The remaining Augusta Neighborhood Investment Corporation (ANIC) assets which include a 16,000 square foot office building located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd, a 186 unit apartment complex and 11 vacant residential lots have been sold to a new owner.  The transaction was brokered by Sherman & Hemstreet Real Estate Company.

Joe Edge, President of Sherman & Hemstreet stated that,  “The need for growth in this part of our downtown is huge.  There is also a great deal of opportunity to see both housing and commercial real estate growth.”  Joe represented the buyer in the transaction and is the current leasing broker for the 925 Laney Walker office building.  Matt Aitken, a commercial agent with Sherman & Hemstreet co-brokered the transaction and shared his excitement about the project, “I am happy to have the ability to bring our resources, talent and knowledge to better the Laney Walker/Bethlehem community.”

The 16,000 square foot office building is currently 50% occupied.  Edge further stated, “There has been significant interest in the building in the last few weeks and we are very confident that we will be able to lease the remaining space to a professional user that will just further help this growing part of our downtown.”  

The vacant lots consist mostly of the land around the “Enclave Development” which ANIC originally built.  ANIC was originally created to help spur residential growth and home ownership in the Laney Walker/Bethlehem district of downtown Augusta.  With the mission largely accomplished, Sherman & Hemstreet is going to lead the way for more growth in that area for the foreseeable future.  “I am excited about the future of the Laney Walker/Bethlehem community. This transaction marks the beginning of a new partnership with Sherman & Hemstreet.  It’s going to be exciting to watch the growth of residential and commercial real estate and carry out the mission of ANIC,” said Henry Ingram, President of ANIC.

Since ANIC was founded several other groups similar in mission to ANIC have created home ownership opportunities in the area. In addition, the city has been involved in building and selling new homes in the area to help spur redevelopment and home ownership.  Sherman & Hemstreet was recently awarded the contract from the city to assist in the marketing and sale of its Laney Walker/Bethlehem area assets.