Broad Street Reimagined
Recent posts
Recent comments
on Something You Might Not Have Known: Augusta and the first federal agent killed in the line of duty
on Former Augusta man sentenced to prison for multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a mortgage lender
on Former Augusta man sentenced to prison for multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a mortgage lender
on Former Augusta man sentenced to prison for multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a mortgage lender
on Former Augusta man sentenced to prison for multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a mortgage lender
on Former Augusta man sentenced to prison for multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a mortgage lender
on Columbia County School Board tentatively approves budget, addresses building updates and policies
on Columbia County School Board tentatively approves budget, addresses building updates and policies
on Augusta Economic Development Authority issues a statement on C4 Live and XPR Augusta concert series
on Augusta Economic Development Authority issues a statement on C4 Live and XPR Augusta concert series
on Augusta Economic Development Authority issues a statement on C4 Live and XPR Augusta concert series
on Gene mutations that contribute to head and neck cancer also provide ‘precision’ treatment targets
on Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Book banning discussions have diverted attention from other issues
““The ultimate goal for all of the projects is to improve the function and esthetic appearance of the downtown area,” ”
If the city converts all the free parking currently on broad to “multi-modal”, no one’s going to notice. Stop paying the consultants for bad ideas.
A little background on why the JB statue is not raised: The sculptor saw JB as a man of the people, and as such, created the statue with the intent that it be installed at grade level to allow people to walk up to the statue and take their picture. There were some that saw this as demeaning, so a platform was designed to invoke the image of a stage, which was appropriate considering his legacy. This still allowed for his fans to interact and take photos. The designers may want to take this into consideration. Raising the statue higher may put him of the same physical level as others in downtown, but it then makes him just one more inaccessible dead guy.
Frantom probably does not remember the treeless Broad Street, unbearable in summer. Great cities have trees: Paris, Berlin, Florence, The Hague.
No need to go so far. Look at Greenville, SC.
Why can’t the commissioners put this much effort and money into providing a fully-staffed sheriff’s department, street lights that work, consistent garbage collection, department operations that comply with federal and state regulations, and a DA staff to prosecute violent criminals and keep them off the streets?
“Frantom said his concern was the landscape and having so many trees when the city already has a tough time maintaining trees.” Hey Captain Obvious, Augusta cannot maintain anything – Riverwalk, street sweepers, trash trucks, mounted police force and stable, Aquatic Center, buses that look like trolleys, storm water systems, cracked and uneven sidewalks, financial records, city administrators, transparency, integrity, and honesty.
Leave the James Brown statue where it is. Put up a statue of Justice Clarence Thomas.
Downtown certainly is vehicle centric and needs to remain so. We have a lively and growing entertainment district and these eggheads want to alter that? How stupid.
We have trees and sidewalks…they need to cleaned up on a regular basis.
Wanna develop something…Ellis Street is prime.
Have access issues I agree in making more handicapped parking places.
Bicycles coexist with pedestrians already on the sidewalks of downtown.
As currently, and have worked in downtown since 1977, with a 5 year interlude in West Augusta , have seen alot, especially the great demise in 1978-79 of the Malls opening, with merchants leaving to move there. Then, with less head-count downtown, existing retail stores(Woolworths, H.L.Green’s, Wilkinson’s Hot Dogs, Revco Drugs…etc) simply closed.
Several observations:
Commissioners Frampton and Garrett, are asking practical, common sense questions, but “are they heard?”
My experience in 40 years is seeing a price-tag of $25,000,000 on these huge plans, with Not one-cent being spent on the actual project.
Visiting downtown Chattanooga, TN, 20 years ago, with their being similar in size to Augusta and have a River, an abandoned bridge, and had a declined downtown area. HAS ANYONE GONE TO CHATTANOOGA AND CONSULTED THEIR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & CITY FATHERS? What they did, was to take the downtown, with a condemned bridge, and created a thriving, small-business retail environment.
I immediately noticed, off-street parking lots; every street was well-lighted; a constant police presence(on foot, quiet, visible); no hobos or street-people allowed(if present, discretely escorted away). Music playing from restaurants, shops, taverns, and theatre. People strolling and crossing the bridge to venues on the other side (which could be what Hamburg/North Augusta needs to get active in, as Garrett questioned).
Thank you, Sylvia for another great article, pointing to Augusta, “who’s on first, what’s on second, when’s on third… and a $25,000,000 study done in 2016… and this is 2022.
“Let’s go, Times a-wasting’… Song by Carl Smith and June Carter Cash.
I’m waiting to see what’s planned for the Confederate Memorial Monument.
Nestled in the trees between 7th and 8th Streets, it’s majestic and plenty historic.
Leave the trees, clean up the doorways, and sidewalks. Including the panhandlers.
Downtown is finally recovering, let the business’ manage without the “professional and expensive planners”.
Thank you for your wonderful column
Some of the replies were spot on,
however Frampton’s idiotic remarks that we need fewer trees took the cake.
The other responders that said we should see what Chattanooga, Greenville and I will add Columbus, Ga
Is very relevant. HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET THIS DONE AND NOT BE ANOTHER COLOSSEUM DEBACLE
It is so sad that so many people have not noticed how they put “shade covers” along this section of Broad street, 8-9th at the James Brown liniar Park dropping the drivable traffic to “ONE LANE” in each direction. JUST HOW STUPID do you have to be to do that to downtown. Your article should have shown all of the renderings for your customers to see this.