Augusta demolition gets noticed and neighbors want more

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) A site for sore eyes, crews began demolishing the old Catholic Social Services building on Broad Street after it destroyed by fire eight months ago.  

“It’s a big improvement and it already looks better it’s been a long time coming especially with this being a historical district it looks real good now,” said Mike Wechel who lives nearby. 

“Oh Lord, they don’t know what a blessing it is to see all of that gone it would be nice if the whole thing would be torn down,” said Barbara Gresham who lives nearby.  

The city is spending almost $80,000 to get the whole thing torn down. 

Just some of the one million dollars budgeted this year to take on blight like the hundreds of run-down houses across the city.  

“The reality is we’re knocking down as many blighted houses as we can they have to come down but they’re being done in a way is hard to see the impact because they are so scattered,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson. 

Those watching the upper Broad Street building come down know where they would like the city to focus the demolitions.  

“I think it should go up here in Harrisburg I really do there is a lot of old dilapidated houses it looks really bad it looks really bad,” said Wechel.

“Worked hours at a time to get that building demolished just as I’ve pushed for other buildings across the city unfortunately, we’ve had some hiccups along the way, but I’m excited we’re getting ready to get the building demolished so we can move forward cleaning up Augusta especially the Harrisburg neighborhood,” said Commissioner Johnson.  

But with this work finally underway, this part of Harrisburg will soon look better.