Proposal made on expanding Augusta Common, building new hotel (Columbus: fit in, sales)

[Airforceguy]

I think this is a good idea and would definitely be a boost to downtown.

As Augusta sales tax talks got under way Friday, Paul Simon of Augusta Riverfront LLC pitched a plan that would expand Augusta Common to the Savannah River and put a new hotel at Reynolds Street and James Brown Boulevard.
“This plan will help clean up our downtown,” Simon said. “It will provide open greenspace in the center of the city.”
Plus, it will bolster public support for the Nov. 3 special purpose, local option sales tax referendum, he said.
“Y’all are going to need all the help you can get with the SPLOST,” Simon said.
Augusta Riverfront runs the nearby Marriott at the Convention Center and the city-built Augusta Convention Center and Reynolds Street parking garage. The firm shares management with Morris Communications Co., owner of The Augusta Chronicle.
Simon said he and fellow Augusta native Barry Storey agreed that the time was right for a new hotel downtown and its ideal location is the site of the former Augusta Police Department and city jail building, owned by Storey and located across James Brown Boulevard from the parking deck.
Simon told members of the city’s Economic Development subcommittee his plan fit in well with the enhanced tribute to James Brown they were discussing Friday. Augusta’s statue of James Brown is located at the Broad Street end of the Common.
After the meeting Simon said he wasn’t precisely sure how the property trade would be structured, but Augusta Riverfront would obtain the Storey property to build a 130-room hotel and the city would gain a Morris-owned tract, currently a parking lot, between the existing Common and the river.

Proposal made on expanding Augusta Common, building new hotel | The Augusta Chronicle

[cnd33]

I think this is a great idea, hopefully it actually ends up happening.

[Airforceguy]

To me it will be interesting to see what projects will make the cut for the SPLOST. I believe this SPLOST will be a major boost for the city's infrastructure.

[Mutiny77]

This sounds like an excellent idea. Aside from removing the levee (which would literally take an act of Congress), this is the best thing that can be done to connect the river to the CBD.

[luke2401]

Great to hear that the project planned for 16 years ago may possibly happen.

[luke2401]

Maybe the hotel may be a new addition to the skyline

[GRU_Minion]

Love the concept, but the fact that Paul Simon is involved tells me not to touch it with a 10 foot pole.

[columbusgametro]

downtown augusta needs another tall hotel downtown or another tall condo. augusta needs too build it's skyline up more that way when your coming down the interstate you will see it and it will be more noticeable from the interstate. It looks like columbus ga won't be getting a skyline. And plus if Columbus did ever get a skyline you would not be able too see it from the interstate like you can with augusta and macon and probably savanaah. Because interstate I185 is too far out from downtown. Columbus is just a military dependent town.

[All In for Augusta]

I would still love to have fortune 500 company like Columbus does

[columbusgametro]

Originally Posted by All In for Augusta

I would still love to have fortune 500 company like Columbus does

Columbus ga has five 500 fortune companies here there are aflac,synovus, tsys, carmike cinemas, and char broil they make bbq grills. I thought augusta had a 500 fortune company there. char broil manufaturing plant is a good paying job but it's very dangerous my uncle worked there as a security guard years back and said a man died with the bucket of hot liquid metal over turned on him and burnt him up he died there on the seen.