These historic sites in Augusta are in danger, group says
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The old First Baptist Church and trees along downtown streets are among the top imperiled features on a list released Tuesday by Historic Augusta.
The trees are an unusual addition to the annual list, which is usually reserved for buildings.
From Sand Hills to Summerville and Laney Walker; all of these areas of Augusta have properties considered endangered by Historic Augusta.
But the old First Baptist Church is a top priority, the non-profit saying that every time it rains, the building fades away just a little bit more.
“It’s just so underused. Like there’s some really amazing, big spaces down here that have just been empty the entire time that we’ve been here and it’s just sad to see them rotting away,” said Jill Ashley, piercer and wife of the owner at Lucky 7 Tattoo Co.
An established business of 13 years in the heart of downtown on Broad Street, Lucky 7 has stood the test of time compared to its neighbors.
Once a vinyl store and barber shop were nearby, but now the space around them remain still and empty.
“It’s really sad. Both of those businesses have been here longer than we have,” said Ashley. “We’re just hoping something fun and exciting comes and fills those spaces.”
It’s a similar sentiment a few blocks away at the old First Baptist Church on Greene Street.
A decay that historic Augusta is trying to stop.
They’ve labeled the space as an imminently imperiled landmark, with the walls decaying each time it rains.
Executive Director of Historic Augusta, Eric Montgomery, said: “You’d be shocked at the vacant lots and cleared lots. What used to be houses everywhere, and there’s just a lot missing. And it’s been pretty aggressive in the past five or six years.”
With some visible downtown construction, there’s some hope that care is on the way.
Ashley said: “We hope to see it continue to come back to life.”
News 12 interviewed the owner of this space, Sherman and Hemstreet, back in 2020. The real estate group said they were going to restore this spot that’s stood almost frozen in time.
The owner is out of town and was unavailable for comment following Tuesday’s list announcement.
New entries on the endangered list include homes at 2128 McDowell St., 1108 Miller St., 2345 Wrightsboro Road, and 2349 Wrightsboro Road, along with the Sand Hills neighborhood in general.
Listed as deteriorating are the Weed School at 2403 Mount Auburn St. and Squeaky’s Tip Top at 2570 Central Ave.
Touted as having been saved are the Bolhler House at 1102 Phillips St. and a commercial block at 501, 507 and 513 James Brown Boulevard that’s in the process of rehabilitation using state and federal tax incentives to create luxury loft apartments on the upper floors.
Old First Baptist Church
The old First Baptist Church at 802 Greene St. with its iconic green dome is listed as an “imminently imperiled landmark.”
Built in 1902, the birthplace of the Southern Baptist Convention was once home to a congregation that ultimately moved west. Since then, the Beaux-Arts building has been home to other fledgling churches.
The building originally made the endangered list in 2014 and made the “progress” category in 2017 when a rehab was planned.
In 2020, a local real estate figure announced he was renovating the building.
“If action is not taken soon, the structure is at risk of hitting the point of no return,” Historic Augusta said.
Downtown trees
The group also lamented the loss of many historic and large downtown trees the city cut down, sparking outrage among some residents.
“This aggressive action toward one of our city’s finest assets is part of an overall downtown infrastructure plan for Broad, Greene, Telfair, Fifth, Sixth and 13th streets,” Historic Augusta said. “Although the plan was presented in hearings about a decade ago, it seems that few were aware that it included the removal of so many trees.”
The group noted the irony that in an age of concern about climate change, shade and oxygen are not prioritized.
“It is too late for the trees that have already been removed, but we advocate a program of replacement that is just as aggressive as the program of removal.”
The full list
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