(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
The Laney Walker-Bethlehem neighborhoods have been the beneficiary of millions of dollars of investment, and the progress can clearly be seen. New homes have replaced older dilapidated structures, and some entire nodes look to be nearly brand new.
Despite the progress that has been made, the Augusta Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department and its director Hawthorne Welcher need to do more.
But whatever they do, they need to do it with transparency and accountability. The Charles Walker real estate transaction with the Augusta Land Bank Authority and HCD are proof that someone needs to watch what is going on to avoid cronyism or the appearance thereof.
Walker was able to acquire real estate far below market value on property HCD had earmarked for improvements. HCD engaged in the planning phases of those improvements less than two weeks after selling the property to Walker. The transaction was underhanded at best and at worst, it violated state law.
So much money has been thrown at the roughly five-square mile area over the years that the area should look like the grounds of the Augusta National.
How much money has been spent on the area? No one really knows.
In the early 2000s, then State Sen. Charles Walker steered around $20 million in state funds to a nonprofit group called the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ANIC). The only thing remaining of what the nonprofit built is an office building on Laney Walker Boulevard, a “gated community” that consists of four townhouse units and iron fences that continue to fall over to this day. Both are now privately owned.
The processes by which HCD uses money lacks scrutiny and accountability. Director Hawthorne Welcher simply shows up to the commission meetings and walks out with pretty much a blank check.
Now we learn that the Housing and Development Department does not follow state and local law when it comes to procurement. There is no way to know if friends or political allies are being rewarded with taxpayer money because the dazzle-painted paper trail zigs and zags like an ocean liner avoiding an attack submarine.
HCD should be subject to the same scrutiny and oversight as other departments. Every transaction where city-owned property is sold needs to be looked at closer by the commission to ensure that political favors are not being handed out at the expense of the taxpayers. When either of these ideals are violated, there should be substantial penalties for the parties involved.
