In this economy, you had better scale back your estimates dramatically. We will be auctioning off football stadiums before long the way people are leaving Augusta.
The bidding could be only days away for anyone interested in buying an old school or their own movie theater.
Richmond County school officials are finalizing plans to auction seven of its surplus properties through a sealed bid process. Complete information for each school, including environmental issues, will be available through the school system's Web site.
Prospective buyers will be able to place bids on the Web site.
School board attorney Pete Fletcher, who is handling the process, said Thursday night that information could be posted online within the next few days.
The first of two open houses has been tentatively set for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday with a second open house the same hours Jan. 8.
The properties are the A.C. Griggs School, old Sue Reynolds Elementary, Floyd Graham School, old John S. Davidson School, Martha Lester School, old Hornsby Elementary School and Regency Exchange 8.
In June, the board estimated that the properties would fetch at least $1.5 million to balance this fiscal year's budget and help offset a $13.4 million shortfall. The balanced budget also required the board to make cuts, dip into its already low reserves for $7.4 million and raise taxes, which translated to $21.72 more a year on a $100,000 house.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
In this economy, you had better scale back your estimates dramatically. We will be auctioning off football stadiums before long the way people are leaving Augusta.
HAHAHAHA, funny RM, but sadly true.
let's see, 14 million in the red, i wonder would the BOE be in the red if they would have NOT built b-ball gym and TWO football stadiums for 3 of the worse schools in the county. this ladies and gentleman again indicates sports has greater importance in this county than educating the children. hence the direct result is poor academic achievement and consistant budget shortfalls and the inability of the BOE to insure there are sufficient supplies and textbooks for all students and they then look to the poor property owners for continued funding of useless and wasteful programs and or athletic venues. my solution would be to suspend all athletic programs for all schools not graduating at least 60% of its senior class and must pass ayp.
We estimate $1.5 Mil for 7 parcels. That is about dirt cheap. Did they broadcast the bids anywhere than the downtown area? I wonder what they would get if they announced the auction in a national publication or at least the Atlanta/ Columbia papers? But then if an outside firm bidded on the property, they couldn't keep the money downtown, I guess! I have already made my list of people who will probably be the "lucky" winners of this property, and they are known for being lucky in past realestate deals in the area.
What ppl have left Augusta. Richmond county and the city of Augusta both haven't lost poplation since 2004. Its gained every year from then.
I wonder what the reserve on these properties is.
Hey Greg Gelpi why not include the web address for the site? Is it suppose to be a mystery? Usually we dont here about this kind of stuff till Billy Morris or a Knox buys it all up.
It's either sell them or tear them down. One provides revenue, the other drains it. All of those schools should've been torn down 20 years ago.
The Martha Lester building would be a wonderful elite cosmetic and rejuvenation clinic. The access to the canal behind would be great for out tings and exercised and boating.
An organic health food super would be great there too.
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