Although it’s almost Valentine’s Day, where is the love? Certainly not within the Augusta Commission Chambers.
You know the place. It’s where they do ” The People’s Business.”
The true tagline should be: ” Where we give the people the business.”
Last week was indeed a laundry list of contentious subjects. Let’s touch on one of them: The Boathouse.
Depending on who you ask and the day of the week when you ask, you will get varying monetary amounts as to what it would cost to repair and restore the Boathouse.
A couple of years ago, just the cost of repairing the decking was said to be around $900,000. This estimate came from the Parks and Recreation department. Now, more damage and deterioration has occurred.
A ” guesstimate” to make the Boathouse habitable now is around the $2 million dollar mark. Still, no full funding is available. Meanwhile, the Rowing Club that makes the Boathouse their headquarters and storage space is in need of a new home due to the damage.
Approximately two years ago, a very successful restaurateur wanted to acquire the Boathouse for the purpose of turning it into a themed restaurant that would be compatible with the riverfront. This individual was aware of the condition of the structure and was willing to absorb the cost of repairs and stabilization of the structure. Plus, willing to pay over $1million plus for the building.
The Rowing Club being housed there was seen as a benefit because they would help bring business due to the meets and regattas they held. This person was going to allow them to stay at no cost to the club. A win-win all around.
At the time, the full commission, mayor, administrator and city attorney was informed of a potential buyer of the Boathouse and potential monetary offer. The Augusta Economic Development Authority was given this information, and the Boathouse was added to the list of properties that could be sold for development.
A slight curve ball was thrown into the mix when it was brought forward that any property to be sold had to go through the bidding process through the Procurement Department. Even though no other interest had been shown, the potential buyer was more than willing to place a bid.
The possibility of the property being sold to a private investor was exciting to me, not just as a commissioner, but as a taxpayer.
With the prospect that the building was going to be repaired and updated, a vibrant themed restaurant opening up, a new river destination, property back on the city tax roll and more jobs coming, it seemed the perfect scenario.
All things were beginning to look good until it wasn’t any longer.
A very short time later, it seems Commissioner Ben Hasan had a change of vision and no longer thought the Boathouse should be sold but retained as city owned property. Commissioner Francine Scott echoed the sentiment by stating, ” It’s a diamond in the rough” and the city should not sell it.
Hasan had the votes to stop the process so the potential for the sale and development was indeed stopped cold. So, the Boathouse building still sits empty, and the deterioration continues with no end or answers in sight.
Again, this past week it was decided not to sell the property but repair and remodel so it could be used as rental space for functions. The ” Diamond in the rough” seems to have grown into ” The Crown Jewel,” as Commissioner Al Mason stated.
All of the adjectives or catch phrases are not going to solve the problem and it is painfully obvious that Augusta’s well protected Parks and Recreation director isn’t either. When questioned it was clear that he had no real dollar amounts that would be needed. It was nearly $1 million back then and should be somewhere around $2 million now. Where did these figures come from?
I really don’t think a true on-hands assessment has been done. Also, the funds needed seem not to be available.
Maybe the two ex-Augusta city employees who founded their own company can come up with a solution. After all, they have the know-how and intelligence to negotiate a $7 million contract with the city to consult and direct certain endeavors for the Parks and Recreation Department. Don’t blame them. You have to admit it was smart on their part to get that deal.
You should blame the commissioners who voted to approve it.
Augusta’s Riverwalk and Riverfront can be beautiful again if plans were in place to address the issues. However, it seems that no one is listening or paying attention. Maybe the commissioners should give the Riverkeeper a call. Maybe they need to get Tonya Bonitatibus involved. At least her end of the riverfront property she leases from the city is maintained.
