‘We hope it’ll be torn down’

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It employed to be lodge here in Augusta. Now it’s a lot more of an eye sore causing difficulties in its community. This is the outdated Clarion Suites on Washington Street. It is been sitting abandoned for more than a yr. And neighbors say it’s now a scorching place for criminal offense.

It is not nearly anything new this hotel has been triggering issues for the folks who live all over it for three many years but now they’re tried out of it and they just want to lodge and the troubles that come with it absent.

Its aged, its vacant, and its blighted.

“Most of the resorts about listed here, are not what you would get in touch with five star motels,” stated Walt Worsham, Charlestown Villas HOA President.

Walt Worsham is the HOA President of Charlestown Villas a tiny community tucked away off Washington Rd. About the last couple of months his cellphone has been blowing up about this.

“They’re quite involved. I get calls and e-mail often,” said Worsham.

Once the Clarion Suites is now an empty skeleton that neighbors say became a shelter for the homeless and dwelling foundation for unlawful things to do. Together with drug use.

“….They are people that, I wouldn’t outline them as homeless, I would say they were being the nefarious people up to illicit actions,” said Worsham.

According to code enforcement, areas have been demolished in 2020 to renovate the assets. But no renovations have broke ground. Just recently they condemned the house and now blight tax is on the desk.

People that were resting at the suites are back on the streets but leaders hope the prepare for a city shelter will handle that. Code enforcement has demolished involving 80 to 100 properties more than 3 a long time. The blight ordinance is suppose to velocity city demolition up forcing assets proprietors to fork out up or clean up.

“We hope, it’ll be torn down,” he mentioned.

The operator is expected to continue to keep the 24 hrs safety on the assets until demolition or renovation commences. Given that the guards have been in put inhabitants in Charlestown Villas say the folks that employed to dangle out right here are primarily long gone.

Inhabitants in Charlestown Villas say they really feel greater now with security in spot. And Richmond County Deputies keep on to occur out to check if they report issues.

Code enforcement says the operator nonetheless programs to re-create the hotel but if he does not submit a permit request in a timely manor he could be subjected to the blight tax. And following 60 times if there is however no development the town can take possession of the lodge and demolish it.

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