Despite an Augusta Commission mandate creating a moratorium on selling off city parks to private developers, the Augusta Land Bank Authority is negotiating with a local developer to create a tiny home village on a former ball park in the Central Avenue area.
The property, once known as “Central Park” is a former baseball field located at 1140 Merry St. The value of the land is listed as $330,090, according to property records.
The developer, Jackson Drumgoole, agreed to a full interview and, at first seemed willing to discuss the plans, stating that the tiny homes would not be designed for the homeless, but rather for young adults transitioning out of foster care.
“These are good kids, and we need to provide a safe place for them to live as they transition out of care,” Drumgoole said.
Drumgoole, at first, said that the plans for the village were already drawn up and he would be happy to share them with the public.
However, when reached the following morning for the full interview, Drumgoole said that on the advice of his “partners,” he could not comment further, and the architectural plans were never sent.
Augusta Land Bank Authority Chairman Chris Johnson acknowledged that a deal was in the works, but also declined to comment on the advice of the Land Bank’s attorney.
According to former Augusta Commissioner John Clarke, the reason for the secrecy is clear: the Augusta Commission, long ago, placed a ban on selling off city parks to private developers.
“There was a full review, and no one could agree on which parks to sell and which ones to keep, so a moratorium was put into effect,” Clarke said, adding, “How this property got flipped over to the Land Bank, I do not know.”
Clarke says there is a “big undercurrent” occurring among developers angry over the secretive deals made by the Land Bank where some buyers are offered land at bargain bin prices and others are told if they want to purchase city-owned property, they must pay sometimes up to double what the land is worth.
“They have their dander up with both the Land Bank and the Tax Commissioner over these backroom deals that border on being illegal,” Clarke said.
Michael Thurman is one of those developers.
Thurman, who owns almost all of the adjacent land, says he approached the city years ago and was told that the land could not be sold.
“That land backs up to all my other properties, so I would have definitely paid full market value and built homes more appropriate for the neighborhood,” Thurman said.
Thurman says that the land is too small for a tiny home village and fears that such a development would bring down the property values in the area. Thurman also bristles at the secrecy of the negotiations.
“The neighborhood should be allowed into the discussion, especially when it involves a development that might have an adverse effect on the neighborhood,” Thurman said.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson says that he is not knowledgeable enough about this particular matter to comment on it, but says that transparency should be the rule when it comes to selling off city-owned land.
“There should be a process that is open and clear with any parcels of city land being sold,” Johnson said.
Johnson says that he supports Drumgoole, whom he calls a “man of good integrity,” and the concept of transitional housing for young adults leaving foster care, but the lack of transparency involving the Land Bank concerns him.
“As mayor, I need to look into this. I am going to look into this,” Johnson said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
