Fall 2020 - 1736 Magazine

The vacant three-story building at 937
Ellis St., which once housed the Southern
Bell Telephone & Telegraph Exchange, sits
between two buildings renovated into loft
apartments and condominiums.
If that statement comes across as
bold, that is precisely the intent.
The mission of 1736 magazine is
to document downtown Augusta’s
revitalization in the hope that casting a
light on its progression – and, at times,
regression – will improve the urban
core’s quality of life. Which, in turn,
will improve the entire city.
The downtown that this otherwise
thriving mid-sized metro area deserves
will remain elusive so long as decrepit
properties in the heart of the city stay
in suspended animation.
That is not to say that every vacant
building is blemished. Quite a few
empty buildings are well-maintained
and “move-in ready.” But many others
are on the verge of implosion.
This publication would never deign to
dictate to private property owners what
they should or shouldn’t do with their
land and buildings. That is not our place.
Downtown property owners are free to
do what they wish, so long as they abide
by the codes, ordinances and regulations
enacted by duly elected officials who can
be petitioned for the redress of grievances
under the rule of law.
Community leaders and business
advocacy groups often point the finger
at city officials when lamenting downtown
Augusta’s gritty appearance.
While we believe downtown
deserves more attention from the
local government, we maintain the
bulk of the burden falls on the private
sector. We believe it is fair to ask
downtown property owners holding on
to non-performing assets – particularly
historic buildings endangered by
neglect – to do some soul searching.
The question for the owners of eyesore
properties is simple: What is the
point of owning a commercial building
in the central business district if you
aren’t doing anything with it?
Surely, the intent was not to
contribute to the blight of Augusta’s
historic downtown corridor. Or to
create magnets for vandals. Or to
provide illicit encampments for the
homeless. Or to cast shadows over
a budding area struggling to make it
through an unprecedented pandemic.
So what, then, is the purpose?
What’s the point?
Ruminate, but don’t procrastinate.
Empty buildings quickly become
blighted buildings. Blighted buildings
taint neighboring properties, foment
an atmosphere of disorder and repel
residents, tourists and potential investors
in a locale by which the entire city
is gauged.
“We take stock of a city like we take
stock of a man,” Mark Twain once said.
“The clothes or appearance are the
externals by which we judge.”
Indeed, downtown property is like
no other. It is special. And its ownership
carries an unspoken covenant of
responsibility and stewardship.
It is a social contract that many
owners have forsaken.
To those with blighting buildings
in downtown, we say fix it. Renovate
it. Lease it. Sell it. Donate it. Just do
something.
The entire community is watching.
And waiting.
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