyatt House on the 1200 block of Broad Street: DTJR LLC’s five-story hotel, sited on a 1-acre parcel currently occupied by an empty bank office, will include a 140-space parking deck and roughly 7,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

A new visitors center and offices for the Augusta Convention &Visitors Bureau: The marketing organization plans to turn the former Whitehouse Antiques building at 1010 Broad St. into offices for itself and the Augusta Sports Council, as well as a new visitors center to replace the one at the Augusta Museum of History.

Renovation of the SunTrust Building. The recent purchase of the 135,000-square-foot mid-rise at 801 Broad St. by Augusta-based Broad &Eleventh Street LLC includes substantial renovations designed to attract new tenants to the 1960s-era office building.

Sibley Mill redevelopment: Cape Augusta’s multi-phase transformation of the historic textile mill into a high-tech office complex and data center called Augusta Cyberworks has attracted Augusta-based IT services firm EDTS and Maryland-based cybersecurity training firm UMBC Training Centers as tenants.

Enterprise Mill renovation: The mill’s recent acquisition by a young and energetic real estate investor from Coral Gables, Fla., should result in some much-needed improvements and renewed tenant interest in the landmark canalside property.

Continued buildout of Unisys’ downtown offices: The recently renovated second floor of Discovery Plaza (aka the Port Royal building) has given the global tech giant a total of 74,000 square feet of space, enabling it to boost employment at the customer service and security support center to at least 700 employees.

Now consider this partial list of pending deals and yet-to-be-finalized plans:

The acquisition of the Lamar and Marion buildings: The two historic Broad Street office buildings – the former mostly vacant and the latter mostly gutted – are prime for mixed-use redevelopment. Both 700 block buildings are said to be under contract and set for a closing later this month. The deal’s broker, Blanchard &Calhoun’s Davis Beman, says to expect an announcement by the new owners in January.

Possible hotel development on the 1100 block of Broad Street: The former Sky City department store and four surrounding parcels on Broad Street’s 1100 block was acquired over the fall by a South Carolina-based hotel developer. Details on the project, which involve a city-approved alleyway abandonment, are expected to be unveiled early next year.

Sale and redevelopment of the city’s railroad depot property: Augusta’s Downtown Development Authority said it is on schedule to broker a public-private deal with a Birmingham, Ala.,-based developer interested in turning the riverfront property at the corner of Reynolds and Sixth streets into a mixed-use development. Approval could come as early as February.

Renovation of 901 Broad Street. The owners of the long and narrow corner building just a stone’s throw from the city convention center has sought DDA assistance to help finance a renovation that would put 15 apartment units over 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Keep in mind, these are just partial lists. I have no doubt there are many other plans for downtown projects sitting on the desks of local engineering firms, attorneys, bankers and others who make the real estate world go round.

The city core has yet to reach its full potential, but it’s clear the “critical mass” of residents, workers and visitors that local leaders have long hoped for is finally coming to downtown Augusta.

Scuttlebiz: Robust year means a good 2017 for downtown | The Augusta Chronicle

[nortonguy]

Sibley Mill is actually located within the Harrisburg neighborhood and not the CBD. Great list of projects and exciting times happening throughout downtown Augusta.