Plans to build Savannah River National Laboratory workforce center in downtown Aiken draw mostly praise

Jan. 24—Aiken's potential new plans for the properties that were to be included in Project Pascalis drew mostly praise a day after they were announced to the public at the annual state of the city address.

"Very encouraged," "good thing," "mixed blessing" and "only fitting" were some of the words members of the public used to describe the potential plans to construct a Savannah River National Laboratory workforce development center in downtown Aiken.

Linda Johnson, president of the Historic Aiken Foundation, one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed to stop Project Pascalis last July, said the foundation was very encouraged by the city's new direction.

"The Savannah River National Laboratory would be an exciting addition to downtown and we anticipate the new building will complement the aesthetics of that historic block in scale and architectural integrity," Johnson said.

The new building, a 40,000-50,000-square-foot workforce development center for the Savannah River National Laboratory, would replace the Holley House, a motel strip built in 1981, the Warneke Cleaners building and possibly the old gun store on Richland Avenue.

Johnson said the foundation was glad the city is opening up requests for proposals for the Hotel Aiken which could encourage preservation developers to come to the table with plans for the structure that was built in the 1890s.

The city's new plans call for the issuance of a request for proposal within 45-60 days and doesn't have any preconceived ideas for what a developer can do with the properties.

Patrick Carlisle, owner of Newberry Hall, an occupant of one the buildings that would have been demolished if Project Pascalis moved forward, said the Savannah River Site has brought so much to Aiken and it was a good thing the site's decision makers wanted to work and live in Aiken.

"It sounds like what they could be doing is what downtown Aiken could need and use and to refurbish some of the buildings is a good thing," Carlisle said.

The potential plans include the renovation and restoration of the C.C. Johnson building and the other buildings adjacent to it along Richland Avenue.

Carlisle said knowing Newberry Hall would be able to stay in its current location on Newberry Street was also a good thing.

"We have a turnkey operation," Carlisle said. "It's a viable business and we feel like it's viable because of the downtown area. So to pick up and move anywhere might be catastrophic to the business. To know that we're going to be able to stay where we are, working day in and day out is definitely a good thing."

Dick Dewar, a former city councilman and also a plaintiff in the Project Pascalis lawsuit, said he liked the idea of the SRNL workforce development center in downtown Aiken but added he would have liked to see the building be located in the old Department of Public Safety headquarters on Laurens Street.

"If we're trying to structure a downtown that's going to encourage tourists, I don't know that an administrative building like they're proposing will be a benefit," Dewar said. "It's certainly a benefit for the city and we should want to keep it but I'm not sure that's the right location."

Dewar added he would like to a see big picture of plans for downtown before the city considers approval of plans for the administrative building and a parking structure behind the city municipal building on Chesterfield Street.

He said he was glad the city was going to give Hotel Aiken an opportunity to be redeveloped and reused rather than demolished.

"At least we have the opportunity to restore the Hotel Aiken and some other buildings downtown," Dewar said. "So it's kind of a mixed blessing so to speak."

During the announcement of the potential plans Monday evening, Aiken Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz said the idea for the workforce development center to be in downtown was developed by former Aiken Municipal Development Commission Chairman Keith Wood, former Vice Chairman Chris Verenes and former Treasurer J. David Jameson.

Wood said the plans were big for the national lab and for the city.

"It's only fitting that the partnership the city of Aiken, the Savannah River Site and the national lab have had over the years that this has come to fruition," Wood said.

Verenes said the plans were really good news for the community and an exciting way to start off 2023. He said the plans make it clear Aiken sells itself to visitors whether they're retirees or workers at the Savannah River Site.

He said SRNL Director Vahid Majidi was a visionary who understood the kind of impact the workforce development center would have on downtown Aiken and the whole city.

Wood also congratulated Majidi and his team for making the decision to build in downtown Aiken.

The plans also include selling the former municipal building to Aiken County for likely conversion into offices for the staff of Second Judicial Circuit Solicitor Bill Weeks.