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Commission approves partial demolition to create pedestrian alley linking James Brown Blvd. to Augusta Commons
Summary
The commission approved demolition of a small portion of a 1906 building to create a pedestrian alley to the Augusta Commons, subject to photographic documentation, salvaging of brick where feasible and design differentiation between original and new masonry.
The Historic Preservation Commission approved a conditional certificate of appropriateness allowing the removal of a section of a 1906 building at 122 James Brown Boulevard to create a pedestrian alley leading to the Augusta Commons.
Todd Kennedy presented the application and noted the proposal is part of a larger project to improve downtown pedestrian circulation. Matthew Rocks, the applicant, said demolition would be performed by hand where possible and that his team has discussed salvaging existing brick for reuse. Historic Augusta recommended photographs to document the existing condition before demolition, and suggested a slight projection at the new wall to make a clear distinction between the historic fabric and new construction; commissioners concurred and incorporated those recommendations into the motion.
Why it matters: The alley would provide a new pedestrian connection to the Augusta Commons and requires careful treatment of historic materials; the commission explicitly required salvaging and documentation because matching century-old brick is challenging.
Next steps: Applicant to provide photographic documentation, a salvage plan, and permit applications before demolition and follow staff-specified details for differentiation between old and new masonry.
