Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Visits Shelter Cove Towne Center

Taking a trip from Aiken to scenic Hilton Head Island, a group of Aiken County and City of Aiken leaders along with Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce and community members headed to Shelter Cove Towne Centre on Thursday, March 2nd.

The Aiken Mall property is expected to undergo a similar redevelopment as the lifestyle center in Hilton Head, which also was once a struggling, enclosed mall, mall officials have previously said.

Southeastern Development Associates, of Augusta, is behind both projects.

Southeastern CEO Vic Mills and Vice President Jason Long led the Aiken group on a tour of the 42-acre redevelopment in Hilton Head, which consists of 290,000 square feet of retail space, 220 upscale apartments and a 5-acre linear park, according to information provided by the development firm.

Shelter Cove Towne Center

This trip followed the news of Southeastern acquiring mall property in Aiken, which has seen a decline in tenants and foot traffic in recent years. Shelter Cove had a similar size and footprint as the Aiken Mall, Mills said.

“What we’re going down today to see what it looks like to convert a mall into a lifestyle center,” said Jameson. “I need people to visually see what the difference is, where everybody knows what to expect.”

Mills has said the development team is working on nailing down its tenant list and that would help them with site plans. They will then start with elevations and Mills said he’s hopeful that people will start seeing demolition at the mall by the end of the year.

It is a long process, according to Mills, noting it has been around five years since Southeastern started the project at Hilton Head, and it is in the process of building upscale apartments as a part of the redevelopment.

Jameson noted that project in Hilton Head occurred in phases and similarly in Aiken, people may see the enclosed mall come down at the same time but it may not see the retail go up at the same time.

Shelter Cove Towne Center

It will be built back in phases as the market demands it, he said.

Dining also will be a part of the redevelopment in Aiken and possibly walking trails, according to Southeastern.

Representatives from Woodside Plantation, which is located near the Aiken Mall property, were along on the Hilton Head Trip on Thursday.  Mary Shultz, who serves on Woodside’s POA board of directors, complimented Hilton Head’s development’s concept, citing the diversity of stores and dining options.

The architectural component, she said, is something Aiken would have to work on, but added Woodside is “looking forward” to a good redevelopment in Aiken.

Aiken County Council member Andrew Siders said he believed Aiken residents are going to be pleased with the redevelopment of the Aiken mall. Younger residents like John Lamprecht said he enjoyed Hilton Head, as well, more specifically the entertainment aspect.

He believes that could drive millennials to the revamped center in Aiken and not to other nearby cities like Augusta or Columbia.

“I think that would be beneficial,” he said.

Mayor Rick Osbon said since beginning talks with Southeastern around a year ago, he can say “on behalf of City and staff based on conversations that the relationship we’ve developed has continued.”

“I think this project is going to be terrific,” Osbon said, later thanking Jameson and the Chamber for organizing the trip. “We really walk away with a sense of what we’re talking about in Aiken and a uniqueness. Just as this is unique in Hilton Head, I think the project we’re going to do in Aiken is going to be really special for our residents.”

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Pictures of Shelter Towne Center