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Despite county action, North Augusta ballpark project very much alive

Proposed Augusta ballpark

Far from being a dead end, Project Jackson — a multiuse North Augusta (Ga.) development that includes a new Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark — is still very much alive, as officials visit Fluor Field to see how a ballpark can transform a neighborhood.

The last time the ballpark project was in the news, county officials had rejected a TIF-financing proposal for the project. At the time, the rejection as seen as a death blow for the project.

Funny thing happened: the project is still very much alive. We’re seeing in many cities a TIF is seen sometimes by developers as a pot of easy money, rather than the bridge financing that can make or break a project, as was the original intent of tax-increment financing. The ballpark would be part of a larger development that would include a 200-room hotel, convention center and retail, residential and office space. 

North Augusta city leaders last week visited Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League), to see first-hand how the ballpark changed the generally run-down West End. From WJBF:

“I asked which came first the chicken or the egg,” [said North Augusta Mayor Lark] Jones. “I asked, ‘Did you build the stadium because this area was being revived or did the stadium revive the area?’ He said the stadium revived the area.”

RELATED STORIES: GreenJackets proposal shot down by county; North Augusta gives preliminary support for new GreenJackets home; Augusta ballpark plan unveiled; Eiseman, Schoen to buy GreenJackets; Opposition already rising against North Augusta ballpark; North Augusta ballpark project to be unveiled this week; Ripken Baseball selling Augusta GreenJackets: owners; Downtown Augusta ballpark back up for discussion; Ripken Baseball: Damage control in Augusta; Challenge in Augusta: Paying for new ballpark; Eiseman: We’re not tied to Augusta riverfront location; Augusta approves negotiations for new GreenJackets ballparkAugusta ballpark back in play?

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