Pretty much just putting lipstick on a pig.
A 20-year-old shopping center in south Augusta is almost done with its facelift.
Atlanta-based Realvest Services Inc. is completing more than $2 million in renovations to Colony Plaza on Windsor Spring Road near Bobby Jones Expressway.
"It's really a great shopping center. We like the visibility from Bobby Jones, Windsor Spring Road and Peach Orchard Road. South Augusta has been historically underserved with retail, so we're getting really good community reaction.
"I think the south Augusta market appreciates having a nicely upgraded shopping center with some new tenants," said Bradley Fulkerson, the resident and CEO of Realvest Services Inc.
The real estate development and investment firm bought the shopping center in February 2008 and started renovations six months ago.
Colony Plaza has a new roof and air conditioning and mechanical systems.
The front of the shopping center has been changed from concrete to stacked stone, brick and stucco.
The 216,000-square-foot shopping center is 20 years old and was originally built for Wal-Mart, he said, which moved to Deans Bridge Road in 1996.
"Typically we buy shopping centers that need to be renovated, fix them up and then move in new tenants," Mr. Fulkerson said.
The project could exceed $2 million upon completion, said Mark Pritchett, a leasing agent at Meybohm Commercial Properties, which serves as the property management company.
"Within the next 30 days, we should have a couple of tenant announcements," Mr. Pritchett said. "We're really pleased with the response that we're getting."
When Realvest Services bought the property in 2008, almost all tenant leases were set to expire in 2009.
Mr. Fulkerson said he told existing tenants, including Food Lion and Sitel, that if they renewed their leases he would completely remodel the shopping center.
"Food Lion and Sitel have committed to be there for a long time," he said.
Mr. Fulkerson is searching for new clients and said he is negotiating with national restaurant chains.
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Pretty much just putting lipstick on a pig.
You can't change the fact it is in an area where none of us would dare shop.
Obviously Ode, people aren't as stuck up as you and do shop there... Why is it when good news is published people have to get on the poo poo ban wagon and ruin it.. I bet you could win the lottery and then say, "well, I only won a million dollars" Come on, enough with the negative attitudes, that's what's wrong with this town, everyone has a negative comment about everything.
Can't change the fact it is in south Augusta. What new exciting stores are coming to the center? All I see is a Food Lion.
Ode , why would you not shop there, no different than shopping anywhere else in augusta?!
Well, it WILL be different than shopping in other parts of the CSRA, mainly because it will be catering to a different income-level clientelle. I applaud this effort to bring more retail options to South Augusta, and I hope great stores open in Colony Plaza. South Augustans deserve better and more than they've got, but they lost many really good retailers because they didn't support them or because the behavior of some chased off other paying customers. It's what happened to Regency Mall and what is now happening to Augusta Mall. Consumer choice is merciless in its practicality.
Wow, looks nice. No government money either? I don't have a problem shopping there. Now, if we can get the local government to be more capital friendly by lowering the sales tax, we may see more of this. Great job!
If you're wowwing the picture with this article, be aware that it is of 'pre-renovation' Colony Plaza.
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