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.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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