Aiken must be in the midst of an identity crisis.
There is no other explanation for the current plans Project Pascalis has on tap for Aiken’s downtown. To understand…let’s back up a bit.
Hotel Aiken Photo Courtesy of Steve Rich Photography
Fast forward to today. The Aiken Municipal Development Commission has purchased the Hotel Aiken, along with many additional properties on the surrounding block in an effort to create a public/private partnership development dubbed Project Pascalis. Project Pascalis involves the demolition of Hotel Aiken, nearby Johnson Drug Store, Warneke Cleaners and Newberry Hall.
Johnson Drugstore Photo Courtesy of Jacob Goss Ellis
It involves building back a 100 room hotel, 100+ apartments, a 360 space parking garage, and a 30,000 sf convention center. It also involves modifying and gifting the developers part of Newberry Street to accommodate the new, larger footprint construction. See below photos of renderings currently under consideration:
Whoa! So, this is where the identity crisis comes in. I’ve been involved in Aiken (either living, working or both) since 1994. Fun fact, the very first place I stayed was the Hotel Aiken. Aiken is quirky. It’s historic. It’s got lots of old buildings, some which have been restored, and some which are in need of restoration. Aiken is not Atlanta, or Charlotte. It is not made up of huge, monolithic structures that dwarf everything around it.
In my opinion, Project Pascalis is not a good fit for Aiken. I’d love to see the Hotel Aiken preserved and restored. I’d love to see the 1970’s portion of the hotel demolished and another, appropriate sized building take its place, with retail and restaurant space on the main floor and residential living above. I’d love to see the Johnson Drugstore preserved and restored, and perhaps turned into a cool restaurant on the corner of Richland and Newberry.
I believe the role of the Aiken Municipal Development Commission needs to be re-evaluated. Their focus should be offering incentives to both new and existing property owners to improve Aiken’s downtown, which in turn will encourage additional development. They should find ways to incentivize developers, encourage growth and revitalization in the downtown area… the whole downtown area, not only the block currently slated for demolition.
There are many streets with great potential for growth and improvement. Consider Park Avenue, Williamsburg, Hayne, Richland Avenue west of Laurens, and Pendleton as a start. Look at each possibility as a single project, and as part of the whole.
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Love this article!
Thanks Cat!
Wonderfully said and pointed out – so right. Aiken does have a problem with City Council – once they talk about something, it seems to be a done deal – that is not right – I have read 2 people for this Pascalis project and 100s against it!
It is so insensible to the city of Aiken and instead of creating a better downtown it is going to destroy it. Growth is here, let’s go more careful about adding smart improvements, smart growth.
Thanks for your thoughts and comments Ulla and Ernst. I agree – careful, thoughtful, smart growth is the way to go!
Well said! The “gigantic” Project Pascalis should not take place in it’s current form.
Thanks for your comments Sally!
Well written article. I agree that the Hotel Aiken should be preserved and updated. The proposed building is just a big box with no character. I truly am against giving up a City street for the benefit of the Pascalis Project and nothing else. Remember that the City also was in favor of destroying the Willcox back in 1985, I believe it was, and had the equipment on site to destroy it only to be saved by the efforts of a group of citizens who had far more foresight than the City. What a showcase that is. Let’s insist on the same for the Aiken Hotel and preserve our history and not be swayed by the pressure of a few men seeking to make their own pockets fuller.
Thanks Cher, I appreciate your comments and thoughts.
Love this!
Thanks Jenny!
Perfectly said
Thanks Sarah!
Very concise and thorough article. Thank you.
Thanks Don! I appreciate the comment.
This piece is as perfect as it gets! Wonderful, logical points. It just doesn’t fit.
Thanks Michael! I appreciate the kind words.
I’ve lived in Aiken my entire life (66 years) and downtown Aiken has always been a special place for me. Whether it was hanging out at the pool halls and pubs in my 20’s or enjoying some food and music in the Alley in my 60’s, downtown is special. I don’t know who these people are or where they came from, but they can’t possibly be long time Aiken residents or they wouldn’t even be considering putting such an abomination in our special downtown.
Hi Wayne! Thanks for commenting. 66 years in Aiken is a lot, and we agree…it’s a special place!
The City’s and Aiken Municipal Development Commission’s process happened in reverse-mode, to block public’s involvement and give developers and investors full reign. Because of this developers will lose money invested in procuring the contract with SO MANY ITERATIONS, none of which satisfied the public’s interest. In a recently published “to-do” list of changes the public requested during a “workshop” at Newberry Hall, the City failed to report the overwhelming number of citizens who did not want the parking garage, convention center, proposed hotel, or apartments. A full 65% stated this in writing.
Thanks Debbie, it seems very clear that a high percentage of Aiken’s residents do not want this project to move forward in its current state. Appreciate your comments!
Well said !
Thanks Peggy!
Absolutely agree!! This construction project is a terrible fit for downtown and the destruction of historic properties isn’t congruent with Aiken’s identity. This plan needs to be scrapped!
Thanks Elizabeth, I agree that Project Pascalis is completely incongruous with the rest of Downtown Aiken!
I couldn’t agree more. Furthermore I haven’t spoken to one person who thinks any part of this project is a good idea. My husband and I moved to Aiken in 2018 after visiting in 2017 on a road trip and falling in love with the downtown JUST THE WAY IT IS. If the hotel can’t be saved then why can’t it be rebuilt to look exactly the same. I know business is business but in case you haven’t noticed this town is thriving compared to so many other small towns…..and people are more important.
For those of us who weren’t born here there really are only two answers to “What brought you to Aiken?” They are: “I work at the site” or (quite simply) “Aiken”
Please don’t destroy this perfect little town so many have chosen to make their home.
Thanks for commenting Marie. I hope, for your sake and others, that Project Pascalis is tabled.
The “good ol boys” will do what they want to benefit themselves; they will happily sacrifice the cute aesthetic that Aiken has to offer. They will happily and eagerly consume an entire section of road (what dimwitted lunacy to allow that!) to build this monstrosity and it doesn’t exactly fit in with what’s around it. Let’s keep it charming and cute; this ISNT Asheville.
Thanks for your comments, Steve!
Carefully consider what major demolition and slow reconstruction will do to our unique downtown experience. Expansion to unused and avaliable properties seems like a better way to enhance our city. Park, if possible, or west of Lauren’s on Richland has a lot of unexplored opportunities. Let’s enhance what we have and not try to become something that we aren’t
Exactly, Dawn…let’s work to enhance what we have! Thanks for your comments.
Downtown Aiken is charming and unique. The plethora of small businesses, restaurants, art exhibits Whiskey Alley, antique stores, and the list goes on, makes this small town exhilarating. To suddenly change its historic atmosphere by adding a monolithic hotel with 100+ rooms,
a convention center and parking garage is not only idiotic, it is thoughtless. Little regard has been given to business owners who will be forced to abrogate their business for the sole purpose of modernization. This wonderful town does not need modernization…what it does need is to keep its historic buildings up to date, and to honor local business people rather than cast them aside like garbage.
0nd wonders why such a ridiculous idea ever came to fruition, and their can only be one possible reason…. I think we can all arrive at the same answer.
We agree, Judith, Downtown Aiken is charming and unique…let’s keep it that way!
Thanks for your comments.
This article really says it all. It covers all the reasons why downtown Aiken is so charming and should remain that way. Yes, let’s make improvements where they are needed. But let’s not lose our charm and history in the process!
Thanks Marie! We appreciate your thoughts and comments!
Good article. The hotel development concept in this Pascalis project seems better suited to Augusta or Savannah. Why did they conclude that the old Hotel Aiken couldn’t be renovated as a smaller version of the Wilcox? Seems like there was some shady dealing going on when the city took it over and suddenly the building has to be demolished.
As for the apartments and parking garage, OMG, there are so many vacant lots and underused building sites all over downtown Aiken that could be developed with a little help from a Municipal Development Commission. Why concentrate all that in one block of the business district? Conference center? What demand is there for a conference center the size of that proposed in the Pascalis document?
Thanks for taking the time to respond Chuck! I agree- this plan is far better suited to a larger city with airport access and convention needs, not Aiken!
Read this and completely agree. As a soon to be new resident I spent last week in Aiken, and explored every inch of town. First thing that struck me was how such a historic and rather iconic looking hotel stood unused. Incredible charm begging to be brought back to life. Why not restore, add some apartments if need be, add small retail inside, galleries, and restaurant space to the lower level? And, who’s coming to Aiken for a convention or conference? There isn’t a convenient airport with many direct flights, highway 26 is a death wish – – plus miles of two lane roads. Think this is a ridiculous initiative. This will destroy the aesthetic of the town. And before long they will find this refreshed mixed use space just doesn’t have the population or interest to support it. I’d rather look at a abandoned historic hotel that fits “in” any day over this proposed construction.
Thanks for your response, Chey! My vision is the same as yours- restore the old hotel, ditch the initiative.