NEWS
Only on 12: Designers showcase James Brown Arena trade center model
Chris Thomas
News 12 at 6 o'clock, November 19, 2009
AUGUSTA---Two local designers say one way to get a planned Trade, Exhibit, and Events Center back on track is to scratch the Reynolds Street location and build on the James Brown Arena complex.
A planned TEE Center along Reynolds Street in Augusta is stuck in neutral.
"Just do something," said designer Kelley New.
After years of deadlock, Kelley says it is time to consider Plan B.
"We can see and dream up all kind of stuff," said Kelley.
He and his creative partner Mike Teffetellar built a model of a trade center attached to the James Brown Arena.
"We added 4,000 more seats," said Mike, "to bring the arena capacity up to 12,000 seats."
They also threw in a three-level parking deck and indoor access to the adjacent TEE Center.
"You can walk in this building and do everything," said Kelley. "You don't even have to go outside."
The TEE Center would cover 45,000 square feet of an existing parking lot.
"I'd like the people of Augusta to see that there are other options besides the one on Reynolds Street," said Mike. "I think the people will like it."
It's a larger space that Mike says would be paid for using SPLOST money voters approved back in 2005.
"With the $27 million that's in the bank, build the TEE Center and you are not having to borrow any more money," Mike said.
"The bottom line is, now is the time to borrow money," said city administrator Fred Russell.
Russell went before Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver's TEE Center sub-committee to make the case for borrowing $26 million at a little more than 3 percent interest rate.
"If you can't get it done right at this point," said Russell," there is not much use to do it."
"I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure," said Kelley. "I would love for some of these projects to happen within my lifetime."
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