News 12 at 11 o'clock, September 4, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- On Thursday, the last man left in Gilbert Manor prepares to move out. The public housing neighborhood is fading into the past as MCG looks to grow.

It is a ghost town in Gilbert Manor right now. The doors and windows are all boarded up and there's just remnants of what used to be life there. That's why Anthony Williams says it is time for him to go as well,but he'll take a lifetime of memories with him.

When you see Anthony Williams, you can see the move is hard for him. He's lived in the housing project for over 17 years. Recently the Board of Regents approved a deal to buy the property so M-C-G can expand.

But many of the people living there were not happy about leaving. Williams who is wheelchair bound - is the last to leave.

"A lot of people didn't really want to go, cause everybody knew everybody and they looked out for each other," says Williams.

"Bottom line, we made every effort to help the residents get to where they wanted to go and get the best living conditions they could get,"says Harden Oldfield, Director of Resident Services for the Augusta Housing Authority.

"Most of the residents by and far are better off most of them I've talked to have said thank you so much for sending us to these new apartments."

Oldfield says finding a place for the last two residents was difficult, but they made every effort to satisfy the tenants.

It was a bittersweet day for williams as he sat on his porch for the last time.

He says the hardest part in all of this is not the fact that he has to leave -but leaving with only his memories to take with him.

"I guess when I pass by here I'll always have the memories.You won't forget the memories you had over here.You just take'em with you.

Gilbert Manor was built back in 1941. The property is almost 60 years old. A date has not been announced as to when construction and the new MCG facilities will be built.