Downtown improving with CADI! (Reynolds: 2009, transporting, lofts)

[harrat]

In first year, initiative has impact downtown

The main thrust of Augusta's downtown business improvement district, the Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative -- CADI for short. CADI employees are power washers, tour guides, traffic-control assistants, graffiti removers and parking lot security guards.

"Our downtown is so much friendlier with these guys," said Margaret Woodard, the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta, which oversees the initiative.

CADI is funded through a business improvement district that incorporates 30 downtown blocks. The businesses in the district pay an additional assessment, which totals $400,000 annually, for cleaning and safety services not provided by the city.

Ms. Woodard said ideas are percolating on the possibility of more services in the second year, such as transporting downtown workers to lunch at restaurants.

[harrat]

Terrell Jones, part of the CADI Clean Green Team, pressure washes the sidewalk in front of the Richmond County Board of Education building on Broad Street.

[lolo2]

CADI has done a beautiful job downtown. The downtown area continues to get better. A older building by the common is being revitalized. With another near the common being worked on next.

[lilmusket]

The BID/CADI is one of the best things to happen to downtown. I think this is a great program and hope it is expanded even further. One great thing for them to consider doing is having a Broad Street shuttle on Fri and Saturdays... especially First Fridays (maybe start it out on First Friday).. they could use a converted touring trolley that would make a continuous circuit up and down broad street from 13th to 5th st.. stopping every other block.

[AugustaREGroup]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

The BID/CADI is one of the best things to happen to downtown. I think this is a great program and hope it is expanded even further. One great thing for them to consider doing is having a Broad Street shuttle on Fri and Saturdays... especially First Fridays (maybe start it out on First Friday).. they could use a converted touring trolley that would make a continuous circuit up and down broad street from 13th to 5th st.. stopping every other block.

Talk about a great idea that would especially help Old Towne

[Augustabuckeye]

Originally Posted by lolo2

CADI has done a beautiful job downtown. The downtown area continues to get better. A older building by the common is being revitalized. With another near the common being worked on next.

What buildings by the commons are being revitalized? I haven't seen anything recently...

[AugustaREGroup]

"The commons have plans for a hotel popping up around them." Can anyone confirm this? Rumor I heard from a local architect

[Augustabuckeye]

Originally Posted by AugustaREGroup

"The commons have plans for a hotel popping up around them." Can anyone confirm this? Rumor I heard from a local architect

Last year a developer made a big splash about building a hotel, lofts and retails space in the area between 9th and the Commons (between Broad and Reynolds). He stated his goal was to have it completed by this Masters...Obviously noting has been done. That is the only thing that I have heard of...

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by AugustaREGroup

"The commons have plans for a hotel popping up around them." Can anyone confirm this? Rumor I heard from a local architect

I remember hearing a big announcement about this a cpl of years ago, around the same time The Watermark Project was announced. We all know what happend to The Watermark. This was before the downturn in the economy.. I have heard and read nothing about this project in many months and suspect that the souring economy has placed this project in hibernation like so many others. Hopefully when the economy improves will will see this move forward. It would be a major boost for downtown.