June 7, 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. (Image from Baedeker’s United States, 4th Edition, 1909. Private Collection.)
In This Issue:
Updated Perspectives on the Savannah Civic Center Development Project
Street Talk
HDBR Rejects Inappropriate Addition to 201 West Jones Street
17 East Perry To Be Restored
City Council Rejects Zoning Change at SE Corner of E Broad and Gwinnett
E Bro Project Begins Outreach
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
Invite Us to Your Event for a Discussion of Hot Topics in the District
Updated Perspectives on the Savannah Civic Center Development Project
In our last newsletter dated May 4, (available on this site), we set forth the OPC's view on the optimal plan for the development of the Civic Center site, recommending a full restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan across the entire site.
For those who agree with this position, you can make your voice heard by signing the petition at https://chng.it/YFDdKK2h4J, now at almost 300 signatures.
The City, which plans to make a decision by resolution June 27, has updated its 3-options for the development of the site here:
The first option is to restore the arena and the Johnny Mercer Theatre (JMT). The second is to demolish both. In the second proposed option, the City has incorporated our recommendation (in the May 14 petition cited above) to build a new theatre. The third option is to demolish the arena and restore the JMT.
Three issues have emerged from the ongoing discussions and presentations concerning the development of the Civic Center site:
The City's cost analysis of the alternatives is incomplete and overstates the cost of Option 2, demolishing the entire site and building a new theatre (on nearby city-owned property).
Unlike Option 2, Option 3 would cause permanent harm to the Oglethorpe Plan.
Option 3 will have a limited shelf life, necessitating a future capital spend to develop a new theater, making Option 2 the most cost effective option.
Cost Analysis:
In comparing the cost of maintaining the JMT in its current spot (Option 3) versus building a new theater (Option 2), the City overstates the cost of the new theatre at $210 to $230 million. By comparison, the Gaillard in Charleston, SC purportedly cost in the range of $140 million. The City also understates the cost of renovation. The renovation of the Geffen Theatre in New York cost approximately $550 million. Most real estate professionals will state that it is cheaper to build new than to renovate. We believe the cost of option two, after subtracting $80 million for the land sales, is closer to a net $60 million. An additional 40 million dollars income is projected by the city in the form of tax revenue over the next 40 years if JMT removed and land freed for private development.
Additionally, no provision has been made in the calculation of the cost of maintaining the JMT in its current location for the parking required to support the theater. Like the JMT itself, any municipal parking (whether lot or garage) occupies valuable real estate, and the loss of such revenue should be included in any cost comparison.
Permanent Harm:
Option three includes the possibility of building a new 120,000 sq. ft. municipal office building to hide the north façade of the JMT. To do so, the City would build on the public green space along Oglethorpe Avenue.
This option not only removes the legitimate tithing lot from private sale and future tax revenue, but also bulldozes the magnificent line of live oaks that form an essential gateway link into the historic district.
This proposed office building is intended to be a permanent structure thereby doing irrevocable damage to Oglethorpe Avenue. It drastically expands the stretch encroachment of new oversized buildings that dominate the Oglethorpe Avenue entrance to the Historic District.
Limited Shelf Life:
The option to keep the JMT overlooks the limited “shelf life” inherent in the renovation of the JMT. The City's consultant admits that the exterior shell of the JMT will not last more than 50 years regardless of the extent and cost of interior renovation. Therefore, at some foreseeable point in the future, the City will be forced to demolish the JMT and build a new theater. While “up to 50 years” may seem a long time, the present value of the then cost of a new build theater will still be a very large number and a significant additional cost that must be factored into the decision being made now.
One way to evaluate this additional cost is to calculate the present value cost of building a new theater in 40-50 years, assuming that theater would cost about $150 million in current dollars and that the interest rate differential between inflation and money market interest rates is 3% per annum. That present value calculation results in approximately $40 to $46 million of additional cost. This means that the lifetime cost of Option 2 ($60 million) is substantially lower than the cost of Option 3 ($130 -$166 million) and is also much lower that Option 1 when the present value of eventually replacing both the arena and theatre is taken into account.
Since the cost estimates for Option 3 are likely higher and much less certain than Option 2, and since Option 2 represents less disruption to city and community life, Option 2 is clearly the prudent choice.
Given that a new theater will eventually be required, it seems wasteful not to address that issue today and build a new theater designed to endure for a century or more.
Street Talk
In addition to large projects, the OPC also monitors changes to individual structures in the Historic District and its perimeter. Below is a recap of some notable items:
HDBR Rejects Inappropriate Addition to 201 West Jones Street.
On March 13, 2024, the Historic District review Board (HDBR) reviewed a proposal for a new addition to the rear of 201 West Jones Street at Barnard Street. The three-story addition obscured approximately a third of the building visible from the street, involved the destruction of original features of the building, and overwhelmed the original structure. Interestingly, the building was featured in the 2018 Report by the National Park Service as an example of the historic pattern of townhouse-garden-carriage house that should be preserved.
The HDBR rejected the application. Two months later, on May 8, the applicant presented a modified version of the addition, not addressing all of the concerns of the HDBR. The OPC, which had spoken against the original proposal, spoke against the modified version as well. Surprisingly, the HSF spoke in favor; nonetheless, the HDBR once again rejected the design for much the same sound reasons it had previously.
17 East Perry Proposed To Be Restored.
As reported in a prior newsletter, the OPC spoke against a proposal to alter the facade of 17 East Perry, a fine 1850s dwelling in a transitional Greek revival/Italianate style. In particular the OPC objected to a proposal to remove portions of the original cast iron balcony railings that remained as window guards on the ground floor windows. In its presentation, the OPC also provided images of comparable homes with their second story balconies intact.
The HDBR agreed with the OPC and rejected the application, and in response the owner took a new approach, opting to restore the building to its original look and adding back the missing portions of the cast iron balcony. The OPC applauds this effort.
City Council Rejects Zoning Change at SE Corner of E Broad and Gwinnett
After months of a successful campaigning by neighborhood activists, on May 9th, City Council denied Foram Group’s rezoning application at the SE-corner of Gwinnett and East Broad. The zoning change was to create a Small Planned Development to erect a massive four-story apartment building of approximately 185 units and one commercial space atop underground parking. Exceeding the size of one of the City's largest buildings, the Juliette Gordon Low Federal Building, by 19,000 sq. ft., the single building would have required the sale of one parcel and 600 E Gwinnett Lane owned by City of Savannah. Six historic buildings that contribute to the Eastside Historic District (EHD) would have been demolished. EHD has no local historic district protections since being established nationally in 2002. Bethel AME Church (1876) sat on this site until its demolition in 2021.
MPC’s Planning Commission voted 12-to-1, November 7, 2023, to deny the rezoning. Afterwards, the City Manager and Staff worked with the applicant on a new design. City Council, on March 28, 2024, unanimously remanded the changes back to Planning Commission for review. In late April, the Planning Commission approved the project subject to 13 conditions and modifications. The applicant appeared willing to comply with all but one of the recommendations, which was a reduction in density. The project was not seen as economically feasible otherwise. City Council reversed the decision of the Planning Commission, noting the complexity of the conditions.
The surrounding neighbors organized and spoke-out at every opportunity over the 15 months since the project became public. Additional information on the project can be found on Forsyth Park Community Alliance’s website. [https://fpcasavannah.com/e-broad-%26-e-gwinnett-proj]
E Bro Project Begins Outreach
On May 15, members of the OPC presented a new initiative entitled the E Bro Project at a privately hosted event, which focuses on the optimal way to develop East Broughton Street from Lincoln to East Broad. This stretch of Broughton is very different from the western end of the street and is characterized by small historic structures and boutique businesses. With the proposed sale of the Acura Car Dealership building at the corner of Habersham Street, development of this area is imminent.
At the meeting, stakeholders from Warren and Washington Wards met to discuss this new approach. The stakeholders in this project include residents, property owners, businesses, preservation groups, other community groups, developers and the city.
The scope of the project includes everything from the choice of sidewalk and streetlight design to the shape and scale of new structures to be built on empty lots. If you would like to volunteer time to the E Bro Project, please reach out to us at opc.preservation@gmail.com.
While this project is focused on East Broughton Street, it is about more than Broughton Street. The project also acts as a pilot for neighborhood stakeholders to determine the nature of future development in their neighborhood. It is meant to create a new paradigm. The current process of being passive, waiting for the City or developer to present a plan and then react to it, always puts us on the defensive. We need to change the paradigm.
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, July 7, 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.
May 4, 2024
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to our newsletter, in which we will keep you up to date on our activities and other preservation news.
In this newsletter, we focus on the City's proposal to redevelop the Savannah Civic center site and refurbish the Johnny Mercer Theatre. The City's proposal stands in opposition to its obligation to fully restore the Oglethorpe Plan across the entirety of the Civic Center site. We offer our main recommendation and explore considerations supporting that recommendation, as well as other concerns about the proposal. (Image: Section of 1939 Cadastral Map, Elbert Ward. Click Image for Source. Courtesy of the City of Savannah Municipal Archives.)
Please sign our Change.org petition.
OPC's Recommendation:
The Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. recommends demolishing both the Arena and Johnny Mercer Theatre and re-establishing the Oglethorpe Plan across the entire Civic Center site. This includes restoring the streets and Elbert Square, as well as restoring the individual tithing lots and trust lots
Legal Considerations:
The City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance requires the restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan under Section 7.8.10 (a). The City is not exempt from this provision.
The Ordinance's provisions that define allowable street layout and height and mass of infill buildings must be followed.
The Ordinance is the product of years of negotiations and public input.
It also incorporates previous understandings with the National Park Service and protects our National Historic Landmark status.
The Oglethorpe Plan is what makes Savannah unique and a draw to visitors from around the world.
Economic Challenges:
The City is seeking design and planning input before knowing even rough estimates of the cost of various proposals. When all costs are considered, it may be clear that restoring the theatre does not make economic sense.
The City is forgoing substantial revenue if it does not sell the entire site. Tithing lots and trust lots with teardowns have sold for up to $2 and $7 million, respectively. The site has 26 tithing lots and 4 trust lots. Of these, 8 tithing lots and 1 trust lot are at the theatre site. See graphic below.
The 2018 study by the Urban Land Institute, a highly-recognized land use expert, supported the restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan, and this recommendation was initially supported by the city government.
The current proposal to build a large office block and restore the theatre would generate new parking demands and probably force the construction of a large and unsightly parking facility, also at an additional cost to taxpayers.
To the extent that additional municipal offices are needed, they should be located out of the high-priced downtown to areas where both access and parking are easier to manage. One option is to locate new offices adjacent to those on the Westside.
Community Preferences:
It is not clear that the City's proposal reflects the desires of the community in which it is located nor the wishes of the people paying for it.
The majority of downtown residents, including taxpayers who would bear a substantial portion of the cost of the proposal, have not been supportive of it.
The stakeholders from the tax-exempt arts community do not bear the costs, so it is somewhat questionable to claim "public support" for a theatre by citing responses from entities that will not have to pay to refurbish it.
Restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan would benefit both residents and tourists by reuniting the historic district and the historic west side of Savannah.
It would also put the site back on the tax rolls.
Restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan allows multiple uses including mixed-income housing.
Governance Concerns:
The City must maintain full transparency in this process.
“Visioning” sessions must be for open discussion, not enforcing predetermined plans.
Conflicts of interest must be avoided. No consultant used to guide the planning process should be permitted to participate in the execution of any proposals passed by the City.
The City must provide access to the list of all vendors, contractors, consultants and anyone employed by the City to plan or execute this project.
Invite Us to Your Event for a Discussion of Hot Topics in the District
The OPC would be glad to come to 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.
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, June 2, at 7PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
January 31, 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:
Victory! New Subdivision Rules Passed Unanimously by City Council
Ominous Signs in New Recombination Proposal in Warren Ward
Another Win (For Now) - Historic Site and Monument Commission Unanimously Nixes "Tacky" SAV Sign in City Market
Civic Center Back on the Front Burner
NHL Status Not Improving - Just in Limbo
New NHL Application Sought by the Department of the Interior
Thank You - Matching Gift Proposal a Success
Monthly Oglethorpe Plan Coalition (OPC) Volunteers Meeting
Invite Us to Your Event for a Discussion of Hot Topics in the District
Victory! New Subdivision Rules Passed Unanimously by City Council
Thanks to the letters from supporters like you, on December 19, 2023, the City Council passed the long-awaited proposal for subdivisions and recombinations of lots in the Downtown Savannah National Historic Landmark District. We thank you for your efforts to help this new rule pass.
This new rule represents a win for all, creating greater transparency and public input into important land use decisions.
For background to why the proposal was generated, on September 26, 2022, the National Park Service, the division of the Department of the Interior that oversees National Historic Landmarks (NHLs), issued a letter to the Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. The letter cited a proposed building at 336 Barnard St. as the type of project that in aggregate would pose a threat to the integrity of the Savannah Downtown NHL District. The proposed structure was a new building on the rear portion of a subdivided tithing lot. Because of the subdivision, the new building, which abutted the lane, no longer had to comply with the rules in the Ordinance limiting the height and other features of accessory lane structures. in addressing the importance of protecting the lanes, the NPS emphasized that “the discernability of the plan must be retained so residents and visitors are able to identify all the features that compose the Savannah Town Plan ... ”
Recombinations pose their own threats. The combination of lots has allowed the creation of large parcels, thereby creating opportunities for overscale monolithic buildings. In 2018, the NPS had conducted a detailed analysis of the integrity of the NHL District and had concluded that combinations of parcels for large buildings is one of the leading threats to the district. More recently, a recombination was the precursor to the permit for the commercial swimming pool at 3 West Perry St., which sparked a community outcry.
Starting in October 2022, the City established a working group of select stakeholders, including the OPC, who met periodically with the City to address ways to better regulate subdivisions and recombinations. The stakeholders quickly reached a consensus on several steps to take. Unfortunately, some of the recommendations have not yet been put forth to City Council. Nonetheless, the new rule signifies a first step in addressing the issue. This first step would not have occurred without the vigilant efforts of preservationists who identified subdivisions and recombinations as a threat to the Oglethorpe Plan.
Ominous Signs in New Recombination Proposal in Warren Ward
The public has expressed concern about a proposal for a lot recombination for 301 E. Bay Street that encompasses six tithing lots constituting 75% on the northwest tithing block of Warren Ward. Fortunately, the Metropolitan Planning Commission is recommending denial. The OPC likewise has expressed its objection.
The application was originally scheduled for a hearing on January 16, 2024 but was continued. It is tentatively scheduled be heard at the Planning Commission Tuesday February 6, 2024 at 112 East State Street at 1:30 PM. You can confirm date and time in about a week on www.thempc.org.
The subject lots lie in the tithing block bounded by E. Bay Street on the north and E. Bryan Street on the south, Habersham St. to the east and Lincoln Street to the west. Approximately half of the parcels, which are fully built up, are on the north side of E. Bay Lane and the other parcels, now mostly parking lots, are on the south side.
Recombinations are inconsistent with the Oglethorpe Plan's division of tithing blocks into 60 x 90 foot parcels. As stated in the prior article, recombinations are used to build out-of-scale buildings, such as large hotels, that hurt the integrity of the district. The lots appear to all be owned by 301 East Bay Ventures LLC, and the built up lots are the site of Staybridge Suites, suggesting a possible expansion of the hotel.
These parcels are located in Warren Ward. Both Warren and Washington Wards were established in the early 1790s. These wards are unique to Savannah, containing the largest number of eighteenth century dwellings. The neighborhood is residential in character with few large-scale structures.
Creating a combined lot for an overscale building would be a travesty in such an important and historical part of the district. While the status of all the National Historic Landmarks is currently on hold (see article on NHL status below), the NPS's last evaluation of Savannah's NHL in 2018 put it in the threatened category in part because of overscale development. This combination of lots would only make a bad situation worse.
Th OPC is reaching out to the developer to learn more about the plans and hopefully guide the developer towards a proposal that will maintain the district's integrity.
Another Win (For Now) - Historic Site and Monument Commission Unanimously Nixes "Tacky" SAV Sign in City Market
On December 14, 2023, the Historic Site and Monument Commission (HSMC) voted unanimously to deny approval for an inappropriate massive metal sign in City Market. Visit Savannah had proposed a five-by-thirteen-foot aluminum sign in the middle of West St. Julian Street. Visit Savannah is the largest business unit of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and calls itself "the official destination marketing organization" for Savannah.
Shockingly, the Metropolitan Planning Commission supported the proposal, appearing to pretend that the SAV sign was not a sign because it is "public art." While it might or might not be art, it is clearly also a sign, and as such, it must comply with the sign rules in the Ordinance. In the hearing, the HMSC asked to see the insurance policy, which turned out to be insurance for a sign, embarrassingly undermining Visit Savannah's assertion it was not a sign.
In the view of the OPC, the sign, made up of three large channel (three-dimensional) letters "SAV," constitutes a "channel sign," which is prohibited under the Ordinance.
The HSMC was unwilling to address the illegality of the sign, but the HSMC did turn it down on the basis that it was inappropriate, and as one member stated, "tacky."
Many members of the public, at the urging of the OPC together with Scenic Chatham, wrote letters against the sign and/or came to the hearing to speak. The public outcry had a significant impact and contributed to the victory. Thank you.
Civic Center Back on the Front Burner
The future of the Civic Center and the Mercer Theatre is again on the front burner. This vast area, bounded by Oglethorpe Avenue on the north, Liberty Street on the south, Barnard Street 0n the east and Montgomery Street on the west was redeveloped in the 60s prior to historic restrictions. Many historic homes were destroyed for the site, and the Oglethorpe Plan's gridwork of streets was destroyed, with Elbert Square cut in half.
This travesty of 1960s Federally financed urban renewal made way for the construction of the Mercer Theatre and a connected arena. Although the theatre began with state-of-the-art acoustics, alterations over time severely compromised the acoustics.
In 2018, the Urban Land Institute recommended the restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan and the removal of the arena and theatre. City Council approved this recommendation. However, the current City Council is considering saving the theatre.
Questions abound. Is the theatre restorable and at what cost? Would a new theatre be more advisable? Should the land opened up by the removal of the I-16 overpass be used for a new building?
The Oglethorpe Plan Coalition recommends the full restoration of the streets and squares. We are engaging with numerous stakeholders to fully explore all the pertinent issues and solutions.
What do you think? Please let us know by emailing opc.preservation@gmail.com.
NHL Status Not Improving - Just in Limbo
Recent news reports have suggested that the Downtown Savannah National Historic Landmark (NHL) District is no longer rated as "threatened" because the City had improved the integrity of the district. The NHL status is assessed by the National Park Service (NPS), a division of the Department of the Interior. Contrary to these reports, the suspension of the endangered assessment is not the result of an improvement in the integrity of the district. Rather, the change results from the NPS placing all NHLs, not just Savannah, into "no category."
As the NPS has recently explained, "The National Park Service is currently evaluating the NHL condition monitoring program nationwide as part of its commitment to providing technical assistance in the form of helpful and constructive feedback to stewards of these nationally significant properties. As the NHL condition monitoring program is undergoing this reassessment, NPS is not currently updating or assigning condition categories to properties. As a result, NPS considers NHLs, including the Savannah NHL District, to be in no category during the program evaluation period."
The integrity of the district continues to deteriorate, with the OPC documenting the deterioration instance by instance. To imply the district's integrity is improving is misleading in our view.
New NHL Application Sought by the Department of the Interior
On December 8, 2023, the National Park Service (NPS), a division of the Department of the Interior, issued a letter to the City of Savannah to begin the process for Savannah to re-apply for recognition as Historic National Landmark (NHL) District. The criteria for NHLs has evolved since the original designation of downtown Savannah as an NHL in 1966, updated in 1985. Savannah needs to reapply and explain how its NHL qualifies under the updated criteria. The NPS also recommends expanding the NHL further south to encompass all of Forsyth Park.
The possible expansion of the NHL raises many questions. The 1966 designation was primarily based on the uniqueness of the Oglethorpe Plan, which arguably only extends southward as far as Gaston Street. The area encompassing Forsyth Park would need to fall under a different criterion.
This development is in its very early stages. Please let us know what you think.
Thank You - Matching Gift Proposal a Success
Late last fall an anonymous donor had agreed to donate $5000 conditioned upon another donor or group of donors contributing that amount. Soon after the announcement of the matching gift proposal, several donors stepped forward and made the fundraiser a success. Thank you.
If you would like to donate to our cause, please visit our GoFundMe page by clicking here.
Donation Acknowledgement Letters
We deeply appreciate all the help our supporters have given. The OPC has made efforts to send to each donor a letter acknowledging the donation. If you did not receive your letter, please let us know at opc.preservation@gmail.com.
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, February 4, 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 enjoy coming to 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 21, 2023
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. Major threats appear every few weeks, challenging the guardians of our treasured downtown. Residents are now forced to reach out to the courts because the system in place to protect the district is failing us. There are now three major lawsuits in the courts addressing preservation issues, including the allegedly unlawful swimming pool proposed at 3 West Perry, the proposed building at 336 Barnard St., and the risk to the Davenport House Endowment, all discussed in this newsletter.
In This Issue:
Regulating the Subdivision Process in the Historic District
Green-Meldrim House Welcomes New Director
Lawsuit Filed to Stop Commercial Swimming Pool at 3 West Perry
Stop Work Order Sought to Halt Construction at 336 Barnard Street
Davenport House Endowment at Risk; Lawsuit Filed
Threat to Factor's Walk Thwarted for Now
Preservation Alert: Stop the SAV Sign - Attend the December 14 Hearing
Thank You and Matching Gift Proposal
Next OPC Volunteers Meeting
Mayor Johnson, DNA Guest Speaker November 28th
Progress on Regulating Subdivisions, Hopefully To Be a Win for All Downtown Residents
After being mired in red tape, a recommendation has been presented to the HDBR Downtown Historic District Board of Review (HDBR) that any proposals to subdivide or recombine lots in the Savannah Downtown Historic District will be required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness. This means that the proposals will be subject to public notice and hearings rather than being consummated behind closed doors. This recommendation is likely to be submitted to City Council in early December. Assuming that the measure is adopted by City Council, it will represent a win for all residents, creating greater transparency into important land use decisions and allowing the public to be heard.
If this requirement for public hearings had been in place, it is likely that the proposed swimming pool at 3 West Perry, discussed below, would not have been approved. The owner of 3 West Perry obtained approval from the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) to recombine two lots and obtained a building permit for a private pool. A public hearing likely would have revealed the possibility that this was going to be a commercial swimming pool. Had the public weighed in, it would also have pointed out, among other things, that the covenant in the property deed required approval of Ships of the Sea Museum, which had not been obtained for the project.
As background to why the proposal was generated, on September 26, 2022 the National Park Service issued a letter to the MPC citing the proposed building at 336 Barnard St. as the type of project that in aggregate would pose a threat to the integrity of the Savannah Downtown National Historic Landmark District. The proposed structure was a new building on the rear portion of a subdivided tithing lot. Because of the subdivision, the new building, which abutted the lane, no longer had to comply with the rules in the Ordinance limiting the height and other features of accessory lane structures. The NPS expressed its concern because this type of proposal changes the discernability of the lanes in the Oglethorpe Plan.
Starting in October 2022, the City established a working group of select stakeholders, including the OPC, who met periodically with the City to address ways to prevent such an error from happening again. The stakeholders quickly reached a consensus on several steps to take. Unfortunately, some of the recommendations have been blocked by the City. Nonetheless, the current green-lighted recommendation is important and signifies a first step in addressing the issue. This first step would not have occurred without the vigilant efforts of preservationists who identified subdivisions and recombinations as a threat to the Oglethorpe Plan.
Green Meldrim House Welcomes New Executive Director Jamie Credle and Celebrates Milestones
Last month, the Green-Meldrim House (GMH) appointed the well-respected museum curator Jamie Credle as its new Director. In addition, the GMH celebrates its new status as a 501(c)(3) museum house and the 80th birthday of its purchase by St. John's Church. In 1943, when Ms. Meldrim was in her 90s, she sought a buyer who would preserve the house. When neighboring St. John's Church expressed its interest but needed to raise funds, the Church, with Mrs. Meldrim's assistance, engaged in a broad fundraising effort, with contributions coming from a large number and wide variety of Savannahians. This event in 1943 was the first Savannah-wide effort to save a historic structure from potential demolition.
Lawsuit Filed to Stop Pool at 3 West Perry Street
Over the summer, demolition began on the historic Clermont Lee gardens at 3 West Perry Street. This followed the MPC approval for a recombination of lots and Department of Buildings approval for a private residential pool.
The owner allegedly began advertising the pool for his company's STVR clients, revealing thereby that the pool was likely for commercial, not residential, purposes.
Upon this discovery, outraged neighbors and community leaders including the DNA and OPC, voiced their opposition. In an October 15, 2023 letter, the OPC wrote City Manager Jay Melder and cited the provisions in the Ordinance that justify the City's right to suspend a building permit (which results in a stop work order) if an applicant made misrepresentations in obtaining a permit.
On or about October 17, the City issued such a stop work order. Since that date, neighbors and the Ships of the Sea Museum, whose permission was necessary but not given for the project, have filed a lawsuit which includes a demand for a permanent injunction.
The text of OPC's letter is here.
Stop Work Order Requested to Halt Construction at 336 Barnard Street
The project at 336 Barnard Street, which is the subject of litigation alleging that the building does not comply with the Ordinance, has commenced construction. This is despite the fact that litigation has been ongoing since February 22, 2023.
Plaintiffs have filed a motion for a temporary injunction to halt work while the Court determines the merits of the case.
Davenport House Endowment at Risk; Lawsuit Filed
The Trustees of the Davenport House Endowment Fund have commenced a lawsuit against the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF). The endowment was funded with generous contributions from dedicated preservation supporters. The intent was that the income the endowment would exclusively support maintenance of the Davenport House.
Recently, HSF has attempted to take control of the endowment, for purposes that are not yet public. According to HSF's most recently posted Form 990, it faces significantly increased liabilities. In recent years, HSF has hired firms, including ones related to its own Board of Directors, construction and renovation projects for its own buildings.
Threat to Factor's Walk Thwarted, for Now
In October, the HDBR heard a proposal to build a deck alongside a bridge on Factor's Walk. Such a proposal, had it been approved, would have opened the floodgates to any business on Factor's Walk asking the same: to build a deck over the lower roadway that would fill the areas between the bridges. Imagine Factor's Walk with all the spidery bridges obscured by commercial modern decks.
Many of us are still in shock that anyone would think it appropriate to drastically alter Factor's Walk, one of Savannah's most iconic landmarks. The extreme nature of this proposal shows how far the frenzy of development is threatening to undo the efforts of generations of Savannah's preservationists. Please see letter from the OPC here.
Preservation Alert: Stop the SAV Sign - Attend December 14 Hearing
Visit Savannah has proposed a five-by-thirteen-foot aluminum sign in City Market in the Middle of West St. Julian Street. This proposal is not only inappropriate in character for the Historic District, but it also appears to be prohibited by the Ordinance.
The City is pretending that the SAV sign is not a sign because it is "public art." While it might or might not be art, it is clearly also a “channel sign,” and as such, it must comply with the sign rules in the Ordinance. The three letters, "SAV," are a logo of Visit Savannah and were designed by their advertising firm. The sign will be fabricated by a commercial sign maker. Under the Ordinance, it constitutes a "ground sign," which requires a COA. It is also a "channel sign," which is actually prohibited. Please read the letter from the OPC, here.
In the view of the OPC, the City is aware that the sign is prohibited, and it appears to be circumventing the COA process and prohibitions in the Ordinance by taking the proposal to only the Historic Sites and Monuments Commission. Please show up and let the City and Visit Savannah know that they are not above the law!
PLEASE SHOW YOUR OBJECTION BY SPEAKING AT THE DECEMBER 14, 2023 HEARING AT THE HISTORIC SITE AND MONUMENT COMMISSION AT 4PM AT 112 EAST STATE STREET.
Thank You and Matching Gift Proposal
We express our extreme gratitude to the large numbers of donors to the OPC. Your generous gifts allow us to cover our minimal administrative expenses and our payment of a portion of the legal fees for litigating preservation causes. To donate further, please visit OPC’s GoFundMe page by clicking this link.
An anonymous donor has agreed to donate $5000 conditioned upon another donor or group of donors contributing that amount. These donations will be earmarked for litigation expenses.
Next 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, December 3 at 5 PM. Please contact us at the above email with your contact information if you are interested in attending. Capacity is limited.
Mayor Johnson To Attend DNA
Mayor Johnson will present at the monthly meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association at the Coastal Georgia Center at 305 Fahm Street Tuesday, November 28 at 5:30 PM. This is a good opportunity to ask about quality of life and preservation issues.