Businessman and developer Clay Boardman, hoping to jump start the Harrisburg revival that's expected with the coming of the Kroc Center, announced a new program Thursday, aiming to rehab dilapidated houses the same way Habitat for Humanity builds new ones.
He and Anne Catherine Murray, the project manager for Boardman's Augusta Capital LLC, told a meeting of the Harrisburg-West End Neighborhood Association that they've formed an Augusta branch of The Fuller Center for Housing, with the mission of sprucing up Harrisburg's housing stock through volunteer labor and selling them to responsible, low-income families.
According to the city's License and Inspection Department, 77 percent of the former mill village's houses are being rented, and 14 percent are vacant.
"What we need to do is promote home ownership in Harrisburg," Boardman said.
Started in 2005 by Habitat For Humanity's co-founder, the late Millard Fuller, The Fuller Center is a nonprofit, Christian organization based in Americus, Ga. Murray, who will serve as the local president, said a board and committee have been formed, but they're still in "structural stages," with training ongoing.
It's not time yet for families to apply, she said.
For the benefit of neighborhood association members such as President Lori Davis and board member Butch Palmer, who have been protesting absentee landlords and pushing for a chronic nuisance properties ordinance, Kroc Center coordinator Derek Dugan explained that the Fuller Center does not put poor people in houses, then walk away.
Future homeowners are required to contribute "sweat equity" into the rehab process, and if one falls behind on payments, Fuller acts as a bank, reclaiming the house and selling it to a new owner.
"There is an ongoing responsibility -- one, two, three years," Dugan said. "Once these people move in, they are required to maintain their homes."
Boardman has long been interested in the neighborhood's revitalization potential. He's the driving force behind the conversion of Enterprise Mill into high-class offices and apartments.
He and a group of investors were at one point poised to purchase and turn Sibley Mill into a mixed-used complex, but the deal fell apart last year.
With the Augusta Canal Authority now under contract to buy the mill, Boardman said he'll still be involved in the plan to save it, but he probably won't be the developer who renovates it.
His Harrisburg holdings include the old Martha Lester School on Broad Street -- which he says he hasn't decided what to do with yet -- and a row of six mustard-colored houses east of it, across from the Broad Street U-Haul.
One of those houses will be the first Fuller project, he said, and they're hoping to either purchase future homes or have them donated, perhaps by banks that foreclosed on them.
"It's going to be a slow process, and it relies on lots and lots of donated materials," he said.
Boardman said he supports the neighborhood association's recent activism.
"I know you think things are horrible here," he said, "but they're not. Or they don't have to be."
Since Mercy Ministries opened three years ago, co-founder and Executive Director Fran Oliver has been under fire from neighborhood activists who say the shelter has made Harrisburg a mecca for street people, blaming it for a rise in crime and litter.
I thought the Harrisburg "Prissy Posse" loathed Mr Boardman. What are they going to say now?
I assume that Butch and Lori will be asked to serve on the Board of Directors of this group?
I am all for getting Harrisburg back to what it once was but anytime I see certian 'developers' names I want to be sure we drill down to the core before getting all giddy.
Mr. Boardman, why wait for donors? Just go back to the well at the DDA and dip in again like you did with the Haughton School and Confederate Widows Home.
I mean why depend on donors when you can borrow hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, fee and interest FREE, from the DDA for years? I mean come on! Let's do this thing NOW!
The only people who would benifit would be the working class families you would be helping right?
Brad
I think the title of the story is wrong. Should be "Developer wants to aid SELF" LOL........ lets remember he is going to turn a dollar on all this. This developer doubled his investment at the Widows Home Brad mentioned above. Boardman purchased for $230,000 and flipped it for $400,000 (to a non profit no less) in less than 2 years without doing anything to it.........so lets not spin this like he is doing this for the good of it.
Cleaning up Harrisburg is a "worthwhile endeavor". Why even some "fresh paint" would be a start. Someone has to be "the leader" and someone has "to do the work". I would much rather see a "revitalized, safe Harrisburg", than a downtown stadium. The Greater Good for the greater number. Maybe then I can get to Westview Cemetery without "running the gauntlet" of drug dealers and prostitutes. I may be up there permanently soon. I really don't want "drug users" sitting on "my stone getting stoned". I have observed same at Westview.
Why couldn't the old mills be used for some kind of "manufacturing/assembly plant". The "infrastructure" is already on site. Why haven't any of the great "call centers" looked at these properties??? Goodness knows, downtown is the place to be. We know the "ARC government will give great tax write offs" in exchange for local jobs. I think its the "concrete truck syndrome" again. More construction and concrete. Does the Boardman Family own a concrete business? Wow, there goes another truck load of concrete headed for "downtown Augusta-RC"
Take him for what it is, a wealthy developer, duh. He is not "Mother Teresa". Charlie Daniels had a great line in one of his songs. "Preacher man talking on the TV, says he wants to save my soul; just send him a donation and he will pray that I can walk......; well I think the preacher man wants to do a little walking of his own"
my.voice. Mr. Boardman may have purchased the widows home at 124 Green St. for $230000.00 and sold it for $400000.00 but that was not clear profit. He spent $28307.00 with me on repairs and alot with other contractors on electrical, painting, window work, floor work etc. So do not think he took home a profit of $170000.00. He and his great wealth are good for the Augusta area.
my.voice....Don't belittle capitalist. That is what makes America great because when the water rises everybodys boat floats.
Deekster...Please contact Butch Palmer if you are interested in organizing to beautify the West View Cemetery. He and several others are working on getting shade trees planted and a garden established. Anyway his number is 706 399 4580
I attended this presentation and nowhere did I hear Mr. Boardman speak of profit. To those who would belittle Mr Boardman's efforts as mere self-promotion, I suggest you do your research in this case. His motives, to me, seemed benevolent. At least in the short term. Now for the long term, everyone, who has a vested interest in this neighborhood stands to gain. Homeowners in particular, mainly by an increase in property values and a decrease in crime. As it stanmds right now the only ones making a profit are the slumlords. Who do trust with your neighborhood,hmm?
I attended this presentation and nowhere did I hear Mr. Boardman speak of profit. To those who would belittle Mr Boardman's efforts as mere self-promotion, I suggest you do your research in this case. His motives, to me, seemed benevolent. At least in the short term. Now for the long term, everyone, who has a vested interest in this neighborhood stands to gain. Homeowners in particular, mainly by an increase in property values and a decrease in crime. As it stanmds right now the only ones making a profit are the slumlords. Who do trust with your neighborhood,hmm?
this is great news..... it's amazing to me how so many people can be so negative about everything!
Amen Coco!
Whats up with the hostility AUG? Typical of you frequent AC posters- biting the hand that feeds you. Why don't you try to lend some support to these projects?
Lord knows Harrisburg needs and deserves to shine like other areas of the city.
SNOB30904....You are correct. Our neighborhood association meets the second thursaday of the month and you do not have to live in Harrisburg to me a member. Membership is only fifteen dollars a year ! Please support us. Call Lori Davis for meeting place and times 803 292 4170
SNOB30904....You are correct. The Harrisburg neighborhood association meets the second thursday of the month and you do not have to live in Harrisburg to be a member. Membership is only fifteen dollars a year ! Please support us. Call Lori Davis for meeting place and times 803 292 4170....you may be talking to the next Mayor of Augusta!!!
It is a good thing the Boardmans are going to help. But they are also one in the same with Deke. They went against the people who have worked hard to make Augusta better when they put up Aitken to run against Palmer. This is a way to make-up for wrongs, but at least it is helping Harrisburg, whatever the reason.
I like how telling the truth is 'neagtive'
The money used to buy the Widows home was tax money that he paid no fees and no interests on.
So I am sorry but I feel that the tax payer should get someting in return when we give these 'developers' sweetheart deals like that.
The story said in plain ol' english that"Fuller acts as a bank, reclaiming the house and selling it to a new owner." So that means THEY hold the mortgage and unless Boardman gives them the same deal he got from the DDA they will make money off this.
Brad
We are more than excited that so much good is happening in Harrisburg and happy to have Clay and Anne Catherine working on behalf of all of us. With the Kroc Center underway and the CNPO nearing completion it will be a perfect storm for this area. To everyone who is working with us. thanks a million!!
Brad,
They may make money off the resale at some point, but these are no interest loans. Let's hope they get the right people in to begin with.
If it takes someone making money to clean up Harrisburg then so be it. Profit is not a dirty-word. I suppose some people just want the magic-fairy to visit one night and sprinkle fairy-dust over the neighborhood and make everything better. This is how neighborhood improvement starts. Thank you Mr. Boardman!
So what if the guy is going to make a little money off the deal, he's helping revitalize an area the desperately needs it! This is a lot better than the millions going to Laney Walker and Bethlehem, the folks in that area are just being given new homes whereas the people in Harrisburg will actually have to put in a little effort. I say thank you Mr. Boardman for all that you have done and continue to do for Augusta. Leave it up to the same 5 frequent posters to complain about everything.
Great to see Mr Boardman is investing in Harrisburg.. in a good way and not as a slumlord (atleast it certainly doesn't appear to be that way) Homeownership is key to turning these inner city neighborhoods around. But the real heroes are Lori Davis and Butch Palmer.
"So what if the guy is going to make a little money off the deal..."
Yep, what the heck.
Each. The only boat that rose from the Widows Home was Mr Boardmans. I'm not against capitalism in the least, but lets not label it HUMANITARIAN.....its not that in the least. This article makes it sound like Boardman is GIVING something............he doesn't, hasn't, wont, will not.
And lets face the fact Boardman made at LEAST $110,000 profit selling it to a NON PROFIT!
I forgot that all of you work without receiving pay.
You expect them to give up their free time, buy up low value property in this economy, and not make a profit off of it? Give me a break.
JEALOUS!
Just because your ventures haven't worked out as well you are going to criticize.
May I also point out that Mr. Boardman hasn't asked to be sainted for this act.
He hasn't claimed to be gifting anything to Augusta.
Why don't you just shut it and be thankful?
Let's just leave it the way that it is! That would be just great for Richmond County.
By promoting ownership they are hoping to instill new values in a neighborhood that has been taken over by gangs, violence, and slumlords who to take advantage of people who don't have many options of where to live.
Coco maybe people are tired of funding projects for "stakeholders" and it is time they used their own collateral for projects downtown. I am happy Mr B wants to do something, I just want to make sure he isn't making money off the tax rolls. I fear corporate welfare more than I fear the little lady with 3 kids on food stamps. Just be honest with the public and don't make someone out to be a saviour when in fact they are in a project for themselves.
What if the motive is multi faceted? If I had access to the funds and it would beautify the city, add value to the area, and line my pockets I'd want to do it too.
It's just the way the world works.
I am sorry but I for got to mention we don't have to worry about the DDA funding this project. I believe the Harrisburg neighborhood is outside the bounds of the DDA charter as outlined in the city code. Unless our esteemed commissioners want to go to the state capitol and extend their reach.
Thanks to Mr. Boardman for all your help. There are LOTS of people trying to help Augusta reach it's full potential. I love both the Boardmans for what they have done in Augusta. Clay's Enterprise Mill, Sutherland Mill, Granite Mill, Martha Lester School, Heritage Academy, Widoms home, Old Davidson school, Broad Mill Village, etc. Also thanks to his brother for the Green Buidling on Broad street. And the Highland Ridge office park in West Augusta near T-Mobile and ADP.
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