The leadership of Historic Augusta, Inc. held a press conference on Feb. 25 to ask the public’s help in saving the historic First Baptist Church downtown.
The owners of the property filed for a demolition permit in early February.
The building, located at 802 Greene St., has been the center of controversy as the owners of the building, including The Augusta Press Publisher Joe Edge, say that they have been targeted by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and Historic Augusta, Inc.
According to Edge, the Historic Preservation Commission cited him for work that actually was completed four years ago when his company bought the building and has demanded in writing that he: “Restore or demolish immediately to avoid additional fines and/or legal action.”
Robert Mauldin, president of Historic Augusta, Inc., says the group wants to clear up any “misinformation” and that they are not a political action group, nor have they singled out any particular owner.
MORE: Owners file demolition application for old First Baptist Church
“We are there to help, offering tax credits. There is nothing more beneficial than not demolishing a building that could undergo an adaptive reuse,” Mauldin said.
Edge has singled out the former President of Historic Augusta, Inc., George Bush, who he says tried to strongarm him to give the building, free and clear, to Historic Augusta, Inc., indicating that he wanted to see the building used for the Jessye Norman Performing Arts Center and that SPLOST money could be used for renovations if that were to happen.
“That is a lie,” Executive Director of Historic Augusta, Inc. Erick Montgomery said.
Montgomery says that the group’s only concern is saving a property that is on the National Registry of Historic Places and is a “contributing property” to the Downtown Historic District.
MORE: Fate of historic church remains undetermined
Mauldin admitted that Edge and his group are the only property owners in memory that the preservation group has singled out, thereby conceding that it was a complaint filed by Historic Augusta, Inc. that set the process in motion for the HPC to demand a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Meanwhile, Edge says that Historic Augusta, Inc., has not reached out to him or tried to act as mediators and are now simply trying to smooth over their involvement in the matter.
“Historic Augusta has not tried to engage me in conversation since we pulled the demo permit. Not one effort has been made to talk to me. The city planning staff has, but not the HPC or the Historic Augusta,” Edge said.
A hearing on the matter will be held by the HPC on Feb.27 at 5:30 pm in the Linda Beazley Community Room on the first floor of the municipal building, located at 535 Telfair Street.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter, Editorial Page Editor and weekly columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
