Just curious but isn't this area in a flood plain? I thought it wasn't possible to build in a flood plain?
The Salvation Army has begun buying property along Broad Street needed for the eventual development of its planned 85,000-square-foot Kroc Center.
According to real estate records filed in the Richmond County Superior Court clerk's office, at least 18 purchases have been completed since mid-December involving 20 parcels and a total outlay of $1,450,500.
"We are making a lot of progress and getting close to having a final theme we can present," said Kroc Center coordinator Derek Dugan. "We may have a few other closings, but there are no other issues, and the land is complete."
The newest master plan for the social service complex calls for a one-story, standalone building between the Augusta Canal and Broad Street in the Chafee Park area. The entire footprint would be about 20 acres and would include some land owned by the city of Augusta.
The glassed-in main building, with a view of the canal, would include park and green space areas, classrooms, worship and conference space, offices for dozens of arts and social service groups, a 400-seat performing arts center and chapel, and many other amenities.
The center, with architecture tailored to complement nearby mills and historic buildings, also will include a gym, weight and fitness training equipment and an indoor aquatics center with swim therapy programs, a water slide and splash park.
Kroc Centers are part of the vision of Joan B. Kroc, the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. Mrs. Kroc, who died in 2003, left a $1.5 billion endowment to establish such centers across the nation and chose the Salvation Army to help implement her dream.
The plan for the Augusta project calls for spending $33.9 million on land acquisition, infrastructure and construction and setting aside another $33.9 million as an endowment for future operations. That sum -- $67.8 million -- represents the amount set aside for Augusta by the Kroc foundation.
Obtaining that gift also requires a $30 million match from outside sources, and $20 million must be in interest-bearing assets.
"That brings us to a $97.8 million total project with a $57.8 million operating endowment," Mr. Dugan said.
The center has undergone some design changes in recent months, with the biggest being a transition from a two-story main building to a single story, he said.
"It was scaled back slightly," Mr. Dugan said.
Groundbreaking could commence as soon as officials have identified sources for the matching funds.
"If we raised the money tomorrow, which would be nice, we could start construction by midsummer," Mr. Dugan said.
Total construction time is estimated at 18 months.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
LAND ACQUIRED
Recent Salvation Army Kroc Center purchases:
- 1833 Broad St., $60,000, Dec. 16
- 1835 Broad St., $60,500, Dec. 16
- 1813-15, 1819-1821 and 1825-27 Broad St., $180,000, Jan. 12
- 1831 Broad St., $28,000, Jan. 12
- 105 Eve St., $57,500, Jan. 12
- 111 Eve St., $152,000, Jan. 12
- 131 Eve St., $63,000, Jan. 12
- 132 Grace St., $29,000, Jan. 12
- Lot on Crescent Lane, $16,000, Jan. 12
- 126 Grace St., $82,000, Jan. 12
- 1837 Broad St., $64,500, Jan. 13
- Lot on north side of Broad Street, $75,000, Jan. 21
- Parcel with 1.99 acres, $275,000, Jan. 22
- Lot on west side of Eve Street, $100,000, Jan. 22
- 128 Grace St., $30,000, Jan. 22
- 1833 Browns Lane, $63,000, Jan. 22
- 119 Eve St., $61,000, Jan. 22
- 126 Eve St., $54,000, Jan. 22
TOTAL: $1,450,500
Source: Richmond County property records
Comments
Just curious but isn't this area in a flood plain? I thought it wasn't possible to build in a flood plain?
There are already a lot of houses there. Plus flooding isn't nearly as much of an issue with Clark's Hill Dam. It might impact the Kroc Center's insurance costs though.
Hi - Derek Dugan of The Salvation Army here to answer any questions you may have. To answer the previous question - no, the land is not a flood plane. That was one of our first concerns when we decided on that land for the project.
So - please ask more!
It sounds like a very ambitious project I wish you good luck in dealing with all the "people" who are sure to become involved...Good Luck luck with this worthwhile endeavor! ( will the construction be a union job??. Will any of those 150 hands be going to work?
yay water slide and splash park. will there be room for soccer or baseball?
Thanks - this project is required to be 100% privately funded which enables the Salvation Army to control costs and maintain control over the project and avoid those "hands" you are referring to. As for soccer and baseball - there aren't plans for those to be played on site. However, we are working with with other groups to organize leagues in neighboring parks. Also, we will be offering "coach and volunteer training" classes to enable people to participate if they wish.
This and the tee center are favorite projects in the Augusta area.
One interesting fact about the existing Kroc Center in San Diego (www.kroccenter.org) is it was placed in a neighborhood similar to Harrisburg and the 4-block radius went from 36% occupancy when it opened to 94% occupancy now - with quality retail and office space and vastly improving the neighborhood. We beleive this will have a similar impact on Harrisburg - a once-proud neighborhood that sorely needs this development.
What a generous endowment by the Kroc Family. I wish we could see more of this kind of philanthropy around Augusta and in other places more often. Thank you!
Just how is the Kroc center going to get rid of the deadbeats,crackheads,thugs,etc? I have heard the story before with little known success.
Kroch center or not we can work together to displace the Harrisburg trash. When you see a vacant rental try to get decent non generational welfare people to rent it. An ugly subset of generational welfare people are the cause of urban plight. The only way to rid the cancer is to remove it: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime
WOW
well my family lives on 12th st. lived there all my life, and the sociological term white pioneering is in very much effect. my block was a ran down area but now we have to 2 $100K to our right a section 8 property and a rundown house to our left. Getting rid of the " deadbeats,crackheads,thugs,etc" can only be done on a long term scale by better education, facilities, and exposer to things they wouldn't usually be exposed to like soccer, swimming, tennis, and other sports that can keep them active in positive avenues of life and out the streets. It worked for me now i'm an A.R. Johnson graduate and Mechanical Engineering Major at Tuskegee University. So until then they'll just be moved further into south and east Augusta. I don't have a problem with this because whats best for the city is what's best for it's citizens.
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