Aiken Couple’s Ambitious Transformation: From Church to Family Home
In the lovely city of Aiken, excitement is brewing as an Augusta couple takes on the challenge of turning a former church into a cozy single-family home. Scott and Kimberly Gudith officially purchased the 1.01-acre property located at 433 Whiskey Road for a cool $425,000 back in May. Since then, they’ve been hard at work planning the transformation of the building, which served as a reading room for the First Church of Christ, Scientist.
Visionaries with a Mission
Having searched for their dream home for quite some time, the Gudiths saw potential in the property the moment they laid eyes on it. “We first saw the property back in March and immediately recognized the potential to transform the church into a beautiful home,” Scott graciously shared with local officials on November 14.
But as with many ambitious projects, the road hasn’t been entirely smooth. The couple recently appeared before the Aiken City Council, informing them of their plans to modify and resubmit their previous proposal. Their original plans were turned down by the Design Review Board on November 14, which left the couple feeling anything but optimistic.
A Historic Challenge
The property is located within one of Aiken’s Historic Districts, specifically Historic District II. This means that any changes made to the exterior of the building require approval from the Design Review Board, which didn’t exactly embrace the couple’s initial designs. Their proposed alterations included increasing the pitch of the roof, resizing and replacing all the windows, moving the front door, painting the brick, and even adding a three-car garage.
It was the proposed garage that ticked off board member Pat Corey, who expressed concerns about its height being taller than the house itself. “It’s out of scale for the neighborhood,” she remarked, voicing what turned out to be a common sentiment among the board. Notably, Chairwoman Faith Hawks and board member Barbara Morgan also voted against granting approval.
A Feeling of Being Ambushed
Scott, who seemed taken aback by the board’s reaction, mentioned feeling “ambushed” during the meeting. He emphasized that prior to purchasing the church, they had consulted with the city’s planning department and were assured their plans wouldn’t be an issue. “We were told that, since it’s not a historical structure and a non-contributing property, the city and most of the community would embrace any sort of improvement,” he lamented.
With Patience Comes Hope
Frustratingly for the Gudiths, time was not on their side. They submitted their application in August, but it wasn’t until November—after several delays—to finally present it to the Design Review Board. Aiken City Councilwoman Kay Brohl acknowledged their struggles, expressing sympathy for the couple’s experience. “I hate that you had such a bad experience,” she said. However, she also expressed optimism about their plans to resubmit, adding, “I know the people on the DRB want what’s best for Aiken, and I know you do, too.”
What’s Next for the Gudiths?
Now, with support from city officials and a revised plan on the horizon, the Gudiths are ready to roll up their sleeves and try again. Despite the bumps in the road, they remain eager to breathe new life into the Whiskey Road property and create the home they’ve always dreamed of. Here’s to hoping they find the approval they need in their next presentation!
