Preservation Alert - 405 E. Hull Street Seeks Special Exception for Rooftop Deck

Click Image for HDBR Agenda

Dear Supporters,

On December 11, 2024, at 1:00 PM, the Historic District Review Board (HDBR) is scheduled to hold a hearing to determine whether to grant a special exception to allow the owners of 405 East Hull Street to construct a rooftop structure and deck facing Hull Street. Please check www.thempc.org for updates to the HDBR agenda.

Residents who are concerned about the potential for noise from such a rooftop deck should consider writing a letter opposing such deck to the HDBR by sending an email to Jonathan Mellon at mellonj@thempc.org. A sample email is at the bottom of this alert. Residents may also attend the hearing and speak in opposition. Another option is to register to participate virtually here.

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 have expressed concern about late-night noise from rooftop decks, especially those associated with STVRs. Residents find it 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, with owner occupancy only needing to be one day a year according to the City. Here is the STVR registration for this address:

Section of the City’s new online STVR map, showing the location of 405 E. Hull St. Each STVR is a blue dot. Explore the City’s STVR Map here.

Moreover, the Hull Street address is part of a large group of buildings. Permission granted to one owner to have a rooftop deck will allow others to do the same. We understand that there are already STVRs in the same complex of buildings. The new owners are opening a Pandora’s box. Even if they actually intend to occupy the building as their primary residence, as more roof decks pop up around them, they may be compelled to sell.

Below is a sample letter you can send.

Please reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,  

Andrew Berrien Jones 

Chair, Oglethorpe Plan Coalition, Inc. 

Sample letter:

Dear Mr. Mellon,

I oppose the request for a special exception for the proposed roof deck at 405 East Hull. Such an exception could lead to a proliferation of rooftop decks, and the noise that emanates for these decks, especially from late night parties, will be detrimental to the welfare of the neighborhood and diminish the livability of our homes. Driving residents out of their homes is not in the public interest and is detrimental to the Downtown Savannah Historic District. Turning centuries-old homes into hospitality businesses diminishes the historically residential component of the district.

Sincerely,

[Signature and address]