Community Unites to Preserve Augusta’s Historic Properties Amid Cleanup Efforts

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A Push to Preserve Historic Properties Amid Cleanup Efforts

As debris cleanup continues across Augusta following recent storms, the community is banding together to protect its heritage. Historic Augusta is stepping up its efforts to highlight properties that need urgent care and attention. “We have an organization that has a long heritage of working for the community, and trying to advocate for our historic resources. Trying to make sure that people are aware of what’s around them,” said Robert Mauldin, a representative from the organization.

New Additions to the Watch List

This year, Historic Augusta has added six new properties to its watch list, ensuring that these important pieces of history don’t fade away. Some of these properties include neglected homes on East Avenue, a charming structure on Second Street, and the Old Fifth Ward School. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of C.T. Walker Magnet School, which the Richmond County school board voted to close as part of a consolidation plan. President George Bush expressed concern about the fate of the school, stating, “It’s in perfectly good shape, with very strong historic significance—and soon it’s going to be demolished.”

According to Bush, this situation illustrates what they refer to as “unsympathetic public policy.” He added, “We don’t really understand the rationale behind that decision. The Board of Education has a tough stance on addressing policy and decision-making when it comes to historically significant structures.” Unfortunately, this means that the public has limited power to intervene.

Challenges and Ongoing Concerns

Historic Augusta is not just focusing on new properties; they’re also bringing attention back to some of last year’s listings that still need urgent help. Properties like the two houses on Wrightsboro Road, the Green House, and the Weed School Property remain on the list. The city acquired the Weed School last December to “reimagine” the Sand Hills community, but there hasn’t been much progress since public meetings were held earlier this year. “Those conversations have kind of subsided,” Montgomery noted. “We still see some demolition in Sand Hills, but not like it was a couple of years ago. So that’s maybe encouraging.”

Old First Baptist Church: An Imperiled Landmark

The Old First Baptist Church on Greene Street has made the list for a very important reason—it’s been labeled as the first “imminently imperiled landmark” in Augusta due to significant damage. The roof and gutter elements have deteriorated, leading to concerns over the structure’s stability. Bush explained, “They have not invested nor protected the building from the elements. There’s a lot of water damage, and there’s a lot of vegetation growing on the interior.” An upcoming hearing by the Historic Preservation Commission aims to address potential violations of preservation ordinances, though a recent hearing was canceled because of Hurricane Helene.

Success Stories and Future Efforts

In brighter news, Historic Augusta shared that they have successfully saved four properties previously on the endangered list, including the Kahrs Grocery Property, Union Lofts on James Brown Boulevard, 202 Greene Street, and the Fifth Street Bridge. “The Fifth Street Bridge was once a significant point of contention, but it has successfully been repurposed as a pedestrian bridge,” Montgomery noted. This success demonstrates the impact that dedicated efforts can have on preserving Augusta’s unique charm.

Despite these successes, Bush insists that more work is necessary to keep the momentum going. “You would be amazed with the amount of money that has come into downtown Augusta. But we need more public support, more membership, more media attention, and more collaboration with the city government,” he concluded. Looking ahead, the new Mayor Johnson is anticipated to be an ally in these historic protection efforts.

As of early January, Mauldin will transition into the role of president of Historic Augusta, taking over from Bush. This change marks an important milestone for the organization as they continue their commitment to preserving the historical integrity of Augusta for future generations.