AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — Augusta is stepping up to transform the Turpin Hill neighborhood, right by the medical district and Laney Walker area. With help from the state and the University of Georgia, the city has mapped out a solid plan for change in that historic part of town.

The effort is a part of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). The initiative offers specific resources and support for residents and the community, starting with the creation of a comprehensive housing plan. “It also starts with the fundamentals of looking at the assets that’s available in the community,” Housing & Community Development Department Deputy Director Shauntia Lewis said.

Augusta was handpicked from 18 cities across Georgia for this initiative. The action will kick off in Turpin Hill, a spot strategically chosen for its development potential. “It was recommended by UGA for us to select a small neighborhood near areas that had development,” Lewis said. This is our blueprint, our bedrock for us to be able to have some type of starting point that we can use this particular tool to move throughout Augusta.”

Similar efforts in places like Laney Walker and Bethlehem have paid off, shaping Augusta’s approach.

A community meeting is set for Thursday, June 20 at 6 p.m. at the Carrie J. Mays Center to get input and share ideas. “We need to hear about what they think their needs are, what they know they want in their community because it’s their neighborhood,” Lewis said. “They live in these neighborhoods, their history is in within these neighborhoods.”

The goal is a housing plan that meets every corner of Augusta’s needs and sparks economic growth.

The Housing & Community Development Department will stay in close touch through regular community meetings, keeping everyone in the loop.