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"Bill 449, sponsored by Sens. Hardie Davis and J.B. Powell, would officially disband the state entity that stopped operation on 2007 when Gov. Sonny Perdue cut off funding. Since then, the 16-acre site has gone to seed, and statues of golfers inducted into the hall have been in mothballs until recently.
Now the bill would merely turn control over to the Georgia Department of Economic Development in place of the hall of fame's appointed board. The land would revert to the State Properties Commission that Perdue chairs. If it passes in the Senate, the bill would also have to be approved by the House and Perdue to take effect."
I say try to lure the Georgia Music & Sports Hall of Fame to Augusta. A few from Atlanta have made an offer to Macon, its only right the home of the Master have a dog in this fight. 16 acres is more than enough room for this project. This will give Augusta that legit attraction downtown.
I say either (1) turn the entire space into a public park, like the Augusta Commons, and extend/join it to the Riverwalk, or (2) do away with ALL of the gardens and put in a mixed use development with commercial, apartments (more-so than condos) , etc.
The stadium idea is pretty good, and it would be nice to see it built, but getting it approved is a long shot, and I don't really think it's needed right now.
Last edited by EastsideDave; 03-26-2010 at 05:56 PM..
Location: Augusta, GA ''The fastest rising city in the southeast''
7,508 posts, read 15,101,643 times
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The downtown area can use more condos and apartments. The watermark fell through because the economy tanked. There is a growing market for new condos and apartments downtown.
The Emporium is building condos (10-15) in 2010. Flickr Photo Download: Feb28_016 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22130348@N06/4396262326/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)
There are loft/apartments under construction on 9th street btw the library and judicial center in 2010.
Flickr Photo Download: Feb28_011 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22130348@N06/4396259190/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)
The developer of Atlantic Station(Jim Jacoby) is on the mayors team. He thinks Augusta can support the multi-use stadium idea. The plan will more than likely have greenspace too.
Why only have greenspace? When you could have a baseball stadium, restaurants, greenspace, commercial, condos, retail, etc. The latter would bring ALOT more tax base.
Last edited by nortonguy; 03-26-2010 at 06:25 PM..
Location: Augusta, GA ''The fastest rising city in the southeast''
7,508 posts, read 15,101,643 times
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I think once the Tee Center starts construction in May. Then after the Hyatt, the parking garages, and the 3 story office/commerical building start construction in June. The downtown area will definitely need more condos and apartments. The Holiday Inn Express is supposed to break ground btw August and December. The new library opens in June.
Don't forget Clay Boardman is building Broad Mill Village. And he's renovating William Robinson school into residential. Both are right next to the Kroc Center construction going on.
Our Projects | Augusta Capital (http://www.augustacapital.net/common/content.asp?PAGE=347 - broken link)
That's alot of construction in the CBD and Harrisburg in 2010. After May 2010 downtown won't be the same again.
The problem with these projects is that the jobs that a few hotels is going to provide aren't going to the kind of people that will be buying $200-300K condos, the hotel is going to provide part time minimum wage jobs. William Robinson is in Summberville, not downtown, so that's out. Broad Mill Village is providing residential, so that takes away from a need for condos. I just believe that downtown would have an easier time supporting more apartments than condos, and I believe that the best use for the Gardens property would be from a mixed use development.
Location: Augusta, GA ''The fastest rising city in the southeast''
7,508 posts, read 15,101,643 times
Reputation: 955
lol. I thought I listed the Martha Lester School. Instead of William Robinson. The martha lester school is right next to the Kroc Center. There is a gate surrounding the site. Broad Mill Village and Martha Lester school are going up beside the Kroc Center.
I think that I have to go with the ballpark. I know that it's a longshot, but it would be great for the city. If the city is going to take a chance on building a convention center, why not a ballpark as well? We all know for a fact that the ballpark would bring people downtown. Also, though this is a weak point, most if not all of our peer cities have a ballpark downtown.
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