AUGUSTA, Ga. — The future of the old First Baptist Church on Greene Street remains uncertain as tensions rise between the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and city commissioners. The commission’s primary goal is clear: stabilize the building to prevent further deterioration. However, a recent hearing highlighted underlying conflicts and raised questions about the commission’s authority and approach.

At a January hearing, the HPC cited building owner Joe Edge for numerous code violations, urging him to take steps to preserve the property. “All we’re concerned about is him mothballing the building to make sure it doesn’t deteriorate any further,” said David Barbee, a member of the HPC, emphasizing the commission’s focus on safeguarding the church’s structural integrity.

However, the hearing did not unfold without conflict. Commissioner Alvin Mason expressed concerns about the power dynamics within the HPC, suggesting that certain board members may be overstepping their bounds. “There seems to be some power issues to me in terms of board members,” Mason said. “We’ll listen, but I encourage this commission to take a holistic look at that HPC.”

The exchange at the meeting escalated when other commissioners began questioning the HPC’s conduct. Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice shared her discomfort with how the proceedings were handled. “I’m sitting out there listening and I felt like it was personal,” Rice stated. “I thought to myself, who else has been done like this?”

In response, HPC Chair Tara Conway defended the commission’s actions, asserting that any perceived rudeness stemmed from dissatisfaction with decisions rather than inappropriate behavior. “They don’t know what we do. They say somebody is rude, well if you get a decision you don’t like, maybe you’re going to say we were rude because you don’t like the decision,” Conway said.

As the debate over the church’s future continues, one question looms: Should the historic building be preserved or demolished? Commissioner Francine Scott voiced a nuanced stance, acknowledging the importance of preservation but also recognizing the owner’s rights. “If we can preserve it, I’m with it. If he says there’s no way he can keep it, I side with the owner because it is his building,” she said.

While the HPC maintains that it is simply following established guidelines, city commissioners are now considering changes to those rules. The outcome of this ongoing debate could have a lasting impact on the preservation of historic buildings in Augusta, raising broader questions about the balance of power between preservation efforts and property rights.

The next steps in the saga of the old First Baptist Church are uncertain, but for now, the tension between the HPC and the city commission remains palpable.