1736 Magazine - Fall 2018

Hawthrone Welcherdirector of the Augusta Housing and
Community Development department stands next to the
future Foundry Place project.
said. “It showed a commitment on the city’s
behalf, to say that we’re serious about revitalization
of these areas that have been destitute.”
To keep the neighborhood affordable to longtime
residents, each new market-rate unit is
matched by two affordable housing units are
built by Laney-Walker’s three community housing
development organizations using Housing
and Urban Development grants, the 30901 Development
Corp., which is affiliated with Beulah
Grove Baptist Church; Antioch Ministries Inc.,
affiliated with Antioch Baptist Church; and Laney
Walker Development Corp.
The city has not acquired any properties
through imminent domain and it doesn’t intend
to.
“We want to be sure we’re not pushing anybody
out,” Welcher said. “We have to be sure
that our affordable housing development keeps
pace or stays ahead of new construction.”
In addition to housing developments, the
city is focusing on three main gateways into the
neighborhood, Wrightsboro Road; James Brown
Boulevard, also known as Ninth Street; and
Twiggs Street, which partially aligns with Seventh
Street. It also is working with four business
tenants at the Armstrong Galleria shopping center
on Laney-Walker Boulevard.
“We’re not just building houses,” he said.
“We’re truly bringing back the whole sense of
community.” •
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