The Augusta Municipal Golf Course isn't the only property Augusta State University is looking at along Damascus Road.
In January, the university asked Augusta commissioners to donate about 9.5 acres along Damascus that adjoin ASU's student housing. The property was the site of a public skate park for about eight years before the city shut it down last year because of lack of use, Recreation Director Tom Beck said.
The property serves as overflow parking for the Augusta Aquatics Center, located across Damascus Road, Beck said.
On Monday, ASU President William Bloodworth compared the university's growth to that of Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State University.
While ASU has spent $19.5 million on housing since 2004, GSU and VSU have expended about $100 million each, he said.
"Our problem is a lack of real estate," Bloodworth told commissioners at a finance committee meeting.
Two weeks ago, ASU officials revealed an interest in the nearby "Patch," Augusta's city-owned golf course, which also adjoins Damascus Road. Officials say its $2 million assessed value is much less than the listed prices of privately held land near ASU's West Campus.
Commissioner Bill Lockett, the chairman of a golf course study committee, encouraged the transfer of the 9.5 acres of the former skate park to ASU, an institution "vital to our community."
"Let them have the land," he said.
ASU would use the property for expansion of student housing, something that out-of-area students expect, Bloodworth said.
Administrator Fred Russell, recommending the city give ASU the land, agreed Monday to negotiate terms of the gift and try to resolve any parking issues with the Aquatics Center.
ASU is vital to our community. Let's not think of it as a state institution. It helps define our community with students, jobs, opportunities and the arts. Cities are rated by their opportunities for education. Companies looking to relocate use this as one of their criteria. Give ASU all it needs. That's one thing that benefits us all and we should agree on.
For ASU president Bill Bloodworth to compare budgets between ASU and Georgia Southern is ludicrous. Of course, he was talking to Augusta Commissioners, so it shows Bloodworth's evaluation that our commissioners are imbeciles and cannot fathom the poverty of Bloodworth's comparison.
No, LL, it's widely understood that ASU, as a commuter school, is greatly lacking. I understood what he meant; ASU has been trying to get dorms built for over 20 years. It would greatly increase ASU's marketability to have more housing.
I say trade the State of Georgia the Patch and this Skate Park for the Golf and Gardens. Then the State can 'sell' the Board of Regents what they want and work out the details.
Just an idea.
Brad
Given the proximity to Daniel Field, perhaps ASU will create a new degree program to train flight attendants.
I wonder who the committee was composed of? The paper didn't say. In looking at the property, it is apparent that it will not be used for academic purposes, rather they want it to build tax exempt housing. Why not rezone it to commercial housing only and sell to the highest bidder. At least the citizens of Augusta would benefit from such a deal. I really don't see where I have a responsibility to provide housing for students who live out of the area and whose family probably have never paid a cent into the local economy until their kid decided to go to school here. But, again who are the "stakeholders" making up this committee? I wonder if there are any plumbers, electricians, housewives, hotel maids, mechanics, gardeners, waitresses, clerks, etc,etc,etc, on the committee? But then, they aren't "stakeholders" are they.
Keep in mind this is not the Patch land. Dissman, I think you are over looking the value ASU brings. These students will spend money here and create lots of jobs. Plus, ASU serves the entire community in so many ways.
Concerning the Patch, as Brad says, that would make a great trade since the state really doesn't want the GGHOF land.
Its in the best interest of the city to have ASU expand as much as possible. With MCG PAINE ASU USC Aiken Augusta tech and the other 4 or 5 satellite and online campus hubs the CSRA would turn into a recession proof college town with lots of qualified workers graduating each year as an incentive for large businesses and corporations to come and set up shop.
The devil is in the accounting details. Do you remember Gilbert Manor? That land belonged to the Augusta Housing Authority, not to Aug./Rich. County government. The Housing Authority did not want to give their land away. MCG did not want to buy the land. So Aug./Rich. County government paid Augusta Housing Authority $10 million for the land and then gave the land to MCG.
Fast forward to Brad's idea. The Patch belongs to Aug./Rich. County government. The abandoned skate park belongs to Aug./Rich. County government. ASU covets those two parcels but does not want to spend a dime. The Brickyard Gardens belongs to the Ga. State Government. Deke Copenhaver covets that land, but hardly anyone else in Aug./Rich. County government wants it. Brad's "land swap" idea swaps the Brickyard Gardens for the Patch & Park; but the problem would be that the Patch & Park would then belong to the Georgia State Government and not to ASU. Fat chance for the government to give the land to the Board of Regents.
Do I understand correctly that ASU is doing away with their MBA program because of funding. Now ASU is looking to expand student houseing. I must be missing something.
Brad.. I think you have the right idea.. why must the city be constantly giving away valuable property yet the state never reciprocates. Sounds like a fair trade to me. And don't forget that $8 million in city money has already been tied up in the Golf and Gardens from previous SPLOSTS.
LL, you are playing semantics here. We gave MCG the land where Gilbert Manor was. It was understood it was needed to keep the MCG expansion in Augusta istead of going elsewhere.
Giving land to ASU is along the same line. It may not work that the state will trade Brickyard Gardens (love that name) for the Patch, but why not try?
Honestly, even if the state doesn't swap, it doesn't matter. ASU is our school. That's why our local people donate much to the school. And the truth is the state gets nothing out of keeping the Brickyard. The people of Augusta are going to end up using it one way or another.
Dorms Shmorms. Dorms are located on the main campus.. this is several miles from campus.. that's not dorms.. that's just taxpayer built apartments. Augusta has lots of affordable apartments already. I understand the need for on campus housing (ie dorms) inorder for ASU to grow and attract students from outside the area, but that's not what this is.
If you want to see "stupid" look at Columbia County giving the land and BUILDING a GA State Patrol Post. That's one I'll never understand except from a bond/banker aspect. The Patrol Post will never generate income for Columbia Cty since it is the GSP role to patrol rural counties as they PLAINLY STATED. Most of the officers don't live in Columbia County and it's doubtful they wanted their post moved so far from the center or their district.
ASU and Bloodworth are like the poor family who lives in a double wide but have a swimming pool, two satellite dishes in the yard, and a Cadillac in the driveway.
ASU and Dr. Bloodworth are more like the wealthy family that owns the business that brings jobs in among the double-wides and above ground pools leaking like someone who needs Flomax.
They'd rename it ASU west campus. i highly doubt that it'll be dorms only
FD, so what's the problem? Seriously, what are your concerns? Have you taken a look at Wrightsboro Rd. lately? This is a fantastic opportunity to help Augusta out that way.
Dr. Bloodworth wants free land from the taxpayers, but his basketball team takes a bus from Augusta to Atlanta to catch a plane to Springfield. Isn't our airport good enough?? "Fly there Fly Home" works both ways. Your "free land is in Phinizy swamp at the end of the runway.
Tiger flew out of Augusta Regional this afternoon.
If Tiger ever wants to play the Patch, he had better reserve his tee time soon!
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