August 18, 2025
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: Multiple Victories at the August 13, 2025, HDBR
Many thanks to all of you OPC subscribers who wrote letters to and/or spoke so eloquently at last Wednesday's hearing of the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review.
Darth Vader Sent Back to the Drawing Board
Massive Through-Lot Wall at 118 W. Harris Continued
Applicant of Overscale Building at 20-24 E. Oglethorpe Withdraws from the Agenda
Southern Belle Retreats Temporarily on Signage
Junior League Respects Neighborhood Concerns
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
Street Talk:
Darth Vader Sent Back to the Drawing Board
With tremendous public opposition, the proposed carriage house, dubbed the "Darth Vader" carriage house because of its ominous first renderings, failed to pass COA Part 1. The location was 219 E. York Lane between Abercorn and Lincoln. Usually, the HDBR likes to offer a continuance and allow the applicant to make modifications. However, in this case, the HDBR stated that there were too many problems to fix and recommended outright denial.
Massive Through-Lot Wall at 118 W. Harris Continued
The proposed addition to 118 West Harris between Whitaker and Barnard featured a two-to-three-story wall running along the eastern property line from the front townhouse almost through to the lane, creating a massive barrier separating the open spaces of adjoining properties. This design contradicts guidance from the National Park Service, which considers such extensions a "culprit" that threatens the integrity of the district.
The height of the wall and the chaotic massing of the design were just a few of the HDBR's concerns. In this case, they allowed the applicant to continue the application to address these issues.
Applicant of Overscale Building at 20-24 E. Oglethorpe Withdraws from the Agenda
Public opposition has been strongly against the proposed six-story “maybe-it’s-a-hotel” at 20-24 E. Oglethorpe between Bull and Drayton, just steps from the historic Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. The neighboring building owner, the Ballastone Inn Property, LLC, filed a petition in Superior Court on Monday August 11, 2925, to overturn the HDBR's approval of a COA Part 1 for the proposal. The filing of the petition invokes an automatic statutory stay of proceedings, including a Part II application. The Part I height and mass approved by the HDBR is below.
This project is on hold at the moment. We will keep you posted about publicly available information regarding the court proceedings. Stay tuned.
Southern Belle Steps Back Temporarily
Southern Belle, the infamous STVR management company that destroyed the beloved Clermont Lee garden at 3 West Perry, chose to continue its application for excessive signage.
Junior League Respects Neighborhood Concerns
The Junior League's proposed monument will be before the Historic Site and Monument Commission on September 4, 2025. We applaud the Junior League for addressing concerns of the residents of Anson Ward about the location originally proposed, Oglethorpe Square.
The updated application proposes to place the monument off Bay Street near the Hyatt. Please let us know your thoughts on the appropriateness of this proposal at this new location. Full appication can be viewed at: https://www.thempc.org/eagenda/x/smc/2025/september-4-2025-savannah-chatham-county-historic-site-monument-commission-meeting/submittal-packet-100-block-of-west-bay-st.pdf.
Note that this is close to the location of the granite bench celebrating General Oglethorpe’s first night in the new colony: https://gosouthsavannah.com/historic-district-and-city/monuments/oglethorpe-bench.html.
Letters previously sent in opposition to the arch will not likely be applied to this new version of the proposal. If you object, you will need to write again to the MPC at chamberlainc@thempc.org.
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. Our next meeting is planned for early September. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.