It is time for Historic Augusta to fade into history. The group has a history of making poor decisions related to both money and real estate. The group is propped up by Augusta’s wealthy elite, and it is time for it to stop.
There are plenty of worthy causes to donate money to that will benefit Augusta. This group is not one of them. All one has to do is examine how they have handled historic buildings and relationships with historic property owners to see why the group should be defunded.
Under the guise of historic preservation, this nonprofit organization has single handedly destroyed relationships with property owners and allowed buildings under their care to fall into gross disrepair.
Every property Historic Augusta seems to have any involvement with goes sideways.
The Goodale House. A prime example.
According to a 2014 news story, the Goodale House owner accused Montgomery of fraudulently using his name and property to win a $75,000 grant to renovate the property. The money never made it to the owner, nor did it go to renovating the building.
Montgomery told the Augusta Chronicle in 2011 he was working behind the scenes to save the building. In 2013, the city was trying to tear the building down, and Montgomery insisted the building could be saved despite a wall having collapsed.
Eventually, in 2016, the home, built in 1799, was demolished.
Montgomery’s objectives and actions mirrored those of the recent controversy surrounding the group’s attempt to coerce the owner of the historic First Baptist Church (myself) to donate the property to the organization. According to the Augusta Chronicle, the Goodale House owner was in danger of losing ownership of the property to Historic Augusta.
The C.T. Walker house
The C.T. Walker house fiasco shows the groups lack of knowledge and ability on how to preserve a property. Now, the city owns it.
Historic Augusta had the opportunity to sell this property to a private citizen, which they declined. The group paid $15,000 in 2016 for the property and turned down more than three times that amount. Instead, they gave the property to the city for free.
The city’s quest for ownership of the CT Walker House began with Historic Augusta placing the property on its endangered list just as it did to the Goodale House and First Baptist Church. Historic Augusta made some improvements that were funded via grants and “other” donations, yet the building continued to decay and fall apart.
Stabilizing and preserving historic buildings is the group’s mission. Yet, they could not achieve that goal themselves on a tiny property such as the CT Walker House. When I personally toured the property in May 2021, after Historic Augusta had spent a huge chunk of money on the structure, it still had vegetation growing through the walls, holes in the floors and a staircase only the brave would attempt to go up. In fact, the property was so bad on the inside, it couldn’t yield a buyer despite the low asking price of $64,500.
If Historic Augusta can’t renovate and save a 2,000 square-foot house themselves, what good are they? What credibility does the group have left, and what right do they have to demand other property owners do better?
Current Historic Augusta Properties
It seems as though Montgomery has learned it’s not easy to renovate historic buildings. Currently, the group only owns two properties: their office and the Woodrow Wilson house.
Both properties are in need of significant repairs. In fact, the Woodrow Wilson house has a gaping hole in the façade that has been there since before the hurricane. It also has a broken window in the front of the building. Both buildings have a myriad of issues that need to be addressed.
Donors to this group need to be aware of what they are supporting and hold the group accountable. If the group is going to continue, it is past time donors demand the toilet be flushed and all leadership replaced, including the current president and George Bush.
Below are pictures of Historic Augusta’s office. The pictures show a variety of repairs needed due to significant deferred maintenance.
Historic Augusta and First Baptist Church
Montgomery and I had a good relationship going into 2023. In fact, he was invited, along with members of the CVB and county commission, to take part of a meeting with a group capable of restoring the First Baptist Church building and investing $10 million. Montgomery decided that George Bush, the group’s president, should not be at the meeting because of his demeanor and bully attitude.
Later the same year, Bush, frustrated with the speed of the potential user, had Historic Augusta declare the property in peril and imminent danger. It was this action that led to the group backing out and the loss of the $10 million investment into the property.
This type of approach toward relationships is further evidence as to why the group should not be funded. I have been hard pressed to find any property owner that Historic Augusta has helped.
Has Historic Augusta’s bullying helped the first Baptist church property? Has declaring it in peril or imminent danger helped attract a buyer or end user? Has this campaign that led to a demolition permit helped?
The answer is no. Everything Historic Augusta has done since 2023 has harmed this property, its reputation and its prospects of being saved.
Most developers that use historic tax credits hire out-of-town consultants. The constant chorus I hear is that “my project is just over Historic Augusta’s head.”
That is what donors of Historic Augusta are supporting. The only way to make Historic Augusta wake up is to pull funding and give it to more worthy causes.
If you value historic preservation, stop giving to this group because they seem more intent on destroying Augusta’s historic properties than preserving them.
