1736 Magazine - Fall 2018

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GRADING DOWNTOWN By Damon Cline 6 Downtown development sparks latest downtown score 5 6 2 MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX PUBLIC SAFETY statistically, the central business district’s crime rate is low. But if it doesn’t “feel” safe because of dirty streets, neglected buildings or aggressive panhandlers, residents and visitors will not want to spend time or money downtown. 8 GOVERNMENT If there’s a downtown “champion” on the Augusta Commission, he or she needs to speak up. Despite the risingtide effect of strong central cities, too many local leaders fail to see beyond the confines of their individual districts. 7 HOUSING Increased development of market-rate housing in the urban core will create more economic activity as well as the “18-hour” downtown many young professionals seek. Downtown occupancy rates in the high 90-percent range indicate an appetite for more lofts and condos. 5 PARKING Augusta has no parking management plan – making it a rarity among mid-sized cities. The scarcity of spaces poses the biggest impediment to downtown growth. Decks need to be built, regulations need enforced and locals need to change their mindsets. 7 MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX DEVELOPMENT A $100 million state cyber center, along with multiple private-sector projects – including new hotels and a baseball complex on the North Augusta riverfront – signal an unprecedented uptick in urban core revitalization. ARTS & CULTURE The Miller Theater renovation will help cement the 700 block as Augusta’s “theater district,” but an extension of the Augusta Common would create muchneeded space for public events, while more public art could give the city a greater “sense of place.” INFRASTRUCTURE Uneven sidewalks are as uninviting as downtown’s gateways. Fortunately, shortcomings will be addressed with more than $80 million in transportation tax-funded projects next year. Ongoing maintenance will be key. COMMERCE Downtown has no shortage of bars, restaurants and coffee houses, but there is room for more; and visitors would appreciate more consistent business hours and a greater diversity of offerings. Is it time for more high-volume eateries – i.e. chains – to move in? OVERALL SCORE 5.75 MIN MAX 70 u <strong>1736</strong>magazine.com
Damon Cline, Editor FINAL WORDS Does downtown deserve special consideration? Absolutely. Over the years, people have asked me numerous variations of the same question: “Why does downtown get so much attention?” My usual response: “Why shouldn’t it?” Downtown, after all, is the most tangible indicator of a city’s civic pride, prosperity and overall quality of life. As is the case with most large and mid-sized metro areas, Augusta’s downtown is the one place where its story – past, present and future – is told. It’s where residents and visitors alike can discover Augusta’s identity, character and the thing sociologists and urban planners call “sense of place.” All parts of the city are important; downtown is indispensable. Its iconic landmarks, layout and architecture can’t be replicated, so it is paramount the public and private sectors support, maintain and bolster those critical assets for current and future generations. The necessity of revitalizing Augusta’s urban core was succinctly stated by local businessman Barry Storey, who paraphrased what Denver Mayor Wellington Webb told city leaders in 2015: “He said you’ve got three priorities in this city: ‘No. 1, clean up your living room; No. 2, clean up your living room, and No. 3, clean up your living room.’ And your living room is your downtown.” He’s right. For locals, downtown is everybody’s neighborhood. For visitors, downtown Augusta is the neighborhood they will remember most vividly. Downtown is the face of Augusta. Shouldn’t it have a bright, welcoming smile? Downtown is the heart of Augusta. Shouldn’t it pulsate with vibrancy? Downtown is the soul of Augusta. Shouldn’t it radiate positive energy? When the “why downtown?” question arises, it usually insinuates the central business district receives a disproportionate share of the city treasury, or that other areas are being marginalized at the expense of the city center. The reality is that investment and reinvestment in the urban core – from Harrisburg to Olde Town, from the riverfront to the Laney Walker-Bethlehem – helps boost the city’s overall tax base. Not only that, the cost of providing services in high-density regions is lower than it is in the suburbs and rural areas. More people living, working and playing in the city center is good for everyone. And the good news is, that is happening. Young, single professionals and empty nesters want to be immersed in downtown’s unique entertainment, architecture and cultural milieu. But young families, too, are planting roots in the central city, trading increasingly congested and lengthy suburban commutes for walkable and bikeable neighborhoods. So as this classic Southern city quickly accelerates into the 21st century, it’s imperative that community leaders – public and private – not put a damper on downtown Augusta’s burgeoning renaissance. Yes, after decades of neglect, sometimes-glacially slow progress and the occasional half-baked idea, downtown appears to be getting the attention it deserves. It’s about time.• <strong>1736</strong>magazine.com u 71
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11 Tech-Tonic Shift 14 Residential
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PRESIDENT TONY BERNADOS WELCOME MES
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DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA GEORGIA Nearly $1
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“Tech”-Tonic Shift Fix downtown
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DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA What's Needed? SOM
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Downtown Dwellers Cameron Henry and
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Page 35 and 36: Hawthrone Welcherdirector of the Au
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Page 41 and 42: TURNING BACK THE BLOCK Nonprofit ta
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Page 53 and 54: steady. The upward trajectory we ar
Page 55 and 56: Riverfront at the Depot At a Glance
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Page 61 and 62: PHOTOS BY COOPER CARRY of Augusta,
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1736 Magazine - Fall 2018

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