Turn Back the Block will soon start its next build in Harrisburg.
Keith Blaschke of South Georgia Homes will work with the nonprofit to construct the home at 2104 Mill View St., according to Ashley Brown, Turn Back the Block’s executive director.
“We’re looking forward to partnering with him. He’s in the midst of learning more about Harrisburg and the architecture of this historic neighborhood,” said Brown, who added the organization’s board of directors approved the project on Aug. 18.
Founded in the early 18th century, Harrisburg is named after Ezekiel Harris, a merchant whose home still stands on Broad Street. The area is a National Historic District, according to the organization’s website.
Homes grew up around it and became a mill village for employees at King, Sibley, Enterprise and Sutherland Mills.
Many homes are in the shotgun style which are narrow homes with no hallways, so the rooms connect directly with each other. Homes in the neighborhood often had tin roofs and front porches.
The new home will be about 1,550 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. With the porches, it will be more than 1,800 square feet. It will be slightly elevated to give the homeowners a view into downtown Augusta.
Brown anticipates having a groundbreaking event in the coming weeks.
This will be the 10th home built by Turn Back the Block. The organization has renovated another nine homes and has 27 lots it provides upkeep for and that are suitable to build on.
More than building homes and maintaining property, Turn Back the Block provides a sense of community with block parties and other events throughout the year, according to Brown.
The organization recently partnered with the University of Georgia’s Connected Resilient Communities program, which “helps Georgia communities tap into the resources and expertise at UGA to address local issues and become more attractive to economic development. CRC communities partner with experts from UGA to complete three projects, over 12-18 months, designed to increase resiliency,” according to a June 2025 Augusta Good News article.
Projects include revitalizing the Vernon Forrest Park on Telfair Street, the beautification with safety enhancements of two main streets within the district and a 10 to 15-year plan to forecast areas of growth in the neighborhood
Turn Back the Block started in 2010. After the mills closed, the neighborhood began to decline with properties becoming blighted. The idea was to take the neighborhood back to its “former glory,” the website said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
