Columbia County officials are set to weigh a rezoning request for a 107-unit townhome project called The Grove at Knox Farm on the former South Columbia Elementary School site, a proposal pitched as walkable,
“entry-level” homeownership with neighborhood-style amenities.
1. From school campus to townhome community
Developer Georgia Subcontracting Professionals of Martinez wants to rezone 325 McCormick Road—once home to the now-demolished South Columbia Elementary School—for a medium-density townhome neighborhood.augustachronicleThe project’s name, The Grove at Knox Farm, nods to the property’s history as part of a large pecan grove woven into the surrounding residential area.augustachronicle
2. 107 townhomes aimed at “entry-level” buyers
Plans call for 107 townhome units that the company frames as filling a gap in medium-density housing and creating more entry-level homeownership opportunities in Columbia County.augustachronicleThe developer says the neighborhood is designed to offer a moderate-density alternative between traditional single-family subdivisions and higher-density apartment living.augustachronicle
3. A walkable design linking homes and parks
Project documents describe The Grove as a walkable neighborhood that connects new homes with parks and surrounding streets through an internal trail system.augustachronicleThe layout is intended to promote pedestrian access between residences, open spaces and nearby neighborhoods rather than focusing solely on car traffic.augustachronicle
4. Garages, trails and pecan-themed landscaping
Each unit would include a two-car garage, and the site plan calls for walking trails threaded through the development.augustachronicleNew pecan saplings would be planted across the property, complementing several remaining old-growth pecan trees that still stand near Old Evans and Baston roads.augustachronicle
5. Pickleball, cornhole and a fire-pit pavilion
Neighborhood amenities on the concept plan include a pickleball court, a picnic area with a cornhole pitch, and a pavilion with a fire pit as shared community space.augustachronicleThose features are pitched as lifestyle draws meant to help the townhome community function as a social hub as well as a housing development.
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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Townhomes proposed on former Columbia County school site. What to know
