Neighbors push to see more than weeds at historic Augusta school
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Neighbors in the Sand Hills community are learning more about future plans for the abandoned Weed School in Augusta.
For years there’s been talk about what will happen to the school, with some saying they want to preserve its history.
On Wednesday, a meeting, hosted by Augusta Housing, was held to see what the next steps are for the abandoned school.
Plans are still up in the air, but many say this meeting is a step in the right direction for the future of the property. Right now, it sits there abandoned but with all of its history locals say that property is meant for more.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
- Will plans for Weed School reverse blight concerns?
- These historic sites in Augusta are in danger, group says
- ‘I’m afraid’: Old school stirs angst in Sand Hills community
The community is tired of seeing weeds grow at the old Weed School and has hope for what the historic school could become.
“This has been such a heavy topic. There’s been a lot of ion about it. So let’s go in and operate with our best,” said Housing and Community Development Director Hawthorne Welcher Jr.
Some ideas for the space include a grocery store, library, shopping plaza, health center or a mixed-use space. However, nothing is official yet.
“A lot of times we forget that we have children out here that really, really need help. And I think that we have to understand that it needs to be a quality of life for our children, an upgrade because people keep saying, Oh, it’s getting worse, it’s getting worse. But what are we doing? Where are we going with this? And I think that’s one question that we need to ask, what is this building? And how could it be a benefit to the community,” said Christopher Mulliens, a community activist.
Mulliens thinks it’s a decision that will impact generations so people of all ages should be involved.
“It would be phenomenal to say that we have an area that we can bring in of the community, even outside of the area to say, ‘Hey, this where the kids need to learn financial counseling, job training, all these different things,’” he said.
With many different ideas for what it could be, many are just hoping their voices are being heard.
“We need to start looking at what’s going on 10, 20, 30 years from now. How do we want the community to be shaped and changed for that?” said Mulliens.
They plan to have another meeting in April with visuals and a poll for people to vote on the ideas for property tossed around Wednesday night.
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