AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s six acres downtown near the river, and city leaders know the site should be more than a parking lot.“Anything that adds to our tax base. It’s important. We get income producing properties that contribute to our tax base so we can help keep taxes low in Augusta-Richmond County,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.The depot property was going to be the site of a $94 million dollar residential and commercial development, but the builders walked away in 2020.But this week, commissioners approved to allow the Development Authority access to the property, opening the door for a potential developer to conduct tests.“So, this now gives us the ability to give someone access to do any testing as they evaluate future projects,” said Cal Wray President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority.
“So, we have somebody on the line to do the testing?”
“Obviously, you know that, we do have somebody interested in the site and this is that first step, how they evaluate the site does it work for their project,” said Wray.Wray said because of the deal with Unisys a parking deck would be part of the project,…