Laney Walker/Bethlehem Annual Meeting, Wednesday, January 18,
Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center, 6:00-8:00 PM. The event
will feature the premiere of a new film on the revitalization project,
preview of 2012 redevelopment activities, special awards and
appearances by the Mayor Copenhaver and Augusta Administrator Fred
Russell. Light refreshments by one of Augusta’s top local chefs. For
more information, contact Hawthorne Welcher, Jr. at 912-821-1797 or
hwelcher@augustaga.gov .
www.laneywalkerbethlehem.com/media/events-calendar/.
Augusta’s Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Effort has been
chosen by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as one of just
seven projects in the nation to receive design and implementation
assistance to enhance sustainability aspects of the development. The
program provides professional expertise from The Center for
Communities by Design to assist Laney Walker/Bethlehem with designing
and implementing sustainable features into the development.
www.laneywalkerbethlehem.com/media/in-the-press/ .
Fox54 radio (WFXG) reported on Wednesday, Jan. 4,that residents of
Laney Walker & Bethlehem are on board supporting a special zoning
overlay for a portion of the revitalization effort. The full ARC
Commission will vote on the issue January 17.
http://www.wfxg.com/story/16449476/laney-walker-neighbors-support-overlay-zoning
The Augusta Mayor’s office has good news about Augusta Sales Tax
revenue, which has built the new downtown library, judicial center and
upcoming Trade, Exhibit and Event Center, all part of the Urban Master
Plan. November Sales Tax collections were 2.43% ahead of last
year’s collections and Augusta is now ahead of the 2011 budgeted
revenues by 2.11% – all in a depressed economy.
www.augusrtaga.gov
www.augustatomorrow.org.
The Augusta Richmond County Public Library is hosting a reading and
book signing by local author Barbara Seaborn, who has recently
published "As Long as the River Runs. Saturday, January 14th at 2:00
pm.
http://www.ecgrl.org/
The Augusta Housing & Community Development Department has launched a
new website for the Laney Walker/Bethlehem revitalization effort. The
website is a one-stop shop for information on the project’s
background, history, partners, priority redevelopment areas,
financing, and community programs. Also featured are videos and photos
galleries of community meetings, construction-in-progress, events and
day-to-day neighborhood life. Please visit
www.laneywalkerbethlehem.com .
30901 Development Corporation, the non-profit arm of Beulah Grove
Baptist Church, is providing a free income tax preparation service,
beginning Tuesday January 17th. Call (706) 722-4999 for an appointment
or further information.
http://30901dc.org/
The Augusta Housing Department has passed the halfway mark of its
total build-out along Pine Street, the primary street comprising the
City’s flagship, award-winning development Heritage Pine
(www.heritagepineaugusta.com). Recent photos of construction activity
can be found in the Spotted section of the Augusta
Chronicle. http://spotted.augusta.com/galleries/index.php?id=918 .
The Morris Museum of Art’s Friday Art-at-Lunch series is featuring
Terry and Steve Ferrell of Old Edgefield Pottery and the Ferrell
Museum, discussing the work of Dave Drake, the famous artist, poet,
and slave, and the unique ceramic techniques originating in the
Edgefield, South Carolina area. Friday, January 13 at noon.
www.themorris.org
The Board of the Augusta Housing Authority has approved development of
a mixed-income affordable housing project in the Twiggs Circle
priority area of Laney Walker/Bethlehem. Once construction begins, the
activity will mark new development in the fifth of six priority
development areas.
www.laneywalkerbethlehem.com/neighborhood-developments/twiggs-circle/.
The Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Effort has been selected as
a showcase example of urban planning and implementation at two
upcoming national conferences: New Partners for Smart Growth
Conference, February 2-4 in San Diego, and the American Planning
Association’s National Planning Conference, April 14-17 in Los
Angeles. http://www.laneywalkerbethlehem.com/media/events-calendar/.