Augusta, GA

With state help, Augusta looks to revitalize Turpin Hill neighborhood

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2024

Press Room

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.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

23 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

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