Officials with the Georgia School For Innovation and The Classics say that all of the pieces are falling into place to expand the school and have a location on Gordon Highway near the old Regency Mall site.
Robert Buchwitz, who is chairman of both the Hephzibah City Commission and the governing board of the Georgia School of Innovation and the Classics, confirmed that The Salvation Army has sold its partial ownership to the Community Foundation of the CSRA and the building, located behind the old mall property at 2417 Jennings Road, will be turned over for the school’s use.
The two non-profits were co-owners of the building.
Whether the school will be granted the property or it will be leased to the school is still to be determined, Buchwitz said. The Community Foundation of the CSRA did not return a call for comment.
According to Butchwitz, the school will begin small, offering either grades K – 4 or K – 5 and adding new grade levels as students matriculate upwards.
It was long thought that the charter school was dependent on future development plans of the Regency Mall site by the owner, Cardinale Management out of New York. However, Buchwitz says that each project does not hinge upon the other.
Buchwiitz says that he maintains close contact with Cadinale and insists that the group’s plans for a mixed-use residential and retail development are on track.
“I feel that they haven’t been treated fairly by the media, they are not asking for any handouts from the government, but these projects take time. I understand they will be making a major announcement soon,” Buchwitz said.
Meanwhile, The Salvation Army will be using part of the funding from the sale for its future plans to build a new homeless shelter.
“This allows us to take the next steps in our overall plans for the future,” said Derek Dugan, director of development for The Salvation Army.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
