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By Tom Jackson
tjackson@uga.edu
At a May 30 press conference, the Athens Housing Authority and the university announced an  agreement in principle designed to lead to the sale of nearly five acres of the Parkview Extension neighborhood to UGA for $3.3 million.
The property, located along the east side of Newton Street from Baxter Street to Waddell Street, consists of eight apartment buildings containing 28 vacant apartments and the Athens Housing Authority’s administrative offices and maintenance facility. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents must approve the sale.
Once the sale is approved, the Athens Housing Authority will redirect more than $1 million of federal modernization funds for the construction of a Boys and Girls Club, with a gymnasium, in the J.R. Wells housing community.
“Everyone wins in this situation,” said Rick Parker, executive director of the Athens Housing Authority. His comment was echoed at the press conference by AHA board chair Charlie Maddox, UGA President Michael F. Adams and Athens-Clarke Mayor Doc Eldridge.
The purchase will be made from university auxiliary services funds, says Henry M. Huckaby, senior vice president for finance and administration. “The site is adjacent to the university’s northwest campus and provides opportunities for advancing the facilities master plan with future construction of housing or classrooms,” Huckaby says.
For the immediate future, the land will be used for additional parking to replace interior parking lots being taken by construction.
Adams pledged continued cooperation with the community in matters of common interest and cited a growing list of cooperative ventures, such as the College of Education’s partnership with the Athens-Clarke School District, the College Station gateway, the Baxter Street esplanade, the new fire station constructed on UGA land along Barnett Shoals Road, the Oconee River greenway, Lumpkin Street landscaping, and improvements to Baldwin Street.
The proposed sale is expected to go before the board of regents as early as August. Federal approvals could take the remainder of the calendar year, officials say. |
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