AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The lobby of the Children’s Hospital of Georgia will be closed for renovations starting Thursday.

The main entrance, first floor elevator, lobby and traffic circle will be closed.

Parking will be in the medical center parking deck 2 and visitors will then enter Wellstar MCG through entrance F on Harper Street.

Construction is expected to last until spring 2025.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Gordon Highway Inn just became Pace Corners, an affordable housing apartment complex.

With rising costs from the grocery store to your utility bills, people are looking for ways to cut costs in the future.

This is also not the only affordable housing project in the works in Augusta.

Groceries, gas, rent and the price for necessities are constantly increasing. According to Zillow, the average rent price in Augusta is $1,295 a month.

“I know the personal stories of individuals here that need that affordability, so it really hit home,” said Jacob Glover, Pace Living’s director of operations.

Also, in Augusta, Legacy at Walton Greens opened in May, bringing 250 units with it.

Right now, they only have four available units and they said they tend to go fast.

It’s why Glover says this project was brought to life.

“We’re already accepting applications,” said Glover. “We already have individuals ready to gear up, ready to move in.”

Pace Corners provides 75 units with a bathroom and kitchenette.

The units are priced at around $800-850 a month, including utilities and internet.

“The challenges were worth it,” he said. “We’re so excited to be here and be against the market to provide affordable living.”

Angie Cox, the CEO of Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, says they are excited to have Pace Living be a part of the community.

“To have 75 affordable housing units for our workforce is life-changing for someone,” said Cox. “It’s very transformative.”

Glover says the need for affordable housing is all over the country. He says he is thankful to be able to serve that need in Augusta.

“I go all across the southeast, and I walk many properties in a lot of different places, but this one hit home to me because not only am I here, but I know the demand is so great here,” said Glover.

Glover says this is not their only project that’s in the works right now in Augusta.

They’re also building affordable housing aimed towards military families which should be complete in 2025.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First, WRDW/WAGT) – A former Atlanta Police Department officer was arrested in east Georgia on an enticing a child charge.

Benjamin Travis Hopson, 34, was arrested by Richmond County deputies on Aug. 24, according to WRDW, Atlanta News First’s sister station in Augusta.

Hopson was charged with enticing a child for indecent purposes.

WRDW reported that authorities said Saturday morning they were looking for Hopson, and he was arrested later that afternoon.

The charges stem from an incident in the 1000 block of Stevens Creek Road in Augusta in June, WRDW reported.

WRDW reported jail booking information, the incident report and Hopson’s booking photo were not immediately available.

The Atlanta Police Department said it is aware of the investigation into Hopson, a former public information officer. Hopson was “relieved from duty and placed in a non-enforcement, administrative assignment” in May 2023, APD said. The department said he had been on extended unpaid leave before he was fired on Aug. 23.

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