As expected, a new ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low A; Sally League) and the adjacent Project Jackson in North Augusta, SC will not be ready until 2018.
Earlier this month, the GreenJackets acknowledged that a move into the ballpark in the middle of next season was becoming less likely. Construction has still not begun on the project and, with at least a year needed to complete the ballpark, the GreenJackets will now play the 2017 season at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
While North Augusta officials initially expressed hope that the team would play at least a hand full of 2017 contests in the ballpark, they are now confirming that there will not be games next year. More from WJBF.com:
“I feel like I’ve been saying for a while that we’re close, and we are. It’s just an incredibly complex project,” City Administrator Todd Glover said.
Construction on the project hasn’t started yet, but North Augusta’s riverfront has been cleared. Old structures are still there and the weeds and grass are growing. City leaders say the groundbreaking will happen soon.
“As far as baseball in the stadium, we’re clearly into the 2018 season. Now that doesn’t mean that the stadium couldn’t be finished earlier and perhaps the first event in the stadium is a concert or something like that,” Glover said.
The scope of Project Jackson is fairly broad. At 29.4 acres, it is expected to include apartments, offices, retail, entertainment, and lodging. Initially conceived several years ago, the project has faced a handful of delays, including one brought on by a legal challenge that ultimately ended in the city’s favor.
North Augusta is still in the process of rewarding contracts and attracting businesses to the development. WJBF reported that total cost of Project Jackson is above $200 million.
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