Augusta remains at an impasse over the future of a historic Baptist church while some city leaders continue to question the role of the Historic Preservation Commission.
The matter hit the spotlight last month at a public hearing, when the HPC notified owners of the historic former First Baptist Church at 802 Greene St. that it must take steps to properly mothball the property to prevent its further deterioration.
The 1902 church, considered a “significant example” of Beaux Arts architecture and the birthplace of the Southern Baptist Convention, is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of “Places in Peril.
“It’s on Historic Augusta’s Endangered Properties list and sits in the downtown historic district subject to review by the HPC, said Dave Barbee, the longtime GOP official currently serving as vice chairman of the HPC.
The church owner, SH Investments, responded last week to the HPC’s demands with an application to demolish the church, citing cost concerns. The Augusta Press Publisher and owner Joe Edge is a principal with the ownership group.
Speaking to the Augusta Commission Tuesday, Barbee detailed the HPC’s public hearing process and denied claims the HPC was singling out the church or its owners for upkeep issues.
“We just believe that we were doing our due diligence as appointed by the commission,” he said. “All we’re looking at is the building, and that’s it.”
Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle questioned why the HPC hadn’t taken the Augusta Commission’s direction from last year to examine operations at other HPCs to determine ways to improve.
“We receive so many negative things about the HPC,” Guilfoyle said. They include claims of “hostility,” a superior attitude and an unwillingness to compromise, he said.
Planning Director Carla DeLaney said the reason the HPC board never undertook an outside review is that members moved her meeting presentation about it to “some time in 2025.”
“There has never been an opportunity to carry out the directive,” DeLaney said.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson questioned how the board handles similar problematic properties downtown, such as former Woolworth’s, Kress and Belk buildings.
Barbee said in most cases, the owners “have a plan,” although the HPC has little authority to force work to be done.
“We don’t have a way of forcing them to do it,” he said.
Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said while she is a “huge advocate” for preservation, she felt like Edge was on trial at the public hearing.
“I felt like it was personal,” she said. “If it were my way, I’d like to make a motion to have Legal amend the ordinance so something like this won’t happen again.”
Commissioner Tina Slendak said she was “also really disappointed in the way that Mr. Edge was spoken to” but did not want to see the church demolished.
Commissioner Alvin Mason said after all his years on the commission, it appeared buildings aren’t treated equally downtown.
“Depending on who the property owner is, is what the decision is,” he said.
Barbee said the HPC will rule on Edge’s demolition application at its next meeting Feb. 27.
