AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders discussed adding changes to the TIA Projects that spread across downtown on Thursday.

John Ussery of the Traffic Engineering Division presented a plan that would add a night shift for construction workers downtown. Right now, they only work a day shift.

Ussery said this could potentially shave a year off of the completion date, which is currently sometime in 2028, but would add $13 million to the project cost.

Commissioners did not decide on the change on Thursday, moving the item to July 8.

Director of Engineering Hameed Malik recommended moving forward with the plan.

The project is already causing headaches for business owners as traffic cones and equipment have piled up.

“If you go down to 13th Street, beyond 13th, down to St. Sebastian, all the way to 15th, how long has that been tore up,” said Marty Koger, owner of Tip Top Taps. “Is that the way it’s going to look up here too?”

“They don’t realize how much they are affecting people who live and walk down here, how much they’re affecting our lives, our income, our living,” said Michelle Tiedeman, Halo Salon and Spa Master cosmetologist.

Koger disagrees with moving parking to different streets.

“If you ask me what they should be doing is moving the traffic to Greene and to Reynolds. Use Greene to go east and Reynolds to go west. That will take a tremendous burden off the traffic here on Broad Street, and then you can make it a pedestrian-friendly culture, which is what we need,” said Koger.

Tiedeman thinks the city doesn’t realize how they are affecting people with the project.

“It seems small for them, but it’s big for us,” said Tiedeman.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Pride Festival is this weekend, and as with any downtown event, safety is top of mind for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with Beats on Broad at 6 p.m. at the Augusta Common.

Then the Pride Parade will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the Augusta Pride Festival at the Common.

“Fifteen years of Augusta Pride, we’ve been in the city,” said Michael Barnard Jenkins, Augusta Pride president.

He noted it all started with an event expected to draw 100 people, and now attendance is up to more than 15,000.

It’s worth it to see the results after working on putting it together for so long.

“The people – it is always the people. Coming out and seeing it all come together after working 365 days to put it together. Standing back and seeing the smiling faces, the families just come out and being able to be themselves have a good time, being able to find resources they need,” he said.

“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you. You know, I found a sense of belonging. I’ve found a sense of community.’ And I think that is the most important thing for me, is just continuing to do something for the greater good.”

We spoke with deputies about their safety plan for the weekend – and what their officer presence looks like during the day.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has community safety officers stationed all across downtown. They’re in yellow shirts, and either on foot or in golf carts.

Maj. Robbie Silas said with recent security additions, more people are comfortable coming downtown.

“It’s a lot safer environment and folks are able to come down and join themselves,” Silas said.

And that’s good for business.

“Especially right now with all the construction going on on Broad Street, you know, I think our downtown businesses thrive on our local festivals,” Jenkins said. “You know, Augusta Pride has had over $1.2 million worth of economic impact in one year alone for the city of Augusta.”

Festivals like Pride bring an even bigger security presence.

“With these large gatherings, we have increased presence at them. We have the Pride Festival coming this weekend and we’ve added extra security for this one and other events that are coming,” Silas said. “We have some great events coming down here, and we have adequate protection.”

Businesses will like that – especially ones that depend on foot traffic, like Grantski Records.

“We rely on in-person sales for the bulk of our revenue. So it’s tantamount that people are walking around and enjoying the city,” said Bryson Chapman, who works at Grantski. “So it means a lot to us. It’s very important.”

Part of the downtown security comes from getting to know the business owners and being there day in and day out.

That’s comforting to Diane Francis, who works at Cafe on 8th.

“We have one CSO detective, I think he’s here almost every day,” she said, “and so he’s part of what’s going on to make sure everything is OK – people from out there and even in here are safe.”

Jenkins said the festival organizers have a protocol to keep things safe.

“Rest assured we have never had any issues at our festival,” he said. “We work very closely with Richmond County, so just know the organizers work really, really hard, including myself, to put this event on and in a safe manner.”

He invites everyone to enjoy Pride this weekend.

“Come out. You can expect food vendors, craft vendors, resources for the community 365 days of the year, and overall, just a good time,” he said.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The troubled Bon Air Apartments are back in the news.

On Thursday, the director of construction for Redwood Housing – which is renovating the Section 8 apartment building that was a grand hotel many decades ago – was in the hot seat in front of the Augusta Commission.

He was trying to explain why even with millions in taxpayer money going toward repairs, there are still issues at the apartment building that draws maintenance complaints from residents, as well as enough crime to worry its neighbors.

These issues date back several years, drawing the scrutiny and criticism of U.S. Rep. Rick Allen.

Complaints of poor living conditions have been compounded by stabbings, shootings and complaints of a lack of security in the area.

It’s not just Bon Air residents speaking up, but other people who live nearby.

“I feel like that I’m hearing the same old thing that I heard a couple of years ago,” Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said at Thursday’s meeting.

Mayor Garnett Johnson told Redwood:

“If you wanna be a great partner to this community, invest in some security.”

Commissioner Jordan Johnson threatened to put the landlord’s business license on probation “until we actually feel confident that something is going on.”

The company bought the Bon Air and the downtown Richmond Summit – another subsidized rental building that’s drawn complaints – in 2021.

Recent incidents at Bon Air include:

For its part, Redwood Housing gave an update Thursday on renovations at the Bon Air – two phases of work, including upgrading security cameras, replacing air-conditioning units and fixing the elevators.

“ I need to reassure you that we as Redwood, we develop and maintain quality properties,” said Bob Duke.

Those who live near the Bon Air disagree with the company’s claims.

“There must be two Bon Airs here because what I’m hearing doesn’t exist,” neighbor Frank Dolan said.

He says he hears gunshots constantly.

“If you are paying a security guard, you gotta get your money back because it’s not happening,” he said.

But Redwood repeatedly told neighbors and commissioners there is security at the Bon Air.

Redwood is expected to go back before the commission within the next 30 days.

“If it were up to me today, personally, I’d revoke your license,” Rice told Duke.

If conditions don’t improve at Bon Air and Richmond Summit, that could be a possibility.

Also at Thursday’s commission meeting …

• Commissioners approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $10 million for Hurricane Helene waterway debris removal with Ceres Environmental Services. Commissioners also approved the use of general fund balances to pay for these services.
• Commissioners approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $600,000 for Hurricane Helene waterway debris removal construction plans and monitoring services with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood. Commissioners also approved the use of general fund balances to pay for these services.
• Commissioners heard from Moses Todd about city-owned cemetery priorities and the use of SPLOST 9 funding as well as the legality of using SPLOST funding for a veterans cemetery.

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