Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the property acquisition does not include the church building.
By Eric Curl
April 22, 2025 – The folks behind a major housing initiative in historic Cuyler Brownville recently acquired vacant property owned by the Abyssinia Baptist Church at 1622 Ogeechee Road, according to sales records.
Records show that Savannah Historic Initiatives acquired the vacant site at Ogeechee and 34th Street from the church for $75,000. The two acquired parcels include more than half an acre of undeveloped land along 34th Street, and a historic shotgun style home at the corner of 34th and Abyssinia Lane.
On Tuesday, representative, Juan Uzcategui, with Savannah Historic Initiatives, said that the developer plans to construct four affordable single-family homes on the vacant lot, while renovating the existing home there. Uzcategui claified the property sale does not include the church building.
The site is a block away from Lavinia Street, where the organization built three single-family homes on a former vacant stretch of land, as previously reported.
The CEO of Savannah Historic Initiatives is T. Eric Galloway, the founder of the Galvan Foundation, according to state records. The nonprofit, now named The Civis Foundation, has been restoring properties for affordable housing in historic Cuyler Brownville, as part of a partnership with the city, in addition acquiring addition properties in the neighborhood and beyond. The developer is also renovating the Kiah House at 505 East 36th St. for use as a community museum in honor of the late artist and educator Virginia Jackson Kiah and her husband Calvin Kiah, a former Dean of Education at Savannah State College.
Savannah Historic Initiatives was formed in August 2021 as Savannah Local Initiatives, Inc., according to the state registration.
Established in the year 1911, Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church was founded by a “faithful few with the vision of serving Christ by serving others”, according to its Facebook page.
The church building itself dates back to 1887 and is listed as a contributing resource within the historic neighborhood. Abyssinia has been led by notable pastors, including the late Dr. Ja A. Jahannes, who died in 2015 at the age of 72. Jahannes was a psychologist, university professor, pastor, writer, novelist, playwright, poet, librettist, music producer, spoken word artist, social critic and columnist, as described in an obituary. In March, the church celebrated celebrate the 4th Pastoral Anniversary for its current pastor, Brenda H. Allen, according to the Savannah Tribune.
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