The Augusta Rowing Club petitioned the Augusta Commission at the Feb. 7 meeting for “help and guidance” over the club’s inability to use the Marina Boathouse for equipment storage.
The spring regatta season is about to begin with teams coming from all over the country, and the club has nowhere to operate, according to Augusta Rowing Club President Megan Buckalew.
The club has used the building for decades, even with ongoing neglect by the Parks and Recreation Department and Central Services and, now Buckalew says that burst plumbing has made the building totally unusable.
“Right around Christmas, a pipe burst in the kitchen upstairs, and the water was allowed to run for a few days, which you know what water will do to drywall. There are ceilings falling in, and there are electrical issues,” Buckalew said.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Maurice McDowell blamed the leaks on the freezing temperatures that occurred last December; however former District 10 Commissioner John Clarke pointed out in May 2022 that the building had plumbing problems after discovering water bills in excess of $300 for an all but abandoned building.
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“For the life of me I can’t understand why they would shut the power off but leave the water turned on when no one can safely get into the building,” Clarke said at the time.
According to an article published in The Augusta Press May 12, 2022, commissioners were made aware of the issues at the Boathouse, and several funding mechanisms were discussed to either renovate or mothball the building properly.
The decks that surround the building are rotted, and the facility needs a new roof.
Funding in the amount of $450,000 was provided through SPLOST VI, but that money was never spent, and the city is currently collecting SPLOST VIII, of which an additional $500,000 is earmarked for the Boathouse.
“We are looking at the funding issue, and I will be making a presentation to the commission soon,” McDowell said at the time.
However, such a presentation was never made.
McDowell has now changed his story and says that he never followed up with any plans or cost analysis because he was under the impression that the city might sell the property.
A restaurateur did approach several city officials years ago with an interest in buying the property but was told the land was not for sale.
According to Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Garrett, the commission has never seriously discussed selling the Boathouse officially, and he asked McDowell what could be done to get the rowing club back to the space safely.
McDowell’s answer was to say, “Not anytime soon.”
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According to McDowell, an assessment from the Risk Management Department indicated the building was not safe for anyone to enter.
“Rather than taking the quick fix approach, I think we need to have a holistic discussion on what we want to do with the facility and what needs to happen with the funds we have available,” McDowell said.
Brad Holdren, head coach of the club says the group has no choice but to begin to look at other possible plans, though only a few of those alternative plans would keep the club in downtown Augusta.
“We have had two Olympic silver medalists train with us. We give out collegiate scholarships to our rowers, and we want to grow,” Holdren said.
Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus says it would be a shame and a loss of Augusta’s sports prestige if the club were forced to move to Columbia or Aiken County.
The club has operated downtown since 1984.
“The Augusta Rowing Club really kicked off the rehabilitation of that part of the river decades ago. Dick Fox and his crew did an amazing job. But there have been a series of missteps by the city. It’s sad, really,” Bonitatibus said.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
