Access Denied! National Hills Residents Walled Off By Gate

Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Augusta, GA
From CityStink.net Reports


Imagine waking up one day and seeing a huge metal gate with fencing blocking your main access to and from your home. Was martial law imposed overnight? Is this to keep people out or keep you fenced in? Like a scene from the movie Red Dawn, had some conquering army swept in and turned your neighborhood into a prison re-education camp? These may have been some of the questions going through the minds of residents of National Hills subdivision off Washington Road across from The Augusta National Golf Course earlier this week when a large metal gate was erected, blocking access to and from the neighborhood along Northwood Rd (see graphic at bottom of the article), the main access road from the neighborhood into National Hills Shopping Center and onto Washington Rd.

Well it wasn't the work of any invading army; there was no wall surrounding National Hills neighborhood with armed guards asking for "papers", but for many residents along Northwood Road, it certainly did feel like a Checkpoint Charlie had been set up on their street, and they felt walled in. Making matters worse, the gate and fencing blocked off not only vehicular access to the shopping center and Washington Road, but all pedestrian access as well. National Hills residents routinely rent out their homes during Masters week and it  is usually just  a short walk along Northwood Rd through National Hills Shopping Center to the course.. but now residents and guests had to walk or  drive a longer serpentine route around the shopping center to access Washington Road and the golf course.

So who was responsible for this? It appears that the gate was erected by the owners of National Hills Shopping Center, NHEP LLC. The county maintained portion of Northwood Drive effectively ends where the gate was erected, on the boundary where the shopping center property begins.. at that point Northwood Road runs through the parking lot of National Hills Shopping Center and then accesses Washington Road just across from Augusta National Golf Course (see map at end of article). However, this route is normally open for residents of National Hills to access the shopping center and Washington Road.

It appears the gate was erected specifically to keep people staying in homes in National Hills from cutting across the shopping center property to access the golf course. A sign stated " Access Closed 4/1/12 to 4/8/12" and said violators would be prosecuted under Augusta-Richmond County ordinance section 3-5-3.  The sign also said that National Hills shopping Center was solely for customer use only. However,  the gate also  blocked many long time residents from accessing the shopping center... even on foot, which many do on a daily basis to buy groceries at The Fresh Market or patronize restaurants and other businesses. Having their direct access to the shopping center blocked meant that they would have to make a more cumbersome journey to get to what for some was just a few steps away normally. And some residents  we spoke with feared that blocking off direct access of their homes from Washington Road would impair the response times for emergency responders.

Donnie Thompson to the Rescue
The neighborhood association had begun exploring hiring an attorney to have the gate opened and access restored when prominent Augusta businessman Donnie Thompson came to their rescue. Thompson owns Windsor Jewelers, which is located in an out parcel that he owns adjacent to National Hills Shopping Center  along Washington Road where Northwood Road meets it.  Sources tell us that Thompson sued the owners of the shopping center, NHEP LLC on the basis that the gate violated easement agreements.  The court sided with Thompson  and ordered the gate opened. As of late Tuesday the gate was opened for vehicles and pedestrians to pass.

So just how did this gate go up without having to be approved by the city? Would it not violate zoning ordinances? The Shopping Center owners can argue that they were simply controlling access to their property.. like someone installing a gate at the entrance to their driveway. However, this  blocked a major easement that was always available to residents of National Hills before. Also, the gate and fence were unsightly, like something that belonged in front of a prison. Residents we spoke with said they would certainly not be allowed to erect such a gate on their driveways. So was someone asleep at the Zoning Department? Residents we spoke with say they got no answers nor any action from the city on this matter and they appreciate Donnie Thompson interceding on their behalf. It looks like Donnie Thompson has a lot of new fans and probably a lot of new customers as well.***

CS

Below is a map of the area (click to enlarge):

Corporal Gripweed: The Augusta National Continues to Give Back to the Community

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Augusta, GA

By Corporal Gripweed

“The entire world shall be populous with that action which saves one soul from despair”

                                                               Omar Khayyam

It's that time of year again here in Augusta. No, not pollen season, nor the beginning of minor league baseball, Although, those things are either happening or are about to begin. I'm speaking about the venerable Masters Tournament. Always ending on the second Sunday in April, for the last 70 plus years except for interruptions during World War II. 

Many here at City Stink and on the Augusta Today FB page have been critical (and rightfully so) of certain members of the Augusta National Golf Club. There has also been criticism of members of Augusta's so called “pimento cheese plutocracy”, loosely defined as folks who are in positions of power in (and out of) city government who champion causes which help the few rather than the many.

The Famous Masters Pimento Cheese Sandwich

However, this will not be one of those times.....

In baseball parlance, I'm a firm believer in “calling 'em as I see's 'em”. And this time credit should be given where it's due. We can say what we want about certain members of the “Club” and the “plutocracy” but the fact is the Masters Tournament Foundation has given...yes GIVEN , nearly 20 million dollars over the last few years to various local charities. And they've done it voluntarily.

These donations have been administered through the Community Foundation for the CSRA, which has given money to Easter Seals of East Georgia, and the newly built Kroc Center among others. To quote Billy Payne, Chairman of the Augusta National, “Supporting the community that, in turn supports the Masters Tournament is an enduring commitment we take seriously”.

The cynical among us would say, they should give and give more. But as a conservative I would say, it's THEIR money. They can do what they want with it.  More importantly, I'm happy with the fact that it's administered through a private sector foundation and not through yet another inefficient government panel or bureaucracy. All this without taking into account the many millions of dollars pumped into the local economy by hosting one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

We here at City Stink and Augusta Today, expend enormous amounts of energy exposing the dark underbelly of the Augusta political scene.

Enjoy The "Tunamint"!

 And we always will....but if you can't find it in your DNA to support the “tunamint” or the club this week, no harm no foul...at least follow Omar's advice and find an opportunity to help someone, somewhere. As the Masters Foundation does to the tune of millions every year.***

CG

The Corporal's Previous Column:
                                                          Who's Supposed to Clean Up This Mess?

Freddie is Ready! Sanders Makes Run for Sheriff Official

Augusta attorney Freddie Sanders

Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Augusta, GA
By The Outsider

Prominent Augusta attorney Freddie Sanders says he is ready to be the next Sheriff of Augusta-Richmond County. He made it official today at 3pm behind The Marble Palace and plans to run on The Republican ticket. He is the first Republican to announce a run for Sheriff. Four Democrats have already announced.  And Sanders already seems to be lining up some big name supporters. Standing right beside him today at his announcement was former Augusta Mayor and barbecue baron Larry Sconyers.

Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle wasted no time trying to marginalize Sanders as a candidate in her Sunday City Ink Column saying that "Sanders has a slim shot at Sheriff." It was the second column in a row where Cooper poo-pooed Sanders' candidacy. The week before Cooper predicted that Sanders would not enter the race and said when Sanders gets involved with something it is soon abolished, citing his association with the now defunct Richmond County Coliseum Authority and The Richmond County Police Department, the latter of which Sanders served as police chief from 1983-1985.  The Richmond County Police Department was a short-lived experiment after a string of corruption scandals that plagued the Richmond County Sheriff's Department.

Sanders admits that running as a Republican in heavily Democratic-leaning Richmond County will be an uphill challenge. He even described it on a local morning talk-radio show as being more  difficult than a "camel passing through the eye of a needle." However, Sanders maintains that he is up to the challenge and believes he can win. He says that his unique combination of a law enforcement background and his experience as an attorney who knows the local court system inside and out will be a major asset in the Sheriff's office. Sanders also maintains that in the end voters  are not so concerned about party affiliation when it comes to the county's top law enforcement office, and that people will appreciate and respect that he is staying true to his convictions and not running as something that he is not just for the purposes of political expediency.

Some people may be rethinking theories that Sanders is only running as an insurance policy in case Cpt. Scott Peebles fails to win the Democratic nomination. Sanders sounds like someone who is in it to win it and he maintains he will stay in the race regardless of who his Democratic opponent may be.

What Sanders' candidacy is showing, is that some of the most powerful political factions in Richmond County are fracturing. Sconyers' support of Sanders shows that The Southside may not be solidly behind Silas after all. The fact that The Augusta Chronicle is trying its best to shoot torpedoes at  Sanders' candidacy early on shows that a schism has developed  on The Hill and Westside. Despite what they may say via Sylvia Coopers' column, The Chronicle see Sanders as a threat.. and that's why they have started to attack him early and characterize his campaign as an exercise in futility. It's not a big secret that The Morris owned Chronicle is backing Peebles.. as is Mayor Copenhaver, Clay Boardman, and some other powerful names from the Augusta business community as evidenced from Peebles announcement event in front of the courthouse. Some political observers see that as an indication that Peebles is the chosen candidate of The Cabal.

But Sanders will get lots of support from The Hill and Westside, and with the help of Sconyers, he could make big inroads on The Southside as well. One thing we know for sure is that the powerful political machines are not coalescing behind one candidate of their own.. and what this shows is that these political machines have fractured... and this Sheriff's race could be the first big proof of that.***

OS

Related Stories:
Sanders Candidacy Viewed as an Insurance Policy

The forgotten day of Easter - Wonder filled and wonderful

The Lost Sabbath – A Day of Wonder

Palm Sunday Sermon

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Augusta, GA

By Al Gray

When we look upon current, historical and biblical times, many are the events or sequences of happenings about which we exclaim “ What were they thinking?” We try, with varying degrees of effort, to put ourselves in the context of the participants in order to understand the forces that affected the outcome, usually to avoid them, and sometimes to emulate them. Rarely is there a total void, so that we have only our imaginations to rely on.

The Sabbath between the Crucifixion of  Jesus and the third day of the discovery of His resurrection was the Lost Sabbath in many ways. In more ways it was and, is a day of wonder.

Almost nothing is mentioned of the Lost Sabbath in the gospels. In Mark 28:1 it is written "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb."  Mark 16:1 records " When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body." Luke 23:56 provides a little more explanation. "Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment."

Imagine that. The most revered three days in history, with a virtually blank Sabbath in the middle. Why? That day was The Day of Wonder. It remains so to this day.

A famous Georgian was renowned for exclaiming “Get the picture now….” So let’s try to do the same. Nothing is written, so in trying to get the picture we are left to wonder about many things about that day.  Imagine the emotional tumult of the disciples and the multitudes that had followed, seen the miracles, pondered the parables, and gained faith in Him. The day before had seen Jesus seized, beaten, tried, abused, sentenced, mocked and executed in the most cruel way imaginable. At the moment of His physical death, there were great signs in the heavens and a great earthquake. The curtain at the great Temple was torn in half by the heavenly forces unleashed. Even greater forces were evident as written in Matthew 27, verses 52 and 53: ".... the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many." The followers of Jesus spent that Sabbath day wondering about the enormity of the death they witnessed versus the miracles He presented in life along with the tumultuous signs of divinity just displayed. They were certainly in very earnest prayer over these things.

During that day, the doubts of the followers had to be at a peak. Many were wondering whether the death was real or whether the promise of everlasting life were real. As great as the doubt of Thomas was after His resurrection, how much greater were theirs’ on that day, moments in which the death was ascendant on the mind? We wonder at their wonder, because the Bible is silent on these matters.

One wonder is that Mary and Mary Magdalene brought spices with which to anoint the corpse, indicating that they were dubious about the prophesy of his resurrection. The enemies of Jesus certainly remembered that prophesy because in Mathew 27, verses 62 through 64  it is written:

 ⁶²Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, ⁶³Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. ⁶⁴Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Despite His words, the two Marys wondered whether they were true and their actions portrayed the ultimate doubt. They expected to find a dead body and accord it final honors.  If the very people who witnessed all of the miracles of His life and death were so unconvinced and exhibited such weak faith, our own weaknesses 21 centuries since their Day of Wonder might be put into perspective.

Ponder no more about that day, the lost Sabbath, so fraught with consternation, doubts and fears.  The great wonder was their action after the resurrection, for they took such great confidence in that final greatest miracle of Jesus that they transformed the world.

That wonder will never cease as long as it is remembered this instruction - "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

The Sabbath about which naught is written, that Day of Wonder, was the last day of their doubt.

Wonderful. So might it be with us.

Azziz Gets Control of Golf and Gardens Property; Creates Problem For Ballpark

Friday, March 30, 2012
Augusta, GA
From CityStink.net Reports

With just 30 minutes left on the clock until this year's Georgia General Assembly adjourned, The GA House approved the transfer of the beleaguered Golf and Gardens property on Reynolds Street to GHSU late last night. It now goes to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature.

But one stipulation in the transfer of the property could be a big problem for proponents of a minor league baseball stadium at the site. A clause in the bill authorizing the transfer says that there can be no commercial development on the property for 3 years, or until bonds that are still owed on the property from The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame project are paid off. That would preclude any public-private partnerships on the property for at least 3 years, including a new baseball stadium for The Augusta Greenjackets.

This stipulation could give Dr. Ricardo Azziz an easy out in saying "No" to a ballpark at the site. Sources have been telling us that Azziz has never been enthusiastic about the ballpark proposal. Indeed, Azziz's stated vision for the 16 acre property has included everything from a high tech bio research park, student housing, and the cultural arts.. including possibly a school of Music and a Performing Arts Center. Conspicuously missing from Azziz's language has been a "Multi-use" ballpark at the site. And there would be little room for all of the things Azziz would like to see at the property if a ballpark is built there. The site is only slightly more than 16 acres and a ballpark would easily consume half of that at least, and it is still not clear how it would benefit the new university.

Azziz could now say that he needs to move on with developing the property and cannot wait 3 years to include a ballpark under the rules. So does this mean that The Mayor and Ripken Baseball have struck out on their dream for a downtown ballpark? Well, maybe not. Ballpark proponents may try to change the language of the partnership, where the Ballpark would be constructed as a state owned facility for the University.. and after 3 years Ripken Baseball would enter into a lease agreement with the University to use the stadium. Under this scenario though, state taxpayers would end up footing 100% of the the costs of the the stadium. Sources tell us though that Azziz is not likely to go along with such a scenario.

But ballpark proponents could have another trick up their sleeve. Sources are telling us that an alternative downtown riverfront location they are eyeing is the city-owned land located at 511 Reynolds Street by the Riverwalk Marina. At 6.7 acres, it is a quite a bit smaller than the Golf and Gardens property and would be a tight fit for a ballpark, but not out of the question.

That parcel was once the focus of a failed condominium development called The Watermark. The city purchased the land from the city's pension fund and paid for environmental clean-up so that the condominium developer could proceed with the sale and begin developing the property. However, the financial collapse of 2008 doomed the project and the land still sits empty with no potential buyers.

This same property was eyed for a downtown ballpark in the mid 1990s by the city of Augusta, just prior to consolidation. It failed to win the approval from the city council, and instead upgrades to the existing Heaton Stadium were made at Lake Olmstead, creating the current Lake Olmstead Stadium. So if this means the door is closing on the ballpark at the Golf and Gardens site could another one be opening just down the street at The Riverwalk Marina? One thing is for sure, the Mayor and Ripken Baseball don't seem content to let this thing die a quiet death. Stay tuned for updates.***
OS

Related Stories:

• Azziz Should Consult Public of Development of Golf and Gardens Property
• No Joy in Mudville: Has Deke Struck Out Over Downtown Ballpark?
• Field of Schemes: can Russell Be Trusted Over Downtown Ballpark
• Just What Augusta Needs: Another Ballpark Study!
• The Truth is a Funny Thing in Aberdeen, MD Over Publicly Financed Ballparks

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