Everhome Suites Proposed for Claussen Road Site in Augusta

A Columbia County resident wants to build a 120-room extended-stay hotel on Claussen Road behind the Augusta Family YMCA. Hafeez Chaudhry of Martinez is applying with Denver real-estate firm HighSide Companies. The project would sit at 1060 Claussen Road, but there's a catch. He needs a special zoning exception.

The proposed Everhome Suites would be the first of that brand in Augusta. Choice Hotels International owns Everhome, which was launched in 2020 as an all-new-construction, midscale extended-stay option. The first location opened in California in 2022.

The 3.76-acre undeveloped land parcel sits wedged between several established businesses. The Family Y of Greater Augusta at 1058 Claussen borders one side. A Best Western Plus Augusta North Inn & Suites at 1062 Claussen sits nearby. A U-Haul truck and storage rental facility at 1070 Claussen flanks the other side, while Stevens Creek Commons apartments on Bon Air Drive round out the neighbors.

Chaudhry retired from the Savannah River Site, where he worked as an engineer. He ran twice for the District 1 seat on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. He lost to current Chairman Doug Duncan in 2014. Four years later, he lost to District 1 Commissioner Connie Mealar in 2018.

The Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission will consider the development request at its Jan. 5 meeting.