Augusta, GA

Opponents to tree removal in downtown Augusta invited to address commission

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2024

Opponents to tree removal in downtown Augusta invited to address commission

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – When it comes to the planned removal of dozens of trees on Telfair Street, the mayor is getting an earful.

“Certainly hearing a lot of concern from our citizens you know Telfair Street is one of our most historic streets in all of our city. I also have concerns about some of the mature trees designated to be cut down,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Dozens of trees are branded with an X slated for removal, the mayor so concerned he is added to Wednesday’s meeting allowing project opponents like the Riverkeeper the chance to air their concerns.

“You’re talking about a historic community we have very strong ordinances to protect that, there are trees that should be protected now all of them are now being axed,” said Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus.

One on the chopping block is a Crepe Myrtle designated as a state champion due to its size and age, but even as a state champion it could be cut.

“It’s not protected by law, the legislature could protect it if someone had taken the effort to get it protected,” said Roy Simkins, Chair of the Augusta Tree Commission.

City Engineers say the project’s landscape architect is looking into whether some old trees can be saved, something supporters say needs to happen.

“A shame that you would cut down a champion designated tree.”

“Not only a shame it’s embarrassing to see a pink X on a champion Crepe Myrtle hopefully we got that resolved,” said Mayor Johnson.

“The commission should be aware of that and should know and go into changing this before it’s too late because I like to know who’s going to want to live Olde Town when it’s a barren landscape. trees don’t just grow over night,” said Bonitatibus.

As the opposition grows to removing so many old trees downtown.

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Augusta, GA

One dead following a shooting in Richmond County

Published

9 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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One dead following a shooting in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said a person has died after a shooting on Division Street Saturday afternoon.

Officials say the shooting happened at the 2100 block around 4 p.m.

The victim was shot at least one time and taken to Wellstar MCG, where he later died, the coroner’s office says.

The sheriff’s office also went to Division Street at approximately 4 p.m. in reference to the incident, deputies say.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

No further information is available at this time.

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Augusta, GA

Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register

Published

21 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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<br /> Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register <br />

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Augusta, GA

Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with $1.85M federal grant

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

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Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with .85M federal grant

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The historic Turpin neighborhood will soon welcome more affordable homes after Augusta Habitat for Humanity was awarded $1.85 million in federal funding this week.

The grant will fund the construction of at least 12 homes in the area.

“Habitat for Humanity applied for federal funding, and they were awarded the funding,” said District 2 Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

Reviving a historic community

The Turpin neighborhood was once home to professionals, including educators, doctors, and lawyers.

“These big professionals that lived mostly over this way,” one resident said of the neighborhood’s history.

Pulliam described the area’s former prominence as “its grand days of glory, when it was the place.”

The project brings together city organizers and community partners through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, or GICH.

“We have so many partners. We have the Housing Authority on board. We have a representative from the Hub on board,” Pulliam said. “There’s so many great partners at the table that’s helping pull all of this together.”

Federal support and future plans

The project received backing from Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Habitat for Humanity, with support from GICH, focused its application on Turpin Hill intentionally, as officials say the community had been needing to be addressed for years.

With Habitat for Humanity continuing to advocate for more funds, Pulliam said their motivation could lead to additional housing development in the future.

“We keep going and going and going,” she said. “Now we can do 20. Now we can do multifamily. So it’s fueling our fire to get more housing, but not just housing, to clean up the area.”

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