Edgewood residents survey redesign 10/21/2008 12:09 AM By APRIL BAILEY Staff writer
Residents in Edgewood neighborhood had their first look at plans being made by the City of Aiken to redevelop the Northside neighborhood during a community meeting Monday evening.
City Manager Roger LeDuc told residents that the project would mimic what was done in the Toole Hill community several years ago.
LeDuc said the city currently owns 20 lots in the neighborhood, which stretches from Hampton Avenue to Sundy Drive and from Gwinett to Kershaw Street. Several City officials attended the meeting, including Aiken City Councilwomen Beverly Clyburn and Jane Vaughters, Aiken County Councilman Willar Hightower and state Rep. Bill Clyburn.
LeDuc said the City plans to demolish any dilapidated homes on lots in Edgewood and build new ones in an effort to enhance the neighborhood.
During the meeting, the project's architect Steven Smith of Steven Smith Architects, presented residents with several design proposals and asked for input.
Smith, who has also worked with the South Carolina Department of Archives, said the homes would range from about 1050 to 1100 square feet in size, with most designed with layouts consisting of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living area and a laundry room.
Residents asked several questions during the meeting. Questions ranged from inquiries as to whether the homes would include a back door to how much the new homes would cost and whether they would affect tax rates on the current homes in the area.
Leasa Segura, supervisor of Neighborhood and Development Services, said the idea for the project was to make the homes being built affordable to potential buyers.
Using the Toole Hill project as an example, Segura said the City acquired grants from the state and federal government to help reduce the cost for buyers.
Mortgage payments were at a fixed rate, from $480 to $550 for the Toole Hill residents; however, Segura told the group that the costs were not yet determined and City wasn't promising that they would be the same for the Edgewood project.
City representatives also addressed sidewalk and street lighting concerns with residents. Segura encouraged residents to sign up for an upcoming flash light walk through the neighborhood with City officials to identify troublesome street lights and dark areas.
The City plans to begin constructing the first couple of homes early next year, with completion of the first few homes slated for mid-2009, said LeDuc.
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