On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the City of Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) rejected an appeal by Ballastone Inn Property, LLC, of the Certificate of Appropriateness issued on May 14, 2025, by the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review, for the overscale building proposed at 20-24 East Oglethorpe Avenue.

Thanks for your over 50 letters of support for the appeal and thanks to those of you who spoke in person. While we usually say your letters made a difference, in this case the ZBA showed its indifference to local residents and owners of downtown historic properties. Testimony was heard from representatives of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and the owner of the historic General Lachlan McIntosh House. The Beehive Foundation wrote a letter supporting the appeal as did the Downtown Neighborhood Association, whose president came to speak but was cut off before he was able to finish his remarks.

As expected, the ZBA ignored most of the legal arguments made by the appellant and cited the height map and bonus floor as the only rules they would apply, despite several other sections of the Ordinance being relevant to the appeal. Surprisingly, the ZBA had no issue with the HDBR deciding on the basis of their opinions, philosophies and personal desires rather than applying the Ordinance.

 A balanced write up of the hearing can be found in Savannah Morning News: https://share.google/jOGGw3rABgfxRVqbn 

An appeal of the ZBA decision would need to be filed in Superior Court. We will provide you more information as this story unfolds.