Preliminary plans calls for construction of the new home of the Augusta GreenJackets (Low A; Sally League) to begin in early 2017, according to recently release documents.
Officials in North Augusta had previously discussed constructing the ballpark in a roughly 12-to-14-month time frame, and at one point floated the idea of a mid-2017 opening. However with many of the components of the ballpark and the surrounding Project Jackson development still needing to be finalized, the GreenJackets and North Augusta opted to set their sights on a 2018 opening.
The timeline that is to be considered by the North Augusta City Council calls for parts of Project Jackson, including the ballpark, to begin in March 2017. While many of the major pieces of the development will not be in place until the end of 2018, the ballpark itself would be completed by April 1, 2018, allowing the GreenJackets to play the full season in their new facility.
These proposals will be considered by the city council early next week, though more readings will follow. More from the North Augusta Star:
North Augusta City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Municipal Building at 100 Georgia Ave.
An agenda says the council will vote on second reading of the master development agreement, as well as second reading of an agreement authorizing the City to enter into an installment purchase transaction relating to Project Jackson.
The deal becomes official after third reading is approved.
Aside from the ballpark, work on Riverfront Park, as well as construction of various apartment, retail, and parking projects would being in March. Other components of the project would begin on a staggered schedule, with construction of two separate apartments units beginning in January and amenities such as office space, hotels, and single-family homes targeted for dates later in the year. All of the projects would be completed by the end of 2018.
There have been signs recently that North Augusta was moving ahead with the project. Earlier this week, the South Carolina city voted to restore a Municipal Improvement District designation that would help fund Project Jackson.
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