The heart of the City Center is the new Common, which will serve as the central gathering place for special events and everyday activities. It is important to leverage the presence of the Common with uses that generate a constant flow of users and visitors. The proposed Morris Museum of Art will serve as the north anchor of the Common.

A south anchor for the Common needs to be equally impressive. Ideally, it should be a major generator of activity day and night. The 800 block, where the Common is located, is between the existing financial sector and the emerging Artist Row/Marbury Sectors. With the exception of SunTrust and a few other uses, this block is currently underutilized and poised for development.

Some real opportunities exist to rejuvenate the south side of the 800 block of Broad Street. Augusta State University and Augusta Technical Institute have expressed an interest in providing continuing education facilities in the City Center. The Library Board is interested in building a new, high tech central library and wishes to be next to the continuing education facilities to serve as an important resource. The beauty of this potential cluster of complimentary uses is that they will generate "traffic" on the Augusta Common. The comings and goings on evenings and weekends provide a constant flow of users who will also support restaurants and shops.

These three potential facilities can take advantage of a traditional Campus setting by locating on or near the Common. In addition, the plan illustrates a mini-common that provides an important linkage to the Municipal Garage from Broad Street. The garage has the capability of expanding to twice its existing capacity to support these new uses and other potential users. Another important user in this block will be the School Board's consolidated offices on the west end of the 800 block on the southside. These offices will house approximately 200 employees and will also generate weekday activity.

The remainder of the 800 block on both sides of the street and sites fronting on the Common will benefit from the Common. Retail, residential and offices are likely uses.