Community leaders, project partners, and Allen Homes residents and staff gathered Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Allen Homes Community Garden, officially launching the site preparation and construction for a resident-informed placemaking connected to Augusta’s Choice Neighborhood Initiative.
The Choice Neighborhood Project focuses on revitalizing the Allen Homes community, which was identified as distressed public housing. The project, led by the City of Augusta and the Augusta Housing Authority, received a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to develop a comprehensive plan for transforming the area. Partnerships in this initiative include Black Farm Street Inc. Augusta Locally Grown, the Augusta Housing Authority and the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
Planned improvements include raised, irrigated community garden beds, a shaded education and gathering area, future ongoing garden-based educational programming, public art installations, and the revitalization of the existing basketball court. A highlight of the project will be the installation of two new murals created by local artists Destinee Love and Emily Bender. Each component reflects priorities identified by residents during the Choice Neighborhood planning process, ensuring the space is shaped by those who live there…