Downtown Augusta’s housing opportunities are growing, according to Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Executive Director Margaret Woodard.
During the Augusta Commission’s meeting, Tuesday afternoon, Woodard presented the DDA’s update to commissioners in which she mentioned that the city could have as much as “2,000 additional housing units in the downtown corridor” by 2025.
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Among that housing would be dwelling units in a refurbished Lamar Building. The Augusta Press reported in 2021 that Albany, Ga. developer Pace Burt had purchased the historic skyscraper for more than $2 million, with aims of renovating it into an apartment complex. The DDA approved this in June of 2022.
On Tuesday, Woodard told commissioners that closing on the construction at the Lamar Building should be this week, the completion of which should add some 76 new multifamily units downtown.
This news coincides with that of the Lamar Building’s neighbor, the 108-year-old Marion Building, going up for auction this month.
Last year the Augusta Commission approved rezoning the 10-story structure from General Business to Planned Unit Development. HD Historic Properties of Atlanta had submitted plans to transform the vacant office building into a mixed-used complex, complete with more than 50 apartments and over 1,000 square feet of retail space.
The Marion Building is scheduled to go up for auction on May 13, with bids starting at $250,000.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
