Augusta, GA
With state help, Augusta looks to revitalize Turpin Hill neighborhood
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There is a new push to revitalize one of Augusta’s more blighted corners in the community.
Specifically, the Turpin Hill neighborhood, just outside of the medical district and Laney Walker area.
Now, thanks to state and University of Georgia partnerships with the city, there’s a plan for change in the historic neighborhood. But the city wants to hear from neighbors in the area.
Streets are lined with haunted-looking homes where thriving businesses used to stand on multiple corners.
While there is some life there, you only have to turn your head to see the blight.
“It’s good they’re doing something, you know, you stand around and see it going down,” said the owner of Nearby Grocery, Gregory Matthews,
Matthews’ family has been running the Nearby Grocery since the late 40s.
He’s seen Turpin Hill in its prime and says a revitalization is overdue.
“You’re going to have some new blood, new communities springing up. New business. It’s always a plus for the city itself to be improved,” said Matthews.
The city applied to a program called the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). They were one of five projects across the state selected. The city, the state, and UGA will now collaborate on this plan over the next three to five years.
Housing and Community Development director, Hawthorne Welcher Jr., said: “Turpin Hill is an area we have not talked a lot about. We’ve pretty much sold them on the dire need and the deficiencies, the abandonment, the blight, the destitution; we sold them on that.”
The hope is this will be wildly successful, so more of these projects come to more neighborhoods in Augusta and help business owners, like Matthews.
“Well, it’s been a little trying because I had a ‘captive audience’ when I had the sunset homes over there, but now we’re filling. Walton Green is just filling up and so business is still picking up, I was able to survive so, it’s going to be alright,” said Matthews.
Hawthorne said: “Regardless of how great the plan is, regardless of how great the reward is, it starts and ends with the residents.”
Augusta will host three community meetings at the Carrie J. Mays Community Center.
Here’s a list of the meeting dates and times:
- March 21 at 6 p.m.
- June 20 at 6 p.m.
- September 19 at 6 p.m.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia Gubernational candidate Geoff Duncan made another appearance in Augusta on Monday, speaking at the IBEW Local 1579 on Reynolds Street.
Duncan is one of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Duncan said when he served as lieutenant governor of the state, he fought to expand access to health care in rural communities. He said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on lowering costs in other areas.
Duncan stopped by NewsChannel 6 ahead of the campaign stop to speak about his plans.
“Look, 90% of Georgians know what they’re talking about when they want to pass commonsense gun legislation like universal background checks, red flag laws, and in-home safe storage laws. As governor, I want to lead the charge, and I want to give political cover to those Republicans that want to do the right thing, build those consensus around those bills,” Duncan said. “I hope to get some of them the cosign that legislation. Because it meets people where they’re at. It’s common sense. Look, I don’t want anybody to ever walk by a television screen and make another excuse for a mass shooting when it could have been stopped. With just common sense laws that are on the books.”
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
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.
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