East Aiken hotel and townhome plan moves one step closer to reality

Sep. 27—A plan to build a hotel and townhomes east of downtown Aiken moved one step closer to fruition Monday evening.

The Aiken City Council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance rezoning and approving a concept plan for a 6.94-acre property located southeast of the intersection of Richland Avenue and Beaufort Street.

Councilwoman Lessie Price made the motion to approve the ordinance.

"When I look at the history of that side of town and other sides as well, this will change the entire perspective of that area," Price said. "This is B-I-G, all capital letters, big. You cannot imagine what is to come with economic development... We will all benefit from this."

Councilwoman Gail Diggs seconded her motion.

Diggs said she agreed with Price. She added a new gas station that opened across Richland Avenue has lit up the corner. Diggs said she hoped the development would contribute to a change in the look of the area.

Councilwoman Kay Brohl added the council has talked about the city's gateways and the development would be a wonderful and welcome addition to the eastern gateway.

The property is currently vacant but was previously the home of a mobile home retailer.

"Indeed it was a manufactured home park for a long, long time," Councilman Ed Girardeau said. "In fact, all of Richland from Beaufort Street on was nothing but manufactured home outlets. It's interesting how its evolved along the way."

Yancy and Rogers LLC owns the property.

Yancy and Rogers is a South Carolina limited liability company. Its registered agent is Ben Le Clerq of Mount Pleasant.

Equus Holdings LLC applied for rezoning and concept plan approval.

Equus Holdings is also a South Carolina limited liability company. Its registered agent is Karl McMillan of Aiken.

Aiken currently zones the property Light Industrial.

Equus asks the city to rezone the property to Planned Commercial.

The concept plan calls for the property to be split into three parts.

First, a four story, 125-room hotel and a 149-space parking lot would be built on the northeast corner of the property near the Gaston Livery Stable.

The concept plan shown to the Aiken Planning Commission called for the parking lot to be built close to the road and the hotel further back.

Because of its location, the Aiken Design Review Board must approve the concept plan and design later in the process. And McMillan was told at the Planning Commission meeting the Design Review Board would want the hotel closer to the street.

The concept plan shown to and approved by the city council shows the hotel near the road with the parking lot behind.

The name of the hotelier is unknown.

Second, the concept plans call for the construction of townhomes in an L-shaped portion of the property stretching from Beaufort Street behind the hotel to the property's border with an existing home.

The concept plan shown to the Aiken Planning Commission showed 52 townhomes spread among nine buildings.

Three buildings next to Beaufort Street would contain four units each. A building across a street to be built would contain six units. Two buildings along Park Avenue would contain six units each. Another building along Park Avenue would contain seven units. A building across a street to be built would contain six units and another building on that side of the street would contain seven units.

McMillan said at the Planning Commission meeting he would revise the number of townhomes downward.

The concept plan shown to and approved by the city council shows 48 townhomes spread across nine buildings. The six- and seven-unit townhomes have been changed to four, three or two units.

McMillan said Monday the starting price point of the townhomes would be $500,000.

"If they're going to start at $500,000, you can bet your money now they're going to be worth a $1 million before it's over with," Girardeau said.

Third, the northwestern corner of the property would be developed into a retail or mixed-use development which will have to be approved later.

Fourteen people addressed the matter before the council voted on it.

Former Councilman Reggie Ebner said the development preserved line of sight for the Gaston Livery Stable historical marker.

Four people said they were concerned about the size of the development.

Two more said they were concerned about traffic.

Ben Timmerman, whose wife is the owner of a parcel across Beaufort Street, said he was concerned about flooding.

Girardeau said he believed the development would alleviate some flooding in the area. He said he could remember going through the property to a baseball field at Citizens Park. He added the area frequently flooded but development in the area has contained the waters that ran through the area.

Three people said they wanted the development.

The next step in the approval process is a second and final reading of the ordinance. This could be held at the Oct. 9 council meeting.

After that, the Design Review Board will have to approve the aesthetics of the plan.