Augusta, GA
Mills’ redeveloper, Augusta Canal Authority go to battle in lawsuits
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Canal Authority and a developer are involved in lawsuits over two mill renovation projects in Augusta.
The lawsuits involve the King Mill and the Sibley Mill. Both former textile mills are along the canal and were bought years ago by the authority for preservation.
Both mills include hydropower facilities powered by water from the canal.
The authority sold portions of King Mill to an affiliate of Cape Augusta and leased portions of Sibley Mill to a Cape Augusta affiliate.
The authority retained power-generating equipment, however.
The authority sued an affiliate of Cape Augusta over damage to power equipment and loss of electricity sales at King Mill.
Meanwhile, the authority was sued by a Cape Augusta affiliate over the authority’s refusal to support rezoning parts of the Sibley Mill campus for apartments.
At King Mill
The authority says the buyer of King Mill failed to adequately maintain the roof and floors above the hydroelectric facility, which the authority retained ownership of, according to a lawsuit the authority filed in September.
This allowed rainwater into the equipment area and caused a fire that “rendered the hydro power generators inoperable for an extended period of time,” according to the lawsuit.
The authority says repairs would cost nearly $560,000, and these repairs are ongoing.
The authority also says in its September 2023 lawsuit it hasn’t been able to generate or sell electricity from the mill since Dec. 21, 2021, a loss of nearly $645,000.
The lawsuit alleges the Cape Augusta affiliate breached its contractual obligations. The lawsuit alleges the Cape Augusta affiliate is liable for all losses and damages suffered by the authority. The authority also seeks attorney and litigation costs, as well as interest.
The authority alleges that although Cape Augusta has sold part of the mill to Crossgate Partners for development as apartments, the damage occurred when Cape Augusta owned the main mill building.
READ THE LAWSUIT:
At Sibley Mill
Cape Augusta had originally planned to use Sibley Mill for a data center but later entered an agreement Crossgate under which Crossgate wants to turn part of the old mill into apartments.
That requires rezoning.
The authority says it won’t allow the rezoning without revisions of the lease to reflect a new masterplan without the data center. The authority also says Cape Augusta has failed to maintain the roof.
Cape Augusta in its May 2024 lawsuit against the authority says that use of Sibley Mill as a data center is no longer feasible.
The lawsuit quotes the lease as stating that the landlord and tenant are to cooperate with one another and that the landlord recognizes that the “substantial rehabilitation process and the varied sources of project funding make it extremely difficult to anticipate every potential revision which may be required in this Lease.”
The lawsuit says the lease states that the landlord will use all reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests.
The lawsuit claims the authority is withholding its cooperation for redevelopment as apartments without two things:
- Getting “a price greatly in excess of the Present Day Fair Market Value of the remaining rent and the leasehold residual value of the Mill site.”
- Payment of claimed damages in the lawsuit filed by the authority, which Cape Augusta calls “frivolous, meritless and unresolved.”
Cape Augusta asks in the lawsuit that the court issue an injunction against the authority or else find the authority in breach of contract. The lawsuit also seeks attorney and litigation fees.
READ THE LAWSUIT:
The authority’s statement
The authority issued a statement Monday saying it “strongly supports the redevelopment of Sibley and King Mills, so that they benefit the citizens of Augusta.”
The statement continues: “However, the Authority recognizes that it must also comply with its duty to be a good steward of these publicly funded assets. For these reasons, the Authority intends to continue its lawsuit to recover for the damage associated with the King Mill fire and to defend the lawsuit filed by the Cape Augusta affiliate.”
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
TikToker cleans father’s hoarded house – and goes viral
Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man has been arrested after he was accused of hitting two women at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta.
The incident happened on May 14 around 12 a.m.
According to arrest warrants, Bruce Bland struck one victim with a closed hand several times in the face. Bland also threw a garbage can at the victim, hitting her in the head.
The warrant states the victim suffered a bruise on her face.
Bland also hit another victim with a closed hand on her mouth, according to the warrants. She suffered swelling and a bruise on her mouth.
Bland is charged with battery and simple battery, according to the warrants. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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