AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Above the previous a number of many years, downtown Augusta has arrive alive.
To additional the progress even far more, conversations are using position to create a Savannah-fashion entertainment district.
Existing ordinances downtown really don’t allow for open containers or bars to have outdoor seating, only eating places. This implies for the Augusta Pedal Pub, clients have to pour out their consume and ponder why.
“We get that dilemma often,” said owner Charity Jones.
She suggests out of all of the Pedal Pub franchise areas, Augusta is the only 1 not allowed to consume in the pub, which confuses prospects.
“(They say) I could go to this space to get that. Why don’t you men do that for your regions? We just have to say, ‘No, we’re functioning on it and soon we will have it all worked out for anyone to be able to have that option,’” reported Jones.
The attempt to get this labored out is on for them.
Just one alternative brought up with town leaders was to make an enjoyment district downtown. This would be a described space with distinct principles, making it possible for matters like open up containers.
“Everybody in this sector would advantage from it in a great way. We’re together and we communicate loudly saying, ‘Yes, please work on that for us below in Augusta,’” claimed Jones.
This would make Backyard Metropolis a lot more competitive in the tourism market, way too.
“We’re all competing cities across the condition of Georgia,” mentioned Margaret Woodard, executive director of the Downtown Growth Authority. “Ever because the pandemic, persons are hunting for encounters. You can arrive downtown and you can go sit in a bar and have a drink or sit in a restaurant, have a consume or individuals are really hunting for encounters. They want to obtain the fascinating, quaint, eclectic matters in downtown Augusta that are not in much larger towns. We have acquired a beautiful local weather. We have got gorgeous historic constructions in our downtown and what a good way then to be able to stroll the sidewalks in the evening hrs or on Saturday and Sunday when there are gatherings and be in a position to investigate downtown Augusta.”
Woodard states the most comparable town is Savannah in which she’s noticed some thing like this do the job. Incorporating this downtown just can make sense.
“It’s the heart and soul of the town. It is in which the majority of the bars, dining establishments, leisure venues are the arena. The Bell, the Miller, the Imperial. It is a extremely dense space exactly where people come to experience an city environment,” mentioned Woodard.
The fee also approved setting up and improvement to revisit and draft a modify to the liquor ordinance. The prepare is to current this in Oct.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All legal rights reserved.
