The Augusta Commission changed course Tuesday on what to do with the city-owned “Boathouse” on the Savannah River.
After last week awarding tentative funding of $580,000 to perform stopgap measures to ensure its further use by the Augusta Rowing Club, the commission voted 8-0 to seek estimates for demolition instead.
“I think we all know the state of the boathouse is not very good and we want to support the rowing club, but we probably need to tear it down if we’re going to start over,” Commissioner Sean Frantom said.
Neglected during the pandemic, the dilapidated former restaurant made headlines after pipes burst over the winter, causing significant damage. As temperatures warmed, the rowing club, which had used the building as a headquarters since the late 1990s, sought to regain access.
Estimates last week to fully renovate were up to $6 million and Mayor Garnett Johnson said it should be razed and a marquee facility built in its place.
“I just think this commission ought to punt right now, and make sure we take care of the rowing club, whatever that means,” Frantom said.
The rowing club’s immediate needs are being “well taken care of” by Augusta Parks and Recreation, Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse said.
Commissioners Alvin Mason, Brandon Garrett, Catherine Smith McKnight sounded in agreement with foregoing the short-term fix. “If you ask me, where it sits, it’s a diamond and a jewel for the city if we build the right thing on that particular property,” Mason said.
McKnight said spending $580,000 on the building only to tear it down in a year or two was a “waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Options for funding construction of a new facility appeared limited Tuesday to SPLOST 9. The next special purpose, local option sales tax would have to go before voters and collections would not start until the ongoing SPLOST 8, which began last year, raises $250 million for designated projects.
Before the vote, Garrett said the commission needed a closed-door discussion about “the ramifications of rebuilding and all that.” General Counsel Wayne Brown said the discussion had to be about “acquiring or disposing” of city property. Garrett said there was another parcel in question.
CVB, Delegations speak
In other action, Destination Augusta Executive Director Bennish Brown provided a report on 2021 visitor spending in Augusta. That year, visitors spend more than $700 million in the city, including $211,000 for food and beverages and $150 million for lodging.
The commission heard from two members of the public during the delegation portion of the meeting.
Downtown activist Kevin de l’Aigle described efforts by community groups including his to clean up public cemeteries. He questioned how the city’s existing perpetual care fund of $205,100 would be spent and how Augusta will oversee maintenance moving forward.
Former Commissioner Moses Todd spoke to the commission about recent attacks he said were being made on Commissioner Stacy Pulliam in the Augusta Press. Pulliam declined to comment on Todd’s remarks, which he said he made on his own.
“I understand when it is a column, whether it’s Sylvia Cooper or John Clarke, and I understand political satire and there’s a place for it in our community. But there is not a place for character assassination and opinions that’s not based on facts that was reported in the local press or that’s not a matter of public record,” he said.
