2 days Ago
Aiken residents concerned about Taj Aiken's future may not have anything to worry about. Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Girardeau and Councilwoman Kay Brohl addressed the restaurant's future April 28 after Kelly Cornelius and Lisa Smith asked about it during the city council's non-agenda item public comment period. Taj Aiken is located at 213 Richland Ave.
E . The city owns the restaurant's building and the adjoining properties in the 200-block of Richland Avenue and it's in the process of finding a developer for those properties . "I can't imagine if one of these developers actually goes forward and does this, he [Taj Aiken owner Alok Kumar Akse] won't be included in that," Girardeau said.
"He's a successful businessman, a successful restaurant. That's what they want. They'll work it out.
" Each month Taj Aiken pays the city rent, money is set aside to help the business move if city council and a potential developer reach an agreement and if that potential developer wants Taj Aiken to move out, Brohl said. "They may want him to stay right there," Brohl continued. "We don't know that's not going to happen but if that happens, there has been money set aside and the city will help them find other places so it's not like we're turning our back.
" Akse also asked about the city's plan at the April 14 and 28 council meetings. On April 28, he offered to purchase the Taj Aiken building and C.C.
Johnson Building immediately east. That's not going to happen, Girardeau said. The city advertised that it had been seeking a developer for the buildings for months.
Akse was welcome to submit a bid but did not submit a bid for the properties or a subset of them, Girardeau said. The owners of the three businesses in the Beckman Building (Spa 108, Vampire Penguin and Ginger Bee) negotiated five year leases after city council voted to dissolve the Aiken Municipal Development Commission. Akse didn't do so and remains on a month-to-month lease, Brohl said.
The city can't negotiate with potential developers and Akse, Girardeau said. "We started this, these [developers] are what have," Girardeau added. Councilwoman Gail Diggs applauded Akse's community service efforts on April 14, but the council didn't otherwise respond to him, Cornelius said.
"Nobody responded...
," Cornelius told Aiken City Council. "Nobody addressed his concerns that he signed a contract over a year ago and is still waiting on a response from you. I just think that is not the way to treat such an asset to this community.
" Lots of people make comments at city council meetings and don't get a reply, Councilwoman Lessie Price said. "If you don't get a reply from a council member, that doesn't mean that they are disagreeing with you," Price continued. The council members often share phone calls after the meeting to prepare a response or a solution to be given at a later meeting, Price said.
"So please don't leave this room thinking that no one heard me, no one's listening," Price continued. "We are listening. We are hearing you.
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