2002

Singer finds sounds that suit her songs (10/25/2002)
Although a firm fan of the sounds of Nashville, country crooner Jamie O'Neal isn't afraid to infuse her music with a little bit of Memphis. Ms. O'Neal, who headlines the Augusta Common grand opening Saturday, has a take on country that is of the polished, pop-inflected varietal popular in post-Shania Twain Nashville. What separates her from the multitude of pretty faces singing pretty songs is a little bit of soul.

Common kicks off with musical sampler (10/25/2002)
It's easy to mistake the new green space between Broad and Reynolds streets as merely a park, but that would be a Common misperception. Because the Augusta Common is wired for sound. To prove the point, eight acts will grace two stages at the Augusta Common grand opening Saturday.

What you see today is just the beginning (10/13/2002)
The first phase of Augusta Common, linking Broad and Reynolds streets, is almost finished, but two more phases, extending the park from the river to Ellis Street, are in the works. The urban park you see nestled in the 800 block between Broad and Reynolds streets is merely the first of three phases. Once completed, the Common's footprint will stretch from the riverfront to Ellis Street.

New projects gain impetus (10/13/2002)
When Pete Verdery first heard of the Augusta Common project, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. So 18 years ago, he bought the old cotton warehouse on Reynolds Street that now fronts the west side of the park. "It's been a long time coming, no doubt," said Mr. Verdery, who plans to convert the ground level into office space for his apartment-management business and the second floor into loft apartments overlooking the park. "But I think it will be worth the wait."

Downtown gets new way to plug in (10/13/2002)
Augusta's downtown cultural center now has room to grow. Connecting the bustle of Broad Street to the festival-friendly real estate along Riverwalk Augusta, the Augusta Common was designed with the city's downtown development in mind.

8 acts will show venue's abilities (10/13/2002)
It's no secret that Augusta Common was developed as a gardenesque green space and gathering point. But what visitors to this urban oasis might find surprising is that the park boasts the wattage to transform its tree-lined paths into Augusta's newest concert venue. Eight entertainment acts, ranging from hard rock to holy gospel, will appear on two stages at the Augusta Common grand opening Oct. 26.

Augusta Common grand opening includes country singer (9/13/2002)
Crossover country music singer and three-time Grammy nominee Jamie O'Neal will perform at next month's Augusta Common grand opening celebration, city officials confirmed Thursday morning. Best known for her songs There is No Arizona and When I Think About Angels, Mrs. O'Neal - an Australia native - has been highly lauded by the country music industry.

Park grand opening will not cost city, administrator says (8/29/2002)
The cost of a grand-opening celebration for downtown's premier park - the Augusta Common - is expected to cost about $75,000, but it shouldn't cost taxpayers a penny. The event will include a laser show, fireworks display and several musical acts, but no expenses will be paid for with city funds, City Administrator George Kolb said at a news conference Wednesday. Corporate sponsors, such as Coca-Cola of Augusta, and private donations should fund the entire grand opening, he said.

A standing invitation (8/29/2002)
The grand opening of Augusta Common will apparently be anything but common. The landing of MTV heartthrob Carson Daly as emcee for the Oct. 26 opening of the downtown Augusta park is a veritable coup for the Augusta Common grand opening committee - as is the prospect that a major musical act will be featured.

MTV host gets in on Augusta Common act (8/27/2002)
Carson Daly, the host of MTV's popular video countdown show Total Request Live, is expected to be the celebrity emcee at the grand opening celebration of downtown's Augusta Common park, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26. The city has not made an official announcement, but City Administrator George Kolb said Monday morning that Mr. Daly has been booked to visit Augusta for the celebration.

Cafe owners hope Common will bring business boom (8/3/2002)
Silla Cafe owners recently completed a $30,000 expansion that more than doubled the downtown restaurant's seating capacity. It's no coincidence that Silla is located just a few strides from the future Augusta Common. Felton Mitchell, who owns Silla with his wife, Tae, said he expects his lunch business to double once the downtown park opens in late October.

Common project progressing (7/31/2002)
Downtown's premier park likely won't be completed until late October, but city contractors say that by next month Augusta Common will start looking less like a demolition site and more like an urban refuge. Public works officials report that the project, which was scheduled for a speedy completion, has fallen behind. The city now is planning for an Oct. 26 grand opening, about one month later than originally planned.

Common interest (5/24/2002)
Downtown property owner Julian Osbon sees Augusta Common as the catalyst for a bevy of downtown development projects bent on the beautification of the city's central business district. He wants to start with his own building. Mr. Osbon, who donated some property to the city for the downtown park, hopes the city will return the favor in the form of a facade grant to rework the east wall of his building facing the Common area.

Demolition for park makes progress (1/11/2002)
From Reynolds Street, what used to be part of the heart of Augusta looks like a war zone, but not for much longer. Demolition in the 800 block of Broad Street to make way for the city's downtown park, Augusta Common, is about 30 percent complete and should be finished around the first week in February, said Hiram Thompson, the president of Thompson Building Wrecking Co. Inc.

2001

Construction uncovers tunnel (12/12/2001)
Contractors beginning work on a new downtown park between Broad and Reynolds streets have uncovered an underground tunnel, part of which will be filled with dirt to pave the way for the Augusta Common greenbelt. The tunnel, now an empty concrete-lined shell that is blocked off midway by a cinderblock wall, was once well-traveled by tellers with the National Exchange Bank of Augusta.

Progress on park boosts revival (12/10/2001)
A great wall of particle board partitions the workday hustle and bustle of a Broad Street sidewalk from new construction. The wooden wall's sawdust smell mingles with the salty aroma of hot dogs, wafting over from the 800 block's Eat-a-Plenty snack shop. The sound of high heels clacking on pavement mixes with the not-so-muffled noises of pounding equipment, clanging almost constantly from behind the construction barrier.

Common seeks public funding for park extras (5/31/2001)
There's a $50,000 relief map of Augusta that the city hopes someone wants to buy. There also are $7,200 worth of garbage cans, $168,000 in lamp posts and more than $30,000 in trees that can be purchased and donated to become part of the Augusta Common park project in downtown Augusta.

A Common asset (4/30/2001)
The Common marks a turning point for the city, especially its downtown. In about six weeks, the ugly, dilapidated buildings in the 800 block of Broad Street will be demolished. A few months later construction will begin to transform the eyesore area into a lovely greenspace between Eighth and Ninth streets, designed to be the heart of the center city and a gathering place for community events.

First phase of Common set to begin (4/27/2001)
The Augusta-Richmond County Historic Preservation Commission approved the first phase of the Augusta Common project Thursday. The unanimous vote paved the way for demolition of buildings in the 800 block of Broad Street in about six weeks and construction to begin in two to three months. Completion of the greenspace project that is expected to become ``the heart of the center city'' should take about a year, said Augusta's Assistant Public Works Director Drew Goins.

Commons project gets funding OK (4/18/2001)
The Augusta Commons project Tuesday got the financial commitment it was looking for. During its meeting, the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp.'s project oversight committee agreed to support the large-scale project to the tune of $750,000.

Commends Augusta Tomorrow (4/3/2001)
One of their latest endeavors is the Augusta Common Project - a downtown park area. The common will be a great asset to our community. Not only will it give us additional green space for recreation, it also will help our city economically by bringing in new businesses.

Forward with Common (1/28/2001)
Much of the property has been acquired and buildings stand vacant and ready for demolition. With the acquisition of one last parcel nearly complete, it's time to move ahead on the Augusta Common project. The Augusta Common is a visionary concept, the heart and soul of the downtown master plan. It's part of a larger vision for downtown revitalization, however.

City gets master plan update (1/10/2001)
The city's newest downtown master plan calls for the creation of a second riverfront residential complex, a railroad overpass at 15th Street, and the establishment of judicial and biotechnology districts. The projects were just a few of those included in an updated master plan presented Tuesday by Augusta Tomorrow, the public-private downtown revitalization group whose original 1982 plan spawned the city's riverfront improvements.

2000

Commons project advances (6/7/2000)
A great wall of particle board partitions the workday hustle and bustle of a Broad Street sidewalk from new construction. The wooden wall's sawdust smell mingles with the salty aroma of hot dogs, wafting over from the 800 block's Eat-a-Plenty snack shop. The sound of high heels clacking on pavement mixes with the not-so-muffled noises of pounding equipment, clanging almost constantly from behind the construction barrier.

Partnership focuses on Augusta Commons (6/3/2000)
There's no good reason to end a partnership that has helped produce $200 million worth of economic development in the downtown area and along the river, say officials from Augusta Tomorrow and LDR International Inc. So representatives from both groups used a news conference Friday afternoon to announce their partnership, which produced Riverwalk Augusta and Fort Discovery, would continue for the foreseeable future.

City park plans proceed (5/30/2000)
After nearly six years of planning, the Augusta Commons project could see construction begin this fall. Demolition of the buildings between Broad and Reynolds streets would begin 60 to 90 days after the final piece of property is secured, said Julian Osbon, chairman of Augusta Tomorrow, the public-private organization that conceived the downtown park.

Augusta projects fluctuate (3/25/2000)
The first $10 million installment of the state's three-year, $30 million economic development package for Augusta is expected to arrive in late June or early July. Although this is cause for jubilation, some members of the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp. -- the agency charged with distributing the funds -- say they worry that the list of projects to benefit from the money is being changed, that some of the more popular projects are in limbo and that the board as a whole is being left out of the loop.

1999

State OK would hasten projects (3/7/1999)
Local officials said several city projects could be finished months or possibly years ahead of schedule if the state approves their $30 million capital improvement request. The one-time allocation would keep ongoing developments, such as the Augusta Commons downtown park and the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, from having to pause between construction phases to raise additional money.

Barnes backs Augusta projects (3/4/1999)
Calling Augusta a ''sleeping giant,'' Gov. Roy Barnes on Wednesday told civic leaders and lawmakers he'd work with them to help fund a $94.5 million package of capital improvements aimed at spurring economic growth. Under a plan presented to the governor by leaders of Augusta Tomorrow Inc. and local politicians, the state is being asked to pump $30 million into the effort.

Bold new Augusta plan (3/3/1999)
There has been a lot of hard work and planning in recent years when it comes to boosting the now-consolidated Augusta, our economy and our overall quality of life. The best news to date, however, is that Georgia has a governor who pledges to work with our state lawmakers, as well as Augusta's political and civic leaders, to help fund a just-unveiled $94.5 million capital improvements package.

1998

1997

Augusta Commons coming (7/31/1997)
The walls of empty downtown stores could come tumbling down to make way for a grass-covered mall and a pair of tree-lined streets once Augusta's Health Department moves from 843 Broad St. Five buildings on Broad Street and one facing Reynolds Street will make way for the mall and a pedestrian walkway designed to link shopping and sightseeing in the city's center.