Authority will fund new road to Topgolf

The Augusta Economic Development Authority on Thursday approved spending up to $250,000 to build a road to the proposed Topgolf entertainment center at the Village at Riverwatch.

The roughly 400-foot extension of River Shoals Parkway would provide access to the proposed development, which would occupy space just north of Riverwatch Cinemas and east of the Cabela's sporting goods store along the Augusta Canal. The development would have secondary access through Cabela Drive.

The Augusta Commission on Tuesday approved a request from the Village at Riverwatch's marketing firm, Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate, to make a segment of Cabela Drive and the River Shoals extension a public road.

Authority President Cal Wray said the road extension is the only public incentive Topgolf is receiving. He told his board that the facility, which aims to open in March, will be a $10 million to $15 million investment creating more than 100 jobs.

"There is no tax abatement," Wray said. "They will pay 100 percent of their taxes from day one."

Dallas-based Topgolf has filed construction and engineering plans for the project but has not made a formal announcement on what would be its 55th entertainment venue.

Topgolf venues, which are located mainly in large metro areas, are known for climate-controlled driving ranges, gaming rooms and bar/restaurant space. The next nearest Topgolf locations are in Atlanta and Greenville, S.C.

Wray told authority board members that the Augusta facility would be a single-tier building – most Topgolfs have three levels – and will include miniature golf and a food truck area.

"This is a new concept," Wray said. "This will be the first market this new concept is put in. If you look at their smallest market, we are one-third the size of the smallest market they are currently in."

The authority approved up to $250,000 for the road and water/sewer improvements, but Wray said it will likely end up costing around $200,000. Once completed, the 400-foot entryway will be city-maintained.

"(Topgolf) will construct it with their contractors," Wray said. "They must build it to city spec as engineering determines, and once engineering agrees to accept the road as public, we will then purchase the completed project and have it directly deeded to the city so that it becomes a part of the public road network."

Wray said the road will also open up adjoining undeveloped tracts being marketed to other entertainment-related businesses that "will be very big for the city in sales tax creation."

The authority's budget is primarily funded by fees from industrial revenue bonds it issues to new and expanding businesses. Authority Chairman Steven Kendrick, who is also Augusta's tax commissioner, said the road funding is a gesture of cooperation between the authority and the city.

He said the authority will require city assistance in the coming months to fund a rail line at Augusta Corporate Park, where two manufacturers have agreed to locate if a rail spur is built to connect the industrial park to the nearby Norfolk Southern line. The two projects combined would represent an $800 million investment and 1,200 new jobs.

"We do have a $15 million ask to the city right now for the rail, so we felt it was good business to help them on this one," Kendrick said. "Rail is really important to the other (projects) that we're trying to select, so we're more than happy to help at this time."