Downtown ugusta Profile eport exgroup.com
Downtown ugusta Profile eport D W W P Prepared by: C egional Development Center For: ugusta Downtown Development uthority pril, 2006 he Downtown ugusta Profile eport is a compilation of data on various aspects of downtown activity. Pictures appearing throughout the report come courtesy of ugusta omorrow, nc. Disclaimer Data included in this report have been compiled from general sources and are to be used only as a guide. he C egional Development Center assumes no liability for their accuracy or any decisions users may make based on these documents.
able of Contents Downtown at a Glance.. 1 Demographics & Housing.....2 Business ctivity.......8 ourism & ecreation....15 C Quality of Life...17 ransportation....20 Land Use....23 ncentives...25 Contacts...28
Downtown ugusta is situated along a picturesque riverfront featuring paths, magnificent vistas and open spaces. t is bound by the avannah iver to the north, Walton Way to the south, 5th treet to the east and the medical district to the west. ts well-designed network of roadways and sidewalks makes downtown easily accessible. erving as the focal point for a metropolitan population of 500,000, downtown has undergone major public and private investment in revitalization and beautification initiatives. D W W P he downtown area is home to a majority of ugusta s tourism generators, including museums, performing arts centers and professional sports teams. Downtown also includes the ugusta Canal ational Heritage rea, one of only 27 designated heritage areas in the nation. beautiful riverfront serves as a popular gathering place for daily lunches and conversation breaks, as well as a main stage for outdoor entertainment throughout the year. he outlook for downtown is bright, as recent investment has generated a flurry of activity. ew restaurants, additional retail and more people visiting has invigorated downtown. oday, downtown is ugusta s center of community activity. Downtown at a Glance esident Population: 2,661 Households: 1,540 Housing: 1,679 units (8.1% owner units, 82.1% rental units, 9.8% vacant) esident Labor Force: 799 Workforce Population: 17,479 Businesses: 895 Major employers: Medical College of Georgia (7,800), University Hospital (3,860), ugusta-ichmond County Government (2,600). etail Goods and ervices xpenditures: $44,295,123 Major Planned nvestment: $136,000,000 ransportation: 3 major arterials (D from 2,905 to 21,864; all roadways L C or better) Colleges and Universities: Medical College of Georgia, Paine College, Cambridge College. Medical Facilities: Medical College of Georgia, University Hospital. Land Use: Mixed residential/commercial, with major institutional uses interspersed. ourism: 1.5 million visitors annually (city wide) generating $366 million in revenues. Page 1
Population ccording to the 2000 U.. Census, the total residential population of downtown ugusta is 2,661. his represents a decline from the peak 1990 population of 3,184. Between 1990 and 2000, however, the number of households increased from 1,460 to 1,540, suggesting that downtown is mirroring the trend of other downtowns in attracting more singles and childless couples. he median age for downtown residents is 43, significantly higher than the ugusta (32.4) and national (35.3%) averages. Median age is reflected in the age distribution of downtown residents. Both the 25-54 and 55+ yrs distributions account for a relatively higher share of the population. Downtown ge Distribution Distribution D M G P H C 55+ Yrs, 37.2% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 0-14 Yrs, 13.3% 25-54 Yrs, 35.8% 15-24 Yrs, 13.7% Downtown area residents have seen a substantial increase in average household incomes over the years. Between 1990 and 2000, average household income jumped from $14,367 to $34,808, an increase of 142.2%. n that same period, average household income ugustawide increased by 40.8%. lthough downtown household income is still approximately $10,000 below the ugusta-wide rate and $20,000 below the national average, the rapid increase in downtown income is projected to continue as more workers choose to the make downtown their place of residence. he distribution of household incomes has also changed in the past decade as the percentage of lower income households has dropped. Between 1990 and 2005, the number of households earning $35,000 or more increased from 7.1% to 21.3% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Downtown Households by ncome Distribution 78.7% < $34,999 $35,000- $49,000 5.7% 3.9% $50,000- $74,000 11.6% >$75,000 ource: B, Market Profile, 2005 Page 2
he net worth of downtown households varies. s a median, net worth of downtown households is $51,931, lower than the $67,279 ugusta-wide figure and the $107,683 national average. verage net worth, on the other hand, is $459,614, significantly above the ugusta-wide figure of $396,235 and closer to the $518,467 national average. he distribution of net worth is almost evenly split among households below $34,999 and those above $75,000. Downtown esidents et Worth 50% 40% 44.2% D M G P H C onfamily 74.6% 30% 20% 10% 0% Households and Housing hree of every four downtown residents live in non-family households, a rate 3% higher than in 1990. pproximately 70% of residents are in 1-person households, followed by 2-person (17%) and 3+ person (14%) households. Downtown Households by ype Family 25.4% 13.6% < $34,999 $35,000- $74,999 19.2% $75,000- $249,999 ource: B, Disposable ncome Profile, 2005 2-Person 16.5% 23.0% 250,000+ Downtown Households by ize 3+ Person 13.6% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 1-Person 69.9% Page 3
ental units dominate the downtown housing market. pproximately 82.1% of all housing is rental, a rate more or less in line with the 81.3% figure reported in 1990. he percentage of rental units is far higher than the ugusta average and over 50% higher than the national average of 30.8%. he housing unit imbalance has prompted many in the development community to advocate for condominium housing to increase ownership rates. Downtown Housing Unit Distribution Vacant 9.8% wner 8.1% D M G P H C Downtown continues to lead ugusta and the metro area in density. n 2000, 1,069 of downtown s 1,679 units were in structures containing 20 or more units, an increase of over 21.3% since 1990. n 1990, 54.5% of downtown residents lived in structures with 20+ units. By 2000, that number had risen to 63.6%. By contrast, just over 4.2% of ugusta residents reside in 20+ housing unit structures. Developers are responding to demand by providing more multi-unit housing, particularly rental units atop commercial establishments along Broad and Greene treets. Population density, combined with recent government and private investment downtown, continues to fuel the growth of commercial establishments. 20+ Units 63.6% enter 82.1% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 Downtown Housing Units by tructure ther 0.8% ingle- Family 11.5% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 2-19 Units 24.1% By any measure, rental housing in downtown ugusta is affordable. n 2000, approximately 90.1% of units rented for $499 or less. t $292, downtown median rents are among the lowest in the nation. Page 4
Downtown ental Unit Cost Distribution Median ent for elected Jurisdictions $500-$749 8.8% $750+ 0.7% $600 $400 $292 $413 $505 $519 $200 <$500 90.5% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 (0.5% = o Cash ent) $0 Downtown ugusta Georgia U ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 D M G P H C wner occupied units within downtown account for only 8.1% of the total housing stock but represent diverse price ranges. he value of approximately half the owner units is below $100,000 while the remaining half is above $200,000. he absence of any housing in the $100,000 to $200,000 range points to another demand for specific housing types. Both median and average downtown home values have risen substantially in the past decade. n 2000, the listed median value of a downtown home was $135,000, an increase of approximately $85,000 over the 1990 rate of $50,000. imilarly, average home values have increased from $108,807 to $160,195 between 1990 and 2000. Median and average home values ugusta-wide were $76,841 and $93,481 in 2000. 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% ducational ttainment Downtown wner Units by Value 20.4% 29.6% < $50,000 $50,000- $99,999 44.9% $200,000- $299,999 5.1% >$300,000 ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 ducation attainment rates among downtown residents continue to rise. n 1990, approximately 52% of residents had not earned a high school diploma. By 2000, this Page 5
percentage dropped to 40. he percentage of residents earning some college or ssociate Degrees climbed from 11.5% to 18.5% while the percentage earning Bachelor s or Graduate Degrees increased from 14.7% to 17.1%. he percentage of Bachelor s+ educational attainment is quickly approaching the ugusta-wide rate (18.6%) and national average (24.4%) Downtown esident ducational chievement Bachelor's+, 17.1% o High chool, 40.2% D M G P H C mployment ome College, 18.5% High chool Grad, 24.2% ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 pproximately 799 downtown residents are employed in various sectors. majority (64.2%) are employed in the service sector, followed by retail trade (12.8%) and manufacturing (7.4%). lightly over 50% of downtown residents are classified as white-collar workers, encompassing management/business, professional, sales and administrative. Blue-collar workers make up 13.6% of the resident workforce and are represented in construction, production, transportation/moving and installation. Lamar Building Houses Many Downtown ffices Farmers Market a Popular Downtown Draw Page 6
Downtown esidents mployment by ndustry mployed Population ndustry umber of mployees Downtown 1-mile adius 3-mile adius % umber of mployees % umber of mployees % griculture/mining 0 0% 2 0.1% 55 0.3% Construction 19 2.4% 84 5.3% 1,016 5.5% Manufacturing 59 7.4% 118 7.5% 1,515 8.2% Wholesale rade 1 0.1% 6 0.4% 296 1.6% etail rade 102 12.8% 170 10.8% 2,236 12.1% D M G P H C ransportation/utilities 23 2.9% 80 5.1% 1,016 5.5% nformation 17 2.1% 21 1.3% 296 1.6% Finance, nsurance & eal state 17 2.1% 24 1.5% 776 4.2% ervices 513 64.2% 1,000 63.4% 10,569 57.2% Public dministration 48 6% 74 4.7% 684 3.7% otal 799 1,580 18,459 ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 (May not add to 100% due to rounding) Downtown esidents mployment by ccupation mployed by ccupation umber of mployees Downtown 1-mile adius 3-mile adius % umber of mployees % umber of mployees White Collar 407 51.0% 659 41.8% 9,868 53.4% Management/Business 52 6.5% 72 4.6% 1,515 8.2% Professional 174 21.8% 293 18.6% 4,232 22.9% ales 88 11% 110 7% 1,996 10.8% dministrative upport 93 11.7% 181 11.5% 2,144 11.6% ervices 282 35.3% 545 34.6% 4,490 24.3% Blue Collar 109 13.7% 374 23.7% 4,121 22.3% % otal 798 1,576 18,479 ource: U.. Bureau of the Census, 2000 (May not add to 100% due to rounding) Page 7
Business ctivity Historically, Broad treet has anchored downtown ugusta and ensured its status as the metropolitan area s financial hub. here are 895 businesses employing approximately 17,476 people located downtown. he service sector accounts for the largest share of businesses and jobs. ver 463 service businesses (51.7% of all downtown businesses) employ 9,187 people (52.6%). Downtown is well diversified with a significant number of businesses and employees in Finance, nsurance & eal state (5.5%), etail rade (7%) and Government (19.8%). pproximately 1,228 (7%) workers are employed in the manufacturing sector. Major downtown employers include: Medical College of Georgia (7,800), University Hospital (3,860), and the ugusta-ichmond County Government (2,600). B U Unlike many downtowns engulfed by residential land uses, the number of businesses around downtown increases substantially. Within a 1-mile radius of downtown, the number of businesses grows by 33% to 1,190 while employment increases by approximately 4,000. Within a 3-mile radius, there are an additional 1,913 business and 22,108 workers. For residents living downtown, this means access and convenience of neighborhood shops and larger retail areas. Downtown Businesses by ector ector umber of Businesses Downtown 1-mile adius 3-mile adius % umber of Businesses % umber of Businesses griculture & Mining 4 0.4% 5 0.4% 35 1.2% Construction 27 3% 44 3.7% 145 5.2% Manufacturing 18 2% 24 2.0% 70 2.5% elecom, Comm. & Utilities 24 2.7% 28 2.4% 86 3.1% Wholesale rade 27 3% 36 3.0% 100 3.6% % etail 173 19.3% 216 18.2% 564 20.1% Finance & eal state 97 10.8% 112 9.4% 249 8.9% ervices 463 51.7% 623 52.4% 1,404 50% Government 55 6.1% 92 7.7% 132 4.7% ther 7 0.8% 10 0.8% 23 0.8% otal 895 1,190 2,808 ource: B, Market Profile, 2005 (May not add to 100% due to rounding) Page 8
Downtown mployment by ector ector umber of mployees Downtown 1-mile adius 3-mile adius % umber of mployees % umber of mployees % griculture & Mining 10 0.1% 12.1% 130 0.3% Construction 428 2.4% 593 2.8% 1,303 3.3% Manufacturing 1,228 7% 1,355 6.3% 5,025 12.7% elecom, Comm. & Utilities 689 3.9% 965 4.5% 1,751 4.4% B U Wholesale rade 292 1.7% 371 1.7% 1,252 3.2% etail 1,215 7% 1,612 7.5% 5,224 13.2% Finance & eal state 954 5.5% 1,049 4.9% 1,466 3.7% ervices 9,187 52.6% 10,198 47.7% 17,468 44.1% Government 3,465 19.8% 5,217 24.4% 5,933 15% ther 8 0% 13 0.1% 32 0.1% otal 17,476 21,385 39,584 ource: B, Market Profile, 2005 (May not add to 100% due to rounding) Downtown pending Patterns Downtown retail goods & services expenditures reflect the need for a wide variety of products. pproximately $45 million is spent annually on products ranging from apparel and computers to food and home furnishings. xpenditures within a 3-mile radius of downtown climb to nearly $725 million. he primary downtown expenditure is home services ($6,231 per person), which include rents or mortgages. ther major expenditures include financial services ($5,817), food ($5,188), and transportation ($4,593). Medical and College District Page 9
Downtown etail Goods and ervice xpenditures ector verage Per Person Downtown 1-mile adius 3-mile adius otal verage Per Person otal verage Per Person otal pparel and ervices $1,232 $1,822,261 $1,129 $2,764,953 $1,326 $27,040,061 B U Computer $142 $210,499 $136 $332,012 $161 $3,284,776 ntertainment & ecreation $1,739 $2,572,605 $1,634 $4,003,502 $2,013 $41,030,972 Food $5,188 $7,673,098 $4,726 $11,577,779 $5,492 $111,955,737 Financial $5,817 $8,603,135 $5,299 $12,982,441 $6,364 $129,744,475 Health $472 $698,486 $442 $1,082,983 $528 $10,769,641 Home $6,231 $9,215,003 $6,041 $14,799,893 $8,180 $166,761,548 Household Furnishings $645 $953,752 $606 $1,485,020 $764 $15,574,713 Household perations $879 $1,299,523 $818 $2,003,096 $1,018 $20,750,031 nsurance $2,341 $3,461,899 $2,190 $5,365,009 $3,461 $70,567,585 ransportation $4,593 $6,793,617 $4,326 $10,599,777 $5,454 $111,200,529 ravel $670 $991,245 $636 $1,599,353 $781 $15,930,129 otal $29,949 $44,295,123 $27,983 $68,595,818 $35,542 $724,610,197 Downtown nvestment ource: B, etail Goods and ervices xpenditures, 2005 xpansion Management Magazine ranks the ugusta metropolitan 36th out of the top 100 hottest cities in the United tates where business should move within the next one to three years. he ranking is based on a number of business variables, including logistical advantages, quality of life, infrastructure, workforce quality and business climate. Private nvestment Downtown is undergoing significant private investment. Castleberry/now's Brands Foods has invested $9 million at its 15th treet factory, adding as many as 200 new jobs. dditionally, dozens of smaller commercial establishments, ranging from antique shops to restaurants, have opened along Broad treet, revitalizing the downtown area. etail in downtown is in the midst of recovery after being hit hard by the suburban development of the Page 10
1980s and 1990s. hese new commercial establishments are beginning to anchor residential development. enovation and rehabilitation of existing properties is also occurring at record pace: Commerce Building n the 600 block of Broad treet, the historic 1880s building is undergoing a $30,000 face-lift with ugusta Façade Program grants and another $1 million in private funds is being invested to turn the building into office space, loft apartments and a restaurant. DeLaigle House he mid-1800s residence once considered for the wrecking ball and a parking lot is undergoing $700,000 in major rehab. n accounting firm will be relocating to the renovated facility and a new coffee shop will open later in the year. B U Miller heatre his landmark dating back to 1940 was purchased this summer and is undergoing approximately $400,000 in rehabilitation while a complete redevelopment plan is put in place. unrust Building Purchased this summer for $4.7 million, plans are underway to spruce-up the building with $1 million for renovation of the interior and the installation of new windows. ver $3 million in public and private funds has recently been invested to develop the ugusta Common, conceived as an urban park and gathering place for residents and visitors, and venue for special events. eaching from the riverfront across to Broad treet, anchored by the Morris Museum of rt to the north and commercial areas to the south, the park is ideally situated between the existing financial sector and the emerging rtist ow/marbury ectors. With a capacity of 10,000 to 15,000, the Common has been wired for live music, and is used for a variety of outdoor festivals, including the rts in the Heart festival. he residential development generated by the Common will likely lead to more retail development and business opportunities. estaurant and café owners have invested in seating capacity anticipating growth. he City of orth ugusta, located along the avannah iver just across downtown, is in the process of redeveloping 200 acres along the iver in a well-designed effort to re-link the city with its riverfront. he project includes mixed-use traditional scaled residential and town center of over 800 single-family homes, condominiums and apartments with a wide range of affordability. he riverfront erial View of orth ugusta portion, extending approximately one mile from the hirteenth treet Bridge west, will encompass a riverfront park, open to the entire area, and linked by the existing orth ugusta Greenway rail system. Page 11
Public nvestment he City of ugusta, through the ugusta Housing & conomic Development Department, is helping to restore downtown commercial structures through its Façade ehabilitation Program. he program has been designed to assist commercial property owners improve the exterior of their buildings through appropriate rehabilitation. Façade Grants of up to $30,000 have been awarded to numerous downtown businesses. he ichmond County Board of ducation recently moved its administrative office to downtown in an adaptive reuse of a large retail property. new courthouse and judicial center, U.. Bankruptcy Court building and expanded library also are being planned in the area. B U Downtown s main colleges - Medical College of Georgia, Paine College and Cambridge College, along with nearby ugusta tate University some 3 miles from downtown collectively enroll approximately 10,000 students and are a major generator of downtown investment, jobs and street traffic. endering of Board of ducation dministrative Building ugusta tate University has just invested $18.5 million for housing for over 500 students at the Wrightsboro oad Campus and additional units are planned. 50,000 square foot student center is under construction at a total cost of $12.5 million. he Georgia University system has committed $65 million to upgrading the ugusta tate University Campus. Downtown will benefit from U s continued growth. Medical District nvestment nvestment in downtown s renowned medical facilities is also occurring at a rapid pace. University Hospital is undergoing an $84.5 million upgrade of its facility - one of the single largest investments in downtown ugusta. his venture includes a new $50 million cardiovascular center, a one-stop outpatient center and surgical suites designed to accommodate emerging technology. Major medical construction is also underway at the Medical College of Georgia, and includes a $54 million Cancer esearch Center. lso under construction at MCG are a Health cience Building ($38 million) and an energy plant ($7 million). More nvestment in a Booming District Page 12
With the recent opening of the ugusta BioBusiness Center, downtown ugusta added another building block to the infrastructure needed to attract and support a growing life sciences industry. ecently designated by Governor Purdue as one of the Georgia s nnovation Centers, the Center is focusing on the development of medical device and medical software companies. ts current tenants include related organizations such as ast Bay Capital, the MCG nnovation Center utreach, and the Development uthority of ichmond County. he Center is a complement to the Medical College of Georgia Life ciences Business Development Center (MCG Biotech ncubator), which opened its doors in mid-2004. he two incubators are essential in nurturing the fledging downtown life sciences industry. Client companies in either incubator have access to the services of the other, including core lab space and state-of-the-art equipment, furnished offices, and access to MCG basic and clinical research programs. B U Canal rea nvestment he ugusta Canal is one of downtown s jewels. riginally devised to harness the power of the avannah iver for mills, today the Canal is being restored for recreation and includes trails, hiking, as well as memorable paddling and boat tours. he only ational Heritage rea-designated in Georgia, the Canal s nine-mile corridor follows the full length of the best preserved canal of its kind remaining in the southern United tates. ver $84.9 million ($16.9 million public and $68 million private) has been invested along the Canal in recent years. pproximately 91% of the funding has been invested in the downtown section of the Canal. he $15 million reconstruction of portions of the second and third levels of the Canal at Walton Way at a has resulted in a beautiful waterfront setting for future development. he development potential around the Canal is estimated at $300 million. he ugusta Canal is a Major Downtown ourism Generator Page 13
Planned nvestment ver the next few years, significant additional downtown investment is anticipated. he following list includes some of the major planned projects: Major Planned Downtown nvestment Project Value ew ntertainment and ports rena $60,000,000 B U ew xhibit and rade Center $25,000,000 xpanded rts in the Hearts Festival $150,000 Gateways Projects $5,000,000 Botanical Gardens xpansion $15,000,000 ew one-stop visitor, residential and business relocation information Center $500,000 ew James Brown Museum $100,000 ew Performing rts Center $30,000,000 otal $135,750,000 ource: ugusta conomic Development Working Group Page 14
Downtown Hotels and Conference pace Business people, conventioneers, trade show attendees, out-of-town tourists, theatre goers, sports fans and cultural devotees all come downtown for a variety of reasons. ccording to the Georgia Department of conomic Development, approximately 1.5 million people visit ugusta every year. ourist expenditures are greater than $366 million and generate over $11 million in local taxes. ourism and hospitality related industries account for 5,000 ugusta jobs, a major portion of which are located downtown. Without visitor spending, state and local resident taxes would increase by an average of $380 per household. Downtown s 9 hotels, 1,137 rooms, 35 meeting rooms and 72,820 square feet of conference space support downtown s capacity for large numbers of visitors. Hotel accommodations range from luxury hotels that cater to conventions to the moderately priced that receive mostly tourist traffic. U M he economic impact of downtown s largest events - the ugusta Futurity, rts in the Hearts, First Friday, ational Barrel Horse ssociation World Championships and the outhern ationals Drag boat aces - is enormous. he Futurity s economic impact alone is estimated to exceed $10 million annually, rivaling the Master s Golf ournament. Downtown rea Hotels and Conference pace Hotel ooms Meeting ooms Meeting oom q ft. ugusta Civic Center / Variable 14,500 zalee nn 21 / / Comfort nn Medical 100 1 375 Marriott uites ugusta iverwalk 136 1 375 Holiday nn xpress 42 / / Medical Center nn & uites 100 / / Partridge nn 156 6 7,570 Marriott iverfront 234 22 45,000 amada Plaza 200 5 5,000 egency nn ugusta 148 / / otal 1,137 35 72,820 ource: ugusta Metro Convention & Visitor s Bureau; rea Hotels Page 15
ttractions and vents Downtown is home to a variety of visitor attractions ranging from museums and cultural centers to festivals and sporting events. Performing arts centers are evenly split between indoor and outdoor venues, providing year-round access to performances. Major attractions have solidified downtown s place as a recreational and tourism destination. he continued growth of major events such as the ugusta Futurity, rts in the Hearts and the ational Barrel Horse ssociation World Championships provides downtown ugusta national and international exposure. Major Downtown ttractions and vents Downtown Performing rts Venues U M ttractions nnual ttendance ugusta Canal nterpretive Center & Petersburg Boats 30,000 ugusta Museum of History 45,000 Georgia Golf Hall of Fame 150,000 Gertrude Herbert nstitute of rt 15,000 Fort Discovery/ational cience Center 175,000 Lucy Craft Lane Museum of Black History 8,000 Morris Museum of rt 32,000 vents rts in the Hearts 50,000 ugusta Futurity 50,000 First Friday 120,000 ational Barrel Horse ssociation World Championships 35,000 aturday Market on Broad 16,000 outhern ationals Drag Boat aces 25,000 Location Capacity nnual ttendance ugusta Civic Center rena 8,500 Variable ugusta Civic Center Bell uditorium 2,690 Variable ugusta Common 10,000-15,000 / mperial heatre 534 106,935 Jessye orman mphitheatre 1,600 6,000 Page 16
he tourism and recreation section highlighted numerous aspects of quality of life. ngoing efforts to expand and improve open spaces in downtown continue to render the district a more livable place. ther aspects of quality of life are equally important in drawing new residents and businesses. Cost of Living Q U L Y F t 17.3% below the national average, the cost of living in the ugusta metro area is among the lowest in the nation. With the exception of food costs, all indices lie below the national average. Low housing costs have been one of the biggest draws for ugusta. U.. verage Charleston,C tlanta,g Columbia,C ugusta,g elected M Cost of Living - 4th Quarter 2005 82.7% 95.9% 92.1% 100% 98.2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% ugusta M Cost of Living ndices, 4th Quarter 2005 L F verall Food Housing Utilities Health ransport. Misc. 52% 82.7% 106.7% 97.5% 95.5% 97.7% 97.7% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% ource: Development uthority of ichmond County Page 17
Crime afety and security are major considerations for residents and workers. ugusta has some of the safest neighborhoods anywhere. t 434 crimes per 100,000, ugusta s violent crime rate is lower than all Georgia s 7 largest cities and is 7.1% below the national average. lthough property crime is above the national average, it is below all but one of the state s largest cities. Q U L Y Fire ervices Fire insurance rates for residents and businesses are dependent on the nsurance ervices ffice Public Protection Classification system (PPC). PPC is used to rate fire districts from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) based on measures that examine elements of a fire district or city s fire suppression system. he classification is divided into three major sections: (1) fire department organization; (2) available water supply; and (3) how fire alarms are received and handled. ugusta s PPC rating is 2, placing downtown is an elite group of the top 10% of the nation s fire departments. his translates into hundreds to thousands of dollars of annual savings for downtown residents and businesses. F L F Medical Facilities Parks and rails along the iverwalk ll but one of the ugusta metropolitan area s major hospitals are concentrated in the downtown area. he Medical College of Georgia and University Hospital alone combine to offer over 1,137 beds and a full range of medical services (in addition to nearby aint Joseph Hospital, the Veterans dministration Medical Center and Walton ehabilitation Center), Page 18
easily making downtown ugusta, for its size, one of the largest medical facilities concentrations in the nation. Medical Facilities Personnel and Use ates Q U L Y Medical Utilization United tates Per otal 1,000 ugusta M otal Per 1,000 otal Population (2000) 281,421,906 / 477,441 / Hospitals 4,949 / 6 / Beds 822,531 2.9 1,494 3.1 Physicians and Dentists 72,967 26.0 356 75.0 Medical & Dental esidents 78,721 28.0 421 88.1 egistered urses 988,760 351.3 2,096 439.0 urgical perations 27,590,329 98.0 59,003 123.6 utpatient Visits (emergency) 110,011,801 390.9 191,897 401.9 utpatient Visits (total) 557,336,352 1,980.4 1,009,175 2,113.7 ource: H Hospital tatistics (2004), ables 2 and 8; Calculations by C DC (U.. Census 2000 M data is used to calculate per 1,000 rates) F L F Page 19
ravel imes verage travel time to work for downtown residents is 19.9 minutes, approximately 28.1% below the national average (25.5 minutes) and 39.1% below the state average (27.7 minutes). ver a quarter of downtown residents travel less than 9 minutes to work, a rate over twice the state (11.1%) and national averages (14%). he compact nature of downtown and the concentration of employment opportunities allow residents to avoid traveling significant distances. P 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% oad ystem 24.6% Downtown ravel ime to Work 32.2% 30.8% Downtown is supported by an extensive and comprehenive transportation network that provides access to attractions, residential and commercial areas. Located minutes from downtown, nterstate 20 provides access east to outh Carolina and west to ugusta and tlanta. U. 25 and U.. 1 converge downtown and link the area with points north and south. everal tate Highways link the metro area s 500,000 residents with downtown, each with adequate capacity to efficiently get people in and out. oadway traffic within downtown ranges from 2,905 to 4,490 nnual verage Daily raffic (D) along collectors and 17,807 to 21,864 along arterials. oadways are classified by Level of ervice (L), which is a qualitative measure used to indicate roadway capacity, ranging from (free flow) to F (severe congestion). ll roadways within the downtown area enjoy a Level of ervice rating of C or better. his suggests that downtown is able to absorb additional development (and traffic generators) without overburdening the existing road system. U.. Highway 1, just outside downtown but a major highway linking downtown with a population base of 200,000 in outh Carolina, is currently operating at a L of D. 8.4% 4.0% < 9 10-19 20-34 35+ Worked Home Minutes ource: United tates Bureau of the Census, 2000 Page 20
Downtown oadways Daily raffic and Level of ervice oadway egment Daily raffic Level of ervice P ource: GD tate raffic and eport tatistics (, 2004); MP ransportation is critical to health and continued growth of downtown. ugusta s leadership and Planning Commission have targeted transportation improvement funds to maintain and expand downtown s roadway infrastructure and increase capacity in surrounding areas to facilitate growth. $1,350,000 project is currently underway to widen tate Highway 4 from four to six lanes leading to Government treet. he $15,000,000 t. ebastion/green treet project involves modification and additions to streets and related improvements in the vicinity of the grade crossings at the CX ailroad and 15th street. When completed, the project will enhance roadway circulation and provide better linkages to downtown s business and medical districts, tourist destinations, as well as major arterials such as iverwatch Parkway. Pedestrian ransportation eynolds treet 9,618 C+ Broad treet 11,045 C+ Green treet 9,065 C+ elfair treet 4,490 C+ 15 th treet 21,864 C+ 13 th treet 17,807 C+ 8 th treet 2,905 C+ With extensive sidewalk coverage and other pedestrian facilities, downtown is the most walkable district within ugusta. pproximately 15% of downtown residents walk to work, a rate 3 times the city average and 5 times the national average. he ease with which downtown residents can walk to work or reach other destinations has resulted in a flury of loft developments within downtown, particularily along Broad treet. Downtown esidents Means of ransportation to Work Public ransit 5.5% Walked 15.0% Carpooled 16.8% ther 7.0% Drove lone 55.7% ource: United tates Bureau of the Census, 2000 Page 21
Households by Vehicles vailable 2 or more 13.2% one 48.9% P Public ransportation Downtown is the center of the ugusta s public transit system. leven of the transit system s 13 routes originate or end downtown. pproximately half the routes serve primarily the downtown area, while the rest connect downtown with the rest of ugusta. idership in 2005 is estimated at 916,358. ir ransportation ne 37.9% ource: United tates Bureau of the Census, 2000 here are two airports within a 5 to 7 mile radius of downtown. Daniel Field, located on a 152-acre site at the intersection of Wrightsboro oad and Highland venue, is a general aviation airport and includes two runways, two hangars, outdoor tie-down areas, and a control tower. he airport is popular with recreation flyers and small businesses. ugusta egional irport is a 1,500-acre commercial airport located along Doug Barnard Parkway ( 56 pur). Major facilities include an 8,000-foot primary runway, a 6,000-foot crosswind runway, a terminal, an air traffic control tower, a facilities maintenance office, and a weather service station. wo major commercial carriers serve ugusta egional: tlantic outheast irlines (Delta affiliate) and U irways xpress. Direct flight service is provided to tlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson nternational and Charlotte s Douglas nternational. ugusta egional irport is currently in the midst of a $30 million new terminal project. Page 22
esidential esidential land uses are interspersed throughout the downtown area, with major concentrations along Broad and Green treets. Housing is mixed within the commercial areas as well as located on the outer edges of downtown. esidential land uses consists of a mixture of multi-family, duplex and single-family housing units. Broad treet includes second story loft apartments above commercial offices. he tallest structure is the 18 floor iver Place Condominiums, located along 7th treet. L D U Commercial Commercial land uses, including office, retail and services are concentrated throughout the downtown area. ffice uses are concentrated primarily along Broad treet, downtown s financial center. everal banks, professional services firms and financial, insurance Mixed-Use Development along Broad treet and real estate companies are located there. concentration of several high-rise office buildings, including the Lamar Building, Wachovia Building and un rust Building, are the single largest commercial use in terms of size. hese office buildings bring in significant numbers of workers to the downtown area every day. estaurants and retail are interspersed throughout downtown, with the highest concentration along Broad treet. rea residents and office personnel benefit from the mixture of personal services. ver a dozen restaurants cater to lunch crowds from nearby offices. everal more are located elsewhere downtown. nstitutional Public land uses are concentrated along Broad and Green treets. hese are anchor facilities that produce spin-off businesses and services. Facilities include ugusta government buildings, the ugusta Public Library, and the ichmond County Board of ducation. he western part of the district encompasses primarily medical and educational facilities. nstitutional Land Uses in Western ection of Downtown Page 23
he Medical College of Georgia and University Hospital account for the majority of land use in that section of downtown. long with MCG, the Paine College and Cambridge College campuses provide the dynamism of a student body to the downtown area. Public paces L D Public spaces are abound in downtown. he 2-acre ugusta Common along Broad treet adds public space to a mostly commercial/residential district. he ugusta Golf and Gardens includes 8 acres of public space, nestled among beautiful flowers and gardens. he ugusta Canal and iverwalk occupies significant acreage along the western and northern sections of downtown. pen spaces, amenities and multi-use trails all dominate the landscape along the avannah iver. ndustrial here are few industrial uses within the downtown area. ome small-scale industrial areas are located along 15th treet, eynolds treet and the southern part of downtown. ugusta Golf and Gardens dds Greenspace to Downtown U Page 24
here are a number of financial incentives in place to support downtown investment. he following section highlights the most commonly used. 1. evenue Bonds - evenue Bonds (Bs) are financing instruments issued through the ugusta Downtown Development uthority. Both taxable and tax-exempt revenue bond financing is available at competitive, below-prime interest rates. Bs provide financing for land, building and equipment acquisition for new and expanding manufacturing plants. he ugusta DD also has PL funds available for shortterm loans. C V 2. Most of downtown ugusta lies within a ational egister of Historic Places-listed district. here are currently three tax incentive programs that are available to downtown property owners. federal program provides a 20% investment tax credit for a certified rehabilitation when the value of the investment exceeds the adjusted basis of the property. similar program applies to state income taxes, and another can freeze the local property tax assessment for a period of years. 3. Downtown businesses may apply for façade grant funding to the City of ugusta s Housing & conomic Development Department. Funding is made available to improve the visible architecture of buildings. 4. U.. mall Business dministration (B) Loan Programs ncludes the B 504, B 7(a) and B Low-Doc low-interest loan programs. B 504 can be used for fixed assets, such as land, buildings, machinery and fixtures. B 7(a) and Low-Doc can be used for most purposes, including inventory, working capital, vehicles and business acquisitions. C Business Lending administers the B 504 program. bank is the lender on the 7(a) and Low-Doc programs, with the B guaranteeing the loans. 5. C evolving Loan Fund n internal revolving loan fund of C Business Lending. Loans up to $150,000 are available for most purposes. 6. Link Deposit Program he Link Deposit Program is designed to provide eligible small, minority and women-owned businesses additional sources of loan funds. he Program is administered by the ugusta Human esources Department in cooperation with local banks. 7. conomic Development and ecaptured UDG Loan Fund Programs - he conomic Development and ecaptured UDG Loan Fund Programs were created to finance development projects, establish new businesses and/or expansion of existing businesses, and create employment opportunities for low and moderateincome persons. Loans range between $5,000 and $25,000, with repayment periods of up to 7 years. ecaptured UDG Loans range between $25,000 and $150,000, with repayment periods of up to 10 years. ligible uses include business acquisition and construction, land acquisition, purchase of equipment and machinery, working capital, and pollution control and abatement. he program is administered by ugusta s Housing and conomic Development Department. Page 25
8. he Georgia Municipal ssociation provides loans for projects that are likely to have a positive economic impact on communities. Project selection is dependent on potential to induce private investment. 9. Georgia's Business xpansion and upport ct of 1994 (B...) allows statewide job tax credit and investment tax credits for businesses locating or expanding in Georgia.. Job ax Credit: ax liability for any one-year may be reduced by a maximum of 100%. ligible businesses include those involved in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, processing, tourism and research and development. his credit may be carried forward up to ten years. For ugusta, a $2,500 tax credit is available for the creation of 10 jobs. C V B. Job ax Credit Joint Development uthorities: Legislation provides for an additional $500 job tax credit for counties that are members of a Joint Development uthority, of which ugusta is a member. 10. nvestment ax Credit: vailable to manufacturers or telecommunications companies having a presence in Georgia for at least 5 years. he company must spend at least $50,000 on an expansion project. 11. ptional nvestment Credit: Larger credits can, depending on location, offset up to 90% of a manufacturer s increased income tax liability following a major expansion. hese larger investment tax credits can be carried forward for 10 years but may not be taken in conjunction with the job or investment tax credits. For ugusta, a minimum investment of $10 million results in an 8% tax credit. 12. etraining ax Credit: Firms providing retraining for employees may receive a tax credit of 25% of their costs, up to $500 per participant, to a maximum of 50% of state income tax liability. 13. Corporate Headquarters ax Credit: Companies establishing or relocating their headquarters to Georgia may be eligible for a tax credit if the headquarters is defined as the principal central administrative offices of a company. ew jobs created at the new headquarters must be full-time and must pay above the average wage. 14. Ports Job ax Credit: Companies that increase traffic shipped through Georgia ports by 10% or more in a year may be eligible for larger job tax credits. he amount of the bonus tax credit for qualifying firms is $1,250 per job. pplicants must also be eligible for job tax credits under the B... legislation. 15. esearch and Development ax Credit: tax credit is allowed for expenses of research conducted within Georgia for any business or headquarters of any such business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism and research and development industries. 16. Child Care Credit: mployers providing or sponsoring child care for employees are eligible for a tax credit of 75% of their costs, up to 50% of state income tax liability. Page 26
17. mall Company Business Growth ax Credit: tax credit is granted for any business or headquarters of any such business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, and research & development industries having a state net taxable income which is 20% or more above that of the preceding year if its net taxable income in each of the two preceding years was also 20% or more. 18. ales ax xemptions: n certain circumstances, sales tax exemptions are available for manufacturing machinery, raw materials, purchase for resale, machinery purchased new and used directly in the manufacturing process, pollution control equipment, machinery components, computer equipment, primary material handling and electricity. C V 19. ne Georgia Fund: he ne Georgia uthority supports economic development projects through loans and grants to support local and regional economic development strategies.. dge Fund - pecial financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants for locating economic development projects. esponse to applications is quick due to the sensitive nature of projects and their tight timeframes. ligible applicants include city/county governments, development authorities or other public entities. B. quity Fund - he purpose of this fund is to provide a program of financial assistance that includes grants or loans and any other form of financial assistance to provide for infrastructure, services, facilities and improvements. Page 27
Contact List ugusta Downtown Development uthority/main treet ugusta Margaret Woodard, Director 416 8 th treet ugusta, G 30901 P: (706) 722-8000 F: (706) 722-1138 mwoodard@augustadda.org C C ugusta Mayor s ffice Karyn ixon, xecutive ssistant 530 Green treet, oom 806 ugusta, G 30911 P: (706) 821-1831 F: (706) 821-1835 knixon@augustaga.gov ugusta Metro Chamber of Commerce ue Parr, President & C P.. Box 1837 ugusta, G 30903 P: (706) 821-1300 F: (706) 821-1330 Parr@ugustaGaUsa.com ugusta Metro Convention & Visitor s Bureau Barry White, xecutive Director P.. Box 1331 ugusta, G 30903 P: (706) 823-6600 F: (706) 726-0243 amcvb@augustaga.org Page 28
ugusta omorrow, nc Camille Price, Chief dministrative fficer nterprise Mill, uite 85 1450 Green treet ugusta, G 30901 P: (706) 722-9100 F: (706) 722-9102 Mainffice@ugustaomorrow.org C C C Business Lending andy Griffin, President 3023 iver Watch Parkway, uite ugusta, G 30907 P: (706) 210-2000 F: (706) 210-2006 rgriffin@csrardc.org Development uthority of ichmond County Walter prouse, xecutive Director Historic nterprise Mill, uite 140 1450 Green treet P.. Box 922 ugusta, G 30903 P: (706) 821-1321 F: (706) 284-5610 Wprouse@ugustaD.com Page 29