A Major Update on the Augusta K-Mart Plaza Redevelopment Project

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since the majority of the old K-Mart plaza in Augusta was demolished.

Since then, we have been waiting for construction to begin on the buildings that will become Capitol Heights.

Now, it looks like we are getting closer to seeing the project really begin to take shape.

According to an article in the KJ, commercial space is officially up for grabs at Capitol Heights, Augusta’s largest redevelopment project in years, and that’s a big step forward for the long-vacant K-Mart plaza on Western Avenue.

Augusta Economic Development Director Keith Luke says opening the door to tenants shows the project has moved from idea to reality. The 8-acre site at 56 Western Avenue will feature a mix of uses, including a hotel, two smaller commercial buildings, and a main mixed-use building with 58 market-rate apartments above street-level retail.

Luke compares the vision to Westbrook's Rock Row, with medical offices, casual dining, and housing all sharing the same footprint.

The tenant search is being led by The Boulos Company, a commercial real estate firm based in Maine and New Hampshire. The project’s developer, George Campbell, previously served as the company’s president.

Boulos Managing Partner Chris Paszyc says the location brings serious traffic, with more than 21,000 vehicles traveling Western Avenue each day.  He also points out that Augusta’s population of about 19,000 nearly doubles during the workday, making the site even more attractive to businesses.  Luke believes the commercial spaces, ranging from 2,000 to 15,000 square feet, will lease quickly.

The hotel portion of the project is already under contract. Luke says a deal is in place, and Paszyc adds that the buyer is a nationally branded hotel, though the name has not been released yet.

City officials see the development as a boost for Augusta’s core, with Luke saying the project is expected to pull more activity and energy closer to downtown.