Education Edition - 1736 Magazine, Fall 2019

The historic train depot at 6th and Reynolds streets would be transformed into a restaurant and retail bazaar under a mixed-use
development proposal in its final stages of approval. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
“We would like to see art shows, market-type
events and maybe food trucks,” Carpenter said.
“We intend to have a video screen where we can
have movie nights or broadcast sports events and
other things that would encourage the public and
downtown residents to come out.”
BLOC Global, which is developing the 6-acre,
city-owned tract through a venture called Augusta
Developers LLC, has engaged in similar publicprivate
ventures where greenspace has been a
crucial amenity.
The development and consulting firm was
involved in assembling the land for Birmingham’s
Railroad Park, a 19-acre greenspace in the city’s
downtown that has often been referred to as
“Birmingham’s Living Room.” The area that
spans four city blocks is situated along the Norfolk
Southern and CSX rail lines that run through the
city’s downtown district.
The project, which opened in 2010, is a popular
recreation spot for downtown residents and
students of the nearby University of Alabama at
Birmingham campus. The area was previously a
warehouse district.
“We have seen around that park, since its
completion, tremendous economic growth with
mixed-use developments,” Carpenter said.
BLOC Global’s Riverfront at the Depot development
aims to bring the same vitality to Broad
Street’s east end by turning the long-vacant city
owned parcel along the riverfront into a retail and
entertainment destination similar to Atlanta’s
Ponce City Market.
The project’s first phase involves renovating the
historic train depot building – the only structure
on the property – into retail and restaurant space.
BLOC Global’s sister company, Retail Strategies,
has been in negotiations with specialty retailers, a
microbrewery and a steakhouse as potential tenants.
Renderings of the project depict an outparcel
development on the corner, directly north of the
Augusta Museum of History.
DEPOT continues on 67
64 | 1736magazine.com
1117_T_62_AM____.indd 64
10/25/2019 12:38:14 PM