Beautification Edition - 1736 Magazine, Summer 2019

The estate “is not going to win a federal lawsuit
against a zoning issue,” Commissioner Brandon Garrett
told The Augusta Chronicle earlier this year. “That place
has been grandfathered in for 20 years. I think it might be
one last Hail Mary” attempt.
In 1994, when six strip clubs were operating downtown,
city officials made it illegal for nude clubs to serve alcohol.
But they allowed the owners of the existing clubs, including
Mr. Lester, to keep their alcohol licenses until the clubs
closed or the owner died.
The grandfathered permit that died with Lester allowed
alcohol and nude dancing in the same establishment in
non-industrial districts. Under the new regulation, the
bars would have to move to a light- or heavy-industry
zone or operate strictly as bars (with no nude dancing) or
as strip clubs (that don’t serve alcohol).
Unless the clubs’ federal litigation is successful, the
city’s enforcement action would occur by the end of the
year.
Numerous academic studies claim strip clubs have
a negative effect on their surroundings through crime,
prostitution, drug use and declining property value, while
an equal number show no such correlation.
The clubs detractors say they are the last seedy obstacles
hindering a downtown revitalization on lower Broad.
And city leaders have wanted strip clubs out of downtown
for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the
$94 million Riverfront at the Depot project, “the biggest
development in the history of Augusta a few blocks away,”
Mayor Pro Tem Sean Frantom said.
Fantasy’s closed in 2017. Baby Dolls closed in 2007.
The Marine Room closed in 2005.
ADULT CLUB RESTRICTIONS
In addition to only being permitted in areas zone light
or heavy industrial, adult entertainment businesses
must also abide by a number of other restrictions on
location. Those businesses cannot be within 1,000
feet of:
• A church;
• A public or private elementary or secondary school;
• A child care center;
• The boundaries of a residential district, or the property
line of a lot devoted to residential use;
• A public park;
• A cemetery;
• Another “sexually oriented business;”
• A government building.
The business also cannot locate within an area designated
as a gateway or gateway corridor.
Source: City of Augusta
1736magazine.com | 73
0818_T_70_AM____.indd 73
7/29/2019 4:28:26 PM