North Augusta can expect to see great change in the next 10 years as highway projects such as the Palmetto Parkway stimulate more commercial development, officials said.
City Administrator Sam Bennett said he can "see another 10,000 to 15,000 people in North Augusta in the next 10 to 20 years." It's important, he said, to make sure the atmosphere of the city does not change.
The Palmetto Parkway, which will be completed this year, will open from 500 acres to 3,000 acres to commercial development, Bennett said. Commercial development will be the focus of 2009, he said.
"Next year will be a challenge because of the condition of the national economy," Bennett said last month. "Our plan is to maintain where we are as a local government and limit any growth to just addressing the challenges that come up ... but lay a lot of groundwork for 2010."
Bennett predicts North Augusta and the surrounding area will be among the first to turn around from the recession because of a stable environment provided by Savannah River Site, Fort Gordon, colleges and businesses.
Although the changes from the Palmetto Parkway will take shape in the next decade, the city will focus this year on finishing projects that have their funding in place, he said, including the municipal building by June 1.
Residents will be able to rent the fourth floor of the municipal building for private events. The area will accommodate about 250 people.
North Augusta Community Center will undergo exterior and interior renovations in the summer, Bennett said.
"One thing I think you'll see us do is try to create a physical connection between the community center and the new amphitheater," he said. "Those two structures act together in a way that can be positive in the community."
Augusta is taking notice of North Augusta, Bennett said, because the municipal center can be seen from Augusta's downtown streets.
"Folks are commenting in regards to how attractive it is and it reminds them of the atmosphere over in North Augusta and the commitment the community has made to be a great place to live, and that's nice for us," he said. "We want to take advantage of that.
"We want to be a prominent part of the CSRA and work with our friends across the river and promote the greater good, and we hope the municipal center will help us to do that."
Among other changes in North Augusta in 2009:
- The North Augusta Department of Public Safety will move into the municipal building on East Buena Vista Avenue. That facility was built in 1984.
- The ball fields at Riverview Park will receive renovations.
Concession stands, bathrooms and scoreboards will be upgraded, Bennett said.
"It's a great facility but just to make it that much nicer and more attractive for hosting tournaments and bringing folks into North Augusta (is the reason for the update)," he said. Most of the renovations should be completed within the year, Bennett said.
- Construction of the Five Notch Park at Murrah Road will begin.
Closing the deal on buying the property is expected within the first quarter of the year, Bennett said. He expects the park to resemble Riverview Park in size, but it will have only ball fields and picnic areas. Bennett said he hopes to open ball fields for practice by summer.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
