Members of North Augusta City Council voted unanimously on Monday, Aug. 16 to ask the planning commission to rezone the tract on Georgia Avenue at Observatory and Butler Avenues to “P” for public use. The site, known as the Flythe and Seven Gables property, is currently zoned general commercial and is in the neighborhood preservation overlay.
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City Administrator Jim Clifford briefed council during the study session prior to the regular meeting on the steps taken leading up to the request. At the planning commission, some members didn’t like the look of the building and had concerns about the impact on traffic. At the citizen input meeting, six people spoke with residents on Butler Avenue speaking against the location. Mark Newell of Historic North Augusta was supportive of the location if the two historic structures are preserved.
Ultimately, Clifford said he still recommends the new public safety headquarters be built on the Georgia Avenue property.
“We still think that’s the best location based on the operational requirements of public safety, based on the potential expandability and based on the overall cost,” he said.
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 costs have increased by about $850,000 more than a location on Georgia Avenue known as the Seven Gables property would cost.
Councilman Eric Presnell said, “There is no perfect place, and this is the only land we have. We have got to get moving. These guys deserve much better conditions than that building built in the 1950s is in.”
Councilwoman Jenafer McCauley said the number one thing about the site on East Buena Avenue is the lack of space for expansion.
She said, “I think we have to plan for our future and North Augusta’s going to continue to grow. Making sure we’re planning for that make the Georgia Avenue site the best option that’s been presented to us.”
During the Aug. 16 meeting, Mayor Briton Williams opened the floor to citizen comments. Mike Hitchler, who lives on Georgia Avenue, said he spoke with his neighbors on Observatory Avenue.
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“They all believe that we need to move forward. And there are ways to move forward appropriately,” said Hitchler. “The current layout is good; we have enough room to accommodate green space and preserve those properties.”
The two historic structures on the site are 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.
Fred Ilardi said he remains opposed to using that location and repeated his suggestion the city move into vacant space in the Medac building.
“Thirty thousand square feet at a rental price of $15.00 a square foot or $450,000,” Ilardi said. “The interest payments alone on a loan to build a public safety building would exceed this rental amount.”
Clifford said it is not a wise investment to rent a public safety headquarters, and that it should be owned by the government. Additionally, the building generates roughly $100,000 a year in tax revenue that services the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) which pays the bond payments for Riverside Village. That revenue would be lost if it becomes a government operation.
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Before calling for the vote, Mayor Williams said, “I think this is long overdue. Our current facilities are not adequate. To me, this is about what’s best for 22,000 residents of North Augusta. This allows us to save two historic structures to preserve history, which is very important.”
Clifford anticipates taking the request to the planning commission at its Sept. 16 meeting. If approved, the resolution still faces two readings before council before it is finally approved.
MORE: North Augusta City Council Study Session Sheds Light on City’s Future
There is a website where more information about the project is available. That webpage is found here.
North Augusta has another major public safety project already underway, construction of a new fire station on Martintown Road at Observatory Avenue.
Additional information is available here: https://www.northaugusta.net/FS1
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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