Augusta, GA
Augusta businesses discuss concerns over downtown construction
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Monday, business owners got an update on the $42 million project happening on Broad Street.
This is a multi-phase construction project with phase one, including Milledge Road and 15th Street, already underway.
The meeting follows a previous meeting held earlier this month where local businesses weighed in on the project.
After seeing the plans, business owners decided to meet alongside city officials to talk about their concerns.
Some owners say a plan to beautify downtown Augusta could do more harm than good.
“We felt like there was a need to get together and get on the same page, have everyone express concerns,” says Penelope Ballas-Stewart, a 4th generation owner of Luigi’s.
Parking has been a huge concern. Originally, plans took the number of parking spaces from 750 to 480.
Business owners say any amount of parking lost is devastating.
“A potential solution is to convert some of these ancillary streets to one way so that we can add additional side parking,” says Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.
The streets being considered for this change are Ellis and Reynolds.
But parking isn’t the only concern.
“It’s the staging of these different projects with projects still happening on Green Street, on Telfair, before we move on to Broad Street,” Ballas-Stewart says.
Mayor Johnson says he understands.
“We’re going to do our due diligence to make sure that we’re going to finish a product before we move forward with an additional project,” Johnson says.
Another concern is lighting.
“Parking on Ellis or Reynolds or Jones Street certainly presents a challenge with the lighting,” says Johnson. “Make sure that all of the entertainment venues that Broad Street offers will have the ability to park and enjoy it safely.”
The meeting wasn’t just about problems, but solutions too.
“It’s comforting to know that there’s at least communication now,” says Ballas-Stewart. “We’ve been told that plans are being revised, and some parking is being added back in. There’s just still the question as to what that exactly will entail.”
For people like Ballas-Stewart, it’s about being able to stay downtown.
“We just celebrated 75 years last and I would love to be down here another 75 years,” Ballas-Stewart says. “We don’t intend to break tradition and move out of downtown. We really hope that things can get worked out and the infrastructure will be here for us to remain.”
Many of these topics are being talked about tomorrow at the committee meeting.
Mayor Johnson says the focus is making sure everyone’s voices are heard.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, Ga. – In a game that saw 19 lead changes, Georgia College and State prevailed over Augusta 99-91 in overtime Saturday at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Jaguars fall to 2-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 6-7 overall. The Bobcats are now 3-0 in conference play and 6-2 overall.
C.J. Jones of GCSU was the star of this one as he poured in 42 points to lead all scorers and also grabbed eight rebounds in the win.
The Jaguars fell behind midway through the second half, but with just one second left in regulation, T.J. Baker hit a three-pointer to send the game into overtime. But in the extra period, GCSU outscored AU 18-10 for the winning margin.
Luis Nonfon, who had another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, started the scoring in overtime and gave the Jags the 83-81 lead. GCSU then rattled off five straight points to take the lead, one they would not surrender.
The Jaguars had five players in double figures led by Elías Pálsson who tallied 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds. T.J. Baker and Tobias Prall each had 18 points while Charlie McBeath scored 13.
Augusta hit on just 35% of their shots from the field while GCSU hit on 52.5%. The Bobcats outscored Augusta 46-22 in the paint and went 8-18 from three-point range while Augusta finished 10 of 29 from deep. From the foul line, both teams went 29-36.
Other than Nonfon grabbing double figures in rebounds, Pálsson eight rebounds and was a perfect 12-12 from the foul line.
Next up for the Jaguars will be a battle with Reinhardt University on Thursday at 11 a.m., part of Columbia County Education Day.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County started a search for an armed robbery suspect Saturday evening.
They started the search on the 3700 block of Wheeler Road after an alleged armed robbery at an SRP ATM.
The suspect is described as a 40-year-old black male, wearing all black, a face mask and a camouflage jacket.
The suspect fled the area on foot in an unknown direction.
The sheriff’s office used K9 Units, along with the drone unit, to search.
This investigation is in its early stages, and no further information is available at this time.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students at Richmond County Technical Magnet School achieved a milestone by launching their 500th non-kit rocket.
Students launched rockets at Thompson Farm in Augusta. The launch is part of the school’s aerospace program that has been part of their STEM curriculum since 2014.
The Augusta Fire Department collaborated with the group for the launch.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks odds, picks and predictions
Minneapolis Rabbi responds to terrorist attack in Australia
Philip Rivers comes out of retirement for Indianapolis Colts: NFL world reacts
Report: Pirates Among Teams Interested in Luis Robert Jr.
Augusta Men Drop Overtime Thriller to Georgia College and State – Augusta University
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump’s election win filled Hamas with ‘fear,’ hostage held like ‘slave’ for 505 days recounts
In Khartoum, exhumation of makeshift graves reawakens families’ grief
Manhunt under way for attacker after two students killed at US university
Video: At Least Two Killed in Shooting at Brown University
FBI ousts reinstated whistleblower over unauthorized media talks, ‘poor judgment’
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Washington5 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa1 week agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World7 days ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans
-
Iowa1 day agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
