Old city jail and General Freight Furniture being demolished (Reynolds: lease, hotel)

[nortonguy]

The old city jail in the CBD(9th street) and General Freight furniture(Walton Way) in the Medical District are being demolished. A Hilton hotel is suppose to replace the city jail unless the brand has changed.

[Airforceguy]

That's good to hear. Do you have a link to this info nortonguy?

[nortonguy]

''And this afternoon commissioners agreed to lease 100 parking spots in the Reynolds Street deck to the owners of the Marriott. The lease agreement says the spaces will be used for a hotel. But the agreement also calls for a new pedestrian bridge to be built across ninth street for the hotel. And another bridge across Reynolds Street to the Convention Center.''

Commission clears path for new downtown hotel | WJBF-TV

[Pu239]

Pedestrian bridge eh? Starting to sound like another "air rights" sale...

[urbandevelopment]

Pedestrian bridges from a parking garage to a specific building in an urban setting is not good urban planning
Downtown Augusta needs way more people on the sidewalks
A pedestrian bridge allows someone to park their car in a garage and walk into a hotel or convention center and never step foot on a downtown sidewalk

[nortonguy]

Rendering

[luke2401]

I am experiencing some Déjà vu--anybody else remember them saying their wasn't a necessity a few years ago when they denied the pedestrian bridge across Reynolds? And I totally agree with you urbandevelopment--they do need to get people on the sidewalk

[luke2401]

Is all of this a part of the plan from the business owners that also supported finishing the Common to the river? When is the Common extension going to happen?

[nortonguy]

Yes, the recent designs of the Augusta Common phase 2 included the hotel and both pedestrian bridges. This will help the case to break ground sooner than later. Phase 2 expands to the river and to Ellis. The rooftop bar in the new hotel overlooking the Augusta Common will quickly become a trendy spot..

[nortonguy]

The pedestrian bridges provide convenience. The person in Augusta for the first time, but doesn't know where to access the convention center.. The single women checking in at 3 am or 4 am. The business man who may arrive in town during hard rain or extremely cold temperatures. The pedestrian bridges won't stop anyone from walking to Broad street, Augusta Common, or the Riverwalk.