By Eric Curl
Nov. 22, 2022 – The vacant building at 1930 Montgomery St. in Savannah’s Streetcar Historic District could one day serve as a “melting pot” of locals and travelers from around the world, under owner Charlie Crosby’s vision for the site.
That vision entails transforming the building into affordable lodging accommodations for visitors on a budget who are interested in meeting other people and creating experiences around their visit. While the concept is quite popular internationally, the US – particularly the southeast – has been a slower moving market to catch on, Crosby said. The NotSo Hostel in Charleston and Hostel in the Forest in Brunswick are two similar sister concepts in the region that Crosby said he intends to align with.
Crosby’s vision took one step forward Monday, when the Historic Preservation Commission approved his plan to renovate the building and add a second story addition on the structure’s east side. The alterations and addition would allow for five lodging units with private baths on the second floor, along with commercial space on the ground level.
Crosby said he intends for the ground level to be used as a restaurant and flexible space with varying types of programming – all of which would be open to the public.
The potential hostel is the latest plan for the building, which most recently served as an exhibition venue. A national grocery delivery chain was set to move in and had made some renovations to the building, but the company ended up terminating the lease prior to going live, Crosby said.
The building at Montgomery and 36th streets was built in 1955 and is a non-historic building within the Streetcar Historic District south of downtown.
Since the overarching plan for the site is rather involved, and is in many ways unchartered under current city zoning, further work and evaluation is required before construction activity will begin, Crosby said.
“It’s something that doesn’t currently exist in the community here, and I believe the concept would bring a great deal of diversity and engagement opportunity” he said.
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