Augusta’s Law Enforcement Center Redevelopment Faces Challenges, Neighbors Seek Immediate Solutions
AUGUSTA, Ga. – For years, Marion Jones has called the neighborhood near the Law Enforcement Center home, and with the site’s redevelopment on the horizon, he has one main request: a grocery store.
“It’s really needed because we don’t have anything around this neighborhood,” Jones explained. “People without transportation have to catch the bus and go all the way out to Gordon Highway or Deans Bridge Road just to get basic groceries.”
The city of Augusta had initially envisioned the site as a hub for growth and development, bringing in an Atlanta-based firm to conduct a comprehensive study on its potential. However, the results have not aligned with the expectations of many in the community.
According to Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority, the study concluded that the site is not suitable for immediate commercial or residential development. “For now, the site is essentially waiting to be developed. There’s no immediate need for the kind of development many had hoped for,” Wray said. “The initial focus is to help the community acclimate to the area.”
The study’s recommendation includes transforming the site into green space, which could be used for recreational activities like soccer games or family movie nights. This, in the short term, would provide a community gathering spot.
Wray admitted that while the outcome was disappointing, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. “It’s not completely surprising. The area is a bit off the beaten path, with Gordon Highway nearby, and it’s not the bustling center of downtown,” he said. “I can see why the conclusions were made, but it’s obviously not the result we had hoped for.”
Looking ahead, the study suggests that in the long run, the site could evolve into a business innovation hub, similar to Augusta’s existing Georgia Cyber Center. However, Wray noted that whether the city will pursue this direction remains uncertain. “It’s to be determined. We already have the Cyber Center downtown, which serves as an innovation hub. It’s unclear whether that’s the path the city wants to follow here.”
While the study’s findings were met with some disappointment, especially from the local community who were hoping for more immediate solutions, the city remains focused on the long-term vision for the area. The community’s hopes for a grocery store or more accessible commercial development will likely need to wait, as the city contemplates the best way to balance immediate needs with future growth.
As the site continues to sit idle, residents like Jones are left wondering whether the long-term vision will ever fully meet the pressing needs of the neighborhood.
