Aiken County

[socaguy]

Thats alot of homes. Are these new developments inside the city limits of Graniteville? If each home has 3 residents, that will add about 15,000 people to the town by 2011. Thats some tremendous growth!!

[Topher1]

I'm pretty sure that nearly all of these homes ARE in the city limits. These 1500 homes are just phase I of plans to build 5000 homes. This particular subdivision is in the Sage Valley area, near the I-20 interchange with Bettis Academy Rd (exit 11).

The remaining 3000+ homes proposed by these developers will be in a sprawling 1800 acre community straddling Aiken, Vaucluse, and Graniteville off of Aiken's bypass called Trolley Run Station.

I'm really surprised that they plan to have 1500 homes completed by the end of the year. I didn't see too much progress when I was home in July.

Here's the link to the developers. Check out the plans for Trolley Run... Its MASSIVE! (but hideously sprawly)...

www.finedeering.com

Edited July 26, 2006 by Topher1

[Pillsbury]

^ I should have known it would be over there near Sage Valley. Not many people are aware that it is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the South......

Edited July 26, 2006 by Pillsbury

[PJA]

A second Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville is expected to be sold by next Friday, saving 100 more jobs. As mentioned about a month ago, one of the plants was already sold which saved 250 jobs. The other plants in Graniteville are still being marketed to potential buyers.

[PJA]

Here's an article about a North Augusta group who is trying to get the word out about commerce in their city.

the article

[PJA]

The Aiken County town of New Ellenton has expressed interest of having a Sam's built there if they are unable to have it built in Aiken. Here are the details.

[socaguy]

Does anyone know what they have cleared the land for right as you are coming into N. Augusta from DT Augusta. I think that is called Georgia avenue? The project is on the left at an intersection and there is a sign with a rendering of what looks like townhomes but not sure. Will there be any retail in this?

[Pillsbury]

^ I've seen that. Is it called jackson square or something? Maybe they're trying to tie it in with hammonds ferry???

[PJA]

Here's the details on a new store coming to North Augusta.

[PJA]

The Palmetto Parkway project has been scaled back a little. Work is set to begin in the spring with a completion date of 2010.

Details

[dromulus]

The Palmetto Parkway project has been scaled back a little. Work is set to begin in the spring with a completion date of 2010.

Details

[PJA]

SRS expansion set to ad hundreds of new jobs. Here are the details.

[PJA]

Plans for Aiken County's complex move forward. The council voted to give the greenlight to a company to begin planning for their new government complex. This move would put all of the county agencies under one roof.

[DaGABoyStinger]

There apparently is a committee coming together to develop Aiken's North Side, from it'c city limits up through I-20. I hope studies can be done for this, because this would make Aiken and interesting watch if it actually delelops this way over the next 10-20 years.

[PJA]

Here is more on the expansion for the Aiken town hall.

article

[Topher1]

I really like some of the ideas presented in this article... I had been getting nervous, since most of the talk has been to build a new municipal building in one of the new mega-subdivisions out on the bypass near USCA.

The idea of adding 2 floors to the existing building downtown (making it 4 floors) sounds very exciting. For those who don't know, while downtown Aiken is very active and thriving, there are no structures more than 3 stories in the main core. It would be awesome to actually have City Hall as the focal point downtown, rather than what it is currently (an obscure building that really just blends in). And maybe it might bring the standard for new infill up to 4 floors (most new stuff going in right now is capping at 3 floors)...

[jungletobacco]

Best of Aiken 2006 list is out. Is this list accurate?

Best of Aiken

[Topher1]

Looks like a great list to me. The writer wisely chose primarily downtown businesses. I'd have included a best pizza category to give Ferrando's a nod I always have to get a pizza there when I'm in town. I can't wait to try some of these suggestions when I'm in town for the holidays.

[socaguy]

I was driving down US 1 near Aiken today and saw the cleared site for the 2nd Walmart. That thing is going to be huge!

[Topher1]

^ bah...

I suppose it's more "progress" than that side of town has seen in years, but this will be the final death blow for the Kalmia Mall property just a mile down the road... It really is a shame, because there really aren't many Roses stores left, and that one will probably close within a year once Wal-Mart opens... Of course the Kalmia Mall property would be an amazing location for a mixed-use development, but I suspect that it will just sit vacant and rotting for the time being if/when Roses closes...

[socaguy]

I hear ya Topher. Walmart is definately something to brag about. I did get to drive DT Aiken a little and looks like progress is coming along on the retail/Loft strip you posted a few months ago. DT Aiken looked busy and bustling as usual.

[PJA]

The town of Graniteville is looking to incorporate and become an official city. Here's the article.

[dromulus]

The town of Graniteville is looking to incorporate and become an official city. Here's the article.

[Topher1]

According to state laws regarding incorporation, no city/town can be incorporated within 5 miles of an existing city or town, unless the new city/town has more than 7000 residents at a certain overall density. So in order to satisfy that, they've drawn the boundaries to an area that includes just barely over 7000 people.

However, if this happens, the two largest new housing developments in the county will be in the new city's city limits, which would boost the population to around 15000 within a few years...

[DaGABoyStinger]

^ I had always thought that Graniteville already was it's own city, but I may of been wrong. Linking three together would really make it interesting. I still would LOVe to see more growth in that area, especially between Graniteville and Clearwater along the corridor between US1 and I-20.

On another note, an article in today's chronicle talks about N. Augusta's new Archelogical park by the River and the OFFICIAL groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of Palmetto Parkway is scheduled for January 22, 2007.