Chatham County to try new housing type with approval of motel-Apt conversion

Jan. 12, 2025 – Chatham County may be expanding the housing types allowed within the unincorporated area, with the recent approval of an Atlanta-based developer’s rezoning request to convert a former motel into apartment units. The “pilot” project proposed by 5th Street Capital Partners LLC would transform the former Best Western motel at 1 East Gateway Boulevard into 120 single-room occupancy (SRO) efficiency apartments, a zoning designation the county does not currently have included in its zoning ordinance, but that the city of Savannah already permits under the 2019 adopted New Zoning Code (NewZo).

Key Features of the Approved Plan

• Unit Details: Each unit will range between 288 and 300 square feet and include amenities such as a kitchen and bathroom.
• Management and Conditions: The property will have 24-hour on-site management, and the minimum rental period is set at 30 days to maintain a residential character. Additional features include on-site laundry facilities and 1,200 square feet of indoor common areas.
• Community Engagement: The developer has committed to partnering with Chatham Area Transit to construct a bus shelter near the property to enhance accessibility.

The county’s approval on Dec. 6 came at the recommendation of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) in September after finding the redevelopment near the I-95 and Abercorn extension intersection aligns with the county’s comprehensive plan and maintains compatibility with the surrounding area’s commercial and residential uses.

Savannah City Manager Jay Melder, in his capacity as an MPC board member, said at the time that SROs are an important piece of the housing inventory,

“This is the first SRO in the county since NewZo,” Melder said. “It is a good thing developers are looking at adaptive uses of an existing site.”

Public and Commissioner Feedback

The developer’s representative, Jarrett Wilbanks, told the commission that the rental rates, which include utilities and high-speed internet, will be affordable by nature, but will not be subsidized.

“The smaller square footage of these studio apartments does make them affordable and provides a nice option for folks who are on a budget,” he said. “And these properties often work out well for folks who are on fixed income.”

Wilbanks also assured the commission that management practices, including background checks and limits on unit occupancy, will ensure the safety of residents at the complex.

Two residents spoke during a public hearing, with mixed opinions about the project. While one resident expressed concerns about affordability, citing rental rates Wilbanks estimated would be between $800 and $1,200 as potentially out of reach for low-income individuals, another praised the project as “innovative and proactive” and called for the county to support more such projects.

Commissioner Aaron “Adot” Whitely, who represents the district, said he understood the speaker’s concerns about rental rates, while noting that the project is being spearheaded by a private developer and the estimated rates fall below the average in Savannah.(*see editor’s note at the end of the article). Whitely added that the county is working on other projects to address the issue of affordable, including one with Habitat for Humanity in Port Wentworth.

“So, I don’t want you to think that this is our only effort as it relates to affordable housing,” he said. “We understand this is a big issue.”

Looking Ahead

The conversion is being considered a “pilot” project, allowing county officials to monitor its implementation and refine conditions as needed before potentially adding the SRO designation to Chatham’s zoning ordinance.

“And – and then when we think we’ve got it as good as we know how to do it, we’re going to bring it up here, and somebody might have a better idea, may say, oh, it’s the greatest thing since canned beer or something.,” said County Attorney Jon Hart.

Wilbanks said the developer expects renovations to take six to nine months to complete after obtaining the necessary permits during the review process, contingent on the final sale going through. Similar projects by 5th Street Capital Partners LLC, include the Skytop Studio Lofts and the Hilltop Lofts in Rome, Ga. and the Lodge Atlanta, according to the developer’s MPC submittal.