Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission enters debate over future of dilapidated First Baptist Church downtown
The Augusta Commission’s discussion on the future of a downtown church Tuesday prompted questions about how the city’s Historic Preservation Commission executes its duties.
The old First Baptist Church at the corner of Eighth and Greene streets has been listed as endangered for several years by local and state historical preservationists eager to see the ornate 1902 structure saved.
The dispute over the property has sparked criticism implying that the HPC sometimes singles out owners publicly and not just the state of properties.
“The HPC has acted lawfully and appropriately per the Historic Preservation Ordinance for Augusta, Ga.,” board vice-chairman Dave Barbee told Augusta commissioners Tuesday. “The HPC is in the business of saving historic structures, not demolition by neglect.”
Augusta real-estate executive Joe Edge bought the First Baptist property in 2020 intending to renovate it, five years after the city condemned the dilapidated building.
In January, the HPC cited the property for several code violations and directed Edge to begin addressing the violations within 10 days. Edge responded by filing a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the old church, which stands on the site where the Southern Baptist Convention was established in 1845.
Edge has contended that he has paid for extensive repairs to the property, although city code enforcement officials seem to have no record of permits showing the work.
District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice and District 7 Commissioner Tina Slendak, who attended the January HPC meeting, said the commission dealt with Edge in an imperious manner.
An HPC counsel “drilled this particular owner of this church like he was in a courtroom,” Rice said, who added the line of questioning “felt like it was personal.”
District 6 Commissioner Tony Lewis also said he was at the meeting but takes issue “with the notion that (Edge) was bashed in any way. That’s not how I perceived it. I perceived it as looking for answers to a problem.”
“People have said we’re stepping out of bounds, we’re targeting,” Barbee said. “That’s the furthest thing from the truth. All we’re looking at is the building and that’s it.”
Augusta Planning and Development Director Carla Delaney suggested a more collaborative approach toward problem-solving between then HPC and property owners. Her department works with the HPC in a support role.
“A lot of times the complaint I get back as the director is that the individuals who don’t have the ability to hire an architect or pay for arbitration end up dropping and withdrawing,” she said. “So we need to look at a way to revisit this so we have the opportunity for those with less resources to be able to move forward and be able to meet the needs of the HPC.”
UPDATE: June 17, 3:41 p.m. – According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the roadway has been reopened.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A portion of Gordon Highway has been closed Wednesday after a body was found in a nearby pond.
Richmond County Investigators say the 1200 block of eastbound Gordon Highway at Doug Barnard Parkway is closed, and that drivers should seek an alternate route.
The Augusta Fire Department, Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division have responded to the scene.
According to Coroner Mark Bowen, a positive ID will have to be made due to the condition of the body. An autopsy has been scheduled.
No further information has been released.
Video: Georgia primary runoff election 2026 polls open
Polls have opened for Georgia’s primary runoff election in the midterms for governor, senator, and other major leadership positions.
Augusta will have a new mayor.
Steven Kendrick, a local blueprint company owner whose civic involvement includes more than 13 years leading Richmond County’s tax office, defeated incumbent Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson on Tuesday in a nonpartisan runoff election.
With all 65 Richmond County precincts reporting, Kendrick received 14,651 or 54.27% of the vote to Johnson’s 12,347 or 45.73% of the vote.
In the nonpartisan runoff for the District 8 seat on the Augusta Commission, Evett Williams defeated Michael Cioffi, 2,174 votes (52.61%) to 1,958 (47.39%).
In the Republican runoff for the District 1 seat on Columbia County’s Board of Commissioners, Alex Griffin beat Bobby Timmerman, 2,778 votes to 1,875 (59.7% to 40.2%).
In the nonpartisan runoff for the District 2 seat on the Columbia County Board of Education, Tiffany Heitzman drew 2,768 votes (60.7%) over Deborah Williams’ 1,790 (39.2%).
In the Georgia governor’s Republican runoff, Richmond County voted for billionaire health-care executive Rick Jackson with 4,284 votes (53.67%) over Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones with 3,698 votes (46.33%). In Columbia County, Jones got 51.1% of the vote with 7,283 votes over Jackson’s 48.8% with 6,959 votes.
In the Republican runoff to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate, Richmond County chose U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, 4,379 votes or 55.91%, over former football coach Derek Dooley, 3,453 or 44.09%. In Columbia County, Collins’ 63.2% of the vote, 8,913, beat Dooley’s 36.7%, 5,171. Collins will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in the November general election.
It’s Primary Runoff Election Day in Georgia, which includes on the Republican ballot races for governor to replace lame-duck incumbent Brian Kemp, and GOP challengers to upend Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
There are also important local races still to be decided in this runoff held Tuesday, June 16, including for the mayor of Augusta, and seats on the commissions for Richmond and Columbia counties.
Below are race results showing how candidates for those races and other key races are performing. Check back often on Tuesday evening and Wednesday as vote totals are updated.
Voting started at 7 a.m. and concluded at 7 p.m. While some of these races will be decided on Tuesday, many winners of the runoff still must face challengers in the Nov. 3 General Election.
To check on your voting eligibility and polling locations, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s “My Voting Page” website at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.
U.S. Senate
U.S. Congressional District 12
Governor
Columbia County District 1
Mayor of Augusta
Augusta-Richmond County Commission District 8
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