WESTOBOU RIVER CROSSING & HIGHER EDUCATION/CIVIC DISTRICT

Westobou Crossing is the only Master Plan District that spans the Savannah River, includes specific projects in North Augusta and Augusta and takes advantage of on-going collaboration of both the public and private sectors. This will be a huge urban riverfront endeavor working together in a joint development along this span of the Savannah River to realize exciting recreation, retail and entertainment destinations.

The Higher Education/Civic District includes several city facilities including the Municipal Building and the Augusta Museum of History. With open land and buildings that could easily be retrofitted to educational facilities, this area could easily become a cornerstone for additional higher education capacity downtown, especially in the cyber arena. Being strategically located along the Gordon Highway, there is excellent access to the high technology centers of Fort Gordon, Augusta University and the Savannah River Site.

Already, the old Academy of Richmond County on Telfair Street has been turned into The Clubhou.se, a space for entrepreneurs, programmers, software designers and engineers who need a tech incubator. In addition, the $22 million Miller Theater renovation/rehabilitation project is including a 35,000 square foot space on Broad Street in the old Cullum’s Building to house a music institute with classrooms. In 2017, a new Augusta Innovation Zone is being planned for the corner of 8th and Broad Streets.