Editor’s Note: Joe Edge is publisher of the Augusta Press as well as an owner of First Baptist Church property in downtown Augusta.
A partner and I purchased the dilapidated First Baptist building located at 802 Greene St. in 2020 with the intentions of saving the structure from impending demolition and collapse. After several hundred thousand dollars were spent improving the structure, the property now faces its greatest threat: a city board egged on by a local lawyer.
A hearing is scheduled for tonight “to evaluate the ownership’s stewardship of the property” by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).
MORE : Is Augusta’s Historic Preservation board blocking development?
This hearing has been instigated by one individual on a mission to seize control of the property at the expense of another. It is shameful that one person can create this much chaos and hijack a city board over a personal vendetta.
George Bush, a local lawyer who faced a felony cocaine drug charge in 2008 that was later dismissed by the prosecutor, has made it his mission to stir the pot related to the church building.
Mr. Bush, who was on the board of Historic Augusta at the time, has made good on his threats to stir the city up against me. Previously, Mr. Bush told me that if I wasn’t going to move quicker on renovating the building that I should donate it to Historic Augusta or the city of Augusta. I politely declined.
Immediately, Mr. Bush began to threaten me, stating that he would get code enforcement, planning and zoning and the county commission to make my life miserable if I refused to bend to his will. I declined a little less politely this time.
Since then, Mr. Bush has made good on his threats. He has harassed city employees, members of the media and elected officials. He even went as far as to contact the mortgage holder for the building and propose that they foreclose on the property and then sell it to Historic Augusta for the mortgage amount/balance.
Following this action, Mr. Bush was put on notice that the unethical behavior, if it continued, would result in legal action being taken against him.
Historic Preservation Commission
Over the last four years, multiple citizens, elected officials and other interested parties have reached out with questions about the project’s status and progress. I have answered every single question every single time I have been asked. Guess who has never called me and asked one question…. the Historic Preservation Commission.
Historic Augusta, with George Bush at its helm, says the property is in imminent danger. Yet, the storm of a century only blew out one single window. Why wasn’t the property classified as such during the previous ownership’s tenure when the property was allowed to fall into the disrepair? Cooler heads understood that despite the condition of the property, it was not in imminent danger.
Meanwhile a former Augusta court official owns multiple properties that are public safety concerns. Yet, he and other property owners go unmolested after decades of ownership and neglect.
Just walking down Broad Street yesterday, I saw many dilapidated historic buildings that are in imminent danger. Rest assured those property owners will not be hassled by the HPC.
Property Condition
Since purchasing the First Baptist property, a new roof has been installed on the back half of the building. The flooding in the basement is being addressed by a functioning sump pump, and the basement is dry. Vagrants can no longer camp out on the front steps after security fencing was installed. All doors and windows are secure. The interior has been cleared out, including 50-year-old moldy carpet and a ton of other debris. Temporary electrical has been restored. Historic stained glass has been removed and preserved. Engineering and architectural reports have been obtained.
In addition to these items, the grass has stayed cut, property taxes paid and nobody has been in danger because of the site.
Repair work to the dome has been paid for and was scheduled to be completed in November. The hurricane has delayed that schedule. Sadly, the repair wasn’t completed before the hearing.
Historic Augusta, Planning and Zoning and Code Enforcement have all been great to work with and have provided support as we needed it. It wasn’t until Mr. Bush started his campaign against the building and its current owners that the posturing changed resulted in a hearing.
As to the future of the property, I can’t offer any specifics. All I can say is that we will continue to keep the property secure and out of danger until a viable project, partner or purchaser comes along for the property.
Perhaps it’s time the county commission modified the HPC’s function to help property owners seeking to maintain and renovate historic buildings rather than harass them.
One thing is for sure. I won’t donate the property to the city of Historic Augusta…..or the Land Bank.
Now, admittedly, this column represents only one side of the story. In the interest of the public’s right to know, I hereby invite Mr. Bush to submit his perspective on why the building would be better off in public rather than private hands. He can send his response to Executive Editor Debbie Reddin van Tuyll.
