Aiken leaders get look at new mixed-use building design
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) –- Aiken City leaders getting a first look at the design for a mixed-use building planned for downtown.
“We need more commercial development in the downtown district of Aiken,” Sidney Jones said.
The three-story brick building will be on a vacant lot on Newberry Street between Buzz Rich’s law office and several townhomes. This project is funded by a $25 million settlement with the Department of Energy over plutonium storage at SRS. “Just building houses as fast as they can put ’em up and they’re selling as soon as they get ’em built,” he added. “So commercial development and residential development is doing well in Aiken County.”
The building’s first floor will house conference space, potentially including USC Aiken’s Science Education Center. The top two floors may be leased to the Savannah River National Lab for office space. According to the application submitted to the Design Review Board, the building will have a steel frame, concrete floors, and a brick exterior with aluminum storefronts and cast stone details. “It’s a nice community,” Birgidt Djeti shared. “So, it should be maybe staying this way.”
Plans also include a green space, 39 parking spaces, underground stormwater detention, and a buffer between the parking area and nearby townhomes. An alternate plan alters the first-story windows for flexibility for future use and downtown aesthetics. “Are they going to have adequate parking for it so that people don’t have to walk a long way to get to it. And that would be my only concern,” Jones asked.
Several people NewsChannel 6 spoke with said the new building should go with renovations at Old Aiken Hospital, citing more space and parking.
Meanwhile, the plans will head to City Council once the Design Review Board approves.
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