The Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority last week approved a series of property deals, extensions and foreclosure assistance requests aimed at renewing blighted areas of the city.
One of the larger projects was Oaks Ministries’ plan to open a $9 million multipurpose community center at 400 East Boundary Street.
Founded by Stephen Pittman and Mike Rosser under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church, Oaks has partnered with Walton Communities and provides a variety of services in Olde Town such as afterschool tutoring, sports and afterschool programs, Rosser said.
The new center intends to “benefit the community as a whole” and while still in planning and fundraising stages hopes to include ministry and office space, recreation facilities, a playground, wraparound services and a fresh food hub, he said.
The authority approved returning the property to the land bank and selling it to Oaks for $75,000.
In other action, the authority approved entering a depository agreement with Augusta Habitat for Humanity for 17 parcels located on Eighth Avenue, Kent Street, Steiner Avenue and Swanee Quintet Boulevard, and to provide foreclosure assistance for parcels on Kent and Eighth.
Placing the land within the land bank protects it from taxes, Land Bank Director Shawn Edwards said, while the project is the first to target Augusta’s Georgia Initiative for Community Housing zone. The zone occupies the Turpin Hill area and is marked by Augusta Housing Authority’s redevelopment of the former Dogwood Terrace housing project.
Cherry Ave. Revitalization Enterprises received a one-year extension to its agreement with the land bank for parcels on Rachael and Artmus streets.
Edwards said the Cherry Ave. completed work on one parcel but sought an extension based on its involvement with Augusta Housing and Community Development, and “the state of that department no longer being what it once was.” Director Hawthorne Welcher resigned in May amid large discrepancies in the handling of federal grant awards.
The authority approved giving foreclosure assistance to Reality Dreamhouse to acquire two parcels on Lee Beard Way for construction of affordable housing. Reality has acquired several parcels in the area and expects “transformative activity” to continue, owner Ken Rollerson said.
The authority approved “Beautify to Build” agreements with the Wild Thistle Collaborative to create community gardens on leased lots on 15th and Luckey streets. Edwards said the goal of the program is to get the lots cleaned up so they may sell and be redeveloped, while the lessee may match a buyer’s offer.
The authority also agreed to provide foreclosure assistance to developers for properties on Lockhart Lane, Broad Street, Dugas Street, CS Hamilton Way and Adams Street, and sold a property on First Avenue to be remodeled.
After the land approvals, the authority approved hiring Baird Audit Group as its new auditing company and to register as a Georgia nonprofit. Obtaining the state nonprofit status will allow the authority to receive grants, Edwards said.
The authority had considered forming a separate federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, but is better served remaining just a governing authority under state laws, attorney John Manton told members.
