History
Augusta Tomorrow began out of concern for a dying downtown and the negative economic results. Like many cities across the country, the economic lifeblood largely in the form of retail and professional services was moving to the suburbs. Growth of the suburbs post World War II took the downtowns and recast them in the form of suburban malls where the markets had moved. During the fall of 1978 Augusta Mall and Regency Mall opened a week apart of each other and enticed many of the merchants in the central business district to relocate. Nearly two million square feet of retail space from the downtown area relocated and to the malls. Downtown Augusta was left with the debilitating effects of losing so much retail. Boarded-up storefronts and vacant buildings soon dominated what had been a bustling regional downtown shopping area.
Hugh Connolly, president of Sherman & Hemstreet Realtors and Monty Osteen, president of Bankers First (formerly First Federal & Loan Association), asked whether a city needed a traditional downtown. From conversations with urban experts and economists throughout the country, it became clear that it was critical to the well being of the City to have an economically vibrant downtown.
George M. Brady, Jr., president, National Corporation for Housing Partnerships, suggested a meeting to Connolly and Osteen with Leo Molinero, president of American City Corporation of Columbia, Maryland and a subsidiary of The Rouse Company to discuss Augusta's potential. A healthy city center was vital to the economy of the region.Downtown revitalization had become a major issue in the mayoral campaign of the late 1970s; at least 3 candidates had revitalization planks in their platforms including Ed McIntyre. Connolly and Osteen enlisted the support of local business leadership and the newly elected Mayor, Edward M. McIntyre, to explore possible ways to create revitalization pathways. Molinero recommended creation of a public/private partnership between city government and private business as the most effective form to achieve success. It would take private enterprise and know-how and municipal government backing to put together an effective program of this magnitude.
1/82 - Augusta Tomorrow was formed with an initial board of eleven members.
3/22/82 - the City of Augusta together with Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. commissioned the American City Corporation to conduct a six-month study of the entire downtown area and the riverfront and produce a viable plan for its revitalization. The $120,000 fee was paid 1/2 by the City of Augusta and 1/2 by the Augusta Tomorrow board.
9/82 - The American City Corporation presented its plan, the 1982 Master Plan, called A Strategy for Downtown Development, to the City of Augusta and Augusta Tomorrow, Inc.. American City Corporation planners studied all aspects of the city and found room for expansion and promotion of a medical complex, tourist attractions, historical sites and an economic base. They also found obstacles and challenges - a downtown suffering from an image problem, little attempt to promote tourism, too few convention facilities and an inadequate effort to seek non-industrial business to the downtown area.
The 1982 downtown Master Plan called for 20 first priority projects that included development of office space, specialty retail and restaurants, public space improvements, convention and tourist attractions and parking accommodations. The Master Plan expanded the central business area to include Olde Town, the Medical Center area and the Laney Walker neighborhood. A specific recommendation was to develop a neighborhood commercial center on Laney Walker Blvd.The riverfront offered the greatest opportunity to develop Augusta's tourist and convention industry. The Master Plan recommended riverfront improvements in the form of an esplanade/overlook, a hotel-convention center, marina development and office space development. These riverfront developments were recommended to focus attention on the City's heretofore undeveloped and inaccessible Savannah River waterfront.
Two Conditions Precedent to the 1982 Master Plan
None of the first master plan initiatives could have happened without first satisfying two essential conditions. The first was amending the 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act. Augusta 10th District Congressman Doug Barnard and South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond worked in Washington, D.C. to create legislation that allowed the U.S. Congress to amend the 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to breach the 30 foot high Savannah River levee in downtown Augusta. The second condition that had to be met was removal of the Seaboard Coast Line Railway tracks paralleling the levee. Augusta Tomorrow board members and then Mayor Charles DeVaney met in Jacksonville, Florida with the vice president of operations for the Seaboard Coast Line Railway. Subsequently, the tracks were removed from the levee with relocation of the tracks and rerouting of the trains implemented. These two events enabled development of the RiverWalk. Overcoming these major obstacles of penetrating the levee and removing the spur railway line paralleling the levee are examples of how a strong public/private partnership can overcome incredible odds.
11/5/82 - Augusta Tomorrow incorporated as a non-profit organization.
12/20/82 - Official contract executed with American City Corporation on behalf of the Augusta City Council and Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. to implement the proposed $116 million Master Plan revitalization effort for downtown Augusta. The fee of $240,000 was again paid 1/2 by the City of Augusta and 1/2 by Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. The initial efforts concentrated on the riverfront improvements as they would make the biggest impact on the local market. This resulted in work being started on such major projects as The Augusta Riverfront Hotel and Convention Center, the Amphitheater, Riverwalk and related esplanade improvements. American City Corporation, working as consultants and advisors, was the arm that undertook the initial planning and implementation of the first phase of projects called for by the Master Plan.
8/84 - A grant from the Department of Natural Resources was received for the first phase of development of 1.2 acres of the Bay Street Esplanade (renamed Riverwalk) to include trails, a passive park and related support facilities.
8/84 - Augusta Tomorrow established its own office with support staff to continue implementation of the downtown improvements. The office, under an agreement with the City, also provided administrative staff services for the Augusta Port Authority and the Augusta Canal Authority.
9/84 - The Augusta Tomorrow board hired an executive director and opened the office parttime through the remainder of the year. The office opened fulltime on January 1, 1985. Up until the executive director was hired, American City Corporation was an integral part of Augusta Tomorrow.
1/85 - Golf Expo contract executed with Cambridge Seven Associates.
6/85 - 9/88 - Cotton Exchange Building was purchased by Augusta Tomorrow from J. W. Porter to protect it from acquisition by unprincipled speculators or by those who might not direct its future utilization toward involvement in the evolving Master Plan for downtown revitalization, particularly development along the Savannah River. The purchase and carrying expenses were borne by Augusta Tomorrow's members until September 1988 when Bill Moore purchased the property from Augusta Tomorrow (which received no profit) and began his restoration work.
6/85 - Memorandum of understanding signed between City and Seaboard Railroad on abandonment of rail lines along the levee.
1985 - Breaching the Levee - A History
A fortunate set of circumstances allowed for the breaching of the levee and subsequent development of the RiverWalk. The creation of the first segment of RiverWalk involved two things - relocation of the railroad tracks and an Act of the U.S. Congress providing enabling legislation to allow the levee to be breached. Doug Bernard, who was elected to Congress, was very much interested in Augusta. He was instrumental in creating legislation that allowed the levee to be breached.
The railroad tracks ran along the levee and came up 6th St. turning west right along the levee. This was the Old Charleston and Western Carolina line that still makes the run to Spartanburg. The levee couldn't be breached while the tracks were there. The old Georgia Railroad and Banking Company was charged in 1833 to do two things: build a railroad from Augusta to Atlanta and also have banking powers. They eventually leased the Georgia Railroad to the Seaboard Coastline with a 99-year lease. The Georgia Railroad and Banking Company became a subsidiary of First Railroad and Banking. There was a corporate restructuring and First Railroad and Banking Company was created in the early 1950s. The 99-year lease continued of the railroad tracks and properties until the late 1980s. The Vice President of operations for Augusta's First Railroad and Banking was located in Jacksonville. When the issue about removing the railroad tracks was broached, Charlie Presley, Hugh Connolly and Charles DeVaney went to Jacksonville to meet with the vice president of operations. While in Jacksonville, it was discovered that there were many personal connections between the vice president for operations and Augusta, and the negotiations took on a new personal basis. By that time, this vice president had a very influential position with the railroad, and he was very helpful in shifting the spur track to go in the other direction - east off of 6th Street. The train tracks were subsequently removed from the levee.
2/7/86 - Groundbreaking begins for the Savannah River levee breach, construction of the brick walkway esplanade on top of the levee as well as an overlook and various seating areas.
2/23/86 - The Lafayette Center opens its doors on what was considered the worst block of Broad Street. The Lafayette Center was the largest restoration project in the State of Georgia up to this point. The restoration encompassed the entire 9th and Broad St. block which reached from MCcartan St. to 10 St. and from Broad St. to Jones St. . Due to Augusta Tomorrow's dedication to the restoration of downtown Augusta, Augusta Tomorrow was a recipient of a award from The Georgia Trust for its work on the Lafayette Center project, Monty Osteen graciously accepted the award in the behalf of Augusta Tomorrow.This marked the first large project of many to come in Augusta Tomorrow's history.
1985-1992 Development of the Augusta Riverfront Project.
One cannot look at the development of the Augusta riverfront without talking both about the RiverWalk and the Riverfront Project. The Riverfront Project includes the office building that currently houses the Morris Museum of Art plus the Marriott (formerly Radisson) Conference Center and Hotel & Suites. Development of the Riverfront Project was only accomplished by vision and determination by Bankers First Bank, Augusta Tomorrow members and the City of Augusta. Beginning in 1985, Bankers First started assembling parcels of riverfront property that eventually made up the large tract of land that was developed as the Riverfront Project. In addition to the assemblage of land parcels, the Project needed major funding to proceed. In 1986, Bankers First with the City of Augusta started investigating the possibility of obtaining a UDAG (Urban Development Action Grants) grant from HUD. In July 1987, Bankers First signed a contract with Mr. Wade Burns, an Atlanta developer, for UDAG consulting services. The UDAG Grant was approved on November 30, 1987 for $7.6 million. In early 1987, Bankers First, the City of Augusta and the Webb Co. of Lexington, Kentucky executed a letter of intent to develop the Augusta Riverfront Center. In 1987, discussions began with prospective tenants of the office building. The UDAG grant approval was only the first step in securing funding for the project. It took until late 1989 for the financing to all come together. The country was going through its worst financial crisis in the post war period and banks did not want to engage in commercial real estate loans. The environment was very hostile for a type of project such as this one. Bailey and Associates replaced the Web Company as the project developer. A private sector investment partnership made an equity investment in the project of over $9.0 million In addition to this funding, these private investors and the City of Augusta signed long-term leases for over 100,000 sq. ft. in the proposed office building to insure financing and sufficient cash flow. These first long-term lessees were all members of Augusta Tomorrow, Inc., Bankers First, Dr. Louis Battey, City of Augusta, Georgia Power, Kuhlke Properties and Morris Communications. Even with all of the above, the lending institution still balked. At this point, Billy Morris agreed to add financial strength to the loan. This ultimately satisfied the bank, and a $17.0 million loan was secured. Without the commitment by Billy Morris, the project would have not become a reality.
With the development of this hotel and convention center, Augusta became a major factor in the medium size convention business in the region. In order to compete, other cities in the region had to make significant upgrades in their convention and hotel facilities.
4/1/88 - RiverWalk is dedicated. This date marks the ribbon cutting and official opening of the RiverWalk
RiverWalk on the Levee - A Short History
RiverWalk was a catalyst for increasing the interest in development approximate to the river. The Canal Authority, in part, came out of that interest. The RiverWalk was not only a project unto itself and justified itself for its own sake, but it also was a catalyst for creating interest in the downtown area. The RiverWalk was completed in three stages:
- First stage included renovations up to 8th St.
- Second stage included the amphitheater
- Third stage complimented the creation of the Radisson and One 10th St.
Where the RiverWalk ends shows exactly what the levee looked like minus the train tracks.
5/4/89 Ground breaking for Phase IV of Riverfront improvements including an 1800 seat amphitheater, continuing the the walkway (esplanade) on top ot the levee west to 9th Street, continuing the lower walk to the amphitheater and extensive landscaping and lighting.
3/14/1991 - Port Royal Project finished. The project includes 57 condominium units and 120,000 square feet of retail space.
Spring 1992 - Radisson Riverfront Hotel and the Augusta Riverfront Convention Center opens consisting of a 35,000 square foot convention center, 125,000 square feet of offices and a 225 room Radisson Hotel.
October 7, 1993: Groundbreaking for the Marina and Extension of the Riverwalk.
October 23, 1993: RiverWalk Augusta receives an Excellence on the Waterfront award in the parks and recreation category in a juried competition sponsored by the Waterfront Center in Washington, D.C. at its annual conference. This international panel noted the long history that Augusta has had with the Savannah River and that tackling the 75-year-old levee, Augusta had to obtain an act of Congress to allow the levee to be breached to provide access at key points.
12/7/93 - Groundbreaking for the Marina and Extension of the Riverwalk.
1995 - With the 1982 Master Plan well underway, the City of Augusta and Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. realized that the impact of the large amount of investment along the riverfronthad not been felt in other parts of the downtown, most notably along Broad Street. The 1995 Master Plan Update proposed ways to link, physically and economically, the riverfront to Broad Street and the central core of downtown. On a larger scale, this new Plan also first addressed linking Augusta's largest employment center, the "Hospital Complex" composed of the downtown hospitals with the downtown core. The 1995 Plan Update also proposed the creation of a new economic development initiative, the "Enterprise Research Center", as a way to provide a physical and economic linkage to the downtown area from the "Hospital Complex." The idea of a Performing Arts Center was first disucssed in this Master Plan Update, although as a second priority project that needed further investigation. The City of Augusta and Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. again entered into a tru public-private partnership providing equal funding for this new Master Plan Update. LDR International was hired to provide an updated plan to continue to guide downtown Augusta's direction.
4/23/97: Dedication of The National Science Center Fort Discovery. The National Science Center was created under Congressional authority.
1998: Enterprise Mill renovated. Enterprise Mill was originally known as Coleman's Granite Flour Mill and was built in 1848. The Mill is the oldest surviving structure on the Augusta Canal. In 1875 the Canal was enlarged, and the Mill was expanded to house the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, the first large-scale textile mill to use the increased waterpower. The Mill continued to operate, relying on hydropower derived from the Canal, until it closed in 1983. After massive renovations, the mill reopened in 1998.
1998: Greater Augusta Progress, Inc., a child of Augusta Tomorrow, Inc., became the incorporated entity to implement strategic initiatives for South Richmond County. In 1998, several commissioners asked Augusta Tomorrow to assist South Richmond County put together a development plan. A plan was not in place, the residents were frustrated, there was urban blight all around and Regency Mall had closed. The Commissioners requested that Augusta Tomorrow apply some of the successful initiatives that it had completed in urban planning and redevelopment to South Richmond County. A strategic assessment of the entire Augusta-Richmond County was needed. LDR International was commissioned to complete this strategic assessment.
1995 Master Plan Update Notable Projects Completed
2000 Downtown Master Plan Update - In 2000, Augusta Tomororw alone contracted wtih LDR International, Inc. to update the 1995 Master Plan Update. The 2000 update was not a comprehensive update but rather a task-oriented update of the 1995 Master Plan Update.
In addition to 10 First Priority Projects, this Master Plan Update addressed larger issues such as:
5/15/01: 2000 Master Plan Update approved by the Augusta Commission.
6/01/01: Camille A. Price assumed the position of Chief Administrative Officer.
October 2001: Country Suites Augusta Riverwalk opens.
2/10/02: Springfield Village Park Dedication and unveiling of the sculpture The Tower of Aspirations by preeminent American sculptor Richard Hunt.
10/26/02: Official opening of the Augusta Common.
02/06/03: Oglethorpe Statue Dedication. A life-size statue of General James Edward Oglethorpe was dedicated on the Augusta Common. This $100,000 statue was commissioned and funded totally by the members of Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. The statue depicts General Oglethorpe in civilian clothes in his mid-30s, his age when he founded Augusta in 1736. The only other life-size statue of General Oglethorpe in Georgia is in Savannah and depicts him as an older man in military uniform.
04/17/03: The Augusta Canal National Heritage Interpretive Center is dedicated. This $3 million center has taken more than two years to plan and build.
September 2003: Georgia Bank and Trust Company purchased the Cotton Exchange from William W. Moore.
September 2004: After extensive renovations, Georgia Bank and Trust Company opened office at the Cotton Exchange maintaining the integrity of the Cotton Exchange heritage.
September 2004: Augusta Tomorrow unveils an update to the 2000 City Center Master Plan Map. This 2004 Downtown Master Plan Map Update was hand rendered by an architectural illustrator, plans by downtown organizations were included on the map and the map was digitized so it can be updated easily as buildings and plans change in Augusta's City Center. Over 25 downtown organizations endorsed the new map.
October 2004: For the first time in Augusta Tomorrow's twenty-two year history, the governing board took a political stand on SPLOST V and the government process that allowed this massive spending proposal. The following Press Release was sent on October 15, 2004: "Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. is opposed to the SPLOST V and encourages government reform: For the past 22 years, the mission of Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. has been "to serve the community at large by planning, promoting, and implementing the revitalization and development of Augusta with particular emphasis on the city center." As an organization, we have seen the economic and quality of life benefits in our community of SPLOSTs. I - IV. We absolutely support the SPLOST concept and have supported each of the previous SPLOSTs and the benefits they bring to our community. We now find ourselves compelled to oppose the current SPLOST V package that was approved by the city commission and will appear as a referendum on the November ballot. We oppose SPLOST V because it expects Augusta to support a huge financial burden for 14-15 years at a time when Augusta?s tax base is dwindling and the government is splintered. SPLOSTS I - IV each ran 4-5 years. Who can say what unexpected problems or opportunities may occur during the next 15 years and we will be unable to respond because our hands are tied to the 14-15 year SPLOST?"
The commissioners asked the citizens to speak and then did not listen to them. The members of the citizens committee, appointed by the commission, listened to what our citizens wanted by attending public hearings throughout the city. Their recommendations totaled $352 million. The commission changed, deleted, added and altered these recommendations bringing the SPLOST V total to $478 million. This is a $126 million increase in cost over what the citizens felt was appropriate and needed for Augusta. Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. cannot support the changes that were made or the financially imprudent manner in which they were made.
The present form of Augusta's government allows for this to happen and needs to be reformed. Current structure puts more emphasis on individual districts rather than the community as a whole.
There are many worthwhile projects that are needed for Augusta that are in SPLOST V. We, the Augusta community, have an entire year to make SPLOST V workable. Augusta Tomorrow stands committed with the rest of the community to make these projects a reality. We can then bring the SPLOST sales tax back for a vote in November 2005 with projects the majority of the community agrees upon.
Based on our history of 22 years of commitment to Augusta, we stand ready to help the city commission or a citizens group they appoint to develop a SPLOST package worthy of this community's support.We would also welcome the opportunity to be part of a task force that evaluates the present government structure and makes fact based recommendations on reform.
11/5/04: The Augusta Common Service Center was opened on the northeast corner of the Augusta Common.
5/6/05: Statue honoring Mr. James Brown was dedicated in the Broad Street median at the Augusta Common.
10/20/05: The Augusta Commission honed the list of proposed SPLOST projects to a total of $124 million. Augusta Tomorrow and many community groups officially supported this revised SPLOST V proposal.
November 2005: SPLOST V passes.
6/1/06: The sculpture "And They Went Down Both into the Water" was unveiled at Springfield Village Park by renowned sculptor Richard Hunt.
6/29/06: The Augusta Commission approved the sale of the city property (Pension Property) to Mr. Harry E. Kitchen, Jr. for condominium development. In December 2005, Augusta Tomorrow board members started the discussions between Mr. Kitchen and the Mayor.
7/10/07: Augusta Commission approves downtown Business Improvement District (BID).
3/26/08: Business Improvement District official debut as the Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative (CADI).
10/07:Project Oversight Task Force convened to hire a planning firm and shepherd the Master Plan process through to completion and provide input and direction to the Planning Firm hired.
3/10/08:ICON Architecture, Inc. introduced as the Planning Firm to develop a new Urban Area Master Plan for Augusta and North Augusta. ICON Architecture, Inc. spent the next year developing an integrated Master Plan with tremendous community input and many meetings in Augusta and North Augusta.
2/4/09: ICON Architecture, Inc. presented the 2009 Master Plan to Mayor Copenhaver of Augusta and Mayor Jones of North Augusta in a special presentation in the middle of the 5th Street Bridge.
2/4/09: ICON Architecture, Inc. unveiled the 2009 Master Plan to a standing room only gathering at St. Paul's Church.
3/2/09: North Augusta City Council unanimously endorsed 2009 Master Plan.
3/2/09: Augusta Commission unanimously endorsed 2009 Master Plan.
Augusta Tomorrow's ultimate goal:
Restore the vibrancy and vitality and the economic growth to the urban area. By doing so, it returns to the city the value the city deserves to have in the form of increased volume and tax base.