Augusta Tomorrow: Renewed Focus
Today, there is a renewed focus on the future of downtown and the broader urban core through the Vision 2035 framework known as Augusta Tomorrow. The initiative centers on strengthening connection, walkability, green space, and the everyday experience of living and working in Augusta. It is about making downtown not just a destination for events, but a place people naturally gather, explore, and call home.
For me, this isn’t a new conversation.
I remember when the Riverwalk was first envisioned and developed. I remember when certain blocks on Broad Street looked very different from the way they do today. I’ve sold homes in neighborhoods long before they were considered “up-and-coming.” I’ve watched Augusta continually reinvent itself while holding tightly to its character.
I also remember the merchants who gave Broad Street its personality.
When I needed uniforms, we would go to The Beehive, now Loop Recruiting. For shoes, we visited local shops and familiar faces like the Rosenthals. When my mother and I wanted something special, we would go to Collum’s or JB White’s. These were more than stores. They were part of the rhythm of downtown life.
It thrills me to think that my grandchildren might one day experience that same sense of community. That same feeling of connection.
That long view matters.
---
