AUGUSTA, Ga. () – We are a step closer to finding out the future of the old Weed school property in Augusta’s Sand Hills neighborhood.  Tonight, community members met to talk about what’s next.

At Monday night’s meeting, the Sand Hills community members agreed to convert the old Weed School into 40 affordable housing units.  
The new plan also calls for retail and community space—a change from the original plans that called for 44 senior apartment units.

“This neighborhood has been extremely clear that they wanted something in this neighborhood that spoke to the future,” said Jordan Johnson, District 1 Commissioner. “That preserved their history, but they wanted something nice.”

This meeting allowed the residents to speak amongst themselves before voting.

“This meeting, we opened up with questions, and we stepped out of the room to let the neighborhood have a conversation about what they wanted for their community,” said Johnson.

Audrey Woods lives in Sand Hills and went to Weed School. She is happy that something will be brought back to the area and is hopeful it will return to what it once was.

“I’m very much pleased with what has taken place here tonight, and I’m looking forward to the project moving forward and Sand Hill’s begin to smile again,’ said Dr. Audrey Jones Wood, Resident.

A pastor from a church in the area is glad this project finally will be moving forward.

“I think it was a productive meeting,” said Victor R. Thomas, Pastor.  “Moving forward, we’ve been kicking this can down the road for a long time, and now it’s time to open up this can and see what’s in it. Yeah, so we’re excited and glad that the meeting turned out the way it did. A lot of people in the community came.”

The full Commission will vote on this decision at their meeting on Tuesday.