June 18, 2025
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to our newsletter, in which we will keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
We Savannahians are witnessing a sustained degradation of the very qualities that make our Downtown Historic District unique and a national treasure. Ever more inappropriate development is proposed every few weeks. We at the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. are dedicated to addressing these threats and protecting the Downtown Savannah National Historic District.
In This Issue:
Street Talk
Appeal Filed in Opposition of Proposed Six-Story Behemoth on Oglethorpe Avenue
Junior League Proposes Metal Arched Gate to Nowhere in Oglethorpe Square
Darth Vader Carriage House Postponed
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
Street Talk:
Appeal Filed in Opposition of Proposed Six-Story Behemoth on Oglethorpe Avenue
On May 14, 2025, the Historic District Board of Review approved a new six-story building (plus mechanical floor) on Oglethorpe Avenue, adjacent to the Ballastone Inn and steps away from the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and the 1700s Lachlan McIntosh House. This building was approved despite the fact that there are no six-story contributing buildings in the neighborhood, and 95% are four stories or less, making the six-story behemoth a true anomaly. Below is an image of one of the buildings owned by the Ballastone, with the proposal at the right.
In approving the proposal, the HDBR failed to fully apply the Design Standards, which are provisions in the Ordinance whose intent is to protect the nearby contributing structures. In fact, one board member stated that his philosophy was that it wasn’t possible for a new building to “pay homage” to historic resources and that only people who didn’t “love” Savannah would reject the proposal. One has to wonder why individuals who openly refuse to apply the Ordinance are permitted to be members of the HDBR, whose sole and important duty it is to apply the standards and protect the district.
The HDBR also failed to acknowledge the many small contributing buildings nearby, with which this proposal is visually incompatible.
An appeal of the decision has been filed with the City of Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals and is tentatively scheduled for July 24, 2025.
Junior League Proposes Metal Arched Gate to Nowhere in Oglethorpe Square
On July 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM at 112 East State Street, the Historic Site and Monument Commission will review a proposal for a monument to the Junior League in Oglethorpe Square, the site of the historic Owens-Thomas House. Many neighbors are not happy with the proposal. It is an arched gate nearly 13 feet high composed of ornamental metalwork supposedly “reminiscent” of cast iron.
Unfortunately, the quality of the craftsmanship is not in fact reminiscent of the squares’ beautiful examples of cast iron, such as the side portico of the Owens-Thomas House and the railings of nearby Greek Revival houses. Rather, the proposed metalwork is more reminiscent of garden railings from a home improvement chain store. To place such a mediocre assemblage amongst actual high-quality cast iron is disrespectful to the historic integrity of the District’s cultural resources.
In addition, the gate’s depiction of figures draws from kitsch commercial art. While tastes in art may differ, this hardly qualifies as fine art worthy of the Historic District. And because tastes do differ, the residents of the downtown, who invest millions in maintaining their historic homes, should not be burdened with unwanted “art” that denigrates the beauty of what they are trying to preserve.
We hope the Junior League will relocate this structure outside the Historic District.
The OPC has reached out directly to the Junior League, but a call has not yet taken place.
The agenda for the public hearing on July 10, 2025, is here: https://www.thempc.org/eagenda/x/smc/2025/july-10-2025-savannah-chatham-county-historic-site-monument-commission-meeting/6124_37980.pdf
Darth Vader Carriage House Postponed
As reported in our June 6, 2025 Preservation Alert, the proposal for a dreary, dark and ominous structure at 219 East York Lane, initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, has been continued to a future date to be announced.
This proposal is visually incompatible with the contributing buildings near it in every way imaginable. While most carriage houses have a horizontal expression, this three-story 15-foot-wide proposal has a vertical expression. Its fenestration and materials are not visually compatible with the nearby contributing structures. Moreover, the cantilever on its west façade is not a building form found on any contributing structure in the area and encroaches on the space typically used for a garden party wall. This proposal more closely resembles Savannah’s stacked shipping containers at the port than anything in the National Historic Landmark District.
We also note that the insurance maps indicate that this property never had a carriage house.
Hopefully, the property owners will return with a better design. We will keep you posted as this proposal develops.
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
The OPC is a volunteer group, and we want you! Please contact us at opc.preservation@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. We will have a meeting on Sunday, April 6, at 7PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
Additional Links of Interest
Draft Savannah Strategic Plan:
https://savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33367/Proposed-Savannah-GPS-Your-Strategic-Plan?bidId=
Feedback Form: https://www.savannahga.gov/4071/Savannah-GPS
March 4, 2025
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to our newsletter, in which we will keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
We Savannahians are witnessing a sustained degradation of the very qualities that make our Downtown Historic District unique and a national treasure. Ever more inappropriate development is proposed every few weeks. We at the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. are dedicated to addressing these threats and protecting the Downtown Savannah National Historic District.
In This Issue:
Street Talk
Monumental Commercial Office Complex Coming to Forsyth Park
Behemoth Maybe-It’s-a-Hotel at 20-24 East Oglethorpe
Partial Demolition of Contributing Structure Continues at 201 West Jones
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
Street Talk:
Monumental Commercial Office Complex Coming to Forsyth Park
Welcome to the end of Forsyth Park as you have known and loved it.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) is aggressively pushing a proposal for a 400-plus underground car garage to support a monumental three-building private office complex overlooking the southwest corner of the park. The underlying property owners and their agents, who overlap with the development group, include high-profile donors to the campaigns of the Mayor and many of the individual city aldermen. The public has spoken against this project since its inception, but the proponents of this project, including the City, SEDA and the MPC, do not seem to value the public’s opinion.
The project will be reviewed under the provisions of the Victorian District Historic Overlay at the Historic Preservation Commission on March 26, 2025 at 2 PM at 112 East State Street. Consider attending in person and/or submitting a comment. Public comments letters should be addressed to mellonj@thempc.org. Here’s the link to the agenda item: https://www.thempc.org/eagenda/x/hpc/2025/march-26-2025-historic-preservation-commission-meeting/6045_37435.pdf
The OPC is not directly involved in this matter at this stage as our primary focus is on the National Historic Landmark District, which is north of Gwinnett Street. If you would like to connect with individuals and groups opposed to the project, please reach out to the Forsyth Park Community Alliance. https://fpcasavannah.com
Unfortunately, an agent of one of the property owners sits on the board of the Victorian Neighborhood Association (VNA). Consequently, other groups, such as the Forsyth Park Community Alliance, are more likely to help you oppose the project.
Neighbors of the project have noted that the traffic and noise which the project will generate will overwhelm this established, historic, pedestrian friendly residential neighborhood. They believe it will have grave consequences for the southwest quadrant of the Downtown Historic District as well, even though the project is just outside the technical boundary.
Behemoth Maybe-It’s-a-Hotel at 20-24 East Oglethorpe, Continued
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the Historic District Review Board (HDBR) reviewed an application for a massive 6-story structure proposed at 20-24 East Oglethorpe Avenue, 73 feet high and over 80 feet across. The HDBR expressed concern about the mass and height not being visually compatible and the mass not being consistent with the large-scale development rules. The HDBR “continued” the application, allowing the applicant to revise its design accordingly and present at an upcoming hearing.
In the hearing, the architect stated that the Ballastone Inn, the immediate next-door neighbor supported the project. A member of the HDBR countered that one of the letters in opposition was from the Ballastone.
Another member of the HDBR asked if the roof decks were permitted (They are not.). The architect responded that she did not know what the roof deck rules were.
Counsel for the owner dismissed the letters from the public because some of them drew their language from a form letter. Counsel suggested he would use AI to generate whatever letters the HDBR wanted to show support for the project.
Public testimony pointed out a misrepresentation in the application. Such a misrepresentation should have required an automatic denial and the submittal of a new application with truthful information. The application stated that the owner was a hotel operator, while the actual owner is an LLC.
We express much thanks to all the OPC supporters who sent in letters. Despite counsel’s attempt to ridicule it, the public outcry was a significant factor in the board’s review.
Unfortunately, the HDBR spent very little time addressing the lot recombination which it summarily approved, thereby allowing the owner to destroy an original tithing lot line of the original four wards dating to Savannah’s founding in 1733. One purpose of the rules on recombinations is to prevent the combination of lots for large buildings, such as hotels.
We will alert you as this project develops.
Partial Demolition of Contributing Structure Continues at 201 West Jones
Last year, the HDBR and ZBA approved the demolition of most of the rear portion of a contributing structure at 201 West Jones Street. The OPC opposed the proposal because the demolition destroyed character-defining features of the building and was not reversible.
The application and subsequent MPC staff reports described most the rear as not being original. Similar assertions were made at the ZBA.
Above is a photo of the demolition at 201 West Jones Street. Under the third floor, which is surfaced with finished brick, are several courses of rough brick (not intended for external use). In those courses one sees various holes where wooden beams attached.
This photo clearly shows that the majority of the rear portion of the building (now demolished) was part of the original 1850s structure. The MPC continues to disagree, despite the newly revealed evidence.
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
The OPC is a volunteer group, and we want you! Please contact us at opc.preservation@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. We will have a meeting on Sunday, April 6, at 7PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
January 2, 2025
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to our newsletter, in which we will keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
We Savannahians are witnessing a sustained degradation of the very qualities that make our Downtown Historic District unique and a national treasure. Ever more inappropriate development is proposed every few weeks. We at the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. are dedicated to addressing these threats and protecting the Downtown Savannah National Historic District.
In This Issue:
- Year In Review: 2024 Sees Major Accomplishments for Preservation but Witnesses a Few Setbacks
- OPC Reveals Errors in Applying Staff Reviews
Street Talk
Preservation Alert Update: Overscale Hotel at 301 Tattnall Denied, Victory!
Roof Deck on Hull Street Halted for Now
Year in Review: 2024 Sees Major Accomplishments for Preservation but Witnesses a Few Setbacks
Accomplishments:
In 2024, the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review (HDBR) made great strides in enforcing the terms of the ordinance that protects the Savannah Downtown Historic District. In prior years, the Ordinance was enforced inconsistently. In 2022, the HDBR was not even familiar with the terminology applicable to the Oglethorpe Plan, such as tithing lots. Because of our insistence that the HDBR follow the Ordinance through our testimony at almost every hearing in 2023 and 2024, the HDBR has been increasingly following the law as written.
Major accomplishments in 2024 included the HDBR’s acknowledgement that the visual compatibility rules override the height allowances. For example, if a developer plans to build a six-story hotel next to a historic two-story dwelling, the hotel may be limited to three to four floors. This is because the new building must be visually compatible with its neighbor in height, even if the maximum height allowed is six stories. In the past, the HDBR allowed new buildings to dwarf their historic neighbors.
Another victory was the acknowledgement by the HDBR that the visual compatibility test requires the comparison of a new building with the contributing (historic) buildings within view exclusively. Applicants have often cited buildings many blocks away, a practice which could justify almost any proposal.
The most recent victory was the enforcement of the prohibition of roof decks facing streets. Many neighbors suffer from late-night noise from (often unpermitted) rooftop party decks. See “On the Street,” below.
Expected improvements by the City in 2025 include a more transparent approach to staff reviews. These are approvals granted by the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) without a public hearing. From now on, in the Downtown Historic District such reviews will be limited to existing contributing buildings and cannot be used to approve new buildings. Additionally, the MPC has promised to post these publicly on its website. This will give adjacent property owners an opportunity to appeal any undesirable approvals to the Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals. For more details, see article on staff reviews, below.
Setbacks:
Unfortunately, one major setback this year was the City’s decision to drop its commitment to restore the entirety of the Oglethorpe Plan at the Civic Center site. In the late sixties, the City destroyed many blocks in the heart of the historic district in what was the single greatest act of destruction since the 1966 designation. Prior City Councils had agreed to a full restoration, but the present City Council does not value our history to the same extent. The OPC proposed directly to the City that the Mercer Theatre be rebuilt on City-owned property at 301 MLK Boulevard, a large parking lot next to the Visitors Center. Without explanation, the City refused to recognize this as a viable option, saying that it was not aware of any parcel that was available.
The OPC nonetheless continues to urge the City to reconsider its decision in light of the public’s support for the restoration. Our Change.orgpetition to restore the entirety of the Oglethorpe Plan has received over 500 signatures. [Link]. We believe the City has an obligation to preserve and restore the plan as previously agreed to maintain Savannah’s National Historic Landmark designation.
One other troubling pattern in HDBR hearings in 2024 was the reliance of the HDBR on empty promises by the applicants, especially when considering whether to allow the applicant to destroy protected historic features under the ruse that the change was “reversible.” One typical example was where an applicant, who intended to destroy historic fabric, promised to keep it “onsite” so that the alteration could be undone at some point in the future. Unfortunately, oral promises are typically unenforceable. When the applicant subsequently sells the property, the new purchaser is under no such obligation to retain historic materials or to return a property to its historic state. The only solution is to bind the applicant in writing with a covenant that runs with the land and is enforceable against subsequent owners.
Sadly 2025 will witness the construction of buildings that the HDBR approved in 2022 or before, i.e., that period when the HDBR was not consistently enforcing the Ordinance. One of these projects is the Amelia apartment building at the northeast corner of Lincoln Street and East Oglethorpe Avenue. This building towers over the three-story townhouse next door and the two-story dwelling to its north in defiance of visual compatibility of height and mass. Another regrettable building is the new hotel at 220 East Bryan Street, whose seven stories overwhelm the charming three-story building next door, home to Abe’s on Lincoln. These overscale buildings should not have been permitted, but now we will have to live with them without any means of redress for the damage they will inflict on the character of our neighborhood.
In 2025, the OPC will continue to fight to save the district. We appreciate your support and welcome your input.
OPC Reveals Errors in Applying Staff Reviews
For years, the MPC Staff has been providing staff reviews, which are approvals of changes that are determined by the MPC not to require the applicant to go to a hearing or post a notice. This process makes sense for minor changes, such as replacing a rotting window with an identically sized new window.
The Ordinance provides a specific set of minor changes that can receive staff reviews. However, these only apply to contributing buildings, which are buildings deemed worthy of saving. They do not apply to non-contributing buildings such as new construction, which often involves controversial applications, such as oversized hotels.
The MPC nonetheless has been applying the rules incorrectly, applying them to new construction and other noncontributing buildings. Thus, changes that should have been reviewed by the HDBR have been kept out of their hands and decided in a process that does not include a notice or a public hearing open to public testimony.
This is important because when the public weighs in on a controversial project, such as a new hotel, the public should be able to assume that the HDBR decision is final. However, if the MPC allows the applicant to subsequently tweak these designs without public input, the applicant will have managed to circumvent the public process.
On a positive note, the MPC Staff has acknowledged that their practices do not conform to the Ordinance and has indicated that its internal guidelines will be updated to properly reflect the Ordinance.
In addition, the MPC has promised to post staff reviews on their website as they become available. This will give an adjacent property owner who opposes a staff review the opportunity to file an appeal to the ZBA. The OPC applauds the correction in guidelines and the promise to increase transparency.
Street Talk:
Preservation Alert Update: Victory! On January 8, the Historic District Review Board (HDBR) denied the application for a massive hotel at 301 Tattnall Street. We extend our thanks to you supporters for sending in over 100 letters opposing this inappropriate proposal. In denying the hotel on visual compatibility grounds, the Historic District Review Board cited the large outcry from the community against this project. Congratulations to you for your activism and your success!
Our original alert from January 2, 2024 is below:
Preservation Alert: Overscale Hotel at 301 Tattnall Returns to HDBR
As we previewed in our October 8, 2024, preservation alert, an application to build a six-story hotel was presented at the HDBR on October 9, 2024. The height of the proposed building was multiples of the height of its two-and-three-story neighbors.
The OPC spoke forcefully against the hotel, as did many of the neighbors. The HDBR rejected the proposal and directed the applicant to redesign the building to be no more than three to four stories. This decision was a great win for preservation.
The applicant is appearing before the HDBR on Wednesday, January 8, at 1:00 PM at 112 East State Street with a revised design. Unfortunately, the design does not reflect the guidance of the HDBR to limit the height to only three to four stories. Below are the original (left) and the revised (right) designs. The OPC believes it is still too large in height and mass compared to the historic building seen to the left of the proposal.
Even if you have previously sent a letter on this project to the MPC, please do so again, prior to Monday January 6, 2025. Here is a sample letter:
Dear Mr. Mellon,
I hereby request that the HDBR deny the updated application for the hotel at 301 Tattnall Street because its height and mass is not visually compatible with that of the historic contributing buildings within view.
[signature]
Please send your letter to mellonj@thempc.org. In addition, please copy opc.preservation@gmail.com. Unfortunately, not all letters end up posted to the record. We would like to maintain an independent record in the event of future appeals.
Roof Deck on Hull Street Halted for Now
On December 11, 2024, the HDBR denied a special exception for a roof deck at 405 E. Hull St. This decision was largely based on letters from you and other members of the public opposing the proposed deck. Congratulations.
A rooftop deck facing a street is not permitted without a special exception. To obtain the special exception, the owner must prove that the deck would not, among other things, be detrimental to the welfare of the neighborhood. The pertinent part of the criteria provides, that the “special exception would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, welfare, function, and appearance of the adjacent uses or general vicinity.”
Residents expressed concern about late-night noise from rooftop decks, especially those associated with STVRs. Residents noted that it is difficult to get Code Compliance to meaningfully address the situation.
While the current residents of 405 E. Hull may not themselves cause any problems, the deck is permanent, and one does not know who will occupy the property afterwards. It is worth noting that 405 E. Hull itself has been an owner-occupied STVR in the past.
The applicant may still pursue other remedies. The OPC will be watching closely.
The OPC welcomes any input on next steps to try to preserve this historic facade.
For more information on this proposal, see the OPC Newsletter dated September 29, 2024.
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
The OPC is a volunteer group, and we want you! Please contact us at opc.preservation@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. We will have a meeting on Sunday, October 6, at 7PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
Invite Us to Your Event for a Discussion of Hot Topics in the District
The OPC would be glad to attend your event, be it a neighborhood association or other community group, to share our concerns and hear your views about the state of the historic district. Please reach out to us at opc.preservation@gmail.com.
November 13, 2024
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to our newsletter, in which we will keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
We Savannahians are witnessing a sustained degradation of the very qualities that make our Downtown Historic District unique and a national treasure. Ever more inappropriate development is proposed every few weeks. We at the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. are dedicated to addressing these threats and protecting the Downtown Savannah National Historic District.
In This Issue:
Community Engagement Plays Key Role in the Battle to Preserve the District
HDBR Undertakes Historic Preservation Training
Street Talk
Massive New Building on East Oglethorpe Dwarfs Its Historic Neighbors
Partial Demolition of Contributing Building on West Jones Street to Proceed
Huge Hotel at 301 Tattnall Street Faces Re-Design After Important Preservation Principles Affirmed
400 Block of Charlton and Macon Streets Protected from Unsightly Alteration
20-24 East Oglethorpe ContinuedEast Broughton Street Volunteers Hold Meeting with City on Streetscapes Design
Community Engagement Plays Key Role in the Battle to Preserve the District
Congratulations to all of you who are participating in the preservation process. Many of you voiced your opposition to the proposed oversized six-story hotel at 301 Tattnall. You and your neighbors sent over 70 letters in opposition, and many of you attended the HDBR hearing on October 9, 2024 to voice your opposition.
As a result, the Historic District Board of Review actually enforced the terms of the Zoning Ordinance and demanded that the developer redesign its proposal (more below).
In addition, you and your neighbors showed up at the HDBR to oppose an unsightly exterior elevator at 422 East Charlton Street, and your voices helped convince the HDBR to deny the proposal (more below).
These good outcomes show how important it is for all of us to be aware and engaged in the process.
The Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. is here to help you make your voices heard.
HDBR Undertakes Historic Preservation Training
On October 30, 2024, the MPC offered a course in historic preservation training for the City’s Review Boards and allowed the preservation community to attend.
Members of the OPC attended this training. The OPC enthusiastically supports this training.
Over the last almost two years the OPC has consistently called for enforcement of the Ordinance. The training clarified that the source of the HDBR’s authority comes solely from the Ordinance and that the HDBR must interpret the Ordinance according to its plain meaning without any bias in favor of the applicant.
Street Talk:
Massive New Building on East Oglethorpe Dwarfs Its Historic Neighbors
A new building, called the Amelia, is being constructed on the northeast corner of East Oglethorpe and Lincoln. This building, which is highly visible from as far away as Columbia Square and the Colonial Cemetery, is greater in height and volume that almost all of the buildings surrounding it. Other than this inappropriate newcomer, the remainder of the neighborhood is one of the most historic and well-preserved in Savannah, boasting such sites as the Davenport House and the Owens-Thomas Richardson House by William Jay.
The building rises five stories, adjacent to much smaller 3-story townhouses and across the lane from a two-story house.
Neighbors are deeply concerned about the loss of historic integrity to the area caused by the building. Passersby stare at it asking each other “How did that get there?” A review of the minutes of the HDBR dated August 10, 2022 seem to show that the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) had worked with the developer and did not object to the building’s overall height and mass. Despite testimony from a neighbor concerned about the appropriateness of that mass in such a historical location, the HDBR approved the proposal’s height and mass. Residents now are in shock that the HSF, whom they thought would protect the area, instead acquiesced to this extremely inappropriate structure.
At the time of the approval, the OPC did not yet exist, not having been formed until 2023.
Partial Demolition of Contributing Building on West Jones Street to Proceed
On Thursday October 24, 2024, the City of Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals denied an appeal to overturn the COA for 201 West Jones, thereby allowing partial demolition and new construction to proceed. The OPC supported the appeal in order to save the integrity of the building, which is a contributing building in the Savannah Downtown National Landmark Historic District and dates from 1852.
This matter is important because there has been a profusion of similar additions proposed across the district. House flippers can now buy buildings, get COAs for additions, and likely resell for a higher price without even starting construction. We face the risk of a massive loss to the integrity of the district.
This building was featured on p. 52 of the National Park Service 2018 report on Savannah under "Threats to the Plan" in the discussion of overbuilding in back yards. (The photo mislabeled the side of the building as being on Bull; it is on Barnard Street). The photo showed the building at 201 West Jones as an example of what should be preserved.
Unfortunately, the COA allows for the demolition and obscuring of virtually the entire rear facade, much of which is visible from the street. Supporting this demolition project was the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), which claims it “Saves buildings, places….” and one of its former employees, a consultant to developers, who made ad hominem attacks against those of us trying to save the building.
The OPC welcomes any input on next steps to try to preserve this historic facade.
For more information on this proposal, see the OPC Newsletter dated September 29, 2024.
Huge Hotel at 301 Tattnall Street Faces Re-Design After Important Preservation Principles Affirmed
As we previewed in October 8, 2024 preservation alert, an application to build a six-story hotel was presented at the HDBR on October 9, 2024. The height of the proposed building was multiples of the height of its two-and-three-story neighbors.
The OPC spoke forcefully against the hotel, as did many of the neighbors. The HDBR rejected the proposal and directed the applicant to redesign the building to be no more than three to four stories. This decision was a great win for preservation.
Additionally, the HDBR took two important positions. First, it finally recognized (as the OPC had been arguing since its inception) that the visual compatibility test requires a comparison with the nearby contributing buildings, not cherry-picked buildings from many blocks away. This marks the first time that the HDBR has expressly followed the visual compatibility rule as it is written in the Ordinance.
Also of significance was the HDBR’s recognition that under the Ordinance, visual compatibility criteria override the height provisions in the design standards, including the height map and the bonus floor provisions. The HDBR concluded that there are places where a building that satisfies the height map and bonus floor requirements nonetheless cannot be approved because it does not pass the visual compatibility criteria.
400 Block of Charlton and Macon Streets Protected from Unsightly Alteration
As we reported in our October 8, 2024 Preservation Alert, an exterior elevator tower was proposed at 422 East Charlton, whose rear façade faces Macon Street. The elevator tower would have ruined the continuity of the rear facades of the entire row of houses backing onto the south side of Macon Street.
At the HDBR hearing on October 9, 2024, neighbors appeared and spoke forcefully in opposition. Although the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) held an easement that allowed it to prohibit the tower, HSF came out in favor of the tower. The OPC opposed the tower. The HDBR listened to the public and the OPC and applied the Ordinance to conclude that the tower was not visually compatible.
This good outcome was another example showing how important it is for all of us to be aware and engaged in the process.
20-24 East Oglethorpe Continued
The developer of the six-story building proposed at 20-24 East Oglethorpe requested a continuance of its application while the project is undergoing a redesign to better comply with the Ordinance. The OPC is working with the owner and architects in an effort to ensure compliance.
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
The OPC is a volunteer group, and we want you! Please contact us at opc.preservation@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. We will have a meeting on Sunday, October 6, at 7PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
Invite Us to Your Event for a Discussion of Hot Topics in the District
The OPC would be glad to attend your event, be it a neighborhood association or other community group, to share our concerns and hear your views about the state of the historic district. Please reach out to us at opc.preservation@gmail.com.