A $42 million convention center expansion, $46 million juvenile justice center and $4.5 million zip line park are among more than $300 million in building projects sought by Augusta leaders in Sales Tax 9.
Augusta commissioners reviewed an exhaustive project list at a Thursday workshop to begin making choices about what to include in the next special purpose, local option sales tax. Collections are unlikely to start until 2027, when SPLOST 8 ends, but a handful of the projects are already in the works.
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Destination Augusta is backing Project Get Up, a plan to double the size of the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Officials said the downtown center brought $176 million to the local economy since it opened. The plan includes $10.5 million to add 300 spaces to the Reynolds Street Parking Deck.
Commissioner Sean Frantom asked if the expansion was “all or nothing” and whether it accounts for arrival of the new James Brown Arena.
Derek May, president of Azalea Investments, whose holdings include the Marriott, said the proposal is to double the size of the existing center, but that it could be scaled down.
Brendan England, general manager of the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, said conventions such as TechNet are bursting at the seams and having to bring in tents to accommodate them. Some are threatening to go to other cities, he said. The center currently hosts a “one-event show,” while it could accommodate multiple events at once, he said.
Thursday’s presentation was “all, if not 90%” of facility requests made through Central Services and the Finance Department, intended to give commissioners a look at them all, Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse said. It did not include any other infrastructure such as roads or drainage.
Water Park
Not on the list Thursday, but receiving considerable discussion, was a proposal to build a regional water park similar to Splash in the ‘Boro in Statesboro. Interim Central Services Director Ron Lampkin said the Statesboro water park needed about $13-$15 million to get up and running, while Augusta’s proposal lacked a location.
Several commissioners disagreed, saying they were certain Diamond Lakes Regional Park had been the commission’s intended destination for a water park, which was allocated $5 million in “seed money” from SPLOST 8 to get started.
Commissioner Francine Scott said every time she meets with south Augusta groups they ask about the water park. Commissioner Brandon Garrett said he was disappointed the city hadn’t put more time into the project.
Juvenile Court
A home for Augusta Juvenile Court, which was seemingly left out of the Augusta Judicial Center and subsequent building plans, has grown to an estimated $46 million project.
Intended for the city-owned Craig-Houghton Elementary School site by the fairgrounds, it has “morphed into much more than what the original intent was,” Douse said, after input from judges and others.
Additional court personnel, the Department of Family and Children Services and other providers now want space in the “stacked” building proposal, Douse said. The price tag includes $18 million for renovations, $19 million for new construction and $8.7 million for other costs.
Richmond County Correctional Institution
Another project that’s grown in cost is the replacement of the Richmond County Correctional Institution, where Augusta houses state prisoners for work details. After allocating $11 million from SPLOST 8 and issuing debt to get it started, the project needs another $14 million to complete, Lampkin said.
Webster Detention Center
The new figure for adding a 192-bed “pod” and upgrades at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center is estimated at nearly $70 million, Lampkin said. Conditions at the jail created a stir last year and the city agreed to issue bonds to get it started, but they’ll be backed by SPLOST 9 revenue, Douse said.
And many more
Other projects discussed Thursday include:
- $3 million for a “family outdoor adventure center. Linked to Freedom Bridge, it could include a triple zip line, rock climbing and “donut boats,” large inflatable boats for groups. The project was already allocated $1.5 million
- $5.5 million for expansion of the Augusta Animal Services shelter
- $10 million for on-call building needs
- $1.5 million for a new Parks and Recreation headquarters near the current one
- $20 million to replace the Boathouse
- $6 million for the Augusta Marina
- $15 million for Diamond Lakes Regional Park
- $5 million to replace and repair swimming pools
- $2.5 million for May Park
- $30 million for a multi-gym athletics complex
- $10 million for cemeteries
- $3.3 million for Augusta Housing and Community Development office renovations
