A home at 8101 Sir Galahad Drive, across from the Evans Post Office and Regions Bank, is one of the complex deal points of a proposed commercial development.
The Columbia County Chamber has owned that property for more than 10 years, and developers are hoping for a better result with commissioners than the Chamber had.
The Chamber purchased the home on the right for $177,000 in the summer of 2015 with the intention of renovating the property as their corporate office.
It was and is currently zoned residential.
Back then, the Chamber could not get the property rezoned. They’ve leased it to families since.
The Intrepid Development Company wants that property and a few other homes in the neighborhood.
“Deals are in the works as you can imagine,” said a longtime Chamber volunteer with knowledge of negotiations.
The Atlanta-based firm was in Evans on February 11th to allay the traffic concerns of residents on Sir Galahad, with the ultimate goal of convincing three of five commissioners to rezone three homes from single-family residential to general commercial. The Intrepid Development Company’s founding partner did not return an email prior to the publication deadline.
Intrepid is negotiating with the Chamber and the owner of a building on the west side of a large tract of land on Washington Road.
Jordan Trotter is representing the owner of the 10.3 acres of land at 4410 Washington Road that stretches all the way to the traffic light at Sir Galahad.
Intrepid is looking to acquire that land as well.
If all the pieces of the puzzle come together, Intrepid wants to develop the land to attract a grocery store, retail shops, restaurants, professional offices, and more.
A few sources tell ABD that Lowe’s Food store is interested in expanding from its Whiskey Road supermarket in Aiken to the new development in Evans.
WHAT’S NEXT?
- Intrepid is seeking more input and hopes to have another public meeting.
- The Columbia County planning commission will be meeting to discuss rezoning on March 5th to make recommendations to the full commission.
- Should the property be re-zoned, the Columbia County Chamber hopes to sell 8101 Sir Galahad to Intrepid and take the proceeds to purchase a new building.
