by Dr. Rose O Hayes
March 27, 2023
I am concerned about the proposed Savannah River Site (SRS) lab building, and additional parking facility, in downtown Aiken.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SRS operations already have a large presence downtown. The old Post Office building at Park and Laurens is occupied by the main DOE/SRS contractor (Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, or SRNS). Another main DOE/SRS contractor, a spin off from AECOM called Amentum, is located on the Newberry Street mall. These are huge international firms. Such companies do not shrink, they expand.
The U.S. government’s proposal to locate a “nuclear lab/training center/administrative building” and parking garage in the heart of our small downtown is emblematic of that growth pattern. With that addition, federal government contractors also become the largest inextricably related business complex in our small downtown. These facilities, their architecture, and the nature of their business are a poor match with the unique southern belle character and look so popular with and enjoyed by Aiken residents and thousands of visitors each year. The growing presence of federal-government-business buildings in the midst of our small privately owned businesses harkens a significant change in the future profile and activities along Laurens Street and its crossing avenues, Park and Richland.
In addition, adding to the downtown federal worker and federal contract worker population will increase street traffic and require enlarged roadways for ingress and egress, supplementary traffic signals, etc. Whiskey Road is almost at maximum capacity now and years of planning have not resolved the traffic flow problem there. It will get decidedly worse if an SRS lab/training/admin center is added to the mix. Expanded infrastructures will also be required such as water and sewage systems. These modifications will have to be paid for by the taxpayers who are already footing the bill for the failed Pascalis Project.
Questions also remain about the tax and private interest dollars that have already been sunk into the failed Pascalis project. In order to have a clear understanding of the city’s $9.6 million debt for that cancelled plan, and why it was necessary, an audit should be conducted by an outside firm. Trying to follow the twists and turns the Pascalis planning took is like trying to chase a snake through brush. An audit would be in keeping with the mayor’s commitment to transparency and helpful in future planning as “lessons learned”.
Aikenites should be more concerned about the fact that the old leaking tanks and cleanup work on the edge of town at SRS are still not cleaned up, under the auspice of the major contractors, SRNS and Amentum. SRS remains a Superfund site on the PSL list (government priorities list ). The sites on the PSL list are areas contaminated with substances hazardous to the public. In addition, because of all the nuclear waste waiting to be cleaned up at SRS, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control (SCDHEC) designated it as the major health and environment hazard in the state. Unfortunately, the former federal focus and commitment to clean up SRS has waned in favor of new processing campaigns involving imported foreign and domestic radioactive materials that produce more nuclear waste that has no place to go. Aiken needs the government/SRS to continue decontaminating the Superfund site, not expanding nuclear interests in the heart of our city.
The recent plutonium settlement monies, millions of which will be those tax payer dollars associated with the proposed SRS downtown lab, are state funds and must go to state political bodies (cities, towns, universities, counties, school districts, etc.) and not to any contractors. Since that money was a settlement due to the U.S. government’s failure to remove plutonium and other radioactive materials from SRS on a committed schedule (decades overdue), it should be repurposed to the cleanup mission. The critical need to continue the cleanup mission is highlighted by the recently released SRS plan indicating requirements to remediate cesium 137 detected in the site’s ponds, canal systems, creek banks and fish. The creek, Lower Three Runs, leads into the Savannah River. In humans, cesium 137 can cause skin burns, tumors and death.
And lastly, why is it necessary “to grow” Aiken’s downtown? It’s current state, popularity, and place for the community to enjoy is a model for success when compared to other small cities. Bringing in corporate-sized businesses will only detract from the charm that increasingly attracts people who come to enjoy and participate in it. Corporate office buildings will inevitably overshadow that alluring charm. Big business growth should occur on the edges of the town where space and parking is not an issue.
Universities with significant internship programs provide students with hands-on training at facilities where they are being trained to work. That suggests that the most advantageous location for the new SRS lab would should be the SRS site.
It’s time for Aikenites to decide if and how they want our downtown to grow, and speak out. Someone once said, “Things are run by those who show up.” A lot of people are saying they don’t speak out or show up because the officials no longer listen. Well, if enough of us show up and/or speak out often enough, we will be heard. Will Rogers said, “You get the government you deserve.” And, there are always the voting polls.
Dr. Rose O. Hayes, former member of the SRS CAB and chair of the Nuclear Materials Committee
As a couple with a plan to move to Aiken, we are watching this situation very carefully as we slowly make our way across the country. We fell in love with the Aiken we met in 2018 and started planning shortly thereafter. THIS is not the community we were excited to move to. There are many lovely communities in SC that are not doing back-room deals with nuclear labs. We are broadening our search. The clock is ticking.
A 45,000 sq ft government office building does not belong in our commercial shopping district.
The $250,000 just awarded to the Aiken Corporation for a “feasibility study” being done to figure this out could have been much better spent, in dozens of ways. I don’t even know how much is being paid to architects trying to cram a 60,000 sq ft parking structure into a space where it will never fit (no matter how aesthetic).
I’d guess +$250,000 could have remodeled the little Holley Motel and it could have been reopened. It could be a cool funky small mid-century modern gem that adds to Aiken appeal.
I’d guess + $250,000 could have cleaned up, modernized and reopened the historic Johnson Drug Store. Built by the McGhee Family more than 100 years ago, it is a significant historic and cultural asset to Aiken, on a major corner location, and is being left vacant and deteriorating. The descendants of the McGhee family are capable and willing to get involved. They’ve suggested the building could be a “small local business incubator”. That would serve Aiken’s existing citizens, attract young business people, and add to our Downtown culture.
I’d guess +$250,000 could have been awarded as five +$50,000 grants, or ten +$25,000 to existing downtown businesses for improving facades, or even for remodeling upstair space into apartments. That would help with adding housing and residents downtown and cleanup the ragtag tired facades.
I’d guess $250,000 would have done a significant amount toward cleaning up and repairing the outside of the Hotel Aiken. That would be significant in protecting citizen’s $4,500,000 investment.
Heck, we might’ve even had a bit left over to plant some flowers downtown.
Our City’s tourism department has grown significantly, and we are commissioning quarter million dollar studies for things that nobody wants (City officials, please show us the letters and e-mails from constituents asking for a huge nuclear industry office building) while almost half of a the main city block remains vacant and crumbling. All buildings owned by the City who seem to be immune to any consequences of our own zoning ordinances or the DRB.
Come on Aiken, this has gone on long enough!
Lisa, you speak for so many of us in this comment. It becomes all but impossible for a person to keep up with all the twists, turns and surprises of plot spun from the City’s variously secret, mendacious and inscrutable actions.
And for all our efforts to keep informed and turn the tide on the City’s squandering of millions, their unconscionable waste of downtown potential, and Council’s ongoing sleights of hand with processes and procedures, we’re still left, at the end of the day, with our main city block with its crumbling, unused buildings, plus a city government clearly hellbent on ignoring all public input and all possibility; all except for their darling project of the year — hatched sans public input — behind closed doors.
This year, it’s a 45,000 sq foot federal office building and parking garage. Last year, it was a 4-story hotel, 4-story apartment building and a parking garage. In 2017, it was the same thing, only it was dubbed, “Renaissance Aiken” and, of course, necessitated hiring Bihl, an engineering firm out of Charleston, to spend 6 months studying where to put a parking garage to go with the “Renaissance Aiken” plan, (see link below with accompanying artist rendering).
By my math, the City’s been at this “parking garage or bust” business for at least 7 years, likely closer to 10. And no matter what the name of the project, all roads lead to demolition.
I agree, “Come on, Aiken, this has gone on long enough!”
https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/city-of-aiken-opts-against-preliminary-vision-for-aiken-renaissance/article_079cb81d-57c8-5c40-aff3-fff82ac7a788.html
Bravo! Indeed, Hizhonor and his co-conspiring snakes are surreptitiously moving Aiken in a very destructive direction. They seem to have no understanding of, or appreciation or regard for the qualities that make Aiken an appealing place to live and visit. By choice, they have learned nothing from the Project Pascalis debacle except, perhaps, to refine a bit their disreputable and despicable modus operandi.
Our neighbors work for SRNL we had a friendly front yard conversation over the weekend and they do not want it downtown either and said it’s a bad idea (neighbors did not elaborate). The idea of this government business moving in near downtown would have what positive affects on the general community? There are several vacant buildings with parking in existence in and around downtown so why not invest in those properties and donate funds to support the downtown community.
So very well said! Thank you for your remarks.
Thank you for your article. I agree wholeheartedly that Downtown Aiken is the wrong place for SRNB’s training facility. Others have suggested alternative locations which make much more sense.
I am still learning the machinations of Aiken’s City Council but it appears some members are committed to large shiny buildings in the midst of a designated historic sector, as evidenced by this lab and the Pascalis debacle. They seem capable of moving with impressive speed on a 40,000 square foot building and a multi level parking garage adjacent to the Municipal building, but a straightforward RFP for the Hotel Aiken seems to be a herculean task.
Beautifully said! An audit is a great idea when chasing snakes through the brush.
Councilwoman Price reaffirmed her commitment to transparency Monday night (less than 10 minutes after they came out of a spontaneous executive session sparked by Mr. Moniak’s public comments)
you can’t make this up
Thank you for your letter, Dr. Hayes.
Those of us trying to fight this fight need all the help we can get. Your words are clear and concise, and I hope other readers will agree and share. I’ve been hearing that people are afraid to show up or share their feelings on this matter for fear of backlash.
Having this lab in the middle of Aiken will certainly draw people. The type who like to campaign against nuclear. What level of security will be required. We need small businesses in Aiken.