More development could be coming to Whiskey Road in Aiken

Matthew Christian, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Oct. 11—More development could be coming to the southside of Aiken.

The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening upon a motion by Gail Diggs and a second by Kay Brohl to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning two properties totaling 8.01 acres located at 123 and 154 Ginger Lane.

Ginger Lane is a dirt road connected to Oak Grove Road which intersects Whiskey Road across from East Gate Drive.

The property will be zoned planned commercial.

Planning Director Marya Moultrie said before the meeting the zoning designation allows for both fully commercial uses and mixed-use developments (developments that feature both residential and commercial elements).

The property was zoned urban development in the county.

The owner, Sycamore Aiken LLC, purchased the property from Oak Grove Development LLC on May 31 for $1.95 million.

Sycamore Aiken LLC will have to submit a concept plan to the city council for approval before developing the property, but information available online suggests the property could be developed into a hotel.

The registered agent of Sycamore Aiken LLC is Aashay Patel of Lexington.

A registered agent is a person designated to receive official papers on behalf of business entity like a corporation or a limited liability company.

On LinkedIn, Patel describes himself as president of Sycamore Investment Group.

On its website, Sycamore Investment Group describes itself as a developer, owner and operator of premier hotel brands across the Southeast. Among the properties listed on its website are the TownePlace Suites, the Hampton Inn and the Hilton Garden Inn in Aiken as well as hotels in Greenville; Veira, Florida; and Orlando.

The city recently announced that the plan to connect Powderhouse Road to Whiskey Road via a road to replace Oak Grove Drive was fully funded and would move forward.

Also, there is an Olive Garden under construction, the Chick-Fil-A recently reopened, a coffeehouse is planned for the former Checkers, a Zaxby's will replace the former Ruby Tuesday and a grocery store and other developments will be constructed further south near Whiskey Road's intersection with Powderhouse Road.

Monday evening, the council also approved the second and final reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning a home on Town Creek Road and the first reading of an ordinance spending excess accommodations tax revenue.

The council also approved petitions leasing space at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and receiving a $306,625 grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism for the rehabilitation of Smith-Hazel Recreation Center.

The council will also consider a proclamation recognizing Bill Collins for his service as a tax preparer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Prior to the meeting, the city council met in a work session to discuss the first steps for developing an ordinance regulating rentals of less than 30 days. Mayor Rick Osbon said after the work session the council would work to provide names of people for a task force to develop an ordinance to regulate the rentals in the city.

The council also met in an executive session before the meeting to receive legal advice related to the failure of and litigation over Project Pascalis.

The council also reappointed John Rush to the General Aviation Committee and the appointment of DeeDee Vaughters to the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee.