June 12, 2023
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to the second edition of our newsletter, in which we keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
Our Mission:
The Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are dedicated to preserving the Savannah Downtown National Historic Landmark District and its unique Oglethorpe Plan.
Update on the Civic Center:
The city has cancelled all public meetings on the Civic Center, including those scheduled for May. No new date has been announced.
It appears the most recent design has been developed by the City without any public input.
The Oglethorpe Plan coalition remains committed to a restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan as mandated by Section 7.8.10(a)(i) of the City of Savannah Code of Ordinances.
We will update you when public meetings are scheduled.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association recently delivered a letter to the City decrying the lack of public input and the abandonment of the proposals for full restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan. See the DNA’s letter here. Join the DNA to get their newsletter.
Correction: In the last newsletter we referred to the design as dating from April 2023; however, it dates from April 2022. No subsequent version is known.
City Moves to Dismiss Appeal of 336 Barnard Street Certificate of Appropriateness:
The grueling work of preparing the certiorari petition (the appeal) for the controversial building proposed at 336 Barnard Street is complete. Documents have been served, and the petition sanctioned by Superior Court.
The City’s response is to file a motion to dismiss the case, which we are responding to.
This appeal will set the parameters for public input on projects affecting our historic district going forward, not just this one building.
We cannot emphasize enough how critical the rules and processes set forth in existing ordinances will be in upcoming projects, particularly the wide-ranging Civic Center redevelopment.
If we allow errors of law and process to stand, they will be used as precedent for future projects.
Matching Gift Challenge:
An Anonymous $5000, matching gift is now on the table. Help us meet and even exceed this generous offer to help pay for attorneys fees. Use this QR or click this link to give.
If you want to donate directly, please send a check to the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc., c/o Andrew Jones, 324 East Broughton St., Savannah, GA 31401.
Monitoring Projects in the District:
The OPC testifies on select projects appearing before the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review. In these meetings we emphasize the importance of adhering to the Ordinance that protects our historic district. We also coordinate with the Downtown Neighborhood Association and others to ensure consistency of messaging.
For example, in May, the OPC testified before the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review regarding renovations of an 1855 Greek revival structure at 17 East Perry Street.
The staff of the Metropolitan Planning Commission had recommended approval of the destruction of an original window and its decorative 1850s cast iron grille to help the developer make the building more useful for commercial profit. The OPC presented to the HDBR as the only witness with actual pictures of the historic conditions that were going to be destroyed. The images showed that the window appeared to be original to the building and that the cast iron window grille matched the pattern of the balcony above. Therefore, under the Ordinance, these features required protection. The Downtown Neighborhood Association and Historic Savannah Foundation concurred with our recommendation. Subsequently, the Board voted unanimously against the destruction of the window and grille.
While this example may appear to be small, each change matters. A historic district rarely dies as a result of a single calamity, rather, without proper stewardship, it deteriorates over time as the result of multiple incremental changes.
It is sad to note, however, that without our input, there would have been no visual evidence at the hearing of the historic nature of the details of the building at issue.
Purpose of the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition:
Over the last decades, the organizations tasked with moderating the pace and nature of change in downtown Savannah have evolved into organizations more interested in development than in preservation. There is no longer any group dedicated solely to preserving the Downtown Historic District. The OPC proposes to fill this void.
We hope to inform interested Savannahians as to the dire current state of affairs in our city and why it matters to protect the principles embodied by the Oglethorpe Plan. Please see our recent presentation to the Downtown Neighborhood Association here. (Starts at minute 43:27.)
What We Do:
Advocacy: Protecting the district and oppose inappropriate development, including supporting residents with appeals and litigation.
Outreach: Working with community groups and city officials to solve important preservation issues.
Education: Increasing public awareness of the importance of the district and the challenges it faces.
Assistance: Providing the public with assistance to understand the Certificate of Appropriateness application and appeal processes, and the requirements under the Ordinance.