Citizen comments will be heard on the proposed design of the new North Augusta Public Safety Headquarters during a Nov. 17 meeting.
The informal public meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Palmetto Terrace at the Municipal building. Because it is not being held in council chambers, the meeting will not be livestreamed.
Representatives from the architect, Johnson, Laschober & Associates, will be on hand with the site plan and renderings of the building.
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City Administrator Jim Clifford said they held a similar meeting for the new fire station #1 being built on Martintown Road at Observatory Avenue. That resulted in citizen concerns about the retention pond.
“Knowing that’s a concern of the existing neighbors, that’s already been factored into the design, to first have an underground retention pond on that site, as opposed to having a pit, if you will,” he explained. “Ultimately, that shows we will take some input seriously, the ones that we can integrate into the overall design, aesthetic. Then, I’d like to be able to continue to move forward on our design process.”
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Clifford also updated councilmembers during the Nov. 15 meeting on the progress at preparing the site. Work began Nov. 1 to remove dead trees and underbrush.
He explained crews from the city’s public service department have opened the view into the property, especially from Georgia Avenue. He said there’s more to do but using the city crews have saved the city money in the long term.
Clifford also said they have received information from an asbestos survey done on the old motel. Asbestos was found in the floor tiles but nowhere else in that building.
“We are in the process now of retaining bids for abatement work. Once I have those in hand and a low bid procured, I will come back to the council for a contract requirement,” he explained.
Once the asbestos is removed, city crews will be able to demolish the building, rather than paying an outside contractor.
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Originally, the plan was to build on East Buena Vista Avenue near the current headquarters, but since the plan was presented to council in September 2020, site and construction cost estimates increased by about $850,000 more than the location on Georgia Avenue.
Selection of the Georgia Avenue location has been opposed by residents, especially those along Observatory and Butler Avenues. They pointed to the impact on their residential neighborhoods along with the historic nature of the site, commonly referred to as the Flythe/Seven Gables property.
The site was part of a hunting lodge built by North Augusta’s founder, James U. Jackson. The lodge supported visitors to another Jackson property, the Hampton Terrace Hotel, that was lost in a 1916 fire. Historic North Augusta and the Punch and Judy Theater have both expressed interest in restoring and using the two original structures that remain on the property.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
