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.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased male found in a Dollar General parking lot in Augusta Saturday morning.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said 28-year-old Elias Jkhael Delk appeared to have died from multiple blunt-force trauma and an autopsy is scheduled.

It was one of two deaths being investigated within about 12 hours in Augusta. On Friday evening, a homeless man was found dead near Interstate 520 and Windsor Spring Road. The death is considered suspicious.

In the Dollar General incident, officials say the deputies responded to the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr around 4:45 a.m. to investigate a suspicious situation.

When deputies arrived, they found a deceased male with blunt-force trauma, according to deputies.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:45 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing, and Bowen and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office are calling it a homicide.

Suspicious death

In the Windsor Spring incident, authorities say they responded to the Interstate 520 eastbound ramp at Windsor Spring Road to investigate a report of a deceased person.

According to Bowen, the man was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 p.m. Friday.

The death is considered suspicious, according to officials.

Crime across the region

The incidents come amid a more than two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA.

Communities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

The deaths came a week after a shooting in downtown Augusta left three people wounded – including the gunmen, who was shot by deputies – and led the mayor to ask for extra law enforcement help from the state.

But both of these latest incidents happened far from downtown, which has been the focus of much attention in the past week.

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RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – UPDATE | The man found dead in a Dollar General parking lot on Martin Luther King Blvd. Saturday morning, has been identified as 28-year-old Elias Jkhael Delk of Augusta. He appeared to have died from multiple blunt force trauma wounds. Delk was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:45 a.m. 

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An investigation is underway after a deceased man was found in the parking lot of a Dollar General.

Authorities say on Saturday at approximately 4:44 am, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1700 Block of Martin Luther King Jr in reference to a suspicion situation.

Upon arrival, Deputies located a deceased male with injuries that appeared to be from multiple blunt force trauma.

According to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen, the victim was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:45 a.m.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

The death is being investigated as a homicide. This investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.