As part of the ongoing national recognition of innovation, the Augusta Housing Department will present “Restoring the American City: Augusta, GA and Laney Walker/Bethlehem” at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. The conference brings together participants from a variety of disciplines to discuss ways that smart growth is a viable solution through implementation tools and strategies.
The New Partners For Smart Growth Conference described the session: ‘Visionary, financially innovative, strategic.’
That’s how people are talking about the revitalization of Laney Walker/Bethlehem, a historic African-American community comprising 1,100 acres in the heart of Augusta, Georgia. At stake: reversing decades of disinvestment and blight and transforming Augusta into a model 21st century city.
In 2008, community stakeholders developed a vision focused on affordable housing, blight elimination, green space, retail and job opportunities, and community culture and heritage. City leaders then responded with 50-year bond financing to catalyze the vision.
As master developer, Augusta’s Housing Department has commissioned a market study, developed a master plan, green strategies, design guidelines, and financial incentives programs and is now working with over two dozen pre-qualified firms on vertical development.
The session will cover challenges and successes of this comprehensive effort, including innovative layered financing, policy framework, regulatory support, land acquisition strategies, green strategies, risk mitigation, incentives, marketing/branding, and programmatic partnerships.’
Comments Mayor Deke Copenhaver, “The work being done to restore and revitalize the Laney-Walker and Bethlehem neighborhoods is nothing short of groundbreaking and the incredible amount of national attention this initiative is receiving underscores this point regularly. I have always strived for Augusta to become a national model for other cities throughout the nation to follow on every level and our Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, along with the entire Laney-Walker/Bethlehem team, is a strong example of how excellence is being achieved in our neighborhood revitalization efforts”
