Tensions rise in Augusta neighborhood over proposed Parker’s Kitchen

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – District 7 Commissioner Tina Slendak, Sheriff Eugene Brantley and more officials met with over 40 members of the Montclair neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

The meeting took place because the neighbors strongly oppose the possibility of a new Parker’s Kitchen being built in a vacant lot.

The original plan was to build a doctor’s office, and the neighbors feel lied to as the new plan seems to mean more traffic to the area.

“The traffic is a big concern. Where there were 34 accidents last year, 18 so far this year, and three in one day,” said Thomasine Deer, lives in Montclair.

Slendak says the plan for a doctor’s office fell through.

“I really think the neighborhood didn’t think it was going to be rezoned to anything that would allow for a convenience store, and I think that’s the surprise right there,” said Slandak.

Slendak says not to be upset with Parker’s or at the planning and zoning committees.

“If you want to be mad, you know your beef is with the developer,” said Slendak.

Deer says neighbors weren’t told anything, and that this caught them by surprise.

“For some people, the largest investment that they have is their home. And so you know that’s unfortunately, that’s what we’re having to go through,” said Deer.

Slendak says she is going to do everything she can to help, whether that means the project shutting down or it gets sent back to rezoning, but she isn’t sure how the ordinance would get changed.

With the number of accidents that occur in the neighborhood, Deer says having fuel trucks going in and out would be a bad idea.

The proposed Parker’s Kitchen is still in the early stages of planning, but neighbors say this was the first of many meetings, and they plan to reach out to more city leaders and explore legal actions.

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