Aiken Standard's top 10 local stories of 2021 -- No. 7: North Augusta sees growth with new ER, public safety building

Samantha Winn, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Dec. 24—Editor's note: The Aiken Standard is counting down its top 10 local news stories of 2021. This is No. 7 in the 10-part series beginning Dec. 22 and ending Dec. 31.

In 2021, North Augusta experienced two large signs of growth and development.

In October, Aiken Regional Medical Centers broke ground on a new 24/7 free standing emergency room located off Exit 5. Slated to open in Summer 2022, the 11,0000-square-foot ER will accommodate six exam rooms, radiology and laboratory services and have a physician on staff.

"...(The) freestanding emergency department will provide top-notch care where minutes really matter, especially for those that are having strokes, heart attacks and other severe illnesses that require a rapid diagnosis and providing those services in North Augusta and this area of Aiken, residents can be assured that emergent care is needed to be available closer to home," said Gerald Gordon, an infectious disease specialist and chairman of the Board of Governors at Aiken Regional at the groundbreaking event.

The addition of the emergency room is expected to help serve the community as the city of North Augusta continues to grow.

"People get how critical it is for us to have this standalone ER in North Augusta," North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said at the groundbreaking. "This is something, as citizens, we are going to embrace; and we have, so I think that is fantastic."

In addition to the emergency room at Exit 5, city of North Augusta officials voted unanimously to place the new public safety headquarters off Georgia Avenue. The location is the former home of the Seven Gables and Flythe properties.

"North Augusta may be growing and expanding, and expansion will always be necessary," said Council member Jenafer McCauley during the Oct. 4 council meeting. "I also think it is really important to value the neighborhood. I value your homes, but I think it is our job to be sure that we do put this public safety building that is being maintained and designed with a green space and being preserved with the historic buildings, I think that is very important and I think that we can make it something nice and hopefully a win-win."

While some North Augustans were upset about the outcome, city leaders wanted to get started on the project. Over $11 millio for the project are funded from the Capital Project Sales Tax List IV.

Since the unanimous vote, the site has been cleared by city staff to prepare for construction. Plans to save the older homes on the property for historic and community value are in place. A community design forum was held by the city in November.

"It's a great asset for us to have this in our future. We've been waiting on it for a long, long time. It's something that we've been talking about at least for the 12 years I've been here. It's a great opportunity for public safety to take a step forward into the future," North Augusta Public Safety Department Director John Thomas said at the design forum. "We are very grateful that the council and the mayor have supported this effort and we are excited about what we are going to get in the future."