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Booming on Broad new construction projects such as the TEE Center, the Watermark and a baseball stadium Downtown Augusta is in the midst of a flurry of real estate activity as investors, speculators and business owners from all over the country have been plucking up existing (and sometimes dilapidated) buildings. These individuals have big plans for their new acquisitions. 8 or 9 more projects are happening. [ (1.)Lofty Ideas Building, 8th and Ellis Loudermilk's investment company, Horizon, intends to construct eight high-end apartments and two commercial spaces on the first floor. "These units will probably be about 1,800 square feet, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms apiece," said Loudermilk. "We're also going to have upgraded floors and granite countertops. There's going to be some really nice stuff." (2.) Woolworth's, 8th and Broad the building was purchased last fall by California developers), the new owners of the Woolworth just received a tentative nod of conceptual approval at the last Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Concept drawings show lofts upstairs and several retail spaces downstairs. (3.) Boots Building, 9th and Ellis -Yet another building that has caught Horizon's eye. The high-end condos he intends to build here will each have three floors and boast of tandem garages

Gilbert Manor property deal OK'd Augusta city commissioners voted 9-1 today on a plan that will allow Medical College of Georgia to gain the property of the Gilbert Manor housing project and use it for expansion. The entire medical-dental school construction cost would be more than $200 million. It would also likely make it one of the biggest projects in the city's history. This will help alot with the revitalization that's going on downtown.

A 2 million dollar grant was on the line if the library failed to meet a 2010 deadline. "If we were delayed even by a matter of a few weeks it will be almost impossible to meet that deadline," said Swint. "That is actually one of the reasons that we knew we had to address this, and it was very important to addresses this because we don't get projects like this everyday," said Lorah. No matter how you read into it...it's a new chapter for the library. On one side of the street is the old 30,000 sq. ft. structure, and on the other side of the street...a new 90,000 sq. ft. structure is planned. "This is much larger than we can ever dream of," said Mashell Fashion who is assistant director of the library. This is a $24 million project. That $2 million we mentioned is grant money from the state. Library downtown set to begin

North Augusta's New Family Y Expansion Opens The Family Y is expanding. Its newest branch opened in North Augusta. The 16,000 square-foot gym is next to Fred's in North Hills Plaza. The branch is offering half-price joiner's fee for new members through the month of May.

Downtown Augusta Signs Local and not-so-local people will soon have help finding their way around Augusta. 44 signs will be installed. they'll mark the city of Augusta gateways and downtown Augusta gateways. Downtown Augusta Showing "Signs" Of Improvement - News - Augusta, GA For those downtown, it's becoming a site worth seeing. Beverly Wright, Augusta, GA: "I hadn't checked that out, earlier, but since you brought it up to my attention, it's very nice. People come into Augusta and that's the main thing they can see..." They're big and they're green and their popping up all over...Welcome to Downtown Augusta signs. You'll find a sign coming off the Calhoun Expressway offering a stylish look, and several in the form of banners crossing the 13th Street bride from North Augusta. The sign campaign is a joint project of the Downtown Development Authority and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Jenifer Bowen, Augusta, GA: "Well, it certainly improves the appearance of the city, it allows the visitor and the resident to know that they have arrived, it creates a sense of community pride, it makes you feel good about your own city." George Eskola, reporting: "Of course, there is a lot more to Augusta than just the downtown, but people enteting the city from another county or another state will also see the signs that the city is going to change its first impression." The current Welcome signs, with the old government house on them will be replaced with new Welcome to Augusta signs on 11 main entryways into the city. Back in February, when city leaders met to talk issues...cleaning up the look of the Garden City gateways was a top priority. Those in change of helping tourism agree. The cost is about $270,000. The new welcome signs are also planned for heavily traveled corridors, like the Bobby Jones Expressway.

ATLANTA --- A $30.3 million transportation project announced this week as part of a package of state grants will make for better access to the Augusta Medical Center Complex, officials say. The project, announced Tuesday, includes widening and other work on St. Sebastian Way between Olser Way and Reynolds Street and work on Greene Street between St. Sebastian Way and River Watch Parkway. Six bridges are also part of the project, which is expected to be finished by July 31, 2010. "The gateway project will improve mobility over the railroad and canal into the Augusta Medical Center Complex," Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Abraham said in an agency news release. The grant was part of $75 million in awards announced by the DOT. Saint Sebastian way set to begin downtown

520 extension project in North Augusta gets 28 more million dollars the work extend Interstate 520 from U.S. Highway 1 up to Interstate 20, but workers also are widening other nearby roads and adding other amenities, such as a multi-use trail that will run parallel to I-520 from Atomic Road to Ascauga Lake Road. It's just going to take a bit longer now than originally planned. With $18 million coming from the state infrastructure bank and $10 million from savings from other parts of the projects, the Palmetto Parkway's timetable expanded with its scope. But with just an additional five months to do all the extra work the state has ordered, he said he's not as confident one part will be done by the new Dec. 31, 2009, deadline. The previous completion date was July 31, 2009. The scope of the Palmetto Parkway has expanded and the deadline has been pushed back to Dec. 31, 2009. Major changes recently added: - A multiuse path, costing $4 million - Widening Clearwater Road to five lanes with curbing and gutters for about $6 million - Widening U.S. Highway 25 and building a new bridge across Interstate 20, costing $17 million

MCG May Still Buy Fat Man's Forest Location MCG is still looking to buy a piece of land on Laney-Walker Boulevar where Fat Man's Forest used to be. The school's real estate department is doing a feasibility study right now to see if the land would work for student housing.

MCG is looking to purchase the land that the old fat mans forest is located on. The land is located across from the hospital on laney walker. They want to turn the land into student housing.

By 2010, 2011. Augusta will not only have one of the best downtown's in the southeast. But in the entire united states. 8-story hotel. 10,000 sq. ft of retail. 60 loft apartments. A picture is on the article. $30 million hotel planned for downtown Augusta, and a move by Commissioners Tuesday cleared the way for its development. Commissioners released a small piece of property Tuesday, just three and a half feet wide, that developers needed for the project. Margeret Woodard, Executive Director, Augusta Downtown Development Authority: "The developer will start his feasibility study, design works, so he can submit his plans to the HPC...move this project forward." http://www.wjbf.com/midatlantic/jbf/news_i...04-15-0044.html

More than $70 million from the Georgia Legislature puts the Medical College of Georgia well on the way to building new medical school and dental school buildings, President Daniel W. Rahn said Monday. He credited Augusta and Columbia County legislators, particularly House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Harbin, for $70 million to build a new home for the School of Dentistry. The legislators also added $3 million to begin planning and design for a new School of Medicine building that would allow for 240 students per class, up from 190 per class, Dr. Rahn said. The dental school funding is the largest capital outlay on a single project in the history of the University System of Georgia, Dr. Rahn said. The entire medical-dental school construction, which Mr. Harbin said would be more than $200 million, would also likely make it one of the biggest projects in the city's history. The school is planning on building the new campus on the grounds of the neighboring Gilbert Manor housing complex and is talking to the city about how it might be acquired from the Augusta Housing Authority and transferred to MCG, Dr. Rahn said. MCG president offers thanks for funding

Construction in Aiken Meaning More Traffic? Walgreens, Checkers, Books-A-Million and Hilton Garden Inn hotel are either under construction or in the works. There are also plans -- long term plans -- to have several bypassing roads off Whiskey to other main roads, all to help alleviate the traffic on Whiskey Road.

518,000-square-foot Sibley mill turning into housing and office space. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/041208/met_194706.shtml

Widen Gibbs Road.....$2 million. Widen Owens Road.....$2.1 million 15 miles of dirt road paving.....$10.9 million. Blanchard Woods Park phase 2 (includes seven soccer fields, some restrooms and parking).....$6.5 million Wildwood Park improvements.....$2 million. Evans Town Center Park.....$8 million Savannah Rapids Pavilion renovations.....$1.5 million Reed Creek Park phase 3 (includes an extension of the boardwalk, a bridge and outdoor classrooms).....$800,000 Bartram Trail Golf Course clubhouse.....$1.6 million. Additions to justice center.....$13.4 million. Acquisition of Water Works property.....$2.5 million. Georgia State Patrol post.....$2 million. Sheriff's office administration building and renovations.....$3.5 million. Detention center addition.....$6 million. Driver's training course.....$3.5 million. New animal control facility.....$2.3 million. Fire vehicle and equipment replacement.....$2.8 million. Economic development.....$2 million http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/041208/met_194714.shtml

The Augusta Canal Moonlight Music Cruise series has expanded to two seasons this year. "It has become very popular," said Rebecca Rogers, the director of marketing and external affairs for the Augusta Canal Heritage Area. "We began the moonlight music series in 2006 by offering a musical performance one Friday a month during the warm weather months. "It caught on quickly, so the next year, last year, we expanded it to two Fridays a month. This year, we decided to do two seasons of the series." The spring season will kick off Friday with a performance by singer-songwriter Galen Kipar, a former Augustan. The season is scheduled to run through June 27. The fall season will run from Sept. 5 through Nov. 7. Musicians will perform on the Petersburg boat as it moves along the Augusta Canal. Each cruise lasts about an hour and a half, Ms. Rogers said. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/040308/ric_193073.shtml

Red Carpet Tour rolls into Augusta National Augusta is rolling out the red carpet in hopes of bringing in new businesses and new jobs. That includes a well known automotive company and baseball's Iron Man. 40 different businesses were treated to a day out at Augusta National. "If I got this pitch...I'd be here in a heart beat," said Cal Ripken. He weighed in on what he calls a winning game plan. "Taking in the wonderful event and kinda seeing all the people around...who wouldn't want to do this?" Top executives from Toyota are among the exclusive bunch touring the state of Georgia. Multiple stops are planned in Augusta. We need jobs and to boost our economy, and this is one quick way to do it," said Senator Ed Tarver. "It's a smart play. I don't know what their success ratio is," said Ripken. It is not too shabby. Past companies on the tour like T Mobile, and the latest, Teleperformance, recently announced as many as 350 jobs in Augusta. "We've been doing it for years. It's been successful. It's proven," said Senator Tarver. It was a busy day for the group. They flew in from Atlanta on Thursday. They head to Columbus, GA on Friday, and then back to Augusta on Saturday for the tournament. The chamber of commerce says more than 23,000 jobs have been created since the tour started more than 40 years ago.

Sting-Ray Whitfield championship fight brings ESPN to Augusta Masters week The Masters isn't the only Augusta sporting event getting worldwide attention this week. ESPN is in town as Augusta native Sting-Ray Whitfield prepares for his big fight. The undefeated champion will take on Manuel Vargas at the Bell Auditorium. There is a lot riding on this fight. A win could place Augusta at the top of the list for it's first ever championship match. Augusta's own Sting-Ray Whitfield will take to the ring in the ESPN2 Wednesday night fights. It's being called a do or die match. "You're looking at a situation where Ray's gonna be the top dog by winning this match. He's fighting for a world championship," said Tom Moraetes who is Whitfield's chief trainer. This will all take place just hours before the first round of the Masters tournament begins. "Every time I go away people say you from the city where the Masters at, and being a part of this week...bringing ESPN here to my hometown, and performing here means a lot to me," said Whitfield. It means a lot to him, and to fans like Ronnie Russell. "Oh, it's wonderful. I'm glad he bringing it back to Augusta. I'm just real glad to see him fight," said Ronnie. The undefeated Augusta native and his top 10 contender weighed in Tuesday. The match will be broadcast to more than 95 million homes.

RV Park plans for Augusta Augusta city leaders are looking at an R.V. Park. The location...Diamond Lakes Park..the plan...12 Tennis Courts, jogging space, and 300 camp sites. It sounds like a great plan to us. We feel like there's a need there, but we want to make sure to justify it with numbers," said Tom Beck who is director of Augusta Parks and Recreation. A study is now in the works. Bob Anderson with C.S.RA. Camperland says the numbers are there. "Without a doubt. If it's built...it'll be full." The projected economic impact is around $400,000. "Obviously it's gonna generate a lot of money because people will come here and they're gonna spend money. The other thing it's gonna do is give our people, the CSRA people, a chance to stay local," said Bob. There is a total 300 acres of land and lakes at Diamond Lakes Regional Park. The city hopes to use about 40 acres for the R.V. Park. There is no official word on the costs. A feasibility study must be completed. SPLOST...or sales tax money would fund the project.

College president enjoys historic downtown When friends visit Augusta, Terry Elam serves as a tour guide, showing off what sets his city apart from others -- its historic downtown. Many cities can boast new developments in their suburbs, but few have a downtown as rich in history as Augusta, Mr. Elam, president of Augusta Technical College, said. Augusta is as historic as Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., Mr. Elam said. Often, the city's visitors are familiar with the historic spots along Broad and Reynolds streets, but other sites get overlooked. Growing up here, he walked the streets of downtown when retail stores dominated the area, he said. That has since given way to businesses and now new developments. Mr. Elam said it makes him proud seeing the buildings being redeveloped and reused.

Mayor's Masters Reception Brings Thousands Of Visitors Mayor Deke Copenhaver welcomed visitors to the city during his annual reception at the Augusta Botanical Gardens Monday night. More than 50 restaurants served up free food at tonight's reception, which was a great way to welcome first timers and locals to Masters Week. Thousands of visitors say an event of this magnitude makes them feel welcome.

Masters week places Augusta on a global stage. It's no wonder that city leaders use this week to sell Augusta to companies and possible investors. Im excited. It's the most prestigious event in the world for sporting," said Ted Peterson. Peterson is president of New York based...Downtown Decorations Inc. The company signed a 3 year deal with the city. The goal..."Enhance the downtown, bring people downtown for the holidays, shop, and they did a phenomenal job this year," said Peterson. The first annual Christmas Light-up Spectacular attracted hundreds downtown with fireworks and 12.6 miles of lights. Outside of Christmas lights, Ted's company is also responsible for welcome signs lining 13th Street bridge, and now Ted is one of thousands making his way into the Augusta Nationals, in his case, courtesy of the city. One thing is for sure, Masters is like a second Christmas for the city. The economic impact is about 100 million dollars. "It's just a great place to do business, and I would like to expand my business down here as well." A little hospitality goes a long way. Ted is sold on Augusta. "It's the whole southern charm that you don't have any other place. We travel and see cities all around the world, and I see Augusta as really on the cutting edge," said Ted. Augusta leaders always roll out the red carpet in hopes of new businesses rolling in. The city will play host to about 40 businesses this Thursday. http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/17369419.html

City sets aside funds for demolition Augusta has budgeted $125,000 to use on abandoned property in any neighborhood, in addition to $100,000 in HUD money for demolition in historic communities. Last year, the only money available was HUD money for the historic neighborhoods. In addition, Commissioner Betty Beard succeeded in getting money from the transportation tax to increase demolition of abandoned structures in the Laney-Walker and Bethlehem communities. Augusta demolished about 50 decrepit houses in 2007. This year, 25 are in the process of being demolished, 23 more are in the bid process, 20 to 30 have court orders for demolition and more than 50 will go to court next month.

4 story, 68,000-square-foot Municipal Center in North Augusta completed by spring 2009 The building will be the gateway to an extension of downtown toward the river and the Hammond's Ferry town center. A new thoroughfare, Center Street, will tie into Georgia Avenue with a reconfigured and signalized intersection at Bluff Avenue, directing traffic to shops, restaurants and office space along the river. The more than $20 million building is the largest individual construction project in the city's history, Mr. Bennett said. Building will be North Augusta new center of activity

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More Money For Palmetto Parkway In Aiken County The South Carolina Department of Transportation set aside $28 million dollars to finish the second phase of the Palmetto Parkway project so it will be extended past US One to Interstate 20. The money will also allow them to widen Clearwater Road from three to five lanes. The project manager says those improvements will give drivers easier access. "It should make access in and out of North Augusta more accessible. Also for people traveling along I-20 it will bypass Augusta and North Augusta along the I-20 corridor," said Claude Ipock, Project Engineer. finished by 2010.