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Developer says Newbury Street mixed‑use building remains on schedule, budget
Summary
Developer Mark Costner told Aiken City Council the Newbury Street mixed‑use project is under construction, with concrete work nearly complete, a planned 13,000‑square‑foot first‑floor slab pour and a $20 million budget with an $850,000 contingency.
Mark Costner, the project representative for the Newbury Street mixed‑use building, updated the Aiken City Council on April 28, saying the project is under active construction and remains on schedule and within budget.
Costner told the council design approvals are complete and that construction is underway. "We had our groundbreaking on the 27th," he said, and added that concrete work is nearly finished: "They're about 97% complete with all the concrete footings." He said a roughly 13,000‑square‑foot first‑floor slab pour was scheduled for the morning following the meeting. Costner also said the project carries a $20,000,000 budget and an $850,000 contingency.
Why it matters: the project is one of the largest private developments downtown, and the council has tracked progress as permitting and construction milestones are reached. Costner told council that underground utilities and vertical elements such as a north stair tower are in place and that furniture, fixtures and IT scopes are in late‑stage review.
Costner addressed a subsurface surprise encountered on site. He said the team discovered an underground cistern during early work and determined a remediation method with engineers: excavate the material and fill with flowable fill, then proceed with the building pad. "No impact on the schedule on that," Costner said. He estimated the cistern required about 20 cubic yards of fill.
Construction timing and risks were reiterated: the contractor's schedule calls for about 14 months of physical construction followed by roughly two months of commissioning and punch‑list work. Costner noted typical construction risks—material delays and tariffs—but said he and the general contractor are monitoring those issues.
Council members praised visible progress. One council member said they often drive by the site and are "very impressed" with the work done so far. Costner said the target move‑in is the summer of 2026 and that the project team will continue to provide progress photography and regular updates to the city and community.
The presentation contained detailed technical points about footings, rebar for elevator and stair cores, and the ongoing coordination with tenants on IT and furnishings. Costner said a furniture vendor, Weinberger's, is under contract and that tenant submittals remain in review.
