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Click here to watch a promotional video about the Kroc Center and its role in Augusta.
The Salvation Army's 85,000-square-foot Kroc Center complex in Augusta's Harrisburg community is well on its way to becoming a reality, according to organizers of the $97.8 million project.
"Today, for us, is like a dream come true," Kroc Administrator Todd Mason told more than 100 supporters who gathered at the Chafee Park site Monday to hear a detailed report that included the site's final design and the progress of fundraising.
The 17-acre center is the legacy of a gift by McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc to the Salvation Army upon her death in 2003. Her $1.5 billion gift was designated to build "Kroc Corps Community Centers" in many cities across the nation, including Augusta.
According to the Salvation Army's Web site, the center will provide facilities, programs and services that encourage positive experiences for children and adults, strengthen families and enrich the lives of seniors.
The Kroc estate is providing $33.9 million for land acquisition and construction costs and $33.9 million for a permanent operating endowment, for a total gift of $67.8 million, said Jim Hull, the fundraising campaign's nucleus division chairman.
"That is an ongoing, permanent endowment," he said. "The raising of $20 million locally triggers the release of those matching funds."
The Salvation Army announced gifts totaling $10,476,273, which included a $3 million pledge from the Masters Tournament, $1 million from the Community Foundation of the CSRA and almost $6.5 million in additional pledges, including gifts from Georgia Power, Atlanta Gas Light, Husqvarna and the Cherry, Bekaert & Holland accounting firm.
A new floor plan unveiled Monday includes a mammoth aquatics center with 9,000 square feet of pools and an unusual water slide tower situated outside the main building.
There are also classrooms, a 400-seat theater, a 270-seat banquet hall with a stage up front for a dinner theater, rehearsal areas and many other features.
One of the project's signature features, which is being used as a model for Kroc Centers in other cities, will be a "First Stop Center" in a separate building from the main complex.
"It will be an assessment center to help steer families to programs that can help them," said Derek Dugan, the center's coordinator. The building will have 16 offices that could house 20 or more organizations.
"With all of these organizations working under one roof, it can maximize efficiency and eliminate duplication," he said.
Mr. Dugan also noted that the Salvation Army's homeless and rehabilitation programs are not part of the new Kroc Center and will remain at its current site on Greene Street.
The site for the project includes the Chafee Park area along the Augusta Canal and numerous private tracts acquired by the Salvation Army since December.
In all, at least 20 parcels have been purchased, involving more than $1.4 million.
"What you see outside today, and what will be, are two very different things," Mr. Dugan said.
The latest design for the center includes a primary structure of old red brick that will blend with the existing structures - including the historic King and Sibley textile mills.
The design also includes walkways, parks, landscaping and about seven acres of undeveloped, flat terrain along the canal.
Once the center is opened, there will be full-time security staff on the premises.
Other amenities in the final design are: a fitness center and gym, aerobic and weight training areas, a senior lounge, computer lab, classrooms for adult education, art and dance programs, music rehearsal and teaching areas, a teaching kitchen for job training, an outdoor terrace overlooking the canal, a waterslide and a splash park.
The Salvation Army is also working to relocate and renovate historic homes on the site. Mr. Dugan said seven houses being moved to the vicinity of the First Stop Center will be used as offices; six other houses along Eve Street are also being moved.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
AUGUSTA'S SALVATION ARMY KROC CENTER: VITAL STATISTICS:
Total investment (including permanent operating endowment): $97.8 million
Location: Chafee Park area of Harrisburg, with more than 17 acres.
Employment: approximately 102, including full and part time
Project size: about 85,000 square feet in multiple buildings
Aquatics center: 9,000 square feet with external slide tower
"First Stop" center: offices for more than 20 family-service groups.
Arts/Education/Worship Center: 400-seat theater, 270-seat banquet hall.
Green space: about seven acres of Chafee Park along Augusta Canal
AUGUSTA'S KROC CENTER FINANCIAL DETAILS:
• The Ray & Joan Kroc estate is providing $33.9 million for land acquisition and construction costs and $33.9 million for a permanent operating endowment, for a total gift of $67.8 million.
• To qualify for that gift, Augusta's project must raise $30 million locally, which includes a $10 million credit given by the foundation to the local Salvation Army for its existing programs and facilities.
• Thus, the amount needed to complete the campaign is $20 million, and with $10.4 million in pledges announced Monday, the amount needed to meet the goal is $9.6 million.
PLEDGES ANNOUNCED MONDAY
- Private donations (including Husqvarna): $6,236,473
- Cherry, Bekaert & Holland: $50,000
- Atlanta Gas Light: $50,000
- Georgia Power Foundation: $150,000
- Community Foundation of the CSRA: $1 million
- Masters Tournament: $3 million
TOTAL: $10,476,273
THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES ARE PLANNING PROGRAMMING OR SERVICES IN THE AUGUSTA KROC CENTER:
American Red Cross
Area Agency on Aging
ASU Literacy Center
Augusta Players
Augusta Technical College
Augusta Urban Ministries
Behavioral Health Link
Boys and Girls Clubs of Augusta
CSRA EOA
Georgia Department of Labor
Department of Family and Child Services
Family Counseling Center of the CSRA
Fireside Ministries
Friendship Community Center
Goodwill Industries
Junior Achievement
Safe Homes of Augusta Inc.
Senior Citizens Council
Serenity Behavioral Health Systems
The Art Factory
The Family Y
The Greater Augusta Arts Council
United Way 2-1-1
United Way of the CSRA
Department of Veterans Affairs
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP
- Boone A. Knox, chairman
- James M. Hull, nucleus division chairman
- C.G. "Pete" Caye Jr., leadership division chairman
- Brent A. Smith, major division chairman
- Wyck A. Knox Jr., foundation/corporation chairman
- Rick L. Evans, treasurer
- Lana J. Rahn, leadership awareness chairwoman
- J. Robert Richards Sr., advisory board campaign chairman
- Other members: Phil Alexander, Dickey Boardman, Tom Blanchard III, Bennett P.R. Bowers, Ron Cross, Mrs. Greg Bowles, Bo Bovard, Clayton Boardman III, Walter Dukes, Terry Elam, Nick W. Evans Jr., Richard Fairey, Brandon Candler Henderson, Penny F. Hudson, William B. Kuhlke Jr., E.G. Meybohm, Robert C. Osbourne Jr., H.M. Osteen Jr., Travers W. Paine III, Patrick Rice, Norman Schaffer, Chuck Smith, Ashley Hock Smith, Maj. Gen. Perry M. Smith, George N. Snelling, Dennis Sodomka, Jeff Spears
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Kroc Center committee is continuing to expand its capital fundraising campaign to secure the remaining commitments needed to qualify for the Kroc gift. Members hope to break ground this fall, and construction might take about 18 months.
Comments
Awesome!
Robert Osbourne should be Robert Osborne
With the Kroc Center around, why is the Commission asking us to approve SPLOST which includes money for Paine College to build a theater/gym? Say NO to SPLOST. The KROC Center will be a great asset to ARC.
Apparently nobody has mentioned the fact that this wonderful Kroc Center is being built in a part of town would be afraid to let my dog run loose in. My family has roots is in this area and most have left this area due to the deteriorating conditions in this area.
scob you are correct. what a waste a great expensive place that will be trashed and covered in grafetti (sp?) within a very short period of time. Should have been built in an area that would appreciate and care for but at the same be availabe for all sorts of income areas.
Harrisburg met the demographic set forth by Joan Kroc, which was to be where rich meets poor. Kroc Centers are designed to totally revitalize poor areas, thus the choice of Harrisburg. I would encourage anyone who is skeptical, to google anything that you can concerning the Kroc Centers, and how they are determined. There will only be 25 in the United States. We are blessed to have been chosen. It has been an arduous process. Also, look at the names of the people in this community that are on board with this. None of these individuals have been failures, so there must be something to this whole idea.
Kroc Centers are supposed to revitalize bad areas, hence keeping with the Salvation Army's mission. It would be no point to build these facilities in upscale areas. Instead of thinking that Harrisburg will "ruin" this center, believe that this center will "save" Harrisburg. Google or research this...it will not fail.
Rather than give up on a great neighborhood like Harrisburg, the Kroc Centers are designed to help revitalize the neighborhoods - and have done so in other cities. carlyle is absolutely correct about the selection process and our leadership.
Keep up with the campaign totals and other updates - join "Kroc Center of Augusta" on Facebook
I am very happy to read such good news. This center will no doubt do great things for Harrisburg and the CSRA. I can't wait to see the center finished.
If they would only get rid of the cross I'd support it.
i'm accepting donations... To keep myself off the street. gas is going up, my hours at work are going down.
I think it is wonderful for Augusta, cross included.
triscuit said "Instead of thinking that Harrisburg will "ruin" this center, believe that this center will "save" Harrisburg." I hope you are right, I really hate to see Harrisburg in its current state(a crack town) of drugs and criminal activity. But, I fear the rats will continue ruin the area.
I agree with those who support Harrisburg. Perhaps with a better "view" of those who make Harrisburg unsavory we can help those who embrace the generosity of our community leaders and Mrs. Kroc.
I applaud the efforts of all involved. THANK YOU!
Why would the drug and criminal activity participants want to move out just because a nice facility is built in the neighborhood? I think a little police work to clean up the area would be in order first.
igrew up in harrisburg, 37 years i have since moved a short distance, but still maintain the small home but lots of great memorys. my father and mother;my mother,who lives with me; raised 4 boys and 2 girls in the home he worked very hard for. to "scub" if u decided to pick up your roots and leave then why do u care where private owners and pledges (big ones) ;read your pledges;(thanks to all of you),decide to put their hard earned money. thanks to the work of "hongkongaugga", richmond co. officers have been working hard to clean it up. in the last 3 years they drove 3 crack houses 2 doors down from my mothers house, in a matter of weeks. officers thank u for your hard work, but remember, not everyone that rides by while your in the middle of a bust is looking to see if their dealer is going to jail, had to say that. as far as the slum that thought they would come in and take over what is ours, will see different. our tax dollars should keep rich. co. shriff dept. busy, please. maybe the old regency mall building, that they are so hard tring to findout what to do with, make it a big nice building, w great landscape,bills pd. ilove u dad!thank u 4 the roof alway over my head!!!!!!
This is a wonderful thing for Augusta! For everyone excited about it remember this: NO matter what you do in life, "there are 15% of people that will never be happy." Let the negativity go in one ear and our of the other. This is GREAT!
Here's the truth in Augusta- you can build anything you want. It can be beautiful. It can be fantastic. But if the thugs go there- and they will- people that aren't thugs, won't go to it. Parents don't want their kids around thugs, no matter how beautiful it is. There is nothing there that rich people don't already have.
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