Aiken is one step closer to building a mixed-use building that could house a Savannah River National Laboratory workforce development center.
Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve a resolution authorizing the purchase of properties where the building would be constructed.
The three properties are located at 133 and 141 Newberry St. N.W. The third property does not have an address.
The Aiken Corporation, a nonprofit organization geared toward economic development within the city, owns the properties.
The Aiken Corporation's for-profit, rent-payment accepting arm, LED of Aiken, paid $650,000 to purchase the properties July 18, 2022, according to Aiken County property tax records.
The resolution calls for the city to pay $752,230.23 to purchase the properties.
City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said the purchase price would reimburse Aiken Corporation for the money it spent acquiring and maintaining the properties.
A list of expenses and documentation of those expenses was provided to the city council ahead of Monday's meeting. The largest expenses were $34,287.50 for 2023 interest payments, $13,293.40 in 2022 interest payments and $12,750 for demolition and removal of buildings (there was a law firm located in the buildings) on the site.
Bedenbaugh added the properties were recently appraised at $790,000.
The city plans to fund the purchase with a portion of the $20 million it received from the state's settlement with the Department of Energy over plutonium stored at the Savannah River Site, Bedenbaugh added.
Councilwoman Kay Brohl made the motion to approve the resolution.
Councilman Ed Woltz seconded her motion.
Purchasing the properties is the second of seven steps the city will take to construct the building.
The City Council took the first step Feb. 26 when it voted to approve an agreement with the Aiken Corporation outlining the steps both groups will take.
The Aiken Corporation approved the same agreement Feb. 14.
The Planning Commission voted 4-0 to determine the building fits the city's comprehensive plan Tuesday evening.
The Design Review Board must then approve the building's design.
The Design Review Board is expected to hold a special-called meeting at the end of the month to consider the design.
Then, the city must construct the building.
The building would be around 36,000 square feet in size, including 24,000 square feet for a potential tenant to lease office space and 12,000 square feet for event or conference space.
And the Aiken Corporation must reach an agreement with a tenant.
Battelle Savannah River Alliance, the manager and operator of the Savannah River National Laboratory, received permission from the Department of Energy in December to begin negotiating a lease for the office space.
Bedenbaugh said the building would also have around 2,000 square feet for USC Aiken.
After the building is constructed, the city will then transfer it to a for-profit, rent-accepting arm of the Aiken Corporation to be formed later.
This company would pay the construction costs at no-interest to purchase the building.
